It's easy to think that good tyres are just for people who want to go racing. We've all probably heard someone say, "I'm also not going racing, buy expensive tyres for what?" But the reality is that good tyres are arguably even more important for the daily driver, simply from a safety point of view.
But when it comes to day-to-day driving, the most important aspect about a good set of tyres is the braking capability. You can have the most powerful and aerodynamic car, and the best set of brakes in the world, but ultimately, every car has one essential reality - the sole contact points to the road are four relatively tiny patches of rubber (called the contact patch), each about the size of a human hand.
Thus, a good set of tyres will afford a shorter braking distance compared to a lesser set of tyres, and could determine if you crash into the car in front of you or not. It's paramount that those patches of rubber do their job to keep you safe.
Bridgestone ECOPIA EP300 - When you want it all
Bridgestone's latest product, the Bridgestone ECOPIA EP300, has been designed with three key objectives in mind - to have safer and superior wet grip, to improve the vehicle's fuel efficiency, and to be longer lasting. In that sense, it's a tyre that's made to be all-rounded - balanced across all aspects, and not just simply an 'eco' tyre.
On typical day-to-day driving, the differences between different tyres may not be immediately apparent. However, wet conditions definitely show up tyres the most - there's much less grip available on the roads. The new EP300 tyres is constructed using Bridgestone's NanoPro-Tech compound, a high-dispersing silica compound that increases the contact area and reduces energy loss. Also, the tyres have either three or four grooves, depending on width, which help to disperse water more effectively. Of course, improved levels of grip in the wet also results in a shorter braking distance required.
How does the EP300 compare to the EP200?
The EP300 is a marked change from the EP200. While the name may suggest that this is a simple improvement from the previous product, it is actually brand new, with a totally different tread pattern. The tyre shoulder actually uses the ALENZA tread pattern, with a deeper lug depth designed to improve durability and increase wear resistance. The new tread design also helps to better control tyre deformation. These combine to afford drivers a longer-lasting tyre. This focus on improving tyre durability was driven by feedback from customers who used the EP200, as one of the common issues brought up was tyre wear.
When it comes to wet braking distance, a test that was conducted at Bridgestone's Thailand proving ground, the car fitted with the EP300 tyres managed to brake 1.27m shorter than the same vehicle with the EP200 tyres from a speed of 80km/h. In Singapore, especially with the amount of rain that we face, that reduced wet braking distance could make all the difference between a close shave and a massive shunt.
When we headed down to Beng Heng Tyres Batteries Private Limited (Bridgestone's second B-Select store in Singapore) to have the EP300 tyres fitted, we were also advised on some good practices when it comes to taking care of your tyres. It is recommended to do tyre rotation at every 10,000km. This helps to evenly distribute the wear across all four tyres, and helps to preserve your tyres longer. Also, it is important to check your tyre pressure every month, and inflate when necessary. Over or under-inflated tyres will affect the tyre's road-holding capabilities, as well as the rate of wear.
The Bridgestone ECOPIA EP300 tyre is now on sale. For more information on tyre availability and retail selling price, please visit or contact any authorised Bridgestone dealer.
