Bridgestone Driveguard Problems (Explained)

Bridgestone’s DriveGuard tires are made to last more than 60,000 miles, and their average customer ratings are fairly high, but how effective are they in reality?

Customers have noted several common issues with these tires, and today we’re going to unpack those to keep you aware.

Bridgestone DriveGuard’s problems range from handling issues to road noise, lowered fuel economy, low durability, and rough riding, among others. Some of the most common customer complaints have to do with tires blowing out on potholes.

If you’d like to learn more about the issues that Bridgestone DriveGuard tire customers have reported, keep reading.

We’ll discuss possible troubleshooting fixes for these problems when they’re possible.

Stick around to the end of the article to get answers to frequently asked questions.

Contents show

Problems with Bridgestone DriveGuard Tires

Below, we’re exploring the most common issues with Bridgestone DriveGuard tires, according to firsthand customer reviews and forums detailing issues with the product.

Bad Steering/Handling
Road Noise
Lowered Fuel Economy
Belt Separation
Low Durability
Poor Tread Life
Rough Riding
Bad Snow Traction

Note that some of these issues with DriveGuard tires are more severe or common than others, while some are rarely reported among dissatisfied customers.

Bad Steering/Handling

Handling and steering are super important for a smooth driving experience, but customers have noted repeatedly that DriveGuard tires alter handling.

Reports note that the tires make steering less precise, cause swaying when making turns, and even make the driving experience feel like driving a boat.

If you want to counteract or try and prevent bad handling, make sure to get your tires rotated regularly and ensure that:

Your suspension does not need to be replaced/repaired
Your wheels are aligned
Your tires are at the correct air pressure
Your brake pads are in good condition

If the problem persists, though, you may need to replace your DriveGuard tires.

Road Noise

Road noise isn’t the worst problem these tires exhibit, but it can be obnoxious, especially if you want to use audio features in your vehicle successfully.

Customer reviews have noted that DriveGuard tires produce loud road noise after reaching the 15,000-mile mark. Furthermore, it seems that they get noisier when you’re driving at highway speeds, such as over 50 mph.

To reduce road noise, you will have to drive slower when possible and ensure that your tires are inflated properly.

Lowered Fuel Economy

Lowered fuel economy is one of the more costly problems that you’ll experience with Bridgestone DriveGuard tires.

Dissatisfied DriveGuard drivers noticed that their fuel economy significantly dropped after installing the tires.

For example, they noticed the following:

Vehicle fuel economy was reduced by about 29% on average
Vehicle fuel economy reduced by 3-4 mpg

You can compensate for lowered fuel economy by making use of cruise control features when possible, using your car’s eco-feature if it has one, and maintaining normal driving speeds.

Belt Separation

Belt separation is an alarming issue that you never want to experience, but some DriveGuard tire users had this happen to them.

What’s more, is that this occurrence was reported as having happened when the tires were still at relatively low mileage.

There’s little you can do to troubleshoot this problem, as it’s likely due to manufacturing or design flaws.

Low Durability

Low durability is one of the worst issues you’ll face with Bridgestone DriveGuard tires.

Customer reviews note the following issues that create safety hazards, among other driving issues:

Tire sidewalls cracking open unexpectedly due to blowouts (at low mileage)
Blowouts occurring at low and high speeds
A “5-inch crack” after driving over a pothole
Blowouts after driving over potholes
Burst tire soon after installation
Tire bubbles develop after driving over potholes
Blown tires within the first 6 months of use

Again, these issues, like belt separation, cannot be fixed without replacing the tire in most cases.

Poor Tread Life

This is the issue that most customers want to be aware of, as it gets expensive to keep replacing tires frequently.

Although DriveGuard tires are supposed to last 60,000 miles, most customers noted that the tread wore out as soon as they reached 10,000-30,000 miles.

One dissatisfied customer noted that before they even reached 20,000 miles, the tread wore down enough to expose the steel belts.

Regular tire rotations and proper air pressure maintenance can extend the tread life of your tires, but only by so much.

Rough Riding

If you want a comfortable driving experience, you may be out of luck with Bridgestone DriveGuard tires.

They’re known for harsh and rough riding, where you can feel every bump, crack, pothole, and dip in the road you drive over.

Many drivers experience these discomforts as soon as they put the tires on the car or after a certain mileage has been exceeded.

Even on gravelly or slightly uneven roads, you’ll notice the tires’ hardness.

You can give yourself more comfort by using a seat cushion or trying to drive at lower speeds.

Bad Snow Traction

Last but not least, a minor complaint about DriveGuard tires is that they don’t have good snow traction (not even in light snow).

Other customers noted bad traction on icy roads, as well.

Sadly, defensive driving is one of the few ways you can combat this issue, other than putting chains on your tires.

FAQs

Are Bridgestone DriveGuard Tires Noisy?

There have been some complaints from DriveGuard customers that the tires are noisy, with road noise developing especially soon after installation.

There are also reports that these tires generate a lot of road noise when you’re driving at higher speeds (above 50 mph or so).

Are Bridgestone DriveGuard Tires Any Good?

Bridgestone DriveGuard tires are touring tires that Bridgestone customers have given an average rating of 3.9/5.0 stars (nearly 100 reviews).

Although they’re advertised as ideal tires for dry traction, wet traction, and a comfortable ride, many customers believe they create rough riding conditions and don’t perform well on wet or snowy roads.

This is on top of the myriad of other problems these tires exhibit.

How Long Do Bridgestone DriveGuard Tires Last?

Bridgestone DriveGuard tires have a “V” speed rating, which means that they have a limited warranty covering up to 60,000 miles.

The 12/32 inch tread design should last this long with proper maintenance, air pressure, and tire rotations, but many Bridgestone customers have noticed that their tread wears out long before they reach 60,000 miles.

Are Bridgestone DriveGuard tires good for BMW?

Yes, according to Bridgestone, the DriveGuard run-flat tires specifically are great for various BMW vehicle models.

They ensure that you can drive up to 50 miles to help in the case of a puncture or flat.

Both BMW cars and SUVs can benefit from a set of Bridgestone DriveGuard tires.

Are Bridgestone DriveGuard Tires Run-Flat?

Yes, Bridgestone’s DriveGuard tires are technically “run-flat” tires.

This means that they are designed so that if you get a puncture or a flat tire, you can still drive on them for up to 50 miles at a maximum speed of 50 mph while you get to a mechanic.

Unfortunately, this also means that you cannot patch or plug holes in the tires when they occur.