The Bridgestone Potenza RE050A is a premium max-performance summer tire that still feels sharp and sporty, with strong steering feedback and confident dry-road grip. In everyday use many drivers also rate it as stable at speed and reassuring in the wet when conditions are warm and the tire is in good shape. However, both owners and tests suggest it's an ageing design that can feel less composed than newer rivals, especially in wet handling, and comfort refinement is not a strong point.
The quick answer
Owners say69%from 217 owner reviews49% would buy againRead the reviews
Built from every independent test result and vetted owner review we hold for this tire - the evidence is all further down the page. Data updated June 2026.
How many miles does the Bridgestone Potenza RE050A last?
Based on test and owner data, the Bridgestone Potenza RE050A is expected to last around 25,973 miles (41,799 km).
What do owners say about the Bridgestone Potenza RE050A?
Across 217 owner ratings the Bridgestone Potenza RE050A averages 69%. Owners rate Dry Grip highest at 8.3 out of 10 and Comfort lowest at 5.9. 126 of those reviews come from owners past 10,000 miles. 55% of owners score it 70% or better.
What is the Bridgestone Potenza RE050A's EU tire label rating?
Across its range, the Bridgestone Potenza RE050A most commonly carries EU label ratings of D for fuel efficiency, C for wet grip and 72 dB for noise.
How comfortable and quiet are the Bridgestone Potenza RE050A?
Owners rate the Bridgestone Potenza RE050A 5.9 out of 10 for comfort and noise across 180 reviews.
How well do the Bridgestone Potenza RE050A wear, according to owners?
Owners rate the Bridgestone Potenza RE050A 6.6 out of 10 for wear across 180 reviews. 126 of those reviews come from owners past 10,000 miles, and the typical review covers 15,000 miles.
More questions about the Bridgestone Potenza RE050A(7)
Would owners buy the Bridgestone Potenza RE050A again?
49% of owners say they would buy the Bridgestone Potenza RE050A again, based on the 211 owner reviews that answered the question. 16% of them gave it the highest possible answer.
What do owners say about the Bridgestone Potenza RE050A's tread life?
Of the 178 owner reviews analyzed for the Bridgestone Potenza RE050A, 102 mention tread life: 58 praise it (long-lasting) and 44 criticise it (wears quickly). One owner wrote: "most of the tire widths still have 2-3mm left". Read those reviews
What do owners say about the Bridgestone Potenza RE050A's dry grip?
Of the 178 owner reviews analyzed for the Bridgestone Potenza RE050A, 100 mention dry grip: 87 praise it (strong dry grip) and 13 criticise it (limited dry grip). One owner wrote: "dry / wet grip, feedback and handling were all top notch". Read those reviews
What do owners say about the Bridgestone Potenza RE050A's wet grip?
Of the 178 owner reviews analyzed for the Bridgestone Potenza RE050A, 91 mention wet grip: 58 praise it (confident wet grip) and 33 criticise it (weak wet grip). One owner wrote: "dry / wet grip, feedback and handling were all top notch". Read those reviews
What does the Bridgestone Potenza RE050A replace?
The Bridgestone Potenza RE050A is the successor to the Bridgestone Potenza RE040 in Bridgestone's range.
Questions and Answers for the Bridgestone Potenza RE050A
Hi I have these on my B7 RS4 but am looking for a replacement can you recommend a summer tire I’m not looking to do track days.
Many thanks.
December 28, 2019
Michelin Pilot Sport 4S or Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperSport.
Show all questions(5)
Hi, I have a staggered set up on my MB CLK It has an open diff and appears to favor one tire over the other indicated by faster wear on the left side. Show moreHi,
I have a staggered set up on my MB CLK It has an open diff and appears to favor one tire over the other indicated by faster wear on the left side. Being staggered I cannot swap tires front to rear to balance tire wear.
Can you suggest a tire that can be swapped left to right to balance tire wear on the rear of the car.
Tire size is 255/35/18
Thanks in advance Gav. Show less
March 10, 2019
The RE050A is an asymmetric tire so can be swapped left to right. All asymmetric patterned tires can be, as they are mounted in a certain way on the wheel.
Is the Bridgestone Potenza RE050A a "run-flat" tire?
December 22, 2016
There are both runflat and non-runflat version of the Bridgestone Potenza RE050A
Are they directional/handed?
November 24, 2016
The Bridgestone RE050A is an asymmetric tire.
Brigestone potenza RE050A it can work for all season?
October 1, 2016
The RE050A is a summer tire, and will offer very little performance in snow or ice.
