Bridgestone Potenza RE050A Pole Position Max Performance Test

Tires tested:
Bridgestone Potenza RE050A
Bridgestone Potenza S-03
Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3
Michelin Pilot Sport PS2

Vehicles used:
2006 BMW 325i Sedan

Bridgestone's Potenza S-02 Pole Position & Potenza S-03 Pole Position Max Performance Summer tires earned a class-leading reputation thanks to the combination of wet & dry performance they provided. Bridgestone's Potenza RE050, RE050A & RE050A Scuderia tires initially achieved their status from the high-performance BMW, Mercedes-Benz AMG & Ferrari models for which they were chosen as Original Equipment. The new Bridgestone Potenza RE050A Pole Position line is designed to benefit from the genetics handed down from all of these tire lines & will continue Bridgestone's Pole Position heritage as it replaces all non-Original Equipment Potenza S-03 Pole Position & Potenza RE050A tires.

Since the Potenza RE050A Pole Position's introduction in February 2006 would preclude our ability to schedule a complete test for the team in South Bend, Bridgestone invited selected members of The Tire Rack team to join them in late 2005 for a pre-introduction preview of their new Pole Position tire. This would give us a chance to learn how much of a performance & comfort difference the new Potenza RE050A Pole Position's revised tread design (on 10 of 24 sizes), higher 90% silica content tread compound & handling-optimized internal construction modifications would make compared to other Max Performance Summer tires.

We were provided the opportunity to compare pre-production, but production-spec Potenza RE050A Pole Position tires to Bridgestone's current Potenza S-03 Pole Position, as well as Goodyear's Eagle F1 GS-D3 & Michelin's Pilot Sport PS2. Our evaluation used the 2006 BMW 325i sedan with new, full tread depth 225/45R17-sized tires mounted on 17"x8" wheels.

What We Learned on the Road

Our 5.6-mile loop of expressway, state highway & county roads provides a great variety of road conditions that include city & highway speeds, smooth & coarse concrete, as well as new & patched asphalt. This route allows our team to experience noise comfort, ride quality & everyday handling, just as you would during your drive to school or work.

All of the Max Performance Summer tires in this test displayed appropriate road manners, where responsive real world handling is valued ahead of a boulevard ride quality & absence of tread noise. While there were differences, they were subtle.

The Eagle F1 GS-D3 produced the best ride quality with the Pilot Sport PS2 & Potenza RE050A Pole Position close behind. The Potenza RE050A Pole Position produced the least amount of tread & impact noise with the Eagle F1 GS-D3 & Pilot Sport PS2 close behind. Road handling levels were appropriate for all tires in the test. The Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 was the most responsive, closely followed by the Eagle F1 GS-D3 & the Potenza RE050A Pole Position.

What We Learned on the Test Track

Our 1/3-mile per lap test track course includes 90-degree street corners, lane changes & simulated expressway ramps. Run in both dry & wet conditions, the test track allows our team to experience the traction, responsiveness, handling & drivability normally only encountered during abrupt emergency avoidance maneuvers or competition events.

In dry conditions, the average lap times for all of the Max Performance Summer tires were within about 1/2 second of each other, showing just how close the group is. The Pilot Sport PS2 showed a slight advantage by providing progressive handling & traction that allowed it to lap the course in 29.412 seconds & generate a little more grip around the skidpad. The Potenza RE050A Pole Position was scarcely 8/100 of a second slower & the Eagle F1 GS-D3 was 2/10 of a second back. The Potenza S-03 Pole Position felt predictable but was about 1/2 second back lacking the ultimate dry traction of the other tires.

In the wet, the difference between the tires was more pronounced. Here, the Potenza RE050A Pole Position showed an advantage by providing the progressive handling & traction that allowed it to lap the course in 31.783 seconds & generate more grip around the skidpad. The Pilot Sport PS2 was 1/2 second slower & the Eagle F1 GS-D3 was only 7/100 of a second further back. The Potenza S-03 Pole Position again felt predictable but was about 1.1 seconds back lacking the ultimate wet traction of the other tires (a capability that it was best in class in just a few years ago). The results showed just how far new tire wet traction & handling has come.