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Head-to-head Updated September 2026

Bridgestone Potenza S001 vs Falken Azenis FK510 — 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.

Tire A Bridgestone

Bridgestone Potenza S001

Summer Max Performance tires

Bridgestone Potenza S001 tread pattern
Objective (60%)
73/100
4 professional tests
User signal (40%)
69/100
176 owner reviews
Dry
83
Wet
82
Comfort
45
Noise
80
Treadwear
67
Handling
74

Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.

VS
Tire B Falken

Falken Azenis FK510

Summer Ultra High Performance tires

Falken Azenis FK510 tread pattern
Objective (60%)
76/100
25 professional tests
User signal (40%)
80/100
384 owner reviews
Dry
80
Wet
85
Comfort
62
Noise
84
Treadwear
75
Handling
81

Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.

VerdictWinner: Falken Azenis FK510 — better comfort, treadwear and handling. Pick the Bridgestone Potenza S001 if dry matters most to you.
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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

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) Potenza S001 leads by 3
A — Bridgestone Potenza S001
83
B — Falken Azenis FK510
80
Why this score
SourcePotenza S001Azenis FK510
Professional tests (TWG score) 83 74
Tire Rack owners 88 89
Tyre Reviews owners 83 88
SimpleTire owners 80 97
Dry Braking (% of best) 93% 95%
Dry Handling (% of best) 98% 97%

Wet

Weight: Important
Score (0–100) Azenis FK510 leads by 3
A — Bridgestone Potenza S001
82
B — Falken Azenis FK510
85
Why this score
SourcePotenza S001Azenis FK510
Professional tests (TWG score) 91 84
Tire Rack owners 80 86
Tyre Reviews owners 69 88
SimpleTire owners 80 91
Wet Braking (% of best) 100% 93%
Wet Handling (% of best) 94% 94%

Comfort

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) Azenis FK510 leads by 17
A — Bridgestone Potenza S001
45
B — Falken Azenis FK510
62
Why this score
SourcePotenza S001Azenis FK510
Professional tests (TWG score) 34 49
Tire Rack owners 80 83
Tyre Reviews owners 60 77
SimpleTire owners 80 95

Noise

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) Azenis FK510 leads by 4
A — Bridgestone Potenza S001
80
B — Falken Azenis FK510
84
Why this score
SourcePotenza S001Azenis FK510
Professional tests (TWG score) 80 73
SimpleTire owners 80 88

Treadwear

Weight: Important
Score (0–100) Azenis FK510 leads by 8
A — Bridgestone Potenza S001
67
B — Falken Azenis FK510
75
Why this score
SourcePotenza S001Azenis FK510
Tire Rack owners 62 77
Tyre Reviews owners 67 71
SimpleTire owners 80 80

Handling

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) Azenis FK510 leads by 7
A — Bridgestone Potenza S001
74
B — Falken Azenis FK510
81
Why this score
SourcePotenza S001Azenis FK510
Tyre Reviews owners 74 81
DriverReviews owners 84 86

Scores at a glance

Bridgestone Potenza S001 vs Falken Azenis FK510: scores by category (0–100)
CategoryBridgestone Potenza S001Falken Azenis FK510
Relative Score 72 78
Dry 83 80
Wet 82 85
Comfort 45 62
Noise 80 84
Treadwear 67 75
Handling 74 81

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
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Important
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Neutral
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Neutral
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Recomputed
Headline score

Tire A

Tire B

Test data

The professional test results behind the scores

Each result is shown as % of the best tire in that test. “Same test” rows are the strictest comparison: both tires were measured side by side.

