"At one time, Firestone "Firehawks" and their derivatives were fitted to most cars, light trucks and SUVs built for or by the New Zealand and Australian industries, not because of expediency, but because they were the best tyres for the job at hand."

Which century was this? Quite frankly, at this point in time they are viewed by many as being an inferior product compared to most imported rubber. The RMT, for example, is a tyre that isn't really very good at anything, and doesn't cut it as an allrounder either. To market it as a replacement for the SAT was a disaster.

Sorry to hear the plant is closing and people are losing their jobs, but your eulogy for their rather ordinary products is a little over the top. Can't blame the people on the floor for this of course.

"Which century was this? Quite frankly, at this point in time they are viewed by many as being an inferior product compared to most imported rubber. The RMT, for example, is a tyre that isn't really very good at anything, and doesn't cut it as an allrounder either. To market it as a replacement for the SAT was a disaster"

Mate, you clearly have no idea, the RMT hasnt been in production for years... It was replaced with the Destination range, which for the money you pay they were awesome. I have the Destination A/T currently and they go anywhere, even further than my old ATX 23's and they are so much quieter. The RMT was never marketed as an all rounder, your clearly a guy who buys 4x4 tyres for his SUV that never goes off road and complain about the noise. NZ made is awesome, and never to happen again...

"but your eulogy for their rather ordinary products is a little over the top."

Sorry ugly but I'm with Mr Moore the firehawk range are the best tyres I have ever expreianced on New Zealand roads. Doing alot of mileage I have had the chance to try several types of imported and NZ made tyres in passenger and SUV tyres and I haven't found an imported tyre that has performed across the board like the firehawk range does on the NZ roads. To also think that the RMT (MT=Mud terrain) was ever marketed to replace the SAT (Super all terrain) is rediculous, NZ MADE hit the nail on the head you clearly are someone who buys a mud terrain tyre for your soccer mum SUV and get up and arms when they are to nosiey ;( waaaa.

Great Blog NZ FTW

This makes me sad. My Dad worked at the Firestone plant for nearly 30 years and it was Firestone that put food on our table, put my brothers and I through university and so on.

I feel for the families who are going to suffer because of this closure.

@NZ MADE,

you clearly don't know what you are talking about. The RMT was still in the catalogues up until about 8 months ago.

I DO go offroad, and that's where the RMT is particularly poor - noisier on the tarseal than most other muds and less grip off it. The ATX was actually a better tyre - at least they bothered to stagger the outer lug so it had some chance to clear - something the RMT just could never do (due mostly to this glaring fault). Then again, I'm not running ATs and talking like I know something about offroad tyres...

The RMT was marketed as an offroad tyre - if you had bothered to read my first post I stated it was marketed as a replacement for the SAT. The SAT was great (noisy on the road yes, and lumpy when cold, didn't wear great), but at least it was good at something - can't say the same for the RMT.

@NZ FTW,

I actually have a set of Firehawks on my road truck at the moment - they are ok, but there are plenty of much better tyres around on the market these days.

Funny you acuse me of complaining RMTs were too noisy when I preferred to SAT (which is noisier) - sounds like you guys drive ATs, and have never owned or driven on RMTs! Sounds like you, like NZ MADE, are the ones doing the road running with your mileage comment.

Firestone did market the RMT as there "offroad traction tyre" after the SAT was discontinued. Go look at "club trucks" in your area and come back and tell me how many are running RMTs - pop into your local 4wd club meeting and ask the members what they think about RMTs.

As I mentioned - the RMT doesn't clear at all well, the shoulder block design doesn't allow this. Lateral stabilty is pretty ordinary too.

NZ made is all well and good, but lets not pretend products are great just because there homegrown, this doesn't help industry survive in the longterm.

ugly: While they may have been in catalogues doesnt mean they are available. The RMT was not the replacement for the SAT, they replaced the SAT with 3 tyres, as there was traditionally only 1 option in 4x4 fitments. The replacements were RV, RMT & ATX23. all varying in terms of off road ability. The RMT ill agree wasnt the best tyre to come out of Papanui, but hands down a NZ made tyre would outlast/perform any imported product.

" but hands down a NZ made tyre would outlast/perform any imported product."

This is quite simply wrong. You are trying to tell me the Firestone Firehawk range (or the Destination that replaced it) is superior to BFG? To Pirelli? To the complete Maxxis range? All of these tyres perform better, and most (other than the comp spec ones of course) will last better as well. I can't think of a worse mud than the RMT - I still think you are being very kind to it! Please point one out if you like.

You admit the RMT "wasn't the best", the RV is ok, but only just (I own a set, I know!), and the ATX was only available in about three sizes, and again is inferior to those mentioned above!

The RMT was available about 8 months ago - someone tried to sell me some (brand new, from a large, yellow tyre chain that operates here!).

There is nothing magic about NZ made - I will buy NZ made, but the quality has to be comparable to imported products. In this case (at least the 4x4 tyres) they fell well short.

Very sorry to hear that the factory is closing. Best wishes to the staff.

I have to say though that I had a set of Firestones on my Legacy and they really did not cope well under the 'NZ conditions' they were supposedly designed for. A big disappointment as I had splashed out to fit them. Some people seem to be fans, but not me.

Ultimately, tyres require the latest construction and compound technology to keep up with the requirements of the modern vehicle. Tyres that 10 years ago were the best in the market are now regarded as inadequate and deliver poor performance. Firestones Papanui factory can be proud of what they have produced in the past but it was sold in recent times primarily as "affordable tyres for the masses" because technically they struggled to cut it with the latest technology. This wasnt going to change without investing millions in the production facility and so they have bowed out. Another casualty of our fluctuating NZ dollar and small market size. To suggest that they were "better suited for the marketplace here because they were designed for the climate" is simply a marketing ploy. Nothing wrong with them but in reality they weren't that great.