Bridgestone’s Potenza Sport wins Auto Express 2022 Summer Tyre Test

Bridgestone’s Potenza Sport has achieved one of its most prestigious award wins to date, after winning the Auto Express Summer Tyre Test for 2022.

Steve Fowler, Auto Express Editor in Chief said: “Topping the tables in all four of our wet and dry braking and handling tests, the Bridgestone Potenza Sport is our top summer tyre in 2022. It felt direct and secure in the wet and had a clear braking advantage, too. And with a sporty edge that can take punishment at speed, it’s clear that Bridgestone has a tyre to beat the best.”

The ultra-high performance tyre came out on top over six rival products when tested in the 18in size in another significant triumph, having won the AutoBild sportscars’ sports tyre test in 2021.

Potenza Sport best performances in both dry braking and cornering and straight line stability versus competitors in the premium segment were also confirmed by tests carried out by TUV SUD, one of Europe’s most respected independent automotive testing institutes, upon the tyre’s launch last year.^[1]

Andrea Manenti, Vice President, Bridgestone North Region commented: “We are thrilled to win the Auto Express 2022 Summer Test Award, for the Bridgestone Potenza Sport and Bridgestone are extremely proud of the product and this accolade re-enforces the high performance of this tyre”.

Available in 96 sizes from 17’’ to 22”, the Potenza Sport combines Bridgestone’s pioneering spirit and expertise in high performance tyres with extensive market research to keep drivers in control while unlocking the performance of their vehicle.

When initially developing the tyre, Bridgestone wanted to create a product that met the expectations drivers have in high performance tyres, while also addressing the everyday challenges they face. That is why comprehensive market research was undertaken to begin the Potenza Sport development: Bridgestone interviewed over 3,800 end-users across Europe and their input represented the foundations from which an ultra-high performance tyre was engineered to meet drivers’ needs and expectations of control and confidence.

To achieve the Potenza Sport’s cutting-edge performance, Bridgestone applied various new, innovative technologies in tread pattern, compound and construction. The tyre’s tread design applies several new cutting-edge features, including innovative 3D sipes to increase shear stiffness, with benefits in braking and abrasion resistance; the compound, thanks to an optimized formula combined with innovative mixing technology, improves wet and dry performances.

Bridgestone also uses a new hybrid crown reinforcement to maximise the tyre’s stability performance at high speed. A sporty carcass package is also applied to increase stability performance and steering response, while optimising rolling resistance.

Fundamental to the design and creation of the Potenza Sport is Bridgestone’s proprietary timesaving, environmentally friendly virtual tyre development technology. The technology enables Bridgestone to very accurately predict a tyre’s performance at development stage, without physically producing and driving it. Not only does this bring environmental benefits by saving resources, it also reduces the length of the development process and cuts the project’s time to market.

Bridgestone’s Potenza Sport and its tyre technology as a whole aligns with the Bridgestone E8 Commitment that serves as the axis to drive management while earning the trust of future generations.   The Bridgestone E8 Commitment is a broad, global corporate commitment that clearly defines the value the company is promising to deliver to society, our customers and future generations in eight focus areas; Energy, Ecology, Efficiency, Extension, Economy, Emotion, Ease and Empowerment. These provide a compass to guide strategic priorities, decision making and actions throughout every area of the business.

The Potenza Sport aligns with ‘Emotion: Committed to inspiring excitement and spreading joy to the world of mobility.’