Tests 67 · 1 test Owners 68 · 1 review
Best test result: #2 of 3 in 2026 Tire Rack Streetable Track Tyre Test (dry handling long run)
Head-to-head
Updated
Bridgestone Potenza RE-71RZ vs Bridgestone Potenza RE 71RS — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
Potenza RE 71RS is ahead, 74–68
Add your size for an exact match
/R
Both Amazon links then search this exact size.
TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.
Tests 77 · 2 tests Owners 72 · 452 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 7 in 2025 Tire Rack Extreme Performance Track Tyre Test (dry handling)
“Need heat cycle advice I recently got a screaming deal on some Bridgestone Potenza RE-71RS for my daily driver. It usually doesn't see track time but I figured it would be fun to try it out for the cost. The tires were cheap because they had a 2021 production date. In the past to heat cycle a tire, I've just driven on the highway a couple of hours and let the tire sit for 24 hours. The hurdle is, It's winter and too cold to really make an impact. To add to that, I doubt I will have clean enough roads for that tire. My track does have winter lapping when it is clean and dry, but it still may be cold. Any suggestions on how to get a heat cycle on these tires in cold temperatures? Read more”
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
68
Dry
Potenza RE 71RS +1381Why this score
Source Potenza RE-71RZ Potenza RE 71RS Professional tests (TWG score) 67 75 Reviews found online 70 90 Dry Handling (% of best) 99% 100% Dry Handling Long Run (% of best) 100% 100% -
71
Wet
Potenza RE 71RS +677Why this score
Source Potenza RE-71RZ Potenza RE 71RS Professional tests (TWG score) – 84 Reviews found online 71 68 -
65
Comfort
Level65Why this score
Source Potenza RE-71RZ Potenza RE 71RS Professional tests (TWG score) – 71 Reviews found online 61 56 -
–
Noise
No comparison66Why this score
Source Potenza RE-71RZ Potenza RE 71RS Professional tests (TWG score) – 67 Reviews found online – 64 -
64
Treadwear
Potenza RE-71RZ +361Why this score
Source Potenza RE-71RZ Potenza RE 71RS Reviews found online 63 59 -
69
Handling
Potenza RE 71RS +1584Why this score
Source Potenza RE-71RZ Potenza RE 71RS Reviews found online 69 84
Scores at a glance
| Category | Bridgestone Potenza RE-71RZ | Bridgestone Potenza RE 71RS |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 68 | 74 |
| Dry | 68 | 81 |
| Wet | 71 | 77 |
| Comfort | 65 | 65 |
| Noise | – | 66 |
| Treadwear | 64 | 61 |
| Handling | 69 | 84 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
Weight the categories that matter to you
Wet grip and treadwear start at “Important” — the two things buyers rank highest. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Less important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Less important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neither tire has a score here yet, so this weight changes nothing.
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Recomputed
Headline score
68
/ 100
Potenza RE-71RZ
74
/ 100
Potenza RE 71RS
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
The professional test results behind the scores
Each result is shown as % of the best tire in that test. “Same test” rows are the strictest comparison: both tires were measured side by side.
| Discipline | Category | Potenza RE-71RZ | Potenza RE 71RS | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Handling | Dry | 99% #3/3 · 2026 Tire Rack Streetable Track Tyre Test | 100% #1/7 · 2025 Tire Rack Extreme Performance Track Tyre Test | −0.7 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling Long Run | Dry | 100% #2/3 · 2026 Tire Rack Streetable Track Tyre Test | 100% #1/7 · 2025 Tire Rack Extreme Performance Track Tyre Test | −0.4 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 50% #2/3 · 2026 Tire Rack Streetable Track Tyre Test | 100% #1/7 · 2025 Tire Rack Extreme Performance Track Tyre Test | −50.0 | Different tests |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A Potenza RE-71RZ
Not enough owner reviews yet to extract themes.
Tire B Potenza RE 71RS
Pros
- Outstanding dry grip and rapid warm-up characteristics.
