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Bridgestone Potenza S001 vs Michelin Pilot Super Sport — 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.
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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
Why this score
| Source | Potenza S001 | Pilot Super Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 83 | 99 |
| Tire Rack owners | 88 | 95 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 83 | 94 |
| SimpleTire owners | 80 | – |
| Dry Braking (% of best) | 96% | 100% |
| Dry Handling (% of best) | 99% | 100% |
Wet
Why this score
| Source | Potenza S001 | Pilot Super Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 91 | 88 |
| Tire Rack owners | 80 | 89 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 69 | 83 |
| SimpleTire owners | 80 | – |
| Wet Braking (% of best) | 100% | 94% |
| Wet Handling (% of best) | 100% | 97% |
Comfort
Why this score
| Source | Potenza S001 | Pilot Super Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 34 | – |
| Tire Rack owners | 80 | 87 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 60 | 81 |
| SimpleTire owners | 80 | – |
Noise
Why this score
| Source | Potenza S001 | Pilot Super Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 80 | – |
| SimpleTire owners | 80 | – |
Treadwear
Why this score
| Source | Potenza S001 | Pilot Super Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 62 | 80 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 67 | 82 |
| SimpleTire owners | 80 | – |
Handling
Why this score
| Source | Potenza S001 | Pilot Super Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 74 | 86 |
| DriverReviews owners | 84 | 88 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Bridgestone Potenza S001 | Michelin Pilot Super Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 72 | 92 |
| Dry | 83 | 98 |
| Wet | 82 | 90 |
| Comfort | 45 | 93 |
| Noise | 80 | 92 |
| Treadwear | 67 | 90 |
| Handling | 74 | 95 |
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
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.
| Discipline | Category | Tire A | Tire B | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 96% #7/49 · 2020 Tyre Market Overview Braking Test | 100% #1/3 · OE vs Aftermarket - Is the tyre your vehicle came with always the best tyre? | -4.2 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 99% #12/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test | 100% #2/3 · OE vs Aftermarket - Is the tyre your vehicle came with always the best tyre? | -1.1 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 17% #6/8 · 2018 Auto Bild 20 inch UHP Tyre Test | 50% #2/3 · OE vs Aftermarket - Is the tyre your vehicle came with always the best tyre? | -33.3 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 100% #1/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test | 94% #2/3 · OE vs Aftermarket - Is the tyre your vehicle came with always the best tyre? | +5.7 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 100% #1/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test | 97% #2/3 · OE vs Aftermarket - Is the tyre your vehicle came with always the best tyre? | +2.6 | Different tests |
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 Michelin Pilot Super Sport is widely regarded as a benchmark ultra-high-performance summer tire, praised for its exceptional dry grip, steering precision, and confidence-inspiring handling. While it excels in warm, spirited driving conditions, users note that its performance diminishes significantly in cold temperatures or heavy standing water, and some report increased road noise compared to touring-oriented tires.
Pros
- Exceptional dry traction and cornering grip
- High level of steering feedback and responsiveness
- Strong wet weather performance for a summer-focused tire
- Impressive tread life relative to its performance category
- Significant ride quality improvement over OEM run-flat tires
Cons
- Noticeable loss of grip in cold temperatures (below 10-15°C)
- Increased road noise reported by some users
- Higher price point compared to competitors
- Reduced performance in standing water as tread depth decreases
Observations
- Users transitioning from factory run-flat tires on BMW and other luxury vehicles report a transformative improvement in ride comfort and steering feel.
- High-horsepower vehicle owners note that while the tire offers excellent grip, it can still struggle to put power down in cold or damp conditions.
- Some users on 18-inch and smaller setups report that the stiff sidewalls can lead to a harsher ride on uneven or broken road surfaces.
What real owners are saying
From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score
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.
“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!”
“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?”
“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”
“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".”
Based on 16 community posts
Michelin Pilot Super Sport
The Michelin Pilot Super Sport is widely praised by the automotive community for its exceptional dry and wet grip, precise handling, and overall performance as a high-performance summer tire. While some users note limitations in cold or snowy weather and occasional concerns regarding tread life or aging cracks, most enthusiasts consider them a benchmark daily driver and street performance tire.
“They weren't kidding about Michelin Pilot Super Sports. They're way grippier than the Continental ExtremeContact DW tires that were rated #2 after the Super Sports on tirerack.com. I had a 2009 GTI with 225 width ExtremeContacts and now I have a 2016 with 235 width Super Sports. The difference is not subtle. Now, both have been gently upgraded to the Pilot Sport 4 S, and the ExtremeContact Sport. The only two max performance summer tires with a tread life warranty. 30k miles on square stance cars where you rotate them properly, and 15k on staggered.”
“12k on two consecutive sets of PSS. Stage 2 MK6 (285whp/325wtq), drive fairly aggressively, an odd track day or two here and there, full suspension but run aggressive alignment settings. No abnormaly quick wear in any one spot, they just look like racing slicks when I’m done. If you can afford it, they are well worth the $$. Other tires may come close in performance, but for daily use, can’t beat the comfort of the PSS”
“As someone who lapped the car until I destroyed the OEM tires, and then lapped a set of PSS until I destroyed those too. The PSS are stickier than stock for sure, but they arent really sticky when it comes to tires for the track. They overheat and get greasy if you drive them hard, and they will slip at just slightly higher speeds. TL;DR: they are better than stock, but they arent a track sticky tire by any means so tail happy is still a thing.”
“Had this on my E90, as well. Alignment was good, wheel balance on road force machine was good. Turned out i had over 0.250" of runout on both rear wheels. Took me two sets of 255/35/18 PSS's and me watching them balance the tires to figure it out... bought new wheels, never went to a Tirediscounters since.”
Based on 60 community posts
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Bridgestone Potenza S001 | B · Michelin Pilot Super Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer Max Performance tires | Summer Max Performance tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 15 | — |
| Rim diameters | 17″ – 21″ | — |
| Tread depth | 8/32″ | — |
| UTQG | 280 A A | — |
| Sidewall | Blackwall | — |
| Max pressure | 50 psi | — |
Which one should you actually buy?
Bridgestone
Michelin
Winner: Michelin Pilot Super Sport — better comfort, treadwear and handling. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Michelin Pilot Super Sport scores 93 vs 45 on comfort.
Michelin Pilot Super Sport scores 90 vs 67 on treadwear.
Michelin Pilot Super Sport scores 95 vs 74 on handling.
Michelin Pilot Super Sport scores 98 vs 83 on dry.
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.