Bridgestone Potenza Sport review
The Bridgestone Potenza Sport feels great in the wet and the dry, but doesn’t deliver in the measured tests and is also the thirstiest
Bridgestone’s Turanza T005 finished fourth in our last test of this size. The Potenza Sport is a more impressive design in some ways but full of contradictions. It was the quickest on the wet handling circuit and second fastest in the dry, yet it didn’t deliver top results in the measured tests. For instance, the fastest lap time in the wet was contrasted by last place in wet braking – where it took almost three metres longer than the best to stop – and sixth place in cornering. It was no better in deep water, finishing last in curved aquaplaning and sixth in the straight assessment.
The speed around the wet circuit was no surprise from behind the wheel, because it gave useful feel and feedback through the steering and had good balance, allowing easy and consistent precision. Similarly, it was second fastest around the sweeps and tight turns of the dry handling circuit, and felt great: grippy, composed and with crisp responses. It was stable under braking too, so the quick lap time was expected, yet it delivered a middling dry braking result, taking 1.5m longer to stop from 62mph than the best.
Noise and ride refinement were good, but it returned by far the highest rolling resistance, a huge 21 per cent behind the top tyre. Also, this was the only tyre with tread that looked roughed up after testing.
Blackcircles.com says…
“Reviews rate this 4.6/5 for ‘would buy again’. They highlight good grip and feel in dry and wet conditions.”
Results
| Bridgestone Potenza Sport | ||
| Overall | 99% | |
| Price | £113.02 | |
| Wet braking | 91.90% | 8th |
| Wet handling | 100.00% | 1st |
| Wet cornering | 98.50% | =6th |
| Curved aquaplaning | 85.00% | 8th |
| Straight aquaplaning | 97.00% | 6th |
| Dry braking | 95.60% | 5th |
| Dry handling | 99.80% | 2nd |
| Cabin noise | 94.80%% | 5th |
| Rolling resistance | 79.00% | 8th |
