It's the second time in history the new Bridgestone Potenza Sport has been tested in a tyre test, and it's super exciting to see whether it can it match the first place from the Auto Bild Sportscars test!
There are some small differences between the two tests. Firstly, Auto Bild tested 20" tyres using a Ford Mustang, where for this test Sport Auto have used the Toyota Supra / BMW Z4 platform which wears 255/35 R19 front and 275/35 R19 rear tyres.
Sport Auto have also added a little depth to the test by including both UUHP (or Maximum Performance) and UHP tyres, which means we get the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5 up against the best from Michelin and Bridgestone, not the Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperSport.
Sport Auto have also provided lots of data about the tyres on test, which you'll see in the results below underneath the images, and it's interesting to see Bridgestone have been punchy with a starting tread depth of just 6.7mm on the front tyre, way lower than the 7.4mm of the Michelin and 8mm of the Goodyear. Please note, the information listed below is for the rear 275/35 R19 size, if you'd like the data for the front size please head over to the Sport Auto website.
UUHP vs UHP
Analyzing the differences between the best UUHP and best UHP tyres brings up some interesting data.
In the dry, the UUHP tyres from Michelin and Bridgestone were unrivaled in both braking and handling, with the testers also noting they had the sportiest handling on test.
The wet testing muddied the water a little. The UUHP Michelin had the shortest wet braking, but Falken managed to beat the Bridgestone to second place. Falken also dominated the wet handling test, ahead of second placed UHP Goodyear with the Bridgestone having to settle for third and the Michelin down in seventh! Somewhat strangely, the wet circle test brought the advantage back to the UUHP tyres, with Michelin leading Bridgestone, which could mean the water depth on the wet handling circuit was too much for the UUHP tyres at points, as the UHP tyres were the clear leaders in the aquaplaning tests.
Dry
The new Potenza Sport led the way in dry braking with a small advantage over the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S.
Dry Braking
Spread: 4.40 M (13.3%)|Avg: 34.53 M
Dry braking in meters (100 - 0 km/h) (Lower is better)
Dry Braking: Safety Impact: Best vs Worst Tyre
Dry handling matched the first two positions of dry braking, with the Continental SportContact 6 taking an impressive third place.
Dry Handling
Spread: 4.10 Km/H (3.2%)|Avg: 127.74 Km/H
Dry Handling Average Speed (Higher is better)
Bridgestone Potenza Sport
129.30 Km/H
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S
129.20 Km/H
Continental Sport Contact 6
129.00 Km/H
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5
128.30 Km/H
Falken Azenis FK510
127.20 Km/H
Maxxis Victra Sport 5
127.00 Km/H
Toyo Proxes Sport
126.70 Km/H
Nankang Sportnex AS2 Plus
125.20 Km/H
Unsurprisingly the two fastest tyres on test also had the best subjectively handling, with the Continental and Goodyear the best of the UHP tyres.
Subj. Dry Handling
Spread: 5.00 Points (50%)|Avg: 8.00 Points
Subjective Dry Handling Score (Higher is better)
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S
10.00 Points
Bridgestone Potenza Sport
10.00 Points
Continental Sport Contact 6
9.00 Points
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5
9.00 Points
Falken Azenis FK510
8.00 Points
Maxxis Victra Sport 5
7.00 Points
Toyo Proxes Sport
6.00 Points
Nankang Sportnex AS2 Plus
5.00 Points
Wet
The top three positions in wet braking were covered by just 0.3 meters, with the updated Toyo Proxes Sport A still struggling in the wet.
Wet Braking
Spread: 7.40 M (21.7%)|Avg: 35.88 M
Wet braking in meters (80 - 0 km/h) (Lower is better)
Wet Braking: Safety Impact: Best vs Worst Tyre
The Falken FK510 again proved its wet mastery, edging out the Goodyear for the fastest average speed around the lap. The Michelin Pilot Sport 4S seemed to unusually struggle, posting the second slowest time.
