New Bridgestone Performance Tire Claims To Do Something Other Tire Makers Can't

Sep. 06, 2023 9:00 AM ET byJarryd Neves Technology /6 Comments

Can you really have a performance tire and an all-season in one?

Bridgestone has introduced a new tire tothe Potenza lineupwith the new Potenza Sport AS, which it claims is a true ultra-high performance tire with all-season capabilities, two concepts that are typically at odds with one another. The all-season ultra-high performance rubber is touted as the ideal all-rounder tire, providing strong handling capabilities, high grip levels, and excellent wet driving performance.

The company has developed a new compound and tread pattern for the Potenza Sport AS tire. The asymmetrical pattern has a solid rib design that improves handling and reduces noise. The streamlined grooves and slots have been designed to expel water quickly, improving grip levels in rainy conditions. Bridgestone says the full-depth 3D ultra-thin interlocking sipes were tuned to "operate in extreme conditions" such as snow and wintery climates.

Aside from all-year-round performance, Bridgestone claims the new Sport AS has incredible longevity. It even comes with a 50,000-mile limited warranty. This confidence comes from the compound with PeakLife polymer technology, which slows tread wear. Tires are expensive, so any technology that preventspremature wearis excellent.

PeakLife technology extends the tire's life thanks to the network of bonds between the polymer and reinforcing particles. Not only does it save the customer money, but it also reduces the consumption of tire-making resources.

The Potenza Sport AS has a Y-speed rating (186 mph) on specific models, which makes it more than capable for road use. Developed at Bridgestone's Americas Technology Center in Ohio and produced in Monterrey, Mexico, the Potenza Sport AS is the first-ever ultra-high performance all-season tire to be developed at the Technology Center.

创建“普利司通Potenza运动轮胎provide the same ultra-high performance that enthusiast drivers expect from a spirited driving experience, including a quiet, comfortable ride, but with wet and winter capabilities that will keep them in command of the road year-round," said Bridgestone Americas Chief Engineer, Dale Harrigle.

"The incorporation of Enliten technology, including custom engineering to enhance wet, winter, and wear capabilities, allows the Bridgestone Potenza Sport AS tire to offset typical tradeoffs drivers might expect from an ultra-high performance tire so they can enjoy a confident vehicle performance no matter the season."

Bridgestone's Potenza Sport AS is now available in 48 sizes, with 28 more to come in 2024. The 76 sizes will range between 16- and 22-inch wheel diameters and are designed to fit a host of cars, including theAlfa Romeo Giulia, Maserati Ghibli, Subaru BRZ, Mercedes E-Class, Audi SQ5, and more.

Earlier this year, Pirelli introduced the P Zero AS Plus 3.CarBuzzhas the opportunity to experience the all-season tire on a variety of cars,and came away impressed. We wonder how it will stack up to the new Potenza Sport AS.

Traditionally, high-performance tires are mutually exclusive with all-season tires, as the compound needed to provide high grip on a track of mountain pass doesn't operate well in wet and snowy conditions. Sure, technology has bridged that gap, but no all-season tire will ever be a true ultra-high performance piece of rubber.