The Bridgestone Potenza RE050A Run Flat draws its strongest owner criticism for a harsh ride, mentioned in well over half of reviews. Dry grip is the clearest positive, although it is not universally praised. Around a quarter of reviews criticises wet grip, and similar proportions mention noise or tramlining, with some describing the tire skipping over rough corners. Tread life is mixed, with more complaints than praise, while mid-life and end-of-life reports range from rapid wear to long service. Steering kickback and limited feedback are further recurring concerns, making comfort and confidence on uneven roads the main weaknesses.
What owners mention most counted across 136 reviews
Tap one to read only the reviews that mention it.
Owner ratings averaged from 147 ratings
Owner score49%
Dry Grip71%
Wear55%
Road Feedback55%
Wet Grip54%
Handling48%
Comfort32%
Bridgestone Potenza RE050A Run Flat Reviews - Page 5
I had a brand new set of these fitted 6700 miles ago. Approx 50% done on cruise control on motorways. The backs are gone already (under 2mm).
Even before this the ride was hard and the tires always put me on edge when near the limit. They are terrible in the wet also. These are also one of the most expensive options in this size out there. I don't see why anyone would buy this tire more than once so I will be moving away from this tire and trying something new.
Very variable reviews mainly from BMW drivers but on an Audi A4 with 17 inch rims they seem quite reasonable for a Run Flat. Good grip in the dry, reasonable grip in the wet, a bit noisy but not excessively so for Run Flats. Fronts have lasted just under 18000, backs will probably last about 25000 despite the car being nose heavy and a lot of my driving being on poor A roads in the Peak District.
Have used them in snow without problems but I grew up with cross plys many years ago and think that for many drivers it's lack of practice and unreasonable expectations for what is a summer tire.
Check out how the BEST all seasons tires perform against premium summer and winter tires!
61%
Member
BMW
225/ R18
67,000 miles
A Combination of Roads
Average
These are good tires. 2 sets for 67000 miles! That is great I think! But a big but for me was the comfort. Really not good but is fun flats full stop. I have a bmw 330d sport had to look out for any bump in the road. Changed to non run flat tires now I look for bumps in the road. Car on turn in not quite as sharp on turn in. But only done about 30 miles on them. Half the road noise too. If like me was reading and thinking if I should change to non run flat tires. I would for sure change them. Not a cost thing to me. More everyday comfort. Tires I put on by the way are Vredestein Ultrac Vorti. From people's great reviews not tire tests results. Hope these last as long! But sure they won't. Will do and update on them soon.
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Quite the worst tire I have ever driven on. Probably fine on a track, but for everyday useless. Harsh and noisy are the only two adjectives I could use that could be repeated here. I am a professional driver by occupation and I've never come across a more uncomfortable tire before. Can't wait to change them and will go foe Goodyear Eagle F1s without a second thought. Don't buy these unless you are a committed speed freak! Had an unexplainable blowout last Monday and the tire split halfway around the inner rim. Run flat - Pah!
Ive had my 996 for over four years, its a 3.6 carrera 4s tiptronic... The car is awesome but only as good as the rubber it wears, ive run bridgestone potenza so2a's for a few times and in the re05a' s are like slicks in comparison, ive run pirreli's before and i hated them, the bridgestone re's are brilliant and suit the porsche so well, only fault i can say is they always pop on the inner rims on the rears if u dont change them on the wear limits but they hold well in a 70mph blow out on a bend and that says alot in a safety aspect... Good tires, highly recommended and u will get around 7000 miles out of then with steady family driving...
Happy motoring folks and if anyone says boxsters are crap go and drive one. U want a porsche, any porsche is a fantastic car to own...
Use RE050A on BMW 320d e90. The rear tires lasted for 44.000km. Never have a problem with them. Dry grip is amazing.
I am from Spain and we have good weather conditions in general but i ride with them in snow "without" big problems.
At the end of his life i did some drifting sesions and the tires still traction very well.
I want to try now the Hankook ventus s1 k107 RFT and if they arent as good as this RE050A i will go back to this Bridgestone tires.
Member
Porsche
225/45 R17
A Combination of Roads
Average
Bought these tires as I thought that run flats would be a good idea on my wife's car meaning she could probably make it home without calling anyone out. The problem with these tires are they are so unforgiving giving an extremely hard ride. I have just changed them for contis feels so much more responsive straight away. My tire fitter said that they are standard figment to bmw's but they have adapted suspension to cope with them other cars do not
Having covered a good 8k or so spirited miles on these tires in the last 12 months, I can say that these tires have little or no redeeming features. The tramlining is horrific and at times can snap the steering wheel sharply from your hand - and I'm no stranger to much wider, slim profile runflats. Moderate acceleration or bumpy surfaces in the wet cause the traction control to kick in constantly. Slow wet roundabouts are a nightmare of understeer, which gives you no confidence on faster wet corners. Any amount of standing water on a motorway causes aquaplaning from 60mph upwards. All in all, a dreadful and frankly unsafe tire. Buy at your peril. I have just ordered Goodyear Eagle F1 Asy 2 (non-rfs) and will review in due course.
Grip and traction in the dry are good, with positive turn-in, fairly progressive break-away and strong resistance to understeer. Initially they were surprisingly good in greasy conditions too, although not when really wet. As they've started to wear, their susceptibility to aquaplaning has become quite scary. As other reviewers have noted they also give a very hard ride, tramline all over the place and make the steering extremely heavy. Given the wet winter we're having, it was a relief to put on my winter tires which give much more confidence in standing water, eliminate the tramlining and lighten the steering. I really wouldn't recommend these tires and will be replacing them with non-runflats as soon as I can bear the cost.
Came standard on my 330i e92. The tire is a great summer tire and dry grip is very impressive. However things change dramatically when the tire is faced with wet weather and standing water. They have poor resistance to aquaplaning and constantly light up the DTC, even in a straight line.
I have replaced the potenza's with sottozero's for the winter. And after looking at reviews for a more versatile summer tire I will be putting on pilot sports when the time comes.
These tires came fitted as standard to my 2012 3 series. After 15 months and 22000 miles, the rears are almost on the wear indictor.
Cant fault the grip in the dry. Good feedback. Never had the back step out even under "spirited" driving conditions. Always felt in control and secure that the tires were doing their job.
In the wet, they aren't that great. But greasy roads could be partly to blame.
Quite hard on the ride quality (as most run flats are).
Switched to Continental Winter tires for the next 3-4 months which gives me time to research and review what summer tires to buy next. Unlikely to be RE050A's.
Not bad tires, but compared to michelin pilot sport ps2 that I had in my other cars, these tires can't compete on dry grip, nor wet. They also didn't really last that much, although the treadwear index is considerably higher by these.
Still, I'm trying other brands now in my 135i
Conclusion: Not bad tires at all, but for that price you can definitely get better ones.