Wet Handling
Spread: 4.20 Km/H (5.8%)|Avg: 71.21 Km/H
Wet Handling Average Speed (Higher is better)
Falken Azenis FK510
72.80 Km/H
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5
72.60 Km/H
Bridgestone Potenza Sport
72.00 Km/H
Continental Sport Contact 6
71.70 Km/H
Maxxis Victra Sport 5
71.20 Km/H
Nankang Sportnex AS2 Plus
71.10 Km/H
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S
69.70 Km/H
Toyo Proxes Sport
68.60 Km/H
The three fastest tyres also had the best subjective handling.
Subj. Wet Handling
Spread: 2.00 Points (22.2%)|Avg: 8.00 Points
Subjective Wet Handling Score (Higher is better)
Falken Azenis FK510
9.00 Points
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5
9.00 Points
Bridgestone Potenza Sport
9.00 Points
Continental Sport Contact 6
8.00 Points
Nankang Sportnex AS2 Plus
8.00 Points
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S
7.00 Points
Toyo Proxes Sport
7.00 Points
Maxxis Victra Sport 5
7.00 Points
Michelin improved its wet weather performance by producing the highest lateral G around the wet circle.
Wet Circle
Spread: 0.82 m/s (8.9%)|Avg: 8.99 m/s
Lateral wet grip in m/s squared (Higher is better)
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S
9.23 m/s
Bridgestone Potenza Sport
9.16 m/s
Maxxis Victra Sport 5
9.14 m/s
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5
9.13 m/s
Continental Sport Contact 6
9.08 m/s
Falken Azenis FK510
9.05 m/s
Nankang Sportnex AS2 Plus
8.68 m/s
Toyo Proxes Sport
8.41 m/s
The Nankang AS2+ was impressively ahead in straight aquaplaning tests, however that didn't make up for the otherwise low grip.
Straight Aqua
Spread: 4.20 Km/H (4.6%)|Avg: 89.23 Km/H
Float Speed in Km/H (Higher is better)
Nankang Sportnex AS2 Plus
91.80 Km/H
Continental Sport Contact 6
89.80 Km/H
Toyo Proxes Sport
89.70 Km/H
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S
89.20 Km/H
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5
89.10 Km/H
Falken Azenis FK510
88.50 Km/H
Bridgestone Potenza Sport
88.10 Km/H
Maxxis Victra Sport 5
87.60 Km/H
Environment
The spread of external noise was covered by just 1.9db.
Noise
Spread: 1.90 dB (2.7%)|Avg: 72.39 dB
External noise in dB (Lower is better)
Nankang Sportnex AS2 Plus
71.20 dB
Continental Sport Contact 6
71.90 dB
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S
72.00 dB
Falken Azenis FK510
72.20 dB
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5
72.70 dB
Toyo Proxes Sport
72.90 dB
Maxxis Victra Sport 5
73.10 dB
Bridgestone Potenza Sport
73.10 dB
The Continental SportContact 6 had the lowest rolling resistance on test, with the new Bridgestone posting it's first test loss.
Rolling Resistance
Spread: 1.40 kg / t (16.9%)|Avg: 9.09 kg / t
Rolling resistance in kg t (Lower is better)
Continental Sport Contact 6
8.30 kg / t
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5
8.70 kg / t
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S
8.80 kg / t
Nankang Sportnex AS2 Plus
9.00 kg / t
Maxxis Victra Sport 5
9.00 kg / t
Falken Azenis FK510
9.50 kg / t
Toyo Proxes Sport
9.70 kg / t
Bridgestone Potenza Sport
9.70 kg / t
19,000 km
£1.45/L
8.0 L/100km
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Annual Difference
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Lifetime Savings
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Extra Fuel/Energy
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Extra CO2
Estimates based on typical driving conditions. Rolling resistance accounts for approximately 20% of IC vehicle fuel consumption and 25% of EV energy consumption. Actual savings vary based on driving style, vehicle weight, road conditions, and tyre age. For comparative purposes only. Lifetime savings based on a 40,000km / 25,000 mile tread life.
Unsurprisingly the Nankang was cheapest, but surprisingly the Bridgestone was actually more expensive than the Michelin, at over 1000 Euros for a set.
