Bridgestone Potenza Sport vs Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3
- TR Score
- 9.3/10
- Owners say
- 80% · 139
- TR Score
- 8.9/10
- Owners say
- 76% · 84
In the 11 independent tests that ran both tires, the Bridgestone Potenza Sport finished ahead 7 times and the Ventus S1 evo 3 3 times, with one level. The Potenza Sport held 16% more grip in curved aquaplaning; the Ventus S1 evo 3 had 9.8% lower rolling resistance.
Data updated
Which should you buy?
Choose Bridgestone Potenza Sport for enthusiastic driving, maximum grip, and wet-weather confidence; choose Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3 for quieter daily use, better fuel economy, and lower total cost without giving up solid all-round performance.
Where the Potenza Sport is stronger
- Class-leading dry and wet handling with sharp steering and feedback
- Consistently shorter braking on dry (wins 8/9) and strong wet stops
- Superior aquaplaning resistance (straight and curved) across most tests
Where the Ventus S1 evo 3 is stronger
- Low rolling resistance (wins 9/9) for better fuel economy
- Quieter and more comfortable ride in most tests
- Lower purchase price and stronger value per km
The bullet points are analysis of the shared tests and of owner reviews; the measured wins in each discipline are in the tables below. Where the two disagree, the figures are right.
Potenza Sport vs Ventus S1 evo 3 at a glance
| Category | Potenza Sport | Gap | Ventus S1 evo 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared tests won11 shared tests | 7 | 1 level | 3 |
| Dry21 measurements | 18 | The Potenza Sport stopped 1.6% shorter in the dry (9 tests) | 2 |
| Wet42 measurements | 34 | The Potenza Sport held 16% more grip in curved aquaplaning (7 tests) | 6 |
| Comfort10 measurements | 1 | The Ventus S1 evo 3 was 1 dB quieter (7 tests) | 8 |
| Value11 measurements | 1 | The Ventus S1 evo 3 had 9.8% lower rolling resistance (9 tests) | 10 |
| Tire Reviews Scoreevery test and review we hold | 9.3/10 | The Potenza Sport by 0.4 | 8.9/10 |
| Owner rating139 and 84 reviews | 80% | The Potenza Sport by 4 points | 76% |
| Would buy againshare of owners | 67% | Too close to call | 68% |
| Pricein the 8 tests that listed prices | +16.4% | The Potenza Sport was dearer in 8 of 8 | Cheaper |
| Sizes madeEU label registrations | 129 | 77 sizes made in both | 110 |
Wins count every measurement the shared tests recorded for both tires; a tick marks the tire ahead on that line. Subjective driver scores count as wins but are never averaged, because each test uses its own scale.
Head to head in 11 tests, 2021 to 2025
Each row is one published test in which both tires ran on the same car, in the same size, on the same day. The line is the whole field, winner on the left.
| Test | Potenza Sport | Field | Ventus S1 evo 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Die Reifentester UHP Summer Tire Test | P2 of 8 | P6 of 8 | |
| 2024 Auto Express Summer Tire Test | P7 of 8 | P5 of 8 | |
| The BEST Performance Tires Tested | P5 of 6 | P4 of 6 | |
| 2023 AutoBild Sports Car Summer Tire Test | P2 of 13 | P6 of 13 | |
| 2022 Auto Express Summer Tire Test | P1 of 7 | P4 of 7 | |
| 2022 AutoBild 19 Inch Summer UHP Tire Test | P6 of 10 | P2 of 10 | |
| 2022 AutoBild Sports Cars UHP Summer Tire Test | P5 of 11 | P5 of 11 | |
| 2021 EVO Summer Tire Test | P3 of 9 | P7 of 9 | |
| 2021 Tire Reviews UHP Summer Tire Test | P2 of 14 | P3 of 14 | |
| 2021 Auto Bild 19 inch Summer Tire Test | P2 of 15 | P5 of 15 | |
| 2021 Auto Bild UUHP Summer Tire Test | P1 of 9 | P6 of 9 |
Performance profile
14 measurements from the 11 shared tests, each tire shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
Potenza Sport
Ventus S1 evo 3
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
In each test the better of the two figures counts as 100% and the other as its share of it, so a 118 ft stop against 112 ft is 95%; each spoke averages the shared tests that recorded it. The scale stops at 90%: a point further in sits on the hub's edge, hollow. 6 measurements recorded in only one shared test are left off; every measurement is in the table further down.
Where each scores higher
Potenza Sport
Ventus S1 evo 3
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Category scores are percentiles among tires of the same season and class: 90 means this tire out-performs 90% of them, measured across every test we hold, not only the ones it appeared in.
Where owners rate each higher
Potenza Sport
Ventus S1 evo 3
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Owners rate the Potenza Sport 80% from 139 reviews and the Ventus S1 evo 3 76% from 84. Each spoke is one question owners answer out of 10; reviews are vetted by hand before publication.
