tirewheelguide
Head-to-head Updated

Bridgestone Potenza RE-71R vs Firestone WeatherGrip — Compared

Relative Score (0–100): the weighted average of the categories below, each 60% road tests and 40% owner reviews (comfort 40/60). Based on 1 + 1 road tests and 23 + 24 owner reviews. How we score

WeatherGrip is ahead, 65–54

Check price on Amazon · WeatherGrip or Potenza RE-71R on Amazon
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.

Category by category

Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.

  1. 72

    Dry

    Potenza RE-71R +7
    65
    Why this score
    SourcePotenza RE-71RWeatherGrip
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 70 (est.)≈ 66 (est.)
    Reviews found online7464

    Potenza RE-71R: 60% × 70.4 (est.) + 40% × 73.5 = 72

    WeatherGrip: 60% × 66.2 (est.) + 40% × 63.5 = 65

    No road tests of dry for Potenza RE-71R. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.42).

    No road tests of dry for WeatherGrip. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.42).

  2. 61

    Wet

    WeatherGrip +9
    70
    Why this score
    SourcePotenza RE-71RWeatherGrip
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 63 (est.)≈ 70 (est.)
    Reviews found online5870

    Potenza RE-71R: 60% × 63.5 (est.) + 40% × 57.6 = 61

    WeatherGrip: 60% × 70.4 (est.) + 40% × 70.1 = 70

    No road tests of wet for Potenza RE-71R. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.55).

    No road tests of wet for WeatherGrip. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.55).

  3. 45

    Snow

    WeatherGrip +30
    75
    Why this score
    SourcePotenza RE-71RWeatherGrip
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 56 (est.)≈ 73 (est.)
    Reviews found online3077

    Potenza RE-71R: 60% × 55.6 (est.) + 40% × 30.3 = 45

    WeatherGrip: 60% × 73.1 (est.) + 40% × 77 = 75

    No road tests of snow for Potenza RE-71R. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.37).

    No road tests of snow for WeatherGrip. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.37).

  4. 48

    Comfort

    WeatherGrip +17
    65
    Why this score
    SourcePotenza RE-71RWeatherGrip
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 63 (est.)≈ 68 (est.)
    Reviews found online3762

    Potenza RE-71R: 40% × 63.4 (est.) + 60% × 37.4 = 48

    WeatherGrip: 40% × 67.9 (est.) + 60% × 62.4 = 65

    No road tests of comfort for Potenza RE-71R or WeatherGrip. The test half is the tested tires’ average (69): owners’ comfort ratings barely follow the road tests.

  5. 60

    Noise

    WeatherGrip +8
    68
    Why this score
    SourcePotenza RE-71RWeatherGrip
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 67 (est.)≈ 67 (est.)
    Reviews found online5169

    Potenza RE-71R: 60% × 66.6 (est.) + 40% × 50.5 = 60

    WeatherGrip: 60% × 66.6 (est.) + 40% × 69.1 = 68

    No road tests of noise for Potenza RE-71R or WeatherGrip. The test half is the tested tires’ average (67): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests.

  6. 30

    Treadwear

    WeatherGrip +25
    55
    Why this score
    SourcePotenza RE-71RWeatherGrip
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 1 tests3755
    Reviews found online1854

    Potenza RE-71R: 60% × 37.5 + 40% × 18.2 = 30

    WeatherGrip: 60% × 55.2 + 40% × 53.7 = 55

  7. 68

    Handling (owners)

    Potenza RE-71R +6
    62
    Why this score
    SourcePotenza RE-71RWeatherGrip
    Reviews found online6862
Scores at a glance
CategoryBridgestone Potenza RE-71RFirestone WeatherGrip
Relative Score 54 65
Dry 72 65
Wet 61 70
Snow 45 75
Comfort 48 65
Noise 60 68
Treadwear 30 55
Handling (owners) 68 62

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
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Recomputed
Headline score
± 9

Potenza RE-71R

± 9

WeatherGrip

The professional test results behind the scores

Per discipline: the average % of the best tire over every test both tires were in, and how many of those tests each one won. “Different tests” rows compare results from separate tests.

DisciplineCategoryPotenza RE-71RWeatherGripΔHead-to-head
Tested Tread Life (Miles) Treadwear 38% #22/22 · 2022 Consumer Reports Ultra High Performance Summer Tires 65% #7/8 · 2022 Consumer Reports All-Season Tires – Different tests
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Overall Ranking Overall #13/22 2022 Consumer Reports Ultra High Performance Summer Tires #8/8 2022 Consumer Reports All-Season Tires – Different tests

Pros, cons & observations

Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.

Tire A Potenza RE-71R

Pros

  • Phenomenal dry grip and exceptional cornering traction
  • Fast heat-up times, making them ideal for autocross and time attacks
  • Consistent performance throughout the lifespan of the tire

Cons

  • Rapid tread wear and short lifespan, wearing faster in hot weather or heavy track use
  • Noticeable road noise on the highway due to the aggressive tread pattern
  • Uncomfortable and stiff ride quality for daily driving
All owner themes in the Potenza RE-71R review

Tire B WeatherGrip

Pros

  • Outstanding snow and winter weather traction
  • Confident wet weather and rain grip
  • Smooth and comfortable ride quality

Cons

  • Faster tread wear due to the softer rubber compound
  • Noticeable drop in fuel economy (MPG)
  • Subpar dry pavement performance compared to dedicated summer or standard all-season tires
All owner themes in the WeatherGrip review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Bridgestone Potenza RE-71R B · Firestone WeatherGrip
CategorySummerAll Weather
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available—49
Rim diameters—15″ – 19″
Tread depth8/32″10/32″
UTQG200 A A640 A A
Treadwear warranty—65,000 mi
SidewallBlackwallBlackwall
Max pressure44 psi44 psi

Which one should you actually buy?

Bridgestone Potenza RE-71R

Firestone WeatherGrip

Winner: Firestone WeatherGrip — better snow, treadwear and comfort. Pick the Bridgestone Potenza RE-71R if dry and handling matter most to you.

Pick tire B You drive through snowy winters

Firestone WeatherGrip scores 75 vs 45 on snow.

Pick tire B You want the longest tread life

Firestone WeatherGrip scores 55 vs 30 on treadwear.

Pick tire B You want the most comfortable ride

Firestone WeatherGrip scores 65 vs 48 on comfort.

Pick tire B Your priority is wet-weather safety

Firestone WeatherGrip scores 70 vs 61 on wet.

Tire A · Bridgestone Potenza RE-71R
Check price on Amazon
Tire B · Firestone WeatherGrip
Check price on Amazon

TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.

Potenza RE-71R or WeatherGrip?

Which is better in the wet, Potenza RE-71R or WeatherGrip?

Firestone WeatherGrip, 70 vs 61 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, Potenza RE-71R or WeatherGrip?

Bridgestone Potenza RE-71R, 72 vs 65 on our dry score.

Which is better in snow, Potenza RE-71R or WeatherGrip?

Firestone WeatherGrip, 75 vs 45 on our snow score.

Which is quieter, Potenza RE-71R or WeatherGrip?

Firestone WeatherGrip, 68 vs 60 on our noise score.

Which is more comfortable, Potenza RE-71R or WeatherGrip?

Firestone WeatherGrip, 65 vs 48 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, Potenza RE-71R or WeatherGrip?

Firestone WeatherGrip, 55 vs 30 on our treadwear score.

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.

Handling is the exception: road tests measure it inside the dry and wet scores, so its own row comes from owner ratings only and starts as less important.

Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score. Full methodology