80
/ 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 Goodyear Eagle Exhilarate — 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
84
/ 100
Objective (60%)
72/100
1 professional test
User signal (40%)
76/100
12 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Goodyear Eagle Exhilarate — better comfort and handling. Pick the Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS if treadwear and dry 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 RE980AS leads by 3
Why this score
| Source | Potenza RE980AS | Eagle Exhilarate |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 90 | 88 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 91 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 88 | 88 |
| SimpleTire owners | 100 | 90 |
| Dry Braking (% of best) | 99% | 96% |
| Dry Handling (% of best) | 100% | 97% |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Potenza RE980AS leads by 2
Why this score
| Source | Potenza RE980AS | Eagle Exhilarate |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 92 | 92 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 87 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 76 | 81 |
| SimpleTire owners | 100 | 90 |
| Wet Braking (% of best) | 99% | 99% |
| Wet Handling (% of best) | 100% | 95% |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Potenza RE980AS leads by 2
Why this score
| Source | Potenza RE980AS | Eagle Exhilarate |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 55 | 61 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 65 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 40 | 57 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 80 |
| Snow Handling (% of best) | 86% | 99% |
| Snow Traction (% of best) | 100% | 83% |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Eagle Exhilarate leads by 36
Why this score
| Source | Potenza RE980AS | Eagle Exhilarate |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 23 | 89 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 83 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 56 | 76 |
| SimpleTire owners | 100 | 100 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | Potenza RE980AS | Eagle Exhilarate |
|---|---|---|
| SimpleTire owners | 80 | 100 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Potenza RE980AS leads by 6
Why this score
| Source | Potenza RE980AS | Eagle Exhilarate |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | – | 80 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 63 | 76 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 100 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Eagle Exhilarate leads by 13
Why this score
| Source | Potenza RE980AS | Eagle Exhilarate |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 70 | 83 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS | Goodyear Eagle Exhilarate |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 80 | 84 |
| Dry | 91 | 88 |
| Wet | 91 | 89 |
| Snow | 63 | 61 |
| Comfort | 49 | 85 |
| Noise | 100 | 100 |
| Treadwear | 86 | 80 |
| Handling | 70 | 83 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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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.
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Recomputed
Headline score
80
/ 100
Tire A
84
/ 100
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.
| Discipline | Category | Tire A | Tire B | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 99% #2/7 · 2020 Tyre Reviews UHP All Season Tyre Test | 96% #5/7 · 2020 Tyre Reviews UHP All Season Tyre Test | +2.9 | Same test |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 100% #4/4 · 2022/23 UHP All Season Tyre Test | 97% #1/7 · 2020 Tyre Reviews UHP All Season Tyre Test | +2.7 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 99% #6/7 · 2020 Tyre Reviews UHP All Season Tyre Test | 95% #5/7 · 2020 Tyre Reviews UHP All Season Tyre Test | +4.1 | Same test |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 33% #3/4 · 2022/23 UHP All Season Tyre Test | 50% #2/7 · 2020 Tyre Reviews UHP All Season Tyre Test | -16.7 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 86% #1/4 · 2022/23 UHP All Season Tyre Test | 99% #5/7 · 2020 Tyre Reviews UHP All Season Tyre Test | -12.3 | Different tests |
| Snow Traction | Snow | 100% #1/4 · 2022/23 UHP All Season Tyre Test | 83% #5/7 · 2020 Tyre Reviews UHP All Season Tyre Test | +17.5 | Different tests |
| Subj. Comfort | Subj | 90% #3/4 · 2022/23 UHP All Season Tyre Test | 95% #3/7 · 2020 Tyre Reviews UHP All Season Tyre Test | -5 | Different tests |
| Subj. Dry Handling | Subj | 95% #2/7 · 2020 Tyre Reviews UHP All Season Tyre Test | 100% #1/7 · 2020 Tyre Reviews UHP All Season Tyre Test | -5 | Same test |
| Subj. Noise | Subj | 65% #7/7 · 2020 Tyre Reviews UHP All Season Tyre Test | 95% #2/7 · 2020 Tyre Reviews UHP All Season Tyre Test | -30 | Same test |
| Subj. Wet Handling | Subj | 100% #1/7 · 2020 Tyre Reviews UHP All Season Tyre Test | 95% #2/7 · 2020 Tyre Reviews UHP All Season Tyre Test | +5 | Same test |
| Tyre Weight | Tyre | 99% #6/7 · 2020 Tyre Reviews UHP All Season Tyre Test | 90% #2/7 · 2020 Tyre Reviews UHP All Season Tyre Test | +9.4 | Same test |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 99% #3/7 · 2020 Tyre Reviews UHP All Season Tyre Test | 99% #4/7 · 2020 Tyre Reviews UHP All Season Tyre Test | 0 | Same test |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 100% #3/4 · 2022/23 UHP All Season Tyre Test | 95% #3/7 · 2020 Tyre Reviews UHP All Season Tyre Test | +4.4 | Different tests |
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 Goodyear Eagle Exhilarate is generally regarded as a capable Ultra-High Performance all-season tire that excels in dry handling and ride comfort. While many users praise its sporty feel and wet-weather confidence, there is a notable divide in user experience regarding road noise levels and winter performance, with some drivers finding them surprisingly capable in light snow and others reporting poor traction and excessive cabin noise.
Pros
- Strong dry pavement handling and sporty steering response
- High level of ride comfort and bump absorption
- Reliable wet-weather grip and hydroplaning resistance for many users
- Competitive pricing compared to premium segment rivals
Cons
- Reports of significant road noise, described by some as intrusive
- Inconsistent tread life and potential for uneven wear
- Polarizing performance in snow and ice conditions
- Occasional quality control issues, such as tires going out of round or broken belts
Observations
- Tesla Model 3 Performance owners have utilized these as a lighter-weight, year-round alternative to stock 20-inch summer setups.
- Users driving heavier sedans like the Nissan Maxima have reported higher cabin noise levels compared to other vehicle segments.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS | B · Goodyear Eagle Exhilarate |
|---|---|---|
| Category | All Season Ultra High Performance tires | All Season Ultra High Performance tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 6 | 37 |
| Rim diameters | 17″ – 18″ | 17″ – 22″ |
| Tread depth | 10/32″ | 10 - 11/32″ |
| UTQG | 500 A A | 500 AA A |
| Treadwear warranty | 50,000 mi | 45,000 mi |
| Sidewall | Blackwall | Vertical Serrated Band |
| Max pressure | 51 psi | 50 - 51 psi |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
80
/ 100
Bridgestone
84
/ 100
Goodyear
Winner: Goodyear Eagle Exhilarate — better comfort and handling. Pick the Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS if treadwear and dry matter most to you.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Goodyear Eagle Exhilarate scores 85 vs 49 on comfort.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Goodyear Eagle Exhilarate scores 83 vs 70 on handling.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS scores 86 vs 80 on treadwear.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS scores 91 vs 88 on dry.
Tire A · Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS
Tire B · Goodyear Eagle Exhilarate
More comparisons
Also compared with
Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS also compared with
Goodyear Eagle Exhilarate 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.