The Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 is one of the best offerings from Firestone to date for many reasons, one of them is that it shares a lot in common, design-wise, with the popular Potenza RE003 from the parent company Bridgestone.
The Firehawk Indy 500 promises superior levels of responsiveness, traction, and grip, but can it actually deliver on its promises? In this comprehensive Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 review, we attempt to address that question.
| TIRE REVIEW
Firehawk Indy 500 |
|
| Bottom Line | All in all, we’re very impressed with this tire’s performance. |
| Pros | Excellent traction on both dry and wet terrain with great stability and highly responsive steering. |
| Cons | Not suitable for use in snow or ice whatsoever. |
| Tire sizes | 20”, 19″, 18”, 17” and 16” |
| Price range | Starts from approximately $78. |
| Warranty | Limited warranty on the tread. |
Before continuing consider reading our Review of Firehawk A/S by Firestone as well as the Review of Champion Fuel Fighter by Firestone.
Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 (Our Review)
Overall Assessment
Equipped with an advanced silica-infused tread compound, the Firehawk Indy 500 delivers on its promise of delivering superb traction, grip, and steering response on both dry and wet roads. Firestone has also utilized Long Link Carbon for this tire’s compound to deliver the best level of traction achievable.
The tire displays an incredibly stable performance with exceptional cornering grip even at high speeds. It also incorporates quite a few of Firestone’s latest technologies, including the Pulse Groove technology, which aids in boosting traction on dry pavement. However, you must keep in mind that this isn’t a winter tire, so don’t expect much when driving in the snow and on the ice.
The Indy 500 is also equipped with considerably large tread blocks and a rigid sidewall, so you can expect an excellent cornering performance. In fact, this is one of the best tires in its class when it comes to cornering. All in all, we’re very impressed with this tire’s performance.
Pros:
- Excellent traction on both dry and wet terrain
- Great stability and highly responsive steering
- Ideal cornering capabilities even at high speeds
- Short braking distance on dry and wet terrain
- Offers a quiet and comfortable ride experience
Cons:
- Not suitable for use in snow or ice whatsoever
Check out the pros & cons of Destination tires in our Review of Destination A/T by Firestone and also our Review of Destination LE2 Tires by Firestone.
Feel free to check out: How to Mount Car Tires.
Vehicles That Can Use the Firestone Firehawk Indy 500
The Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 is designed for drivers of all types of sedans, sports cars, and coupes. Below is a shortlist of some of the most popular vehicles compatible with the Firehawk Indy 500.
- Mercedes-Benz: SL55, E550, SLK320, CLK430, SL500,
- BMW: M5, M3, 330i, 135i, 550i, 750Li, 545i
- Ford: Focus, Contour, Mustang GT, Fusion
- Audi: A8L, TT, A6, A4,
- Chevrolet: Corvette, Monte Carlo, Impala, Camaro, Malibu, Cruze, Cobalt,
- Dodge: Charger, Challenger, Avenger
- Honda: CRZ, Civic, S2000
- Lexus: GS430, GS350, IS300, LS460L
- Pontiac: G8, G6, GTO, Grand Am, Trans Am, Grand Prix
- Subaru: Impreza, Legacy, WRX STI, Outback, BRZ
- Volkswagen: CC Sport, Jetta, GTi, Passat
Sizes and Specs
| Sizes | Available Specs |
| 16 Inches | 195/55R16 87W BSW 205/50R16 87W BSW 205/55R16 91W BSW 225/50R16 92W BSW |
| 17 Inches | 205/45R17 88W BSW 205/50R17 93W BSW 215/45R17 91W BSW 225/45R17 94W BSW 225/50R17 94W BSW 225/55R17 97W BSW 235/45R17 94W BSW 235/50R17 96W BSW 235/55R17 99W BSW 245/40R17 91W BSW 245/45R17 99W BSW 255/40R17 94W BSW |
| 18 Inches | 215/40R18 89W BSW 225/40R18 92W BSW 225/45R18 95W BSW 225/50R18 95W BSW 235/40R18 95W BSW 235/50R18 101W BSW 245/40R18 97W BSW 245/45R18 100W BSW 255/35R18 94W BSW 255/40R18 99W BSW 255/45R18 103W BSW 265/35R18 97W BSW 275/35R18 95W BSW 275/40R18 99W BSW |
| 19 Inches | 235/35R19 91W BSW 245/35R19 93W BSW 245/40R19 98W BSW 245/45R19 98W BSW 245/50R19 104W BSW 255/40R19 100W BSW 265/40R19 98W BSW 275/30R19 96W BSW 275/35R19 100W BSW 275/40R19 101W BSW 285/35R19 99W BSW |
| 20 Inches | 245/40R20 99W BSW 245/45R20 103W BSW 255/35R20 97W BSW 275/35R20 102W BSW 275/40R20 106W BSW 285/35R20 100W BSW |
Prices
The Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 starts at a cost-effective price point of around $78. Be on the lookout for special offers on this tire like discounts, rebates, and coupons to reduce the price by a few bucks. You must keep in mind that the prices might vary from one dealer to another. They also vary depending on the size and specs you choose.
Warranty
The Firehawk Indy 500 is backed by a limited warranty from Firestone. Uniformity is warranted for the first 1/32 inch of treadwear. Both workmanship and materials are warranted for a period of 5 years, with free replacements throughout the first 3 years of use.
Firestone also provides a 30-day test drive period for the Indy 500. If the tire fails to live up to your expectations during the trial period, you’re eligible for a refund or a tire exchange.
In the end read our full Reviews of Tire by Firestone to see all available options.
Firestone Firehawk Indy 500Tire Customer Review
Bruce C. says: “I’m in love with this tire. It’s inexpensive, yet it performs just like a top-tier premium unit. It’s one of the most comfortable and quiet tires I’ve ever used on my Lincoln LS. I don’t really know how it performs in the snow, though, because it’s usually sunny around here.”
Bruce C. posted(5 / 5) review
Ryan S. says: “The Firehawk Indy 500 is arguably the best tire Firestone ever made, and I’ve used quite a few Firestone tires. It’s stable, quiet, comfortable, and very reliable on dry and wet terrain. However, I wouldn’t recommend using it in the snow or on the ice, as it’s not a winter-specific tire.”
Ryan S. posted