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Bridgestone Potenza RE031 vs Bridgestone Potenza RE040 — Compared (May 2026)
Our Relative Score blends 60% objective test data with 40% owner-review signal — so any two tires can be compared even if they were never tested on the same day.
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5 categories, side by side
Each bar is the Relative Score for that category. Expand a tile to see the test results and owner ratings behind it.
Dry
Why this score
| Source | Potenza RE031 | Potenza RE040 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 80 | 79 |
Wet
Why this score
| Source | Potenza RE031 | Potenza RE040 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 80 | 58 |
Comfort
Why this score
| Source | Potenza RE031 | Potenza RE040 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 80 | 57 |
Treadwear
Why this score
| Source | Potenza RE031 | Potenza RE040 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 80 | 65 |
Handling
Why this score
| Source | Potenza RE031 | Potenza RE040 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | – | 70 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Bridgestone Potenza RE031 | Bridgestone Potenza RE040 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 80 | 64 |
| Dry | 80 | 79 |
| Wet | 80 | 58 |
| Comfort | 80 | 57 |
| Treadwear | 80 | 65 |
| Handling | – | 70 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
Weight the categories that matter to you
Wet grip and treadwear start at “Important” — the two things buyers rank highest. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.
Tire A
Tire B
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Bridgestone Potenza RE031 is regarded as a high-performing tire that offers reliable traction across various weather conditions, including dry, wet, and light snow. While users find the performance commendable, the tire is noted for being difficult to source and potentially expensive.
Pros
- Strong braking performance in both dry and wet conditions
- Reliable grip in light snow and uphill maneuvers
- Responsive handling characteristics
Cons
- Limited availability in the retail market
- Difficult to source at a competitive price point
Observations
- Performance has been positively noted on mid-size luxury SUVs like the Lexus RX400.
The Bridgestone Potenza RE040 is a polarizing, performance-oriented tire that excels in dry, warm conditions but struggles significantly with road noise and wet-weather confidence. While many drivers appreciate the stiff sidewalls for their precise steering feedback and progressive handling, the consensus is that the tire is outdated, with modern alternatives offering superior comfort and all-weather capability.
Pros
- Excellent dry weather grip and handling
- High level of steering feedback and directness
- Progressive and predictable breakaway characteristics
- Stiff sidewalls provide a sporty, responsive feel
Cons
- Excessive and intrusive road noise
- Poor performance and lack of confidence in wet or cold conditions
- Harsh ride quality due to stiff construction
- Inconsistent tread life depending on vehicle and driving style
Observations
- Owners of performance-oriented vehicles like the Nissan 350z and Mazda RX-8 often praise the tire's dry-weather feedback but note its limitations on track or in the rain.
- Drivers of front-wheel-drive hatchbacks (e.g., Honda Civic Type R) frequently report significant understeer and rapid front-tire wear.
- Users with quieter, luxury-oriented vehicles (e.g., Audi A8, Mazda 6) report that the tire's high noise levels significantly detract from the overall driving experience.
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Bridgestone Potenza RE031 | B · Bridgestone Potenza RE040 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer Ultra High Performance tires | Summer Ultra High Performance tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
Which one should you actually buy?
Bridgestone
Bridgestone
Winner: Bridgestone Potenza RE031 — better comfort, wet and treadwear. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Bridgestone Potenza RE031 scores 80 vs 57 on comfort.
Bridgestone Potenza RE031 scores 80 vs 58 on wet.
Bridgestone Potenza RE031 scores 80 vs 65 on treadwear.
How do we compare tires?
Every category score blends two independent signals. 60% comes from professional tire tests (braking distances, lap times, noise measurements) normalized against the best tire in each test and weighted toward recent tests. 40% comes from thousands of owner reviews collected from retailers and review sites. When a tire has only one of the two, we use what exists and say so.
Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score.