Every measurement, side by side
Averages of the figures both tires posted in the same tests. The gap is the average of each test's own gap, so figures from different cars and years are never mixed. Open a discipline for its measurements, and a measurement for every test's figure.
Braking distances and lap times are better when lower; speeds, wear and grip figures when higher. A test's figures are its own: sizes, cars, surfaces and temperatures differ from one to the next, which is why the averages here are only ever of tests the two tires shared. "Scored" rows are subjective driver ratings: each test uses its own scale, so only the wins are counted.
Scores beyond the shared tests
On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Potenza Sport scores 9.3 and the Ventus S1 evo 3 8.9 out of 10.
| Potenza Sport | Category | Ventus S1 evo 3 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 96 | Dry | 84 | ||
| 97 | Wet | 87 | ||
| 12 | Comfort | 55 | ||
| 9 | Value | 38 | ||
Category scores are percentiles among tires of the same season and class: 90 means this tire out-performs 90% of them, measured across every test we hold, not only the ones it appeared in.
What owners say
| Potenza Sport | Category | Ventus S1 evo 3 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Dry Grip | 8.4 | ||
| 8.6 | Wet Grip | 8.2 | ||
| 8.8 | Road Feedback | 7.3 | ||
| 8.9 | Handling | 7.5 | ||
| 6.1 | Wear | 7 | ||
| 7 | Comfort | 7.7 | ||
Owners rate the Potenza Sport 80% from 139 reviews and the Ventus S1 evo 3 76% from 84. Reviews are vetted by hand before publication; ownership is not verified.
Bridgestone Potenza Sport
- 80%from 139 reviews
- 67%would buy again
- 947,770 milesdriven by reviewers
Owners generally rate the Bridgestone Potenza Sport as a very sporty road tire, with strong dry and wet grip and sharp, precise steering feel. The main drawback is longevity: around one in three owners complain about fast wear, sometimes markedly so. Road noise is another common issue (raised by around one in four), while a smaller but notable group report a big drop in grip and confidence in cold weather.
- Very strong dry grip with a predictable, confidence-inspiring feel
- Impressive wet grip for a performance-focused summer tire
- Sharp, precise steering response and good road feedback
- Strong dry handling and cornering ability
- Short tread life / rapid wear for many owners
- Loud road noise, often getting intrusive
- Noticeable performance drop in cold conditions
Summarised by AI from 129 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tire page.
All 139 Potenza Sport reviewsOn road it's like having a semislick which is capable of handling water showers like an UHP tire. On track you can feel it's not a semislick, but you can enjoy a stable performance allowing you 100% of fun with 80% lap time or something like that.
On the road wear on external shoulder is high, on track it's really impressive lap after lap.
Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3
- 76%from 84 reviews
- 68%would buy again
- 951,778 milesdriven by reviewers
Owners generally rate the Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3 as a strong all-rounder, with nearly two thirds of reviews scoring it positively (73% average). The most consistent praise is for secure dry and wet grip, backed up by good comfort and relatively low road noise for a UHP tire. Wear is more mixed: many report good mileage, but around one in eight owners complain of faster-than-expected tread life. The standout drawback is feel at the wheel, with roughly a quarter of owners describing muted or vague steering response, and a smaller group mentioning earlier aquaplaning than rivals.
- Strong dry grip
- Reassuring wet grip
- Quiet running for its class
- Comfortable, absorbs bumps well
- Muted or vague steering response and feedback
- Tread life can be disappointing for some
- Aquaplanes sooner than some rivals in standing water
Summarised by AI from 78 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tire page.
All 84 Ventus S1 evo 3 reviewsGiven this is one of extremly few tires in the size i needed its a great tire. pushing 420 hp to the rear wheels of my porsche 911 it never let go until it was worn down, and then just in wet conditions. its a safe well handling tire with great even wear, the 911 is know for wearing down the insides.
Sizes, EU label and lineage
From the EU label registrations for each tire: 129 sizes of the Potenza Sport and 110 of the Ventus S1 evo 3, 77 of them made in both.
| Category | Potenza Sport | Ventus S1 evo 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Season | Summer | Summer |
| Sizes made | 129 sizes, 16 to 24 inch | 110 sizes, 17 to 22 inch |
| Made in both | 77 sizes 205/45 R17215/45 R17225/45 R17225/50 R17225/55 R17205/40 R18215/40 R18215/45 R18225/40 R18225/45 R18225/50 R18235/40 R18and 65 more | |
| EU label wet grip | A75%B21%C3%D0% | A79%B17%C5% |
| EU label rolling resistance | C44%D38%A9%B8%E1% | C65%A14%B13%D8% |
| EU label noise | 68-75 dB B81%A19% | 67-75 dB B79%A21% |
| On the market since | 2021 | 2021 |
| Replaced | Bridgestone Potenza S001 | Hankook Ventus S1 evo2 (2021) |
| Replaced by | Bridgestone Potenza Sport Evo | Hankook Ventus Evo |
| Awards | - | Commended: Best Tires for Hot Hatches (DriverReviews, 2024/25) |
| Price in the shared tests | The Potenza Sport was the dearer tire in 8 of the 8 tests that listed prices, by 16.4% on average. Each test priced the tires in its own market at the time; only the gap is comparable. | |
Label grades are shown as the share of registered sizes carrying each grade, so "B (88%), C (12%)" means most sizes are B. Grades vary by size; check the label for yours.
