Bridgestone Potenza RE97AS Review: High-Performance Summer Tire

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The Bridgestone Potenza RE97AS is a high-performance summer tire designed for sports cars, coupes, and sedans. This tire is engineered to deliver exceptional dry and wet traction, precise handling, and responsive steering, making it an ideal choice for driving enthusiasts who demand the utmost performance from their vehicles.

Bridgestone’s Potenza line has long been renowned for its cutting-edge technology and commitment to delivering a thrilling driving experience. The RE97AS continues this legacy, combining advanced rubber compounds, innovative tread patterns, and meticulous construction to ensure optimal grip, stability, and control on the road.

Whether you’re carving through winding roads or accelerating on the highway, the Potenza RE97AS provides the confidence and responsiveness you need to push your vehicle to its limits. With its superior dry and wet traction capabilities, this tire excels in various driving conditions, delivering a seamless and exhilarating performance every time you get behind the wheel.

Design and Construction

The Bridgestone Potenza RE97AS is a high-performance summer tire designed for sports cars, coupes, and sedans. Its asymmetric tread pattern features a continuous center rib for enhanced steering response and stability at higher speeds. The outboard shoulders are equipped with larger tread blocks and a more aggressive siping pattern to maximize cornering grip and traction.

This tire utilizes Bridgestone’s proprietary Nano Pro-Tech compound, which incorporates advanced silica reinforcement and polymer technologies. The result is a tire compound that delivers exceptional dry and wet traction while maintaining impressive wear resistance. Additionally, the Nano Pro-Tech compound is engineered to remain pliable across a wide temperature range, ensuring consistent performance in various driving conditions.

Internally, the Potenza RE97AS features a twin-layer tread compound with a cooler-running inner layer and a grippier outer layer. This design helps maintain optimal traction and handling characteristics throughout the tire’s lifespan. The tire’s casing is reinforced with high-density steel belts and a spirally wrapped nylon cap ply, providing enhanced strength, durability, and high-speed stability.

Performance Characteristics

The Bridgestone Potenza RE97AS is a high-performance summer tire designed to deliver exceptional dry and wet traction, precise handling, and a comfortable ride. On dry roads, this tire excels with its advanced compound and asymmetric tread pattern, providing excellent grip and steering responsiveness. The outboard tread blocks feature a solid center rib for enhanced stability and cornering precision.

In wet conditions, the Potenza RE97AS demonstrates impressive hydroplaning resistance thanks to its wide circumferential grooves and lateral notches that efficiently evacuate water from the contact patch. The silica-enriched tread compound enhances wet traction, ensuring confident braking and cornering performance on slick surfaces.

While the Potenza RE97AS is primarily a summer tire, it offers reasonable snow traction for light wintry conditions. The directional tread pattern and siping (small slits in the tread blocks) provide some bite on packed snow and slush, but dedicated winter tires are recommended for more extreme winter driving scenarios.

Handling is a strong suit of the Potenza RE97AS, with its stiff sidewall construction and optimized casing shape contributing to precise steering response and high-speed stability. The tire delivers a sporty and connected driving experience, making it an excellent choice for enthusiasts seeking a balance of performance and comfort.

Regarding ride quality, the Potenza RE97AS strikes a good balance between sportiness and comfort. While it prioritizes handling and traction, the tire’s advanced construction and noise-reducing technologies help mitigate excessive road noise and vibrations, resulting in a relatively smooth and quiet ride for a high-performance summer tire.

Dry Handling and Grip

The Bridgestone Potenza RE97AS delivers exceptional dry handling and grip, making it an ideal choice for performance-oriented drivers. The tire’s advanced tread compound and asymmetric tread pattern work in harmony to provide superior traction and cornering stability, even at high speeds.

When navigating twisty roads or taking tight turns, the RE97AS inspires confidence with its responsive steering and precise handling characteristics. The tire’s solid center rib ensures straight-line stability, while the outboard shoulder blocks enhance grip during cornering maneuvers. This translates to a dynamic driving experience, allowing you to push the limits without sacrificing control.

Braking performance is equally impressive. The RE97AS’s optimized tread design and compound formulation work together to provide shorter braking distances, even in dry conditions. Whether you need to make an emergency stop or simply slow down for a turn, the tire’s exceptional dry grip ensures reliable and consistent braking performance.

Overall, the Bridgestone Potenza RE97AS excels in dry conditions, offering a perfect balance between grip, handling, and braking capabilities. Its ability to maintain traction and stability at high speeds and during aggressive maneuvers makes it an excellent choice for performance enthusiasts and drivers seeking a thrilling yet controlled driving experience.

Wet Traction and Hydroplaning Resistance

The Bridgestone Potenza RE97AS tires excel in wet weather conditions, offering exceptional traction and hydroplaning resistance. Engineered with advanced tread compound and design, these tires provide a reassuring grip on slick surfaces, allowing for confident driving during rainy conditions.

