The auto industry is becoming more and more mindful of sustainability issues. CO2 emissions and fuel economy have become primary concerns for every part of the automotive supply chain, tire manufacturers included. That’s why Bridgestone introduced the Bridgestone Ecopia H/L 422 Plus.
More and more awareness about the topic is trickling down to buyers while the authorities impose production guidelines to manage the auto industry’s carbon footprint. In times like these, fuel-efficient tires like the Bridgestone Ecopia H/L 422 Plus deserves in-depth reviews to draw extra attention to how they can be the planet-friendly choice when selecting a tire.
The Japanese tiremaker is head-to-head against the oldest tire giant in the world — Michelin. Bridgestone has reached these highs with a virtually spotless reputation of performance, durability, safety, and low environmental impact. Let’s find out if these qualities reflect in the Ecopia H/L!
Bridgestone Ecopia H/L 422 Plus — Features
The Ecopia H/L 422 Plus features Bridgestone’s optimized all-season tread. The company claims that the improved compound and the tread design help the tire with its handling, ride quality, durability, performance, and most importantly — fuel economy.
The tire is equipped with Bridgestone’s latest NanoPro-Tech for reduced rolling resistance which goes a long way in making the tire more fuel-efficient. These energy savings don’t come at a cost of reduced traction in snowy, dry, or wet conditions, which is a win-win for drivers.
On-Road Performance
When it comes to handling and dry traction, the Ecopia H/L 422 Plus doesn’t disappoint. However, they don’t perform as well as a set of summer tires. You can expect decent levels of traction and steering responsiveness. Even at high speeds, the tire stays quite stable — which is pretty impressive for a grand-touring all-season tire.
With that said, if you’re not looking to make any compromises on performance on dry roads, you should go with summer tires like the Falken Pro G5 CSV.
Bridgestone Ecopia H/L 422 Plus Wet Performance
The Ecopia H/L 422 Plus has highly effective hydroplaning resistance with its wide circumferential grooves. The tire never really feels like it’ll skid or lose traction in wet conditions. With short braking distances and decent handling, you’ll always feel safe in rainy conditions with these tires — even at higher speeds.
Snow Performance
The Ecopia H/L 422 Plus has pretty aggressive sipes in its tread design, and that’s mainly to optimize its snow performance. However, the tire leaves a lot to be desired in terms of its winter capabilities.
It’s an all-season tire and you can get some performance out of them in light snow, but you’d always run the risk of getting stuck. If the weather ever gets harsher, I’d avoid going on a drive with these tires installed.
With that said, the tire is grippy and stable enough to offer a safe drive on light snow with respectable stopping distances – much like its french all-season rival, the Michelin Primacy Tour A/S.
Ride Quality
Like most other grand-touring all-season tires, the Ecopia H/L 422 Plus doesn’t lag behind in ride comfort. Even driving over uneven surfaces doesn’t send any significant vibrations to the cabin.
The road noise also feels muted unless you’re at higher speeds on a rough road. If you’re a stickler for a quiet, comfortable ride, however… consider the latest model of the Turanza Quiettrack – also from Bridgestone, instead.
Conclusion
Some of this tire’s strong suits are durability, fuel efficiency, ride comfort, dry and wet performance, and minimal cabin noise. Besides underwhelming snow traction, the Ecopia H/L 422 Plus has everything going for it. Unless you live in areas that get lots of snow in the winter months, this tire might be an ideal choice. We recommend it for most drivers.