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 Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
Potenza RE-71RZ leads, 68–66 Narrow edge
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Tests 65 · 6 tests Owners 66 · 23 reviews
Best test result: #2 of 9 in 2018 Sport Auto 19 inch UHP and Track Day Tyre Test (dry handling)
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
68
Dry
Pilot Sport Cup 2 +1482Why this score
Source Potenza RE-71RZ Pilot Sport Cup 2 Professional tests (TWG score) 67 83 Reviews found online 70 81 Dry Handling (% of best) 99% 99% Dry Handling Long Run (% of best) 100% 97% -
71
Wet
Potenza RE-71RZ +1754Why this score
Source Potenza RE-71RZ Pilot Sport Cup 2 Professional tests (TWG score) – 51 Reviews found online 71 59 -
65
Comfort
Potenza RE-71RZ +1055Why this score
Source Potenza RE-71RZ Pilot Sport Cup 2 Professional tests (TWG score) – 49 Reviews found online 61 66 -
–
Noise
No comparison65Why this score
Source Potenza RE-71RZ Pilot Sport Cup 2 Professional tests (TWG score) – 64 Reviews found online – 67 -
64
Treadwear
Potenza RE-71RZ +658Why this score
Source Potenza RE-71RZ Pilot Sport Cup 2 Reviews found online 63 53 -
69
Handling
Pilot Sport Cup 2 +978Why this score
Source Potenza RE-71RZ Pilot Sport Cup 2 Reviews found online 69 78
Scores at a glance
| Category | Bridgestone Potenza RE-71RZ | Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 68 | 66 |
| Dry | 68 | 82 |
| Wet | 71 | 54 |
| Comfort | 65 | 55 |
| Noise | – | 65 |
| Treadwear | 64 | 58 |
| Handling | 69 | 78 |
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
66
/ 100
Pilot Sport Cup 2
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 | Pilot Sport Cup 2 | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Handling | Dry | 99% #3/3 · 2026 Tire Rack Streetable Track Tyre Test | 99% #2/9 · 2018 Sport Auto 19 inch UHP and Track Day Tyre Test | +0.3 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling Long Run | Dry | 100% #2/3 · 2026 Tire Rack Streetable Track Tyre Test | 97% #5/6 · The BEST Track Day Tyres for 2024 | +2.4 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 50% #2/3 · 2026 Tire Rack Streetable Track Tyre Test | 50% #2/6 · The BEST Track Day Tyres for 2024 | 0.0 | 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 Pilot Sport Cup 2
Pros
- Phenomenal grip and stability in dry conditions
- Exceptional steering precision and driver feedback
- Strong, robust sidewalls providing great agility and balance
Cons
- Rapid tread wear and short lifespan
- High purchase price
- Requires significant heat to achieve optimal grip, making them less ideal for cold or short road trips
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Bridgestone Potenza RE-71RZ | B · Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | — | Summer |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 24 | 18 |
| Rim diameters | 15″ – 19″ | 18″ – 21″ |
| Tread depth | 7/32″ | — |
| UTQG | 200 A A | — |
| Sidewall | Blackwall | — |
| Max pressure | 50 psi | — |
Which one should you actually buy?
68
/ 100
Bridgestone Potenza RE-71RZ
66
/ 100
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2
Winner: Bridgestone Potenza RE-71RZ — better wet, comfort and treadwear. Pick the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 if dry and handling matter most to you.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Bridgestone Potenza RE-71RZ scores 71 vs 54 on wet.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 scores 82 vs 68 on dry.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Bridgestone Potenza RE-71RZ scores 65 vs 55 on comfort.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 scores 78 vs 69 on handling.
Tire A · Bridgestone Potenza RE-71RZ
Tire B · Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2
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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.