Drivers describe the Bridgestone Potenza RE050A as a sharp, sporty UHP tire with strong steering feel and confident dry grip, and many high-scoring reviews also praise its stable handling and braking in the wet when temperatures are moderate. However, a substantial share of owners report a firm/harsh ride and rising road noise as the tire ages, alongside notable performance drop-offs in cold conditions (and very poor snow/ice ability). Wear rate and value are polarising: some achieve long life with correct pressures/rotation, while many others see rapid wear-especially on driven axles/inner shoulders-making cost a frequent complaint.
What owners mention most counted across 178 reviews
Tap one to read only the reviews that mention it.
Owner ratings averaged from 217 ratings
Owner score69%
Dry Grip83%
Road Feedback75%
Handling72%
Wet Grip70%
Wear66%
Comfort59%
Featured reviews
Most helpful 33%
“I inherited these tires on a 2010 Porsche Boxter S. In the dry from a standing start it sends the traction control off at anything above 1/2 throttle. In the wet they are not much good also. They fare better for...”
“I absolutely hate these tires. What a waste of my hard earned money. I did do a little research before buying theses tires and must admit that most of them weren't good. But I chose to ignore them and thought maybe they...”
“MX5 2L 3.5 Sport 2011. Mostly fast motorway and occasional trackday. Manufacturer fitted Bridgestone Potenza RE050A. Good grip in dry and plenty in wet but noisy and lots of bump thump over anything but the smoothest...”
Between 2006 and 2015 I have driven these on highways, cities and mountian roads.
Hundreds of times on the limit and dozens beyond. Very clear linear feedback saved me plenty of times.
The most informative tire I have driven in my life. Worn 2 sets to almost slick.
Drove them in all conditions including snow or ice... never crashed...
20k miles is maximum distance per set of tires if You push on them often when dry
- they can wear before 10k.
Grip was appropriate for the price and the times. Comfort is mediocre as an old jdm car from 90-ties on lowered springs
it lacked the refiniement on bumpy roads at 245/45 sidewall height wasnt enough to smoothen the road cracks.
I can see one can still buy them today since 2010 or so... Interestingly they seem to be still in production.
Thanks to the Bridgestone for making it.
I left a previous review in 2020 and I’ll start this one, how I finished the last. Quite a few of the poor reviews relate to the run-flat version or BMWs, which are probably running run-flats. Those tires have a separate page on this website and if they were removed from this NON run-flat page, these tires would score higher.
My first review at 3,000 miles was very positive and I’m pleased to say things carried on in a similar vein. My only two concerns were “wear” and given I’m writing this review over 5 years and another 50,000 miles later, answers that one. In fact, most of the tire widths still have 2-3mm left (must be my Jim Clark driving style [I wish]), but my performance estate runs some negative camber and the inner shoulders were shot.
The other was cold temperatures, which I understand afflicted the previous RE040, but not these tires. Sub 5 degrees on damp back roads was not a problem.
In short, dry / wet grip, feedback and handling were all top notch, especially running an extra 2.5psi, which made the car feel even more “planted” and inspired additional confidence. Being 93XL load, compared to the OE 89SL, they needed an extra 0.5psi in any case. Comfort was still reasonable, I didn’t notice any noise and economy was as expected.
Finally, I hardly noticed any deterioration in performance near their end of life, as I was still chasing down faster metal on cold damp back roads with confidence. Perhaps the odd slight twitch through standing water, which is only to be expected, given the loss of tread.
Would I buy again? Without doubt, although Bridgestone no longer make them in my size, so I’ve gone for a set of Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72, as I’m on a budget and these mid-market tires have reviewed well since their launch.
Check out how the BEST all seasons tires perform against premium summer and winter tires!
Factory fit on a Skoda Octavia RS Wagon. Excellent grip when new and for first 6,000km. Wore down quickly after and wet grip deteriorated. Harder sidewall resulted in excellent handling & feedback but a harder ride. Replaced with Michelin Pilot Sport 4 which did most things better.
Which tires do you drive?
Researching the Bridgestone Potenza RE050A? Rate the tires you actually drive - and help the next buyer choose.
I inherited these tires on a 2010 Porsche Boxter S. In the dry from a standing start it sends the traction control off at anything above 1/2 throttle. In the wet they are not much good also. They fare better for handling. There is plenty of tread left and they are not too old 03/22 on the ID mark but they need to be replaced asap to get the best out of the car.
These tires came on my car from factory when I purchased my 124 Spider brand new. I got 38k kms out of them before I replaced them with the exact same spec of tire. Dry handling is phenomenal, wet grip is good until the tire starts to get worn out. Had minimal wet grip and instances of aquaplaning just before I replaced them with a new set of RE050A's. Comfort is not the greatest but that is to be expected with a proper UHP tire. Tire cost is very pricey but it does everything you want an UHP tire to do. I will consider other options next time as i don't believe they live up to their price but they are a good tire.