Reading the results
Written from the test results and owner reviews above. It is analysis, not a measurement: where it and the tables disagree, the tables are right.
This head-to-head pits two max-performance summer stalwarts with different philosophies: Bridgestone's Potenza Sport is a driver's tire prioritising outright grip and precision, while Hankook's Ventus S1 evo 3 blends capable performance with efficiency, comfort, and value. Across 11 shared tests, the Bridgestone typically chases lap times; the Hankook aims to be the smarter everyday choice.
Expect the Potenza Sport to dominate dry and wet handling/braking metrics and aquaplaning resistance, often feeling the most agile and connected. Conversely, the Hankook frequently counters with lower rolling resistance, quieter road manners, a softer ride, and a friendlier price tag-attributes that matter on the daily commute and at the pump.
Conclusion
Pattern over many tests is clear: the Potenza Sport is the dynamic benchmark. It repeatedly stops shorter (dry/wet), turns quicker, and resists aquaplaning better, landing more podiums and test wins. If you value steering precision, warm-condition grip, and confidence at speed-whether spirited B-roads or occasional track days-Bridgestone is the safer bet.
The Ventus S1 evo 3 is the smarter all-rounder for everyday use. It's consistently quieter, more comfortable, and markedly more efficient (regularly 10-16% lower rolling resistance), with strong wet braking showings in several tests and a clear price advantage. For drivers prioritising refinement, fuel economy, and cost per kilometer without sacrificing competent performance, Hankook delivers excellent value.
Potenza Sport vs Ventus S1 evo 3: your questions
Is the Bridgestone Potenza Sport or the Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3 the better tire?
In the 11 independent tests that ran both tires, the Bridgestone Potenza Sport finished ahead 7 times and the Ventus S1 evo 3 3 times, with one level. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Potenza Sport scores 9.3 and the Ventus S1 evo 3 8.9 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the Potenza Sport or the Ventus S1 evo 3?
The Potenza Sport led 34 of the 42 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it held 16% more grip in curved aquaplaning across 7 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The Potenza Sport led 18 of the 21 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 1.6% shorter in the dry across 9 tests.
Which lasts longer and costs less to run?
The Ventus S1 evo 3 had 9.8% lower rolling resistance (9 tests). Owners rate wear 6.1/10 for the Potenza Sport and 7/10 for the Ventus S1 evo 3.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
The Ventus S1 evo 3 was 1 dB quieter (7 tests). Owners rate comfort 7/10 for the Potenza Sport and 7.7/10 for the Ventus S1 evo 3.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Potenza Sport 80% from 139 reviews and the Ventus S1 evo 3 76% from 84. 67% of Potenza Sport owners would buy it again, against 68% for the Ventus S1 evo 3.
Which is more expensive?
In the 8 tests that listed prices, the Potenza Sport was the dearer tire in 8 of them, by 16.4% on average. Prices are the test's own at the time, in its own market.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The Potenza Sport is made in 129 sizes (16 to 24 inch) and the Ventus S1 evo 3 in 110 (17 to 22 inch). 77 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the Potenza Sport is graded A for wet grip and C for rolling resistance in most sizes; the Ventus S1 evo 3 A and C.
More comparisons with these tires
vs 
Bridgestone Potenza Sport vs Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S
2-8 in 10 shared tests
vs 
Bridgestone Potenza Sport vs Michelin Pilot Sport 5
7-4 in 11 shared tests
vs
Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3 vs Michelin Pilot Sport 5
1-6 in 7 shared tests
vs 
Bridgestone Potenza Sport vs Continental SportContact 7
3-10 in 15 shared tests
vs
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 vs Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3
8-1 in 9 shared tests
vs 
Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3 vs Kumho Ecsta PS71
4-3 in 7 shared tests
vs
Bridgestone Potenza Sport vs Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6
6-9 in 15 shared tests
vs 
Bridgestone Potenza Sport vs Pirelli P Zero PZ4
9-3 in 12 shared tests
Every Bridgestone vs Hankook test → All comparisons → Compare three or more tires →
Run either of these?
Your review is the part of this page no test can supply: how the tire wore, how it aged, what it was like in the rain in year three. It takes about five minutes.
Where this data comes from
Finishing positions and measurements are transcribed from each published test. A test only counts here when both tires ran in it, so every figure was recorded on the same car, size and day as the one it is compared to.
About the TR Score
The Tire Reviews Score rates each tire out of 10 from every independent test result and vetted owner review we hold, so two tires can be compared even before a test has run them together.
Who does the testing
Every test published as a Tire Reviews test is run by Jonathan Benson, who has been testing tires independently since 2007.
Discussion