Five reasons to consider the new Bridgestone Potenza Sport tyres

For those who love to get out on the road and put their high performance car through its paces, lockdown restrictions have presented quite a few challenges. Now that the rules on travel are relaxing, it’s a good time to blow off the car’s cobwebs, get back out on the road and think about upgrading to a new set of tyres.

Ones that are worth considering are the new Potenza Sport tyres from Bridgestone. These ultra high-performance tyres will help maximise the potential of your vehicle, and they’ve already been winning accolades – Auto Express’s German sister title, Auto Bild, named them winner of its sportscars’ 2021 summer tyre test. Put to the test on a Ford Mustang, they were awarded the overall best score in the wet roads category and top ratings for dry roads.

Eager to learn more? Here are five reasons why Bridgestone Potenza Sport tyres make a good fit for your high-performance car.

1. Innovative design

Bridgestone Potenza tyres were introduced in the late ‘70s and, with more than 40 years of experience in the high-performance segment, the Bridgestone Potenza Sport represents the next step forward for the brand.

A tyre’s tread pattern is key to understanding performance capability, and Bridgestone Potenza Sport engineers have opted for an asymmetrical design, helping to maximise grip, and aid braking and abrasion resistance. The tyre has also been created with an extra-wide profile for stability and the contact patches are designed to improve steering and control. The compound formula, meanwhile, has been optimised with innovative mixing technology to aid performance.

This attention to detail paid off when it came to independent tests by TÜV SÜD, one of Europe’s most respected independent automotive testing institutes.  Bridgestone Potenza Sport achieved the best performance in cornering and straight line stability (maintaining vehicle stability when travelling both in a straight line and through a curve) against competitors in the premium segment. 1, 2

2. Performance for dry braking

Now that we’re moving into the summer months, having a tyre that’s equipped to deal with dry roads is essential. The Bridgestone Potenza Sport’s profile shape and tread compound gives stability on the road and helps with braking performance.

It proved this with solid results in an Audi S4 during TÜV SÜD testing, where it came out on top with the best dry braking (shortest braking distance) on a dry surface. Against its main competitors in the same tyre segment, it registered the shortest distance when braking from 62mph to a standstill. 3

3. See how the tyres perform up close

If you want to get a look at how these tyres perform when given a run out then the video below is a good place to start. Fitting the Bridgestone Potenza Sports to a Mercedes SLS AMG helps unlock the performance of the vehicle and keep drivers in control, gripping firmly to the road.

There’s also the chance to see how they fare while the SLS AMG accelerates across the runway at Leeds East Airport, faced by warm sunshine, standing water and windy conditions.

4. Reliable in wet conditions

Despite some summer heat, it’s still worth taking into account the temperamental British weather. Performance car tyres need to be adaptable, and the  Bridgestone Potenza Sport offers outstanding wet performance, with an EU label A-grade in wet grip across its full line-up and achieved the best performance in wet cornering and handling tests performed by TÜV SÜD. 4

Thanks to the rib and void distribution of the asymmetrical tread design, water is cleared from the tyre faster to reduce the risk of aquaplaning, and the 3D sipes help with tackling corners and braking in wet conditions.

5. Range of tyre sizes

Cars with larger wheels have been growing in popularity in recent years. Owners of high-performance and luxury vehicles appreciate the enhanced aesthetics that larger rims offer, and consequently there’s a greater need for high rim diameter (HRD) and HRD+ (18-inch and above) tyres.

The Bridgestone Potenza Sport answers this demand with 91 sizes available in 18-inch and above – that’s a significantly wider range than previous Potenza tyres, the S001 and S007. So whether it’s a high-end performance vehicle needing eye-catching rims, or a larger-wheeled 4x4 or SUV, the Bridgestone Potenza Sport has sizes to cover all requirements.

Find out more about Bridgestone Potenza Sport tyres

1 Tests carried out by TÜV SÜD on the request of Bridgestone in July-September 2020 at the facilities Bridgestone EUPG (Italy) for dry and wet tests with Audi S4 3.0 TFSI, on tyre size 245/40 R18. Potenza Sport compared to the performances of main competitors in the same segment: Continental PremiumContact 6, Michelin Pilot Sport 4, Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5, Pirelli P Zero PZ4. Annex Report No. [713190691-PS].

2 Maintain vehicle stability when travelling both in a straight line and through a curve. Straight stability, rating: Bridgestone Potenza Sport (9.33), Continental Premium Contact 6 (9.00), Michelin Pilot Sport 4 (8.67), Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5 (8.67), Pirelli P Zero PZ4 (8.56). Cornering stability, rating: Bridgestone Potenza Sport (9.21), Continental Premium Contact 6 (8.13), Michelin Pilot Sport 4 (8.67), Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5 (8.33), Pirelli P Zero PZ4 (8.58).

3 Shortest braking distance on a dry surface. Dry braking distance (100 km/h to 0 km/h), metres: Bridgestone Potenza Sport (33.4), Continental Premium Contact 6 (35.4), Michelin Pilot Sport 4 (34.5), Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5 (35.9), Pirelli P Zero PZ4 (34.8).

4 Awarded EU label grade “A” for wet grip index.