The tire’s asymmetric tread pattern features wide circumferential grooves and lateral notches that efficiently evacuate water from the contact patch. This design enhances the tire’s ability to maintain solid contact with the road, reducing the risk of hydroplaning. Even on flooded roads or during heavy downpours, the Potenza RE97AS demonstrates impressive hydroplaning resistance, ensuring stable handling and shorter braking distances.

Furthermore, the tire’s silica-enriched tread compound enhances wet traction by increasing the flexibility and adhesion of the rubber compound. This allows the tire to conform better to the road surface, maximizing the contact area and providing reliable grip in wet conditions.

Overall, the Bridgestone Potenza RE97AS tires offer outstanding wet traction and hydroplaning resistance, instilling confidence in drivers during inclement weather. Whether navigating through heavy rain or encountering standing water on the road, these tires deliver a secure and controlled driving experience.

Snow and Ice Traction

The Bridgestone Potenza RE97AS is marketed as an ultra-high performance summer tire, designed for maximum dry and wet traction on warm weather surfaces. As such, it is not intended for use in wintry conditions involving snow or ice. The tread compound of this tire is optimized for warm temperatures, and it will harden and lose pliability when exposed to freezing temperatures, significantly reducing its grip capabilities.

While the asymmetric tread pattern with large outer shoulder blocks may provide some traction on light, packed snow, the Potenza RE97AS does not feature any dedicated sipes, biting edges, or specialized rubber compounds to enhance traction on slippery winter surfaces. Driving on snow or ice with these tires increases the risk of losing control and should be avoided whenever possible.

If you live in an area that experiences regular snowfall or icy conditions during the winter months, it is highly recommended to install a dedicated set of winter tires designed specifically for those conditions. Winter tires use softer tread compounds that remain pliable in cold temperatures, along with more aggressive tread patterns and higher sipe densities to maximize grip on snow and ice. Using summer tires like the Potenza RE97AS in wintry conditions can lead to significantly reduced traction, longer stopping distances, and an increased likelihood of accidents.

Comfort and Noise Levels

The Bridgestone Potenza RE97AS delivers an impressive level of comfort and quietness for a high-performance tire. Its advanced tread design and construction work together to minimize road noise, even at higher speeds. The tire’s internal structure features a twin-steel belt package reinforced with spirally wrapped nylon to enhance ride quality and absorb road imperfections.

During regular driving on well-maintained roads, the RE97AS provides a smooth and refined ride, with minimal cabin noise intrusion. The tire’s computer-optimized tread pattern helps reduce pattern noise, while the specialized rubber compound mitigates air pumping noise. Even when pushed hard on twisty roads, the RE97AS maintains its composure, delivering a comfortable and controlled driving experience.

However, it’s important to note that like most high-performance tires, the RE97AS may exhibit slightly more road noise compared to touring or grand-touring tires, especially on rougher surfaces or concrete highways. This is a trade-off for its exceptional grip and handling capabilities. Nevertheless, Bridgestone has done an excellent job in striking a balance between performance and comfort, making the RE97AS a compelling choice for drivers seeking both thrilling dynamics and a relatively quiet ride.

Durability and Treadwear

The Bridgestone Potenza RE97AS is designed to provide excellent durability and treadwear, ensuring a long-lasting performance for drivers. With its advanced tread compound and optimized tread design, this tire offers exceptional mileage, making it a cost-effective choice in the long run.

The tread compound used in the RE97AS is engineered to resist excessive wear, even under demanding driving conditions. The tire’s unique tread pattern and siping configuration work together to distribute the forces evenly across the contact patch, minimizing uneven wear and extending the tire’s lifespan.

Bridgestone’s commitment to quality construction and rigorous testing ensures that the RE97AS meets the highest standards for durability. The tire’s internal structure is reinforced with high-strength materials, enhancing its resistance to impacts and punctures, while the advanced belt package provides excellent stability and uniformity throughout the tire’s life.

With proper maintenance and rotation, the Bridgestone Potenza RE97AS can achieve impressive treadwear ratings, often exceeding the industry averages for its category. This translates into fewer tire replacements and lower ownership costs over time, making it an attractive option for drivers who value long-term performance and value.

Fuel Efficiency

The Bridgestone Potenza RE97AS is designed with a focus on performance, but it also delivers impressive fuel efficiency. The tire’s low rolling resistance compound and optimized tread design help minimize energy loss as the tire rolls, resulting in reduced fuel consumption.

Bridgestone’s advanced silica-enriched tread compound enhances the tire’s flexibility and reduces internal heat buildup, which contributes to lower rolling resistance. Additionally, the asymmetric tread pattern features a continuous center rib that promotes even wear and efficient rolling.

Independent testing has shown that the Potenza RE97AS can improve fuel economy by up to 2-3% compared to some competing high-performance tires. This translates to tangible savings at the gas pump, especially for drivers who log significant mileage.

While fuel efficiency is not the primary focus of an ultra-high-performance tire like the RE97AS, Bridgestone has managed to strike a balance between exceptional dry and wet grip, precise handling, and respectable fuel economy. This versatility makes the Potenza RE97AS an appealing choice for drivers seeking a well-rounded performance tire that doesn’t sacrifice too much in terms of fuel efficiency.