Good in the dry but not the best. Very poor in the wet (when pushed quite hard in the wet coming out of corners, lost front wheel traction without warning a few times which could have ended badly!). They're sporty but noisy. Changed to Goodyear as3's which were far superior.
51%
Member
Holden
275/35 R19
9,700 miles
Mostly Country Roads
Average
I bought new wider rims to suit my supercharged Commodore 2012 VE SS [640 RWHP] so I could fit wider and more grippy tires for occasional spirited driving. These tires were recommended by Bob Jane staff.
Previous tires gave me 32,000kms. Already looking at replacing these at 9,700 km. I knew they were a softer compound but this is crazy. I'm a 60+ year old with responsible stable driving habits. Quite a harsh and noisy ride at 36psi recommended by fitter.
Yes they provided significantly more dry grip and reasonable wet traction but durability trade-off just not worth it.
Won't be buying again and cannot recommend.
275/35R19 100Y was version fitted.
A great tire for a average driver.
Not the tire for a person looking for max grip or max wear. Its soft but it doesn’t provide as much grip... rather go for the RE003 RFT
But overall a great tire
Bridgestone’s Run Flats are the best it’s true.
Quite pricey for a average tire.
Shocking! Utterly shocking!
Bought a little two seater and was shocked by the poor handling performance, the crashyness over the smallest of bumps, the dangerous cornering ability when the road was not perfect, that sound of crashing coming into the cabin was horrendous. My car had the M sport suspension and I thought it was down to that. Then someone stated I should change over to non rub flats. . . the difference is extortionary! There is no crashyness, no loud crashes into the cabin - going round corners with slightly scared road surfaces is now normal and I dont fly have to drop to very low speeds or get jolted across the other side of the road.
It should be illegal to sell these tires, they are so very dangerous in what should be a drivers car. I opted for some Michelin Primacy 4's simply for the comfort and the difference is uneblievable I cannot stress how much better these are - its like driving a completely different car
This was the WORST tire i have ever experienced in one of my cars! A BMW 5 series in 245/40r18 RFT
If you never had better tires you may think it is good in dry, but no it isn't.
In mildly wet surfaces it's MURDEROUS to say the least!
I have driven cars with chinese tires that had more longitudinal and lateral grip than this tires!!!
In comparison to other "medium/cheap" tires like Michelin PS3 or PS4, ContiSportContacts and Goodyear F1s, it's a ridiculously BAD tire.
NEVER again
The car came as a fresh import with four Bridgestone Potenza S001, for which I'll leave a separate review. However, for the purposes of comparison, I would say they had the sharpest turn-in of any tire I've ever driven, very "sporty" and with excellent grip in both the dry & wet, although all at the exense of comfort, with a very "crashy" ride.
Unfortunately, the S001 were no longer available in my slightly unusual tire size and so I plumped for the older RE050A, which seemed a bit of a retrograde step, given the RE050A was launched in 2004 and replaced by the S001 in 2011.
I'd also heard it performed better in hotter climates.
Nevertheless, the S001 were so good and these RE050A would have been the OEM fitment on my Subaru, when the car was built in 2006.
I needn't have worried, turn-in isn't quite as sharp, but it is still very good, with excellent dry (and more importantly) wet grip, even on cold wet UK back roads I failed to find the limit, giving me the confidence to push on regardless. And what's more, they are noticeably more compliant than the S001, giving a noticeably smoother ride, which for a performance family estate, makes for a better compromise.
I don't really notice tire noise, as I'm either cruising with the stereo on or pressing on, when the engine note takes center stage.
As for fuel consumption, I wouldn't expect my 301ps / 278lbft AWD estate to sip at the cup of economy, while I'm giving it the beans and I doubt whether a set of eco tires would make much of a difference.
My only concern at this stage is wear, as I've heard bad things and the Treadwear Rating of only 140 is half that of the S001, but so far so good.
One final point, is that I've noticed most of the poor reviews seem to relate to the Run-flats.
Bought them used with the wheels, have done one summer and no sign of wear. They are heavy and they do feel like it but when you start driving enthusiastically there is excellent communication and feedback. Traction is near excellent in tarmac and offroad. The tries (runflat version) feel very stiff and I would not recommend if you were driving constantly on bad roads. Wet grip is decent but can catch you off guard sometimes, fairly unpredictable in the rain - better take caution-. Would I buy them again? No, not that they are bad, they are very neutral, id have some other high performance summer tires from Conti or Michelin.
