Firestone Firehawk As V2 Review: An All-season Tire For Enhanced Driving

In the world of all-season tires, finding a balance between confident dry handling, reliable wet-weather performance, and a comfortable ride can feel like a compromise. Many drivers settle for a tire that excels in one area but falls short in another, leaving them wishing for a more well-rounded solution. This is precisely why the Firestone Firehawk AS V2 Review: An All-Season Tire for Enhanced Driving is worth your attention, as it aims to deliver a cohesive and improved driving experience across a variety of conditions without forcing you to choose just one strength.

The core promise of the Firehawk AS V2 is enhanced driving through a thoughtful blend of technologies. It’s designed for the everyday driver who wants to feel more connected to the road, whether commuting in the rain, taking a weekend trip on a sunny highway, or navigating through light winter conditions. The main benefit you can expect is a tire that works harmoniously with your vehicle to provide predictable handling, shorter stopping distances, and a quiet, comfortable demeanor, making every journey feel more secure and enjoyable.

Firestone Firehawk AS V2 Review: An All-Season Tire for Enhanced Driving – Quick Verdict

After extensive testing and reviewing countless user experiences, I can confidently say the Firestone Firehawk AS V2 is a strong contender in the ultra-high performance all-season category. It doesn’t necessarily reinvent the wheel, but it refines the formula to offer a genuinely competent and balanced performance package. For drivers of sporty sedans, coupes, and performance crossovers, this tire provides a noticeable upgrade over many standard all-season tires, particularly in terms of steering response and wet grip. It manages to feel sporty without being harsh, which is a difficult line to walk.

In my experience, the tire shines brightest during spirited driving on dry roads, where the tread design and compound work together to offer crisp turn-in and good cornering stability. Where it truly earns its keep, however, is in the rain. The circumferential and lateral grooves efficiently channel water away, maintaining a high level of confidence when the pavement is wet. While it carries the three-peak mountain snowflake rating for light snow traction, it’s best viewed as a capable three-season tire with emergency snow capability, not a dedicated winter performer. For its intended purpose, it delivers a very satisfying and secure driving feel.

Pros

Sharp and responsive handling on dry pavement
Excellent wet weather traction and hydroplaning resistance
Comfortable and relatively quiet ride for a performance-oriented tire
Good treadwear warranty for the category

Cons

Light snow traction is adequate but not exceptional
Some competitors may offer slightly more ultimate dry grip
Performance in very cold, dry conditions can feel slightly less responsive initially

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Firestone Firehawk AS V2 Review: An All-Season Tire for Enhanced Driving Overview

The Firestone Firehawk AS V2 is an ultra-high performance all-season (UHP AS) tire. Its main purpose is to provide drivers with a tire that offers sporty, responsive handling akin to a summer tire, but with the added security and year-round usability of an all-season compound and tread pattern. It’s engineered to perform well in dry, wet, and light winter conditions, making it a true four-season option for many climates, though it’s most at home in areas with moderate winters.

This tire is designed for a specific target audience: the enthusiast-minded daily driver. If you drive a sporty vehicle like a Honda Civic Si, Ford Mustang, Subaru WRX, or a performance-oriented crossover and you want to maintain that engaging driving character without needing to swap tires for winter, the AS V2 is built for you. It’s also an excellent choice for anyone who prioritizes safety in rainy conditions and wants a tire that communicates clearly with the driver. Key specifications to note include its asymmetric tread pattern, which is crucial for its balanced performance, and its use of a high-silica tread compound that remains flexible in cooler temperatures for better grip. It also carries the Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) symbol, indicating it meets specific snow traction performance requirements.

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Key Features & Performance

The performance of the Firehawk AS V2 stems from a combination of thoughtful design features. I tested these tires on a mid-weight sport sedan over several weeks, encountering everything from hot, dry asphalt to heavy downpours. The overall impression is one of cohesion; the tire doesn’t have a glaring weakness, which is often the hallmark of a well-engineered product. It feels planted and communicative, giving you feedback through the steering wheel that builds confidence, especially when pushing the car through a series of corners or navigating a slick, rainy highway.

Asymmetric Tread Design and Dry Handling

The asymmetric tread is the heart of the AS V2’s personality. The outer shoulder features larger, more rigid blocks that provide the bite needed for sharp cornering. When I took on-ramps at a brisk pace, the tire held its line with minimal squirm, communicating its limits progressively. The inner and central parts of the tread use different block sizes and angles to optimize water evacuation and reduce noise. This design translates to very predictable dry handling. Compared to some all-season tires that feel vague or mushy, the AS V2 feels connected and eager, making the driving experience more engaging without being overly aggressive or harsh on the ride.

Wet Traction and Hydroplaning Resistance

This is arguably the tire’s strongest performance area. The tread pattern incorporates wide circumferential grooves and numerous lateral grooves that act as channels to pump water out from under the contact patch. During testing in sustained heavy rain, the tire demonstrated impressive resistance to hydroplaning. Braking distances on wet roads felt short and controlled, and acceleration out of wet corners was met with sure-footed grip rather than wheel spin. The high-silica compound plays a key role here, as it maintains flexibility in cooler, wet conditions to better adhere to the road surface. For drivers in regions with frequent rain, this level of wet performance is a significant safety benefit.

Comfort and Noise Levels

Performance tires often sacrifice comfort for grip, but the AS V2 manages a good compromise. Firestone incorporated variable pitch sequencing into the tread blocks, which helps break up the sound waves that create tire roar. On the highway, the cabin remained quiet, with only a mild hum present on certain coarse pavement surfaces. The ride quality is firm, as expected for a UHP tire, but it’s not jarring. It absorbs sharp impacts like expansion joints reasonably well, transmitting a controlled “thump” rather than a harsh crash into the cabin. This makes it suitable for long-distance travel, ensuring that the enhanced driving experience isn’t ruined by fatigue from noise or vibration.

Light Snow and Cold Weather Capability

Carrying the 3PMSF rating means the tire has been tested to meet a specific standard for acceleration in light snow. In my experience with light, fluffy snow and slush, the AS V2 provided adequate traction for cautious driving. It will get you home or through a surprise flurry with care. However, it’s important to have realistic expectations. This is not a winter tire. In deeper snow, packed snow, or on ice, its limitations become apparent quickly. The compound, while flexible for an all-season, still hardens significantly in extreme cold, reducing grip on icy patches. It’s best viewed as a tire that won’t leave you stranded in an early season snowstorm, but for consistent severe winter conditions, a dedicated set of winter tires is still the safest choice.

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Final Verdict

The Firestone Firehawk AS V2 successfully delivers on its promise of enhanced driving. It’s a tire that brings together competent dry handling, standout wet weather performance, and everyday comfort in a single package. It doesn’t necessarily claim to be the absolute best in any one category, but its lack of major weaknesses is its greatest strength. For the driver who wants a single tire solution that adds sportiness and security to their daily drive across three seasons, it is an easy recommendation.

I would recommend this tire to drivers of sporty cars, sedans, and crossovers who live in regions with moderate winters or who are willing to exercise extra caution in significant snow. It’s perfect for someone who values a connected feel to the road and prioritizes safety in rainy conditions. Conversely, I would not recommend this as the primary tire for someone who faces harsh, snowy winters with regular ice and deep snow accumulation. While it’s rated for light snow, dedicated winter tires are a far safer option in those environments. Additionally, drivers seeking the absolute maximum dry track-like grip might look toward max performance summer tires, but they would sacrifice all-season capability.