DisciplineCategoryTire ATire BΔBoth?
Dry Braking Dry 93% #7/8 · 2018 Auto Bild 20 inch UHP Tyre Test 95% #16/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test -2.2 Different tests
Dry Handling Dry 98% #6/8 · 2018 Auto Bild 20 inch UHP Tyre Test 97% #8/10 · 2022 AutoBild 19 Inch Summer UHP Tyre Test +0.3 Different tests
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 73% #20/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test 84% #15/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test -11.8 Same test
Noise Other 100% #6/8 · 2018 Auto Bild 20 inch UHP Tyre Test 99% #8/10 · 2020 Auto Bild UHP 19 inch Tyre Test +0.9 Different tests
Price Other 83% #18/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test 63% #3/9 · 2018 AZ Summer AND All Season Tyre Test +20 Different tests
Value Other 100% #19/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test 71% #5/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test +28.2 Different tests
Wear Other 85% #12/16 · 2020 ADAC 18 Inch Summer Tyre Test 87% #2/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test -1.9 Different tests
Overall Ranking Overall 9% #11/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test 33% #3/11 · 2022 AutoBild Sports Cars UHP Summer Tyre Test -24.2 Different tests
Straight Aqua Straight 93% #3/8 · 2018 Auto Bild 20 inch UHP Tyre Test 95% #6/9 · 2018 Sport Auto 19 inch UHP and Track Day Tyre Test -1.9 Different tests
Subj. Comfort Subj 70% #5/8 · 2019 Sport Auto 20 Inch UHP Tyre Test 78% #4/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test -7.8 Different tests
Subj. Dry Handling Subj 90% #2/8 · 2019 Sport Auto 20 Inch UHP Tyre Test 80% #5/16 · 2018 Test World Summer Tyre Test +10 Different tests
Subj. Wet Handling Subj 78% #3/8 · 2019 Sport Auto 20 Inch UHP Tyre Test 80% #11/16 · 2018 Test World Summer Tyre Test -2 Different tests
Total Cost of Ownership Total 0% #20/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test 0% #6/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test 0 Same test
Wet Braking Wet 100% #1/49 · 2020 Tyre Market Overview Braking Test 93% #8/49 · 2020 Tyre Market Overview Braking Test +6.5 Same test
Wet Handling Wet 94% #6/8 · 2018 Auto Bild 20 inch UHP Tyre Test 94% #9/10 · 2022 AutoBild 19 Inch Summer UHP Tyre Test +0.1 Different tests
From owners

Pros, cons & observations

Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.

Tire A Bridgestone Potenza S001

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.
Tire B Falken Azenis FK510

The Falken Azenis FK510 is widely regarded as a high-value, ultra-high-performance summer tire that frequently outperforms more expensive premium brands in wet and dry traction. While users consistently praise its comfort, quiet ride, and confidence-inspiring grip, the consensus is that these performance benefits come at the cost of accelerated tread wear.

Pros

  • Exceptional wet and dry traction
  • High value-to-performance ratio compared to premium competitors
  • Quiet and comfortable ride quality
  • Strong hydroplaning resistance
  • Predictable handling characteristics

Cons

  • Rapid tread wear and short lifespan
  • Soft sidewalls can lead to delayed steering response at high speeds
  • Potential for increased road noise on specific rough road surfaces
  • Susceptibility to tramlining as the tread wears down

Observations

  • Users with high-torque, rear-wheel-drive vehicles and heavy EVs frequently report significantly faster rear tire wear.
  • Drivers of performance-oriented vehicles (e.g., BMW, Tesla, Mustang) note that while the tire offers excellent grip, the softer sidewall can feel less precise than dedicated track-focused tires during aggressive cornering.
  • Owners of luxury sedans and SUVs often highlight the tire's ability to improve ride comfort and reduce noise compared to factory-fitted run-flat tires.
Community buzz

What real owners are saying

From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score

Tire A

Bridgestone Potenza S001

Mixed

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

Falken Azenis FK510

Mixed

Community opinions on the Falken Azenis FK510 are generally mixed, balancing praise for their value pricing and strong wet-weather grip against complaints regarding soft sidewalls, rapid tread wear on heavy or track-driven vehicles, and handling that some drivers describe as "boaty." While many view them as a cost-effective alternative to premium tires like the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S, others note that recent price hikes and mixed performance in testing make them a secondary choice compared to dedicated track or alternative ultra-high-performance tires.

