83
/ 100
Objective (60%)
69/100
1 professional test
User signal (40%)
85/100
556 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS vs Michelin Pilot Sport A/S+ — Compared (September 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.
VS
94
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
94/100
1,936 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Michelin Pilot Sport A/S+ — better comfort, handling and dry. Pick the Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS if noise matters most to you.
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Category breakdown
7 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
Score (0–100)
Pilot Sport A/S+ leads by 6
Why this score
| Source | Potenza RE980AS | Pilot Sport A/S+ |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 90 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 88 | 95 |
| SimpleTire owners | 100 | – |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Pilot Sport A/S+ leads by 3
Why this score
| Source | Potenza RE980AS | Pilot Sport A/S+ |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 92 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 76 | 85 |
| SimpleTire owners | 100 | – |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | Potenza RE980AS | Pilot Sport A/S+ |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 55 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 40 | – |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Pilot Sport A/S+ leads by 45
Why this score
| Source | Potenza RE980AS | Pilot Sport A/S+ |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 23 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 56 | 95 |
| SimpleTire owners | 100 | – |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Potenza RE980AS leads by 8
Why this score
| Source | Potenza RE980AS | Pilot Sport A/S+ |
|---|---|---|
| SimpleTire owners | 80 | – |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Pilot Sport A/S+ leads by 5
Why this score
| Source | Potenza RE980AS | Pilot Sport A/S+ |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 63 | 85 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Pilot Sport A/S+ leads by 26
Why this score
| Source | Potenza RE980AS | Pilot Sport A/S+ |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 70 | 75 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS | Michelin Pilot Sport A/S+ |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 83 | 94 |
| Dry | 91 | 97 |
| Wet | 91 | 94 |
| Snow | 63 | – |
| Comfort | 49 | 94 |
| Noise | 100 | 92 |
| Treadwear | 86 | 91 |
| Handling | 70 | 96 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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Recomputed
Headline score
83
/ 100
Tire A
94
/ 100
Tire B
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
From owners
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS (and its 'PLUS' iteration) is widely regarded as a high-value, ultra-high-performance all-season tire that excels in dry and wet road handling. While many users praise its quiet ride, responsiveness, and superior wet-weather traction compared to OEM tires, some enthusiasts find the sidewall stiffness lacking for aggressive track use, and a subset of users reports disappointing tread life.
Pros
- Excellent dry and wet road grip
- Quiet and comfortable ride quality
- Strong value proposition compared to premium competitors
- Responsive steering and handling for daily spirited driving
Cons
- Inconsistent tread life, with some users reporting premature wear
- Soft sidewalls perceived as 'sloppy' by some performance-oriented drivers
- Cold-weather flat-spotting that requires a few miles to round out
- Mediocre performance in deep snow or ice despite all-season classification
Observations
- Users with performance sedans and coupes (e.g., BMW, Audi, Mustang) generally appreciate the balance of comfort and grip, though some note it lacks the precision of dedicated summer tires.
- Tesla and EV owners report a noticeable reduction in range (approx. 5%) and a firmer ride, though many find the trade-off for improved handling and lower noise compared to OEM tires acceptable.
- Drivers of heavier or high-torque vehicles occasionally report faster-than-expected tread wear, particularly on staggered setups where rotation is not possible.
The Michelin Pilot Sport AS+ is widely regarded as a premium all-season tire that excels in wet-weather confidence and ride comfort, particularly when replacing harsh OEM run-flat tires. While it offers a versatile balance for spirited daily driving, user experiences regarding tread longevity and road noise are polarized, with some reporting excellent durability and others noting premature wear.
Pros
- Exceptional wet-weather traction and hydroplaning resistance
- Significant improvement in ride comfort and noise levels compared to OEM run-flats
- Predictable and stable handling characteristics for daily spirited driving
- Strong performance across a wide range of temperatures and seasonal conditions
Cons
- Inconsistent tread life, with some users reporting premature wear
- Increased rolling resistance leading to reduced fuel economy or EV range
- Higher price point compared to competitors
- Occasional reports of increased road noise on specific pavement types
Observations
- Tesla owners frequently report a noticeable decrease in range (approx. 10-20%) due to higher rolling resistance compared to OEM tires.
- Drivers replacing factory run-flat tires on luxury vehicles like BMW and Lexus consistently report a transformative improvement in ride quality and steering feel.
- High-horsepower sports car owners appreciate the tire's ability to consolidate summer and winter needs, though some note a lack of 'sharpness' compared to dedicated summer performance tires.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS | B · Michelin Pilot Sport A/S+ |
|---|---|---|
| Category | All Season Ultra High Performance tires | Ultra High Performance All Season tire |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 6 | — |
| Rim diameters | 17″ – 18″ | — |
| Tread depth | 10/32″ | — |
| UTQG | 500 A A | — |
| Treadwear warranty | 50,000 mi | — |
| Sidewall | Blackwall | — |
| Max pressure | 51 psi | — |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
83
/ 100
Bridgestone
94
/ 100
Michelin
Winner: Michelin Pilot Sport A/S+ — better comfort, handling and dry. Pick the Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS if noise matters most to you.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Michelin Pilot Sport A/S+ scores 94 vs 49 on comfort.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Michelin Pilot Sport A/S+ scores 96 vs 70 on handling.
Pick tire A
You want a quieter cabin
Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS scores 100 vs 92 on noise.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Michelin Pilot Sport A/S+ scores 97 vs 91 on dry.
Tire A · Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS
Tire B · Michelin Pilot Sport A/S+
More comparisons
Also compared with
Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS also compared with
Michelin Pilot Sport A/S+ also compared with
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.