- Highly predictable and communicative at the limit, allowing for easy recovery.
- Improved on-road refinement, noise levels, and comfort compared to its predecessor.
Cons
- Rapid tread wear, especially when used aggressively on track or heavy vehicles.
- Tendency to become 'greasy' or lose peak grip during extended track sessions.
- Stiff sidewalls can make mounting the tires onto rims difficult.
What real owners are saying
From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score
Tire A
Bridgestone Potenza RE-71RZ
We haven't collected enough community discussion about this tire yet.
Tire B
Positive
Bridgestone Potenza RE 71RS
Community sentiment toward the Bridgestone Potenza RE-71RS is overwhelmingly positive, with drivers praising its high grip levels, responsive turn-in, and improved refinement over the older RE-71R. Discussions frequently center around track and autocross setups, optimal hot tire pressures, clearance pricing, and its streetability regarding road noise and gravel pickup. Minor caveats noted include fast wear characteristic of 200tw competition tires and rotation limits stemming from an asymmetrical tread design.
rennlist.com
“I ran RE-71R on 19" rims, 255/285 F/R, and starting at about 26 psi would end up at around 35 at end of 25 min session with even tire temps across the width of the tire once I got my camber dialed in.”
civicx.com
·2 upvotes ·2025-02-25
“I just put some Bridgestone Potenza Re71rs on my FC1 and holt shit these things kick ass. I took the same turn series before/after the tire change and the turn-in is ridiculous. Looking forward to hitting up some backroads and Lagun Seca for a trackday.”
s2ki.com
“Quote: Back to the RE71RS tires: 1. How loud is the tread noise? 2. How much gravel are they picking up in normal and back roads driving? Just replaced my 7 and 8 year old Bridgestone S04 tires (aged out). Less than 100 miles so far. I'm happy. 1. No increase in tread noise I can detect. Surprisingly quiet. My former RE-11As were a little noisey. The Dunlops were LOUD. 2. Twinkling of fine gravel is present under the car. Noticeable and expected. -- Chuck”
Top themes
#track and autocross performance#tire pressure tuning#road noise and refinement#clearance pricing and availability#fitment and sizing#tread wear and longevity#comparison to previous RE-71R
Based on 33 community posts
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Bridgestone Potenza RE-71RZ | B · Bridgestone Potenza RE 71RS |
|---|---|---|
| Category | — | Summer |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | — |
| Sizes available | 24 | 10 |
| Rim diameters | 15″ – 19″ | 15″ – 19″ |
| Tread depth | 7/32″ | 7/32″ |
| UTQG | 200 A A | 200 A A |
| Sidewall | Blackwall | Blackwall |
| Max pressure | 50 psi | 51 psi |
Which one should you actually buy?
68
/ 100
Bridgestone Potenza RE-71RZ
74
/ 100
Bridgestone Potenza RE 71RS
Winner: Bridgestone Potenza RE 71RS — better handling, dry and wet. Pick the Bridgestone Potenza RE-71RZ if treadwear matters most to you.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Bridgestone Potenza RE 71RS scores 84 vs 69 on handling.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Bridgestone Potenza RE 71RS scores 81 vs 68 on dry.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Bridgestone Potenza RE 71RS scores 77 vs 71 on wet.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
Bridgestone Potenza RE-71RZ scores 64 vs 61 on treadwear.
Tire A · Bridgestone Potenza RE-71RZ
Tire B · Bridgestone Potenza RE 71RS
TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.
How do we compare tires?
Every category score blends two independent signals. 60% comes from professional tire tests (braking distances, lap times, noise measurements), each result compared with every other tire in the same test and newer tests counting more. 40% comes from owner reviews found online, adjusted for how generously each site rates. Both use one scale: the average tested tire gets 70, the best 100. When a tire has only one of the two, the missing half is estimated from the other and the score stays closer to average; with no road test and fewer than five owner reviews it gets no score yet.
Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score.