72
/ 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.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Bridgestone Potenza S001 vs Bridgestone Potenza S001 RFT — 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
69
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
65/100
79 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Bridgestone Potenza S001 — better wet, handling and dry. Pick the Bridgestone Potenza S001 RFT if comfort, treadwear and noise matter 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)
Potenza S001 leads by 7
Why this score
| Source | Potenza S001 | Potenza S001 RFT |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 83 | – |
| Tire Rack owners | 88 | 91 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 83 | 73 |
| SimpleTire owners | 80 | – |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Potenza S001 leads by 19
Why this score
| Source | Potenza S001 | Potenza S001 RFT |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 91 | – |
| Tire Rack owners | 80 | 85 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 69 | 59 |
| SimpleTire owners | 80 | – |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | Potenza S001 | Potenza S001 RFT |
|---|---|---|
| SimpleTire owners | 40 | – |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Potenza S001 RFT leads by 9
Why this score
| Source | Potenza S001 | Potenza S001 RFT |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 34 | – |
| Tire Rack owners | 80 | 79 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 60 | 49 |
| SimpleTire owners | 80 | – |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Potenza S001 RFT leads by 5
Why this score
| Source | Potenza S001 | Potenza S001 RFT |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 80 | – |
| SimpleTire owners | 80 | – |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Potenza S001 RFT leads by 7
Why this score
| Source | Potenza S001 | Potenza S001 RFT |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 62 | 73 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 67 | 74 |
| SimpleTire owners | 80 | – |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Potenza S001 leads by 8
Why this score
| Source | Potenza S001 | Potenza S001 RFT |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 74 | 66 |
| DriverReviews owners | 84 | – |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Bridgestone Potenza S001 | Bridgestone Potenza S001 RFT |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 72 | 69 |
| Dry | 83 | 76 |
| Wet | 82 | 63 |
| Snow | – | 50 |
| Comfort | 45 | 54 |
| Noise | 80 | 85 |
| Treadwear | 67 | 74 |
| Handling | 74 | 66 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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Recomputed
Headline score
72
/ 100
Tire A
69
/ 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 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.
The Bridgestone Potenza S001 RFT is a polarizing run-flat tire that excels in longevity and dry-road steering feedback but frequently draws criticism for its harsh ride quality and inconsistent wet-weather performance. While many users appreciate its durability and ability to handle road hazards, a significant portion of owners report high noise levels and a lack of confidence in damp or wet conditions.
Pros
- Exceptional tread life and durability
- Precise steering feedback and handling responsiveness
- Strong dry-road grip
- Reliable run-flat safety performance
Cons
- Poor wet-weather traction and hydroplaning resistance
- High levels of road noise and cabin vibration
- Harsh, stiff ride quality over road imperfections
- Tendency to tramline on uneven surfaces
Observations
- Users with BMW M-performance models frequently report that the tire's stiff sidewall compromises the vehicle's intended handling balance and comfort.
- Drivers of 18-inch and 19-inch low-profile setups report the most significant complaints regarding ride harshness and vulnerability to pothole damage.
- Owners of vehicles with S-Line or M-Sport suspension setups sometimes find the tire's stiffness acceptable, as it aligns with the vehicle's inherently firm factory tuning.
Community buzz
What real owners are saying
From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score
Tire A
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
Tire B
Bridgestone Potenza S001 RFT
We haven't collected enough community discussion about this tire yet.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Bridgestone Potenza S001 | B · Bridgestone Potenza S001 RFT |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer Max Performance tires | Summer Max Performance tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 15 | 14 |
| Rim diameters | 17″ – 21″ | 17″ – 21″ |
| Tread depth | 8/32″ | 9/32″ |
| UTQG | 280 A A | 280 A A |
| Sidewall | Blackwall | Blackwall |
| Max pressure | 50 psi | 51 psi |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
72
/ 100
Bridgestone
69
/ 100
Bridgestone
Winner: Bridgestone Potenza S001 — better wet, handling and dry. Pick the Bridgestone Potenza S001 RFT if comfort, treadwear and noise matter most to you.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Bridgestone Potenza S001 scores 82 vs 63 on wet.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Bridgestone Potenza S001 RFT scores 54 vs 45 on comfort.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Bridgestone Potenza S001 scores 74 vs 66 on handling.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Bridgestone Potenza S001 scores 83 vs 76 on dry.
Tire A · Bridgestone Potenza S001
Tire B · Bridgestone Potenza S001 RFT
More comparisons
Also compared with
Bridgestone Potenza S001 also compared with
Bridgestone Potenza S001 RFT 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.