Very short braking distances in the wet and dry, high levels of grip, very direct steering response and very high steering prevision in the dry, low rolling resistance.
Very narrow grip limit with tendency to oversteer in the wet, slight restrictions in ride comfort.
The Pilot Sport 4S delivers precise, reliable steering and top grip in the dry and wet.
A very wall balanced tyre with excellent handling in the dry, forgiving and still sporty in the dry, low rolling resistance, high driving stability and good comfort.
Not a very dynamic steering response, higher noise levels.
The Asymmetric 5 is sporty and comfortable for every day safety in any weather.
Sadly I've never tested it, however both would certainly be affected as asymmetric tyres tend to have larger outer shoulder blocks for cornering, and directional tyres would have water dispersal changed.
Hi. Pls help me. I need to replace Michelin Pilot Super Sports. Oe sizes which i want to stary with are 205/45/17 - here i can go with Bridgestone Potenza Sport, which is great choice if this size is equally good as bigger sizes (who knows that?). Better choice is to go to size 205/40/18 but heres the problems are getting bigger. Only "proper" sport tire in this size is Goodyear Eagle F1 Supersport, but this size costs over 400 euro for one tire...... If goin into this better handling 18" size i can go Michelin Pilot Sport 4 or Continental PremiumContact 6. The question is which choice is better for sporty sharp handling. Would You choose Bridgestone Potenza Sport (lets say equivalent of Michelin Pilot Sport 4s) in 17" or Michelin Pilot Sport 4 18"?
Sadly I have not tested this yet, so I won't know until next month! Hopefully you can wait, though it's worth noting the PSS is a very good handling tyre so you might be disappointed whatever you do.
I am on 17" but i try to go up to 18". Stock is 205/40/18, I aim at this size, but i think one and only is GY F1 Supersport which costs 400 Euro per tire...wtf. Other options are less performance tires like Michelin Pilot Sport 4. Got to solve this: better tire Bridgestone Potenza Sport 17" or worse Continental PremiumContact 6 18".
Bridgestone has aced its latest product it seems. So top marks in UUHP and also a very good tyre in T005 for the premium touring class. But what about the middle ground? Is the S007 the rival to the PS4?
I thought the S007 was only a Ferrari/Renault Megan RS bespoke tyre. I saw quite a few S007A and S005 on recent bimmers. I was under the impression the 007A was the replacement to the S001 and I have no clue about the 005.
It seems to me that the direct opponent for the PS4S is the potenza sport and the T005 stacks against primacy 4. I suppose that the S007 is the natural opponent for PS4 but it is absent from almost all testing.
There's no 'middle ground' Bridgestone AFAIK, this idea of having 'performance tyres' that have high grip but soft compliant sidewalls like a touring tyre is a very new idea and seems to be a uniquely European concept. There's the cheaper Potenza RE004 Adrenalin but it's just as rigid in the sidewalls and sharp on the turn-in as the bigger brother Potenza S007A or Sport AFAIK (or perhaps even sharper at <120 km/hr, because the Adrenalin line has traditionally been biased to a lower speed range for backroads driving as opposed to Autobahns or circuits).
I'm pretty sure the distinction between UHP and so-called UUHP has only been created in the last 10 years or less by Michelin, Continental and Goodyear, and Bridgestone will have no part of it -- a sporty tyre should have a stiff sidewall!
Remember when there was the Pilot Sport 2 or Eagle F1 Asymmetric and that was it, the next step up was the track day tyres. It wasn't that long ago!
Thanks for the hard work + great work.
Just wondering if you can help
answer a question that I'm sure it's on the minds of many enthusiasts.
How are a asymmetric/directional pattern tyre's performance, and
dynamics affected if it's mounted inside-out out instead of the correct
way.
Thanks, and eagerly waiting for your test results on the Bridgestone Potenza Sport.
Sadly I've never tested it, however both would certainly be affected as asymmetric tyres tend to have larger outer shoulder blocks for cornering, and directional tyres would have water dispersal changed.
My test should be out in May!
