Bridgestone Potenza s02

The Bridgestone Potenza s02 is a Max Performance Summer tire designed to be fitted to Passenger Cars.

This tire replaced the Bridgestone Potenza S01 and this tire has been replaced by the Bridgestone Potenza S02A.

Dry Grip 90%
Wet Grip 79%
Road Feedback 87%
Handling 87%
Wear 65%
Comfort 63%
Buy again 75%

Tire review data from 18 tire reviews averaging 78% over 165,900 miles driven.

The Potenza s02 is ranked 35th of 75 Summer Max Performance tires.

Sorry, we don't currently have any magazine tire tests for the Bridgestone Potenza s02

Size Fuel Wet Noise Weight
225/50 R16 92W N-3 G C 71 11.24kgs
205/55 R16 91W N-3 G C 71 9.56kgs
265/35 R18 93Y * G B 73 12.16kgs

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Size Price Range  
205/55 R16 $204.96 - $204.96 (1 Prices) Compare Prices >>
225/50 R16 $241.99 - $241.99 (1 Prices) Compare Prices >>
Available in 2 tire sizes - View all.

Top 3 Bridgestone Potenza s02 Reviews

Given 93% while driving a Honda S2000 (225/50 R16) on track for 100 spirited miles
Well . I replaced my tires with these a month ago. Unused yet, held somewhere unsold but manufactured some time ago because they don't do these anymore. They are made in Japan. Rubber still soft without cracks. The main reason I bought these tires is because my car came from the factory with these. Even if they are old I wanted to know the feeling of driving my car completely stock and feel it how it was made to be driven. The results ? I shaved more than 1.5 sec off my best time I ever had on local track. I tried before different Potenza ,Yokohama , Firehawk and other street tires. Definitely the best street tires I ever tried. Most race prepared cars on slicks or semi can't beat my stock Ap1 on these. Short technical Supermoto track . Even at the limit the car does what I expect .That snap oversteer, those uncontrollable slides they are all gone ! And I can take any corner faster and brake later than I can do with any other tires I had before. No wonder these tires are on the cover of Gran Turismo original game. The only regret I have is I have no other chances to buy these anymore. I would pay in gold for such street tires. Brilliant tires for track or Touge !
Helpful 123 - tire reviewed on August 23, 2022
Tire reviews and ratingsTire Reviews Replies
The S02 was truly one of the great tires, I have fond memories of lapping Donnington Park in my SW20 MR2 Turbo destroying everyone else they were so fast!
Given 83% while driving a Honda S2000 (225/45 R17) on a combination of roads for 2,500 spirited miles
Very good tires for cornering. Might be one of the best ever made. But only when is hot outside. ! You can easily lose everything when you are too confident and temperature is beyond 20 Celsius. They wear very fast and they are quite noisy . But the fun on the Twisties is priceless.
Helpful 21 - tire reviewed on February 13, 2023
Given 80% while driving a Honda S2000 (225/50 R16) on a combination of roads for 3,000 spirited miles
have these on my 2000 S2000 AP1, they are OE tires for my car, its the right tire for the car if you want to experience the handling shigeru uehara wanted from this car, it gives the car that very controllable neutral steer, you wont have this handling with any other tire because of the construction of S02 (rounder on front, flatter on rear) again i tries various other brands including some potenzas, none gave the car's original handling caracterstics ! if you have a 2000-2004 S2000 with oem suspension and want to experience what your car's fuss is all about buy the S02
Helpful 23 - tire reviewed on June 21, 2020
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Latest Bridgestone Potenza s02 Reviews

Given 77% while driving a Nissan 200sx (225/50 R16) on a combination of roads for 3,000 spirited miles
Good medium performance tire grips quite well. Very stiff and can give a back ache. Was surprised it felt more grippy in the wet compared to other tires.
Helpful 24 - tire reviewed on April 4, 2016
Given 64% while driving a Volkswagen Golf IV 1.9 TDI 110 (205/55 R16) on a combination of roads for 20,000 spirited miles
Best grip tires I ever had, amazing.

Bought the car with the tires, and not knowing mileage on them.

Dry and wet grip was the same, amazing. Even (very) hard spirited driving.

Noise levels, confort and wear didn't get me. Specialy wear, but this was a very sport tire (And a very good one). Wear was very fast.

Traded for touring sport tires.

Recommended for grip and safety over everything in a really sport car and sport driving.

