·      Dueler A/T 002 joins the Bridgestone premium off-road range as a brand new all-terrain offering, complementing the existing flagship Dueler A/T 697.  

·      Passenger construction provides best of both worlds between on-road handling and off-road capabilities.

• Introduction of A/T 002 enables flexibility for 4x4 & SUV owners and empower them to utilise the capabilities of their vehicles.
  

NOOSA, Queensland (31 July, 2024) — Australia & New Zealand’s most trusted tyre brand, Bridgestone, aims to inspire and empower a whole new generation of off-roaders with the introduction of the Dueler A/T 002 all-terrain tyre.  

The A/T 002 enters the Australian & New Zealand market as an addition to Bridgestone’s 4x4 & SUV Dueler range, joining the flagship Dueler A/T 697 in the all-terrain segment, and complementing the already comprehensive range of highway terrain (H/T) and mud-terrain (M/T) products in Bridgestone’s off-road portfolio.

As a passenger construction pattern, the A/T 002 has been developed to empower drivers to go off-road with confidence, without compromising on comfort, on-road handling, or economy.

According to Bridgestone Australia & New Zealand Managing Director, Heath Barclay – who also uses the tyre on his personal vehicle, the A/T 002 is the ideal balance between capability and flexibility without compromising on-road characteristics.  

“There is no denying the clear trend of Australian and New Zealand motorists turning towards 4x4s, dual cab utes, and SUVs, and it’s important that we have a range of tyres to support the way that their vehicles are used,” Mr Barclay said.

“Bridgestone’s Dueler brand has had a legendary reputation dating back to the 1980s built on its off-road, rugged and tough characteristics, and the introduction of A/T 002 allows us to continue to strengthen this reputation with a new generation of 4x4 users who are using their cars for practical needs during the week, and for freedom and adventures on the weekend.

“In many ways, the Dueler A/T 002 is a lifestyle tyre – introduced so that emerging 4x4 enthusiasts can step up from the on-road focused highway-terrain, to the more versatile all-terrain, without needing to make the jump to a light truck construction 4x4 tyre,” he said.

The Dueler brand has been a core part of the Bridgestone global range since it launched with the iconic Desert Dueler in 1981. Throughout the 1980s, the Dueler brand expanded to include the A/S 661, Mud Dueler, and Winter Dueler.

Dueler’s credentials and reputation were forged through participation and success in the revered Paris-Dakar endurance event, and throughout the 1990s the terrain-based naming convention was introduced in parallel with the initial rise in popularity of city-based SUVs.

Since the turn of the century, the relevance and importance of Dueler has grown exponentially in line with the growth of the 4x4 and SUV segment. According to IHS Global vehicle sales, sedans have remained steady at approximately 16 million sales, while SUVs have risen from 5 million to 44 million units over the same period.

Bridgestone benefits from strong original equipment fitments across the majority of manufacturers with its suite of reliable and safe on-road centric highway terrain patterns.

The Dueler A/T 002 is positioned as the start of the true off-road range with an intended skew of 80% on-road and 20% off-road. This is a step up when it comes to capability compared to the OE focused H/T patterns, while the flagship Dueler A/T 697 is intended for up to 30% off-road use, with extra cut and chip resistance and rigidity.

The Dueler A/T 697 is now exclusively a light truck construction pattern, with the few sizes it  offered in a passenger construction discontinued ahead of the introduction of the Dueler A/T 002.

At the far end off-road spectrum is the heavily off-road skewed Dueler M/T 673 and Firestone Destination M/T2 mud-terrain options, which are designed for 70% off-road use and are developed specifically for durability and traction in the wettest conditions.

Bridgestone Australia’s Sales Director, Claudio Sodano, says the Dueler A/T 002 answers an increasing demand for capable and aesthetic tyres that are still skewed for predominantly urban or on-road use.

“The Dueler A/T 002 really is the sweet spot for the market in terms of it being an upgrade from the OE tyres that come on the car and being able to really utilise the capabilities of 4x4s and all-wheel drives on the market,” Mr Sodano said.

“The addition of A/T 002 to our line up means that we now have a solution and fitment for every 4x4 user. Our highway terrains will always be a staple of our range for on-road, with the A/T 002 as the perfect product for those who want to explore more widely while still maintaining the comfort of a passenger construction tyre.

“We also know that aesthetic appeal play a role, and we are confident that the aggressive tread design and wrap around blocks on the sidewalls will make Dueler A/T 002 a popular tyre in this segment, without compromising on safety and comfort” he added.

Dueler A/T 002 was developed to instil the confidence and peace of mind of an all-terrain tyre, with the on-road benefits of a highway-terrain pattern. From its aggressive tyre design to its excellent wet and dry grip and mileage, every aspect of the Dueler A/T 002 has been optimised to perform as a safe, reliable, and comfortable tyre. 

The tread face features a modern hexagonal block shape and architecture that has been optimised for good traction and braking performance on a range of surfaces, including on-road, gravel, sand and light-medium mud applications. The staggered shoulder tread design extends to the sidewall of the A/T 002, creating a seamless integration between the face of the tyre and sidewall to deliver better traction in sandy, snowy and mud conditions. 

Bridgestone has utilised advanced Nano Pro-Tech compound technology, with high silica content, ensuring that the A/T 002 offers superior grip, especially in wet conditions.

The optimised profile and contact patch of the tyre maximises A/T 002’s footprint, while the tread-face’s 5-rib design and staggered blocks provide even pressure and contact – especially under braking forces. The rib design and void design provides effective water evacuation, significantly reducing the risk of aquaplaning, while the innovative Z-shaped sipes of the tread blocks enhances lateral and longitudinal grip.  

With an initial range of 19 sizes in Australia and 14 in NZ, including the seven highest selling sizes in the market, A/T 002 has a fitment for most dual cab utes, 4x4 and SUV models, including Toyota Prado, Fortuner, and Kluger, Ford Everest, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Isuzu MU-X, Nissan Pathfinder and X-Trail, and Subaru Forester and Outback.  

The line up will see a size expansion of a further 11 sizes in Australia and 6 in NZ in 2025 to a total of 30 and 20 sizes in the respective markets.

“This is an exciting product for us because the timing is ideal. Motorists are looking for more from their cars and their tyres, and A/T 002 is the ideal introduction to an all-terrain with a passenger construction tyre from the Dueler brand that they already know, love and trust,” Mr Sodano explained.

-ENDS-