Hi. Pls help me. I need to replace Michelin Pilot Super Sports. Oe sizes which i want to stary with are 205/45/17 - here i can go with Bridgestone Potenza Sport, which is great choice if this size is equally good as bigger sizes (who knows that?). Better choice is to go to size 205/40/18 but heres the problems are getting bigger. Only "proper" sport tire in this size is Goodyear Eagle F1 Supersport, but this size costs over 400 euro for one tire...... If goin into this better handling 18" size i can go Michelin Pilot Sport 4 or Continental PremiumContact 6. The question is which choice is better for sporty sharp handling. Would You choose Bridgestone Potenza Sport (lets say equivalent of Michelin Pilot Sport 4s) in 17" or Michelin Pilot Sport 4 18"?
Sadly I have not tested this yet, so I won't know until next month! Hopefully you can wait, though it's worth noting the PSS is a very good handling tyre so you might be disappointed whatever you do.
My Super Sports are 17", theyre ok but i want to go to the next level...
If you want the next level in dry handling you might have to move to a more track bias tyre!
The next level could also be the relative new Conti SportContact 6, more sporty than CPC 6.
The Sport Contact 6 isn't made in 17" sadly and only a few 18"
OK, if insisting on 17' then still possible with ContiSportContact 5 or 5 P.
I am on 17" but i try to go up to 18". Stock is 205/40/18, I aim at this size, but i think one and only is GY F1 Supersport which costs 400 Euro per tire...wtf. Other options are less performance tires like Michelin Pilot Sport 4. Got to solve this: better tire Bridgestone Potenza Sport 17" or worse Continental PremiumContact 6 18".
https://www.tyrereviews.com...
None of SportContacts are available in 205/40/18
https://www.tyrereviews.com...
This is 205/45/17...
Yes, you are on 17' and 18' are substantially more expensive and you would still need to buy new 18' rims.
I seek uuhp tires in freakin size 205/40/18. Thats why ive asked for help in my first post...
Bridgestone has aced its latest product it seems. So top marks in UUHP and also a very good tyre in T005 for the premium touring class. But what about the middle ground? Is the S007 the rival to the PS4?
I've no idea about the S007, they didn't really communicate anything.
The Potenza Sport goes down to 17" so it could be the middle ground tyre too
I thought the S007 was only a Ferrari/Renault Megan RS bespoke tyre. I saw quite a few S007A and S005 on recent bimmers. I was under the impression the 007A was the replacement to the S001 and I have no clue about the 005.
https://www.caradvice.com.a...
It seems to me that the direct opponent for the PS4S is the potenza sport and the T005 stacks against primacy 4. I suppose that the S007 is the natural opponent for PS4 but it is absent from almost all testing.
Looking at the size range available of the S007, it seems unlikely this is aimed at the PS4. https://www.tyrereviews.com...
I'll be testing 18" Potenza Sport vs PS4 and 4S so we'll see where it sits in the smaller sizes.
There's no 'middle ground' Bridgestone AFAIK, this idea of having 'performance tyres' that have high grip but soft compliant sidewalls like a touring tyre is a very new idea and seems to be a uniquely European concept. There's the cheaper Potenza RE004 Adrenalin but it's just as rigid in the sidewalls and sharp on the turn-in as the bigger brother Potenza S007A or Sport AFAIK (or perhaps even sharper at <120 km/hr, because the Adrenalin line has traditionally been biased to a lower speed range for backroads driving as opposed to Autobahns or circuits).
I'm pretty sure the distinction between UHP and so-called UUHP has only been created in the last 10 years or less by Michelin, Continental and Goodyear, and Bridgestone will have no part of it -- a sporty tyre should have a stiff sidewall!
Remember when there was the Pilot Sport 2 or Eagle F1 Asymmetric and that was it, the next step up was the track day tyres. It wasn't that long ago!
I remember when Bridgestone were king of UHP, back in the SO2 days.
The S001 even started life as a tyre with a firm sidewall, but 10 years later the aftermarket version seems to have evolved into a soft tyre.
The potenza sport is great, however not intended for track use as it overheats pretty quickly sadly.