Helpful 16 - tire reviewed on October 13, 2015
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Given 61% while driving a BMW 328i (225/45 R17) on mostly country roads for 800 spirited miles
Probably one of the most frustrating tires I've ever used. Bought a new set of 4. Took them on a 230 mile road trip to Cadwell for a track day. Came home. Checked inside edge on front tires. Almost on legal limit after 600 miles! Absolutely shocking wear rate. Annoying because they're incredibly progressive, grippy and communicative. Will be trying Federal RSRs next.
Helpful 14 - tire reviewed on June 14, 2015
Given 63% while driving a Porsche BOXSTER 2.7 (225/45 R17) on mostly town for 15,000 average miles
I have now had three sets of these tires on my porsche boxster, one set went through 2000k, i have had the geometrics done on the car and all fine but still have had three sets in 12 months. Local sport automative garage have said they havent seen anything like it so now changing brands completely. the total mileage on three sets was 15,000k
Helpful 21 - tire reviewed on January 23, 2012
Given 60% while driving a Porsche Boxster 2.5 (255/40 R17 W) on mostly town for 8,000 spirited miles
A nice looking tire, which I know is important to some people...., though really not that relevant! When I bought my car it had these tires fitted, so I just replaced like for like. They gripped well in the summer, but lost all adhesive properties through last winter! When the temperature dropped as low as it did, the rubber appeared to go pretty hard, which led to a lot of slip, even when on dry surfaces. This was especially noticeable when parking, when, the first time I realised I had a problem, I thought I had a worn track control rod allowing the wheels to jump! It was a really strange sensation. As it was, and after inspecting all joints, it was purely as a result of the extreme cold affecting the tire. I realise that summer tires aren't even 50% effective in the winter, and hence why most of Europe switch to a winter tire to maintain performance and grip. Of course 'N' rated winter tires are hideously expensive, though can be purchased for £200 each rear tire, and £160 each front tire. Non 'N' rated can be obtained cheaper, but the practice of using non 'N' rated tires, always causes extensive debate. The Bridgestones have only lasted me 8000 miles on the rear, were very poor in the winter, though are cheaper than Continental, and Michelin alternatives. If you are going to be using the car all year round, I would recommend switching to winter tires in the winter once temperatures fall below 7 deg, until they rise again. A swap to a spare set of 16" wheels would reduce the cost of the winter rubber, or budget for the cost of swapping the rubber twice a year on your existing wheels for £10 - £15 a wheel (valve and balance). I have just fitted a pair of Continental Sport Contact 2 Tires (N2), as I can't afford unfortunately at this time to put on winter rubber. I will review these tires in due course, especially with how they fare over the winter. On a side note....., summer tires also wear much quicker in the winter than in the summer!
Helpful 38 - tire reviewed on November 22, 2011
Given 87% while driving a TVR Chimaera (205/55 R15 W) on mostly country roads for 15,000 spirited miles
Fantastic tire, good grip wet or dry, good wear, perfect for the car. Shame you cannot get them anymore. Replaced with Dunlop SP9000's which is the closest I could find to match the grip levels.
Helpful 15 - tire reviewed on February 9, 2011
Given 76% while driving a BMW E38 7 Series (255/45 R18 V) on mostly motorways for 3,000 average miles
Got them from e-bay brand new, and put them as rear wheels of my BMW 740i. The wear rate has been terrible, in just 200miles I have 2mm treading left.
I bought from e-bay also used partworn 7mm Goodyear F1 GDS3's on front wheels, and they are perfect with no wear at all.
I still cannot believe the wear rate. Could it be because the tire is made no more and could have expired? but then that particular brand of Goodyears are also not made anymore. I took my car to a garage and I have no problem with my rear axle or wheels, and the seller on e-bay cannot come up with explanation. I am definitely not using these or any bridgestones anymore. I am still in shock at the wear rate of my rear Bridgestone Potenza S02's compared to the Goodyear F1's in front, Can someone explain to me why the Bridgestones tires wore out so quickly. I need an answer!!!!
Helpful 31 - tire reviewed on December 7, 2010
Given 93% while driving a TVR Cerbera (245/45 R16 W) on a combination of roads for 15,000 spirited miles
Simply the best tires I've used. Such a shame they can't be bought anymore :(
Helpful 14 - tire reviewed on February 14, 2010
Given 83% while driving a Nissan 300ZX (225/50 R16 W) on a combination of roads for 12,000 spirited miles
Had this tire on the front gave good front end grip and and good feedback the tune in was 1st class lasted long to
Helpful 22 - tire reviewed on December 1, 2009
Given 77% while driving a Honda S2000 (215/55 R16 V) on a combination of roads for 8,000 spirited miles
I have driven with the S-02's on the front of my Honda S2000 for nearly 8k miles. They had already covered around 10k when I bought the car so they have lasted very well. They grip extremely well in the dry giving lots of confidence when cornering. Wet performance is also very good as long as you don't push it too much on the tighter bends. Comfort is fairly good overall and the tread design looks great. Would buy them again but they are no longer available so I will now probably replace them with Potenza RE050A's.
Helpful 24 - tire reviewed on July 10, 2009
Given 91% while driving a Peugeot 306 GTI6 (195/55 R15 W) on a combination of roads for 6,500 spirited miles
Dry Grip - The best
Wet Grip - The best
Road Feedback - The best
Progressiveness - The best
Wear - They wear quickly, but there soft and grippy.
Comfort - If you want comfort have a bath
Buy again - If I could get them - BRIDGESTONE PLEASE MAKE SOME MORE.

The best bar non. Grip, feel, stability, poise is way better than any other. They also leave all others in the wet, they are just brilliant. The sidewalls are also quite stiff which is great as you dont get the movement like you do with lesser tires.

I have had five sets of these as well as trying Eagle F1's and various others. These nock them all into next week.
Helpful 28 - tire reviewed on January 31, 2008
Given 86% while driving a TVR griffith (245/45 R16 W) on a combination of roads for 15,000 spirited miles
These tires are brilliant, it's a shame you can't get them anymore. The relpacement bridgestone s03 doesn't suit the griff as well and don't seem as good as the s02.
Helpful 23 - tire reviewed on September 7, 2007