Sizing and Fitment Options

The Bridgestone Potenza RE97AS is available in a wide range of sizes to fit various passenger vehicles, from compact cars to high-performance sports cars and sedans. This versatility ensures that drivers can find the right tire size for their specific make and model.

When it comes to fitment, the Potenza RE97AS is designed to be compatible with a variety of vehicles, including popular models from manufacturers like Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Ford, Chevrolet, and more. Bridgestone has carefully engineered these tires to meet the specific requirements of each vehicle, ensuring optimal performance and handling characteristics.

The tire sizes available for the Potenza RE97AS range from 15-inch to 20-inch diameters, with various width and aspect ratio options to accommodate different wheel and suspension setups. This flexibility allows drivers to choose the size that best suits their vehicle’s specifications and driving preferences.

It’s important to note that proper tire sizing and fitment are crucial for maintaining the vehicle’s intended handling characteristics, ride quality, and overall safety. Consulting with a professional tire specialist or referring to the vehicle’s owner’s manual is recommended to ensure the correct tire size is selected for your specific make and model.

Pricing and Warranty

The Bridgestone Potenza RE97AS is a premium tire that comes with a premium price tag. However, its exceptional performance and long-lasting tread life make it a worthwhile investment for drivers seeking a high-quality touring tire. The RE97AS typically retails between $150 and $250 per tire, depending on the size and retailer.

What sets the Potenza RE97AS apart is Bridgestone’s impressive warranty coverage. The tire comes with a 6-year limited warranty, which is among the best in the industry. Additionally, Bridgestone backs the RE97AS with a 60,000-mile treadwear warranty, ensuring that you get your money’s worth in terms of longevity.

While the upfront cost may be higher than some budget-friendly alternatives, the Potenza RE97AS offers excellent value for money. Its superior handling, traction, and durability make it a worthwhile investment for drivers who prioritize performance and safety. With proper maintenance and rotation, these tires can easily last for several years, making the initial investment more cost-effective in the long run.

Competitor Comparison

The Bridgestone Potenza RE97AS is a premium all-season tire that competes with offerings from other top tire manufacturers such as Michelin, Goodyear, and Continental. When compared to similar tires like the Michelin Primacy MXM4, the Potenza RE97AS holds its own in terms of dry and wet traction, while offering slightly better hydroplaning resistance and a quieter ride.

Against the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3, the Potenza RE97AS demonstrates comparable dry grip and handling characteristics, but the Goodyear may have a slight edge in wet traction. However, the Bridgestone tire is generally regarded as more comfortable and quieter on the road.

The Continental PureContact LS is another close competitor to the Potenza RE97AS. While both tires offer excellent all-season performance, the Bridgestone tire is often praised for its better handling and responsiveness, particularly in dry conditions. The Continental may have a slight advantage in terms of treadwear and overall durability.

It’s worth noting that while the Potenza RE97AS may not outperform its competitors in every category, it strikes a well-balanced compromise between various performance factors, making it a solid choice for drivers seeking a reliable and comfortable all-season tire.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Excellent dry and wet traction, providing confident handling in various conditions
• Responsive steering and high-speed stability for a sporty driving experience
• Improved treadwear compared to previous Potenza models, offering longer tread life
• Available in a wide range of sizes to fit various sports cars, sedans, and coupes
• Backed by Bridgestone’s strong reputation for quality and durability

Cons

• Limited snow and ice traction, as it’s primarily a summer performance tire
• Slightly higher rolling resistance can lead to reduced fuel efficiency
• Tread life may still be shorter than some touring or grand touring tires
• Relatively expensive compared to non-performance tire options
• Stiffer sidewalls can result in a firmer ride, potentially sacrificing some comfort

Conclusion

The Bridgestone Potenza RE97AS is an excellent ultra-high performance summer tire that delivers exceptional dry and wet traction, precise handling, and impressive steering responsiveness. Its advanced tread compound and asymmetric tread design provide remarkable grip and cornering stability, making it an ideal choice for driving enthusiasts and those seeking a thrilling driving experience.

While the RE97AS excels in performance, it does come with some trade-offs. Its soft compound and aggressive tread pattern contribute to increased noise levels and reduced treadwear compared to some other high-performance tires. Additionally, its summer-only design means it is not suitable for winter conditions or colder temperatures.

Overall, if you prioritize maximum performance and handling capabilities during the warmer months, the Bridgestone Potenza RE97AS is an outstanding choice. Its combination of dry and wet grip, cornering prowess, and responsiveness make it a top contender in the ultra-high performance summer tire category. However, if you seek a more well-rounded tire with better treadwear and quieter operation, or if you need year-round traction, you may want to consider alternative options.

For driving enthusiasts who demand the best in summer performance and are willing to trade some durability and comfort for uncompromising grip and handling, the Bridgestone Potenza RE97AS is highly recommended.