76
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
78/100
18 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Bridgestone Potenza S-02 vs Bridgestone Potenza S001 — 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
71
/ 100
Objective (60%)
73/100
4 professional tests
User signal (40%)
69/100
176 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Bridgestone Potenza S-02 — better comfort, handling and dry. Pick the Bridgestone Potenza S001 if wet matters most to you.
Read full
TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made via links on this page.
Category breakdown
6 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)
Potenza S-02 leads by 7
Why this score
| Source | Potenza S-02 | Potenza S001 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 83 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 88 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 90 | 83 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 80 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Potenza S001 leads by 3
Why this score
| Source | Potenza S-02 | Potenza S001 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 91 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 80 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 79 | 69 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 80 |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Potenza S-02 leads by 18
Why this score
| Source | Potenza S-02 | Potenza S001 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 34 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 80 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 63 | 60 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 80 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | Potenza S-02 | Potenza S001 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 80 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 80 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Potenza S001 leads by 2
Why this score
| Source | Potenza S-02 | Potenza S001 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | – | 62 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 65 | 67 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 80 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Potenza S-02 leads by 13
Why this score
| Source | Potenza S-02 | Potenza S001 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 87 | 74 |
| DriverReviews owners | – | 84 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Bridgestone Potenza S-02 | Bridgestone Potenza S001 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 76 | 71 |
| Dry | 90 | 83 |
| Wet | 79 | 82 |
| Comfort | 63 | 45 |
| Noise | – | 80 |
| Treadwear | 65 | 67 |
| Handling | 87 | 74 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
Personalize
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.
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Recomputed
Headline score
76
/ 100
Tire A
71
/ 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 S-02 is widely regarded by enthusiasts as a legendary performance tire, particularly valued for its exceptional steering feedback, cornering grip, and chassis-balancing characteristics on period-correct sports cars. While it remains a benchmark for handling, users frequently note its rapid tread wear and sensitivity to cold temperatures, with many expressing frustration over its limited availability in the modern market.
Pros
- Exceptional dry grip and cornering performance
- Superior steering feedback and communicative handling
- Excellent chassis balance, especially for OE-matched vehicles like the Honda S2000
- High level of confidence and stability during spirited driving
Cons
- Extremely rapid tread wear
- Poor performance and loss of adhesion in cold weather
- High noise levels and stiff ride quality
- Limited availability due to being discontinued
Observations
- Owners of the Honda S2000 consistently report that the S-02 is essential for maintaining the vehicle's intended neutral handling characteristics.
- Users with heavier or high-torque vehicles, such as the BMW 740i, reported significantly accelerated tread wear compared to lighter sports cars.
- Track-focused users noted that the tire requires significant heat to reach optimal performance, which can be difficult to achieve on lighter vehicles.
The Bridgestone Potenza S001 is a polarizing performance tire that excels in dry-weather handling and steering precision but frequently disappoints users regarding comfort and wet-weather confidence. While many drivers appreciate its stiff sidewalls and sporty feedback, a significant portion of the user base reports excessive road noise, rapid tread wear, and unpredictable traction in damp or cold conditions.
Pros
- Excellent dry-weather grip and cornering stability.
- Sharp, responsive steering feedback and turn-in precision.
- Strong rim protection due to robust sidewall construction.
- Predictable performance when pushed in warm, dry environments.
Cons
- High levels of road noise and cabin drone, especially as the tire wears.
- Poor wet-weather performance, with many reports of sudden traction loss and hydroplaning.
- Rapid and uneven tread wear, often failing to meet mileage expectations.
- Harsh ride quality, particularly on rough or uneven road surfaces.
Observations
- Owners of lightweight sports cars like the Mazda MX-5 frequently report that the tire feels too stiff and lacks the necessary wet-weather compliance for the chassis.
- Drivers of high-torque vehicles (e.g., VW Golf GTI, BMW 340i) often note significant wheel spin and traction control intervention in the wet.
