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
Came new on a Mazda 6, now done 67,000 km. Good tread left in the middle of the tires but worn on the outsides. No issues with wet/dry/comfort/handling etc. Will buy these again or maybe the re002, depends on the price.
Had these as standard on my new 12reg fiesta. Great in the dry, but poor is damp greasy conditions with lots of understeer. I found that you had to work them hard in damp, wet conditions to get them warm then they didn't grip too bad but difficult to maintain tire temp! Also, rears are fine on my front wheel drive hatchback but fronts are just about worn out already at 9500 miles. Very poor. Won't be buying these
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43%
Member
Audi
225/50 R17
11,000 miles
Mostly Country Roads
Easy Going
front tires just on the thread indicator at 16 kilometers from new .Rear tires about 1mm better than front . this is shocking wear esp. from new on A6 12 reg. By the way only cruise to work 10 km away I find the car shimmy on the roads.took it to my Audi dealer who just told me how much they wanted to replace them . No satisfaction just wanted me out the door. these tires should do at least 22km front and 25+ on rear. Had Avon and Conti on previous car and milage was well up on bridgestones, no faith in Bstones any more .
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Great, strong tires, suitable for heavy cars! The wear rate is excellent! However, they are noisy and tend to understeer when the road is wet and cold.
I had these tires under a BMW E46 328i and I've driven all kinds of roads with it and almost all kinds of driving styles. The most unpleasant thing of the tire was the hard comfort, partly because my car is lowered and is running on 18", but also because of the stiffness of the tire. That said, that was the most annoying thing that I could find of the tire. In overall, the tires weren't much louder than similar Continentals or other tires. I've taken these tires to basically all kind of roads, from motorways to enjoyable B-roads but also to the Nürburgring. The tires gave me a lot of confidence in hot weather and kept gripping very well. However, they don't seem to perform very well in 30-40mph corners in the wet. They do tend to understeer when the road is wet and cold, especially when the surface has a negative camber. I had a few times interference from the stability control program for correcting oversteer on very tight corners when pushing the gas just a little. Also, at hard launch, they will spin when the surface is cold but overall the tire was pretty good.
Have these fitted to my Alfa GTV V6 (summer use only) and although dry grip is good and they sit nice on a smooth motorway, they are AWFUL on A/B roads. The wear rate is also AWFUL and so is the ride comfort - being kicked in the back would be mild by comparison.
The previous owner put them on and after 12mths they are down to 2mm (inner) 4mm (middle) and 5mm (outer) and that's 7,000 miles.
The most disconcerting thing about them is that on a spirited A road run, it feels very skitish over rough surfaces and you back off the power somewhat.
They are not cheap either £130.00 per corner (17") and much better options are available.
In short... AVOID this particular Potenza.
Currently considering Dunlop SportMaxxTT and Potenza SO2.
Got these tires with the car fitted @ factory.
At start they were great. Great grip - and I actually enjoy the stiff sidewalls and stiff ride.
But after around 10k of mild driving - front grip and turning grip is almost horrible. The tires lose grip on most acceleration from a complete stop or slow rolling - they understeer easily with the slightest pedal input.
Breaking is great even after 22k km.
Wear is insane even after 5 track days. Tires still have around 5 mm left and shoulderd are not badly worn.
But now after grip is lost, all that is left is the stiffness. I hate these tires.
Gonna replace them very very soon.
64%
Member
Mazda
225/45 R18 W
Mostly Country Roads
Average
Running a Mazda RX8 Full Loaded just for fun,, handle's real well but the car is well balanced anyway, The tires grip well in the dry but you feel every undulation in the surface , i think if i ran over a Fag Paper i'd feel it, they are a little noisy as well. In the wet not so good but Back Wheel drive, (I Know),
Dont think i would buy again,may go back to Toyo...
Andy
without doubt, the worlds hardest and most uncomfortable tire ever made. certainly unsuitable for british roads. hit a pot hole or bump with these on and you will need airlifting to A&E on a spinal board. sadly for me, this issue overshadows anything good about these tires.