r/CarTrackDays ·4 upvotes ·2019-01-27

“Upgrading tires from Falken Azenis FK510, looking for recommendations Hey all, I drive a V6 1LE camaro, i've been doing a lot of open practice sessions at a small track (the driveway in austin, tx), long story short I bought brand new Azenis FK510 two months ago, only about 4k street miles, and after about 3 hours of track time they're pretty much done....mostly from noob mistakes like overcooking the entry and destroying the front shoulders, and having the rear tires way too overinflated so the shoulders are fine but the center are down to the wear bars. Even under ideal conditions and purposely driving slower and smoother I can't see these lasting much more than 4-5 hours of track time, I'm just surprised to see these tires wear down very very quickly under hard driving and overheat somewhat quickly, these are awesome daily driving tires but I'm looking for more track performance. I'm currently debating between pilot sport 4s, bridgestone re-71r, firehawk indy 500. This is more of a philosophical question, I'm looking at a wide variety of treadwear tires, I'm curious how you guys decide on what treadwear tires to run and how you decide between wear, price, and grip. I'm leaning towards the RE-71r right now, I figure if I'm burning through my tires in a few months anyways might as well do it with sticky tires since my falkens didn't last long anyways... Read more”

r/TeslaModelS ·3 upvotes ·2025-11-25

“Anyone running Falken Azenis FK510? I bought a lightly used 2022 Model S from Tesla directly back in March of 2025. It came with the 21" Archnids on brand new FK510s. I immediately had the camber shims + an alignment to prevent the inner tear wear. Since then I've driven 11,500 miles on it. I noticed today my front tires look brand new, but the rear tires are completely bald all the way across. I drive in medium ride height and rarely accelerate aggressively. Now I'm wondering if this short lifespan is due to the tires Tesla put on there and if it would make more sense to buy a used set of 19" tempest wheels or replace these tires. Read more”

r/kereta ·3 upvotes ·2024-05-12

“Falken Azenis SUV (FK510) Replaced my Goodyear tires after 2 years. Was using Continental prior to that. Read some good reviews regarding the Falken FK510 SUV, some even mentioned it as the poor man's Michelin tires. Goodyear's tires were a bit rough, every time we drove through a bump or potholes felt really bumpy. Conti was soft, but it's lifespan is a bit short, usually lasts me a year or so. After driving around a day with FK510, it feels nice, somewhat like Conti. Here's hoping that it'll last me 2 years. Read more”

r/TeslaModel3 ·1 upvote ·2024-02-10

“I put the fk510 on my 2014 535d msport and the rears only lasted 10-11k or one year. Trying something different. They are a good performance summer tire but not worth replacing every year.”

Top themes
#Wet weather grip#Value and pricing#Treadwear and lifespan#Sidewall stiffness and handling#Autocross and track performance

Based on 25 community posts

Specifications

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Bridgestone Potenza S001 B · Falken Azenis FK510
CategorySummer Max Performance tiresSummer Ultra High Performance tires
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available1568
Rim diameters17″ – 21″17″ – 22″
Tread depth8/32″10/32″
UTQG280 A A300 A A
SidewallBlackwallBlackwall
Max pressure50 psi50 psi
Final verdict

Which one should you actually buy?

Bridgestone

Falken

Winner: Falken Azenis FK510 — better comfort, treadwear and handling. Pick the Bridgestone Potenza S001 if dry matters most to you.

Pick tire B You want the most comfortable ride

Falken Azenis FK510 scores 62 vs 45 on comfort.

Pick tire B You want the longest tread life

Falken Azenis FK510 scores 75 vs 67 on treadwear.

Pick tire B You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Falken Azenis FK510 scores 81 vs 74 on handling.

Pick tire B You want a quieter cabin

Falken Azenis FK510 scores 84 vs 80 on noise.

Tire A · Bridgestone Potenza S001
Tire B · Falken Azenis FK510

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.