- Users with 18-inch and 19-inch fitments frequently complain about the harshness and noise, noting that the tire transmits every road imperfection into the cabin.
Community buzz
What real owners are saying
From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score
Tire A
Bridgestone Potenza S-02
We haven't collected enough community discussion about this tire yet.
Tire B
Mixed
Bridgestone Potenza S001
Community opinion on the Bridgestone Potenza S001 is divided, with some users praising their dry grip and stability, while many others criticize their rapid wear, stiffness (especially run-flat variants), noise, and cracking issues. Owners frequently compare them unfavorably to alternatives like Michelin or Pirelli, though budget-friendly deals tend to draw occasional interest.
r/BMWi3
·27 upvotes ·2024-01-09
“Mount all 4 tires Bridgestone Potenza S001 215/45R20 on i3s stock rims 5.5” front 15mm spacers and 6.5” rear After much convincing I have mounted all four tires of the same size purchased on TireRack for $83 each on i3s stock staggered rims. Smooth and stable. Looking gooddddddd!”
r/TyreReviews
·3 upvotes ·2026-02-22
“Replacing Bridgestone Potenza s001 RunFlats with Primacy 5 vs. PS5. Suggestions? I drive a VW Jetta which only has 160 Hp. I do occasionally really enjoy some spirited driving or taking aggressive turns. My considerations are that I do really care about Comfort and road noise and so that leads me towards the Primacy 5. At the same time, I don't think the power of my car justifies the PS5. My question is basically, I've online that for runflats to be runflats they have really stiff sidewalls, which might be contributing to the current feel of my car and I wonder if, even though everything else about the Potenza s001 is quite worse compared to the Primacy 5, I wonder if I will miss the stiff sidewall? And just because of that should I consider the PS5?”
r/CarTalkUK
·2 upvotes ·2023-11-15
“Brand New Bridgestone Potenza S001 Tyres worn after 10k mileage? So I got 4 brand new tyres last June from Costco, 255/35 R19. I only drive locally, occasional trips to another city. 10k mileage later, my front two tyres flagged up on my recent MOT as : Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge CHANGE ASAP (5.2.3 (e)) Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge EDGED (5.2.3 (e)) Seems surprising to me as I don't drive crazy, occasional spirited driving. 2011 Audi s5. is this normal? Thinking of getting another brand this time for the front two tyres. Car is a quattro but same types on same axis should suffice? Any recommendations on tyres? Read more”
r/BMWi3
·1 upvote ·2024-01-09
“I put the Potenza S001 tires on the rear of my i3s with that Tire Rack deal but I didn't think they would fit on the 5.5 inch rims. I think the rears are 6.0".”
Top themes
#Tread Wear and Longevity#Run-Flat Stiffness and Comfort#Road Noise and Harshness#Dry Grip and Stability#Quality and Cracking Issues#Value and Deals
Based on 16 community posts
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Bridgestone Potenza S-02 | B · Bridgestone Potenza S001 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | — | Summer Max Performance tires |
| Vehicle type | — | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | — | 15 |
| Rim diameters | — | 17″ – 21″ |
| Tread depth | — | 8/32″ |
| UTQG | — | 280 A A |
| Sidewall | — | Blackwall |
| Max pressure | — | 50 psi |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
76
/ 100
Bridgestone
71
/ 100
Bridgestone
Winner: Bridgestone Potenza S-02 — better comfort, handling and dry. Pick the Bridgestone Potenza S001 if wet matters most to you.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Bridgestone Potenza S-02 scores 63 vs 45 on comfort.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Bridgestone Potenza S-02 scores 87 vs 74 on handling.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Bridgestone Potenza S-02 scores 90 vs 83 on dry.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Bridgestone Potenza S001 scores 82 vs 79 on wet.
Tire A · Bridgestone Potenza S-02
Tire B · Bridgestone Potenza S001
More comparisons
Also compared with
Bridgestone Potenza S-02 also compared with
Bridgestone Potenza S001 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.