Bridgestone launches new performance tyres

For many drivers, buying new tyres is a grudge purchase. It's one of those "Do I really have to?" decisions. But for enthusiasts, buying new tyres is an exciting occasion, especially when a new product hits the streets.

To that end, Japanese tyre giant Bridgestone has launched two new high performance tyre products in Australia as part of its sporty Potenza range: the high-end S001 available now, and the Adrenaline RE002 on sale in June.

Bridgestone expects to sell around 14,000 Potenza tyres every month in Australia, which would account for around 10 per cent of its total sales; evidence that high performance tyres are far from a niche product.

The Carsales Network attended the national media launch of the new tyres in Queensland, where we had a chance to test the Potenza rubber against rivals (Dunlop, Michelin and Continental) in a range of different scenarios, including slalom runs and lane-changing exercises. We also hammered them hard through a number of corners, all in the name of gathering evidence.

To illustrate a point, the new Bridgestone Potenza S001 tyres are fitted as-standard to supercars such as the Lexus LF-A, Audi RS5 and Ferrari 458 Italia - and not the Toyota Camry (though you could if you desired).

As Bridgestone's flagship tyre replacing the RE050, the S001 is billed as the best-of-the-best, and varies in size from 17- to 20-inches. The smallest 205/50R17 version starts at around $300 per tyre and rises to around $1000 per tyre for the largest, widest items -- 305/30 R20 to fit 20-inch diameter rims.

Understandably, the new Potenza S001 tyres are aimed at the top-end of town, the Porsches, Ferraris, FPVs, HSVs and so forth, but due to the wide range of sizes the tyres can be fitted to vehicles such as the Mazda MX-5, Holden Commodore SS and Renault Clio RS200 to name a few.

Bridgestone also confirmed that HSV would replace its original equipment (OE) RE050 tyres with the newer S001 Bridgestone's in due course.

Some of the characteristics of the new S001 tyre include a wide groove design to improve water dispersion and wet weather grip while reducing aquaplaning. Bridgestone has also given the tyre a stiff 'high grip' shoulder blocks, which it claims improves handling performance. Changes to the tyre design also improve fuel efficiency and reduce noise.

We tested the new Potenza S001 against the Michelin Pilot Sport 3 on identical vehicles: V8-powered Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG sports sedans. Driven through identical slalom runs, lane-change simulations and general track work, it became evident that Bridgestone has indeed developed a superior product. Though the new Bridgestone S001's are not a quantum leap ahead of their French rivals, they delivered sharper bite and initial turn in, which was most evident through the slalom runs.

Understanding how the car was reacting with the road -- whether under brakes, cornering or acceleration -- and general feedback levels were a little clearer in the Bridgestones. Turning response was also snappier than the Michelin-equipped AMG.

Grip levels also felt superior, to the point where less steering lock was needed through faster, tighter turns, with less understeer and front-end push. Not surprisingly, all of these attributes made the Bridgestone-equipped Mercedes-Benz a little more enjoyable to drive during the back-to-back testing.

After all the hyperbole and fancy presentations, the result was clear - the Bridgestone Potenza S001s delivered more progressive steering and higher levels of cornering grip than its closest rival, the Michelin Pilot Sport 3 tyres.

Bridgestone's other performance tyre product scheduled to hit the streets in early June is the Potenza Adrenaline RE002; a tyre designed for less exotic performance cars such as hot hatches and medium cars.

Replacing the RE001, the updated tyre design features an aggressive new tread pattern with new pulse grooves to improve wet weather handling and semi-slick shoulders for dry weather grip.

The new RE002 also uses a three-groove design, as opposed to its predecessor's four-groove layout, which improves dry-handling performance according to Bridgestone.

The Bridgestone Potenza Adrenaline RE002 tyres are available to fit rim sizes between 15- and 19-inches -- from a Holden Cruze through to an FPV GT -- and pricing starts at around $169 per tyre.

Touted as the 'control freak' tyre, the RE002 was developed with help from former F1 driver Stefan Modena, who insists the RE002 is "an improvement" over its rivals, "so anyone who drives on this tyre will have the perception of feeling the road beneath them."

Out on the race track, the new Bridgestone Potenza Adrenaline RE002 tyres were indeed a cut above the competition, putting the Dunlop SportMaxx TT tyres to shame and delivering slightly better at-the-limit performance than the Continental ContiSportContact 3.

We tested all three sets of tyres on three identically-equipped manual-transmission Subaru WRX cars, and at the end of the test it was evident that the Dunlop tyres offered the least grip and feedback.

The new Bridgestone Potenza Adrenaline RE002 tyres delivered a more progressive feel, particularly during the quick changes of direction through the slalom course. While the Dunlops and the Continentals wanted to push slightly, understeering mildly when thrown rapidly from left to right, the Bridgestones delivered smoother changes in direction, most likely due to the stiffer sidewalls.

The Bridgestone RE002 tyres also protested less when shoved hard into corners, and though they did eventually understeer when driven hard into tighter corners, the feedback came through much clearer than the Dunlops.

The Bridgestone RE002's also had slightly more precision when tipping into a corner than the Continental tyres and tracked a little more steadfastly, holding to the desired line through a bend with more assurance.

The fact that Bridgestone let us test its rivals' tyres alongside its own was a bold move but one that showed a discernable difference, and to the Potenza's advantage.

The Bridgestone Potenza S001 is available now in the following sizes:

205/50R17 -- 265/40R18
225/50R17 -- 245/40R19
205/45R17 -- 225/35R18
215/45R17 -- 255/35R18
225/45R17 -- 265/35R18
235/45R17 -- 235/35R19
215/45R18 -- 275/35R19
225/45R18 -- 245/35R20
245/45R18 -- 265/35R20
225/40R18 -- 295/30R19
235/40R18 -- 275/30R20
245/40R18 -- 305/30R20

The Bridgestone Potenza Adrenalin RE002 is available from June 1 (2011) in the following sizes:

195/55R15 -- 225/50R16 -- 225/45R18
205/55R15 -- 205/50R17 -- 245/45R18
205/55R16 -- 215/50R17 -- 205/40R17
215/55R16 -- 225/50R17 -- 215/40R17
225/55R16 -- 205/45R16 -- 245/40R17
215/55R17 -- 205/45R17 -- 225/40R18
225/55R17 -- 215/45R17 -- 235/40R18
195/50R15 -- 225/45R17 -- 245/40R18
205/50R15 -- 235/45R17 -- 265/35R18
205/50R16 -- 245/45R17 -- 245/35R19

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