How hard can it be?

Pretty hard, actually. Conventional wisdom says you can’t have fuel economy without giving up some other important performance factor – like traction or long wear.

And, to a large extent, conventional wisdom is right: Many radials that cut your fuel bill don’t last, don’t hold the road well or don’t retread the way you’re used to.

So Bridgestone applied some unconventional wisdom, borrowing some of the best tread-saving, fuel-conserving and irregular wear-fighting technologies it has developed, and combined them into a single tire. The result is a new, long-lasting, fuel-efficient drive radial, the M720.

How can the M720 stretch my fuel dollar?

Two ways, actually. The new M720 starts with the same fuel-efficient casing that’s inside the revolutionary new R227 steer radial. This casing is designed to be more efficient and run cooler than conventional designs.

That means the casing itself contributes to the M720’s fuel efficiency, something few manufacturers have been able to do. Result: The M720 saves fuel now, and when you retread it.

Secondly, the M720 incorporates the latest in Bridgestone fuel-saving tread compounds. Applying both of these technologies produces a big improvement in fuel economy.

In competitive tests, the team of Bridgestone R227 steer radials and M720 drive radials produced about a 7.5 percent advantage over conventional radials, and was unbeaten for overall fuel economy by major competitors.

Smaller numbers indicate superior fuel economy. Bridgestone test vehicles used R227 radials on steer and M720 radials on drive axles. Competitor vehicles used their fuel-efficient steer and drive radials. All trailers were identical. Control vehicles used conventional, non-fuel-efficient radials.

What’s going to make the M720 last longer than other fuel-efficient tires I’ve tried?

In this case, three things. Besides fuel efficiency, the M720’s casing also produces a nearly ideal footprint. That means solid traction, high pulling power, even wear and long tread life.

And, Bridgestone’s fuel-efficient tread compound blends cool-running, low rolling resistance natural rubber and the outstanding wear resistance of synthetic rubber.

Finally, the M720 is a full 26/32", a deep tread drive radial, not a shallow skid depth drive like so many of the fuel-efficient tires you’ve seen in the past. In fact, it’s every bit as deep as Bridgestone’s legendary M711 drive radial.

What good is a slow-wearing tread, if irregular wear makes me pull the tires prematurely?

The secret to even wear is even footprint pressure. So, to combat irregular wear, the M720 borrows technology from Bridgestone’s current premium drive radial, the M726. Namely, continuous contact shoulder ribs.

In combination with the new casing design borrowed from the R227, these shoulder ribs help distribute both weight and torque – evenly – across the entire footprint.

And, because the M720 borrows much of its block design from the highly successful Bridgestone M711, you get solid traction, while minimizing the “heel-and-toe” irregular wear problems that plague so many drive radials.

What about traction? Tests indicate that the M720 will pull just as hard as the rest of the Bridgestone drive tire line. That’s better than any fuel-efficient drive Bridgestone has tested, and better than a lot of conventional drive radials. How can I get some? The M720 fuel-efficient drive radial is available from your dealer in the 295/75R22.5 and 285/75R24.5 size, both with a “G” load rating. What kind of performance can I expect from the M720? Fuel economy is a great goal, and Bridgestone believes you shouldn’t have to sacrifice mileage, traction or retreadability to get it. That’s why we created the M720. The M720 should deliver long tread life and superb fuel economy. That means more profits for you – just what you wanted all along.

Unlike many competitive fuel-saving drive radials, the Bridgestone M720 provides a full 26/32" of original tread depth, for long mileage.

With a continuous contact shoulder and computer-designed tread block, the M720 combats the irregular wear that shortens the life of many fuel-efficient tires.