Relative Score (0–100): the weighted average of the categories below, each 60% road tests and 40% owner reviews (comfort 40/60). Based on 3 + 2 road tests and 453 + 31 owner reviews. How we score
Potenza RE 71RS is ahead, 75–63
Both Amazon links then search this exact size.
TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.
Tests 79 · 3 tests Owners 69 · 453 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 11 in 2022 Tire Rack Extreme Performance Track Tyre Test (dry handling)
“Drove my GR86 coast to coast on pre-thrashed 200tw tires in 3.5 days AMA 2024 GR86 Premium performance package mt Bridgestone Potenza RE-71rs tires Car had 24,000ish miles and now has 27,000ish”
Tests 65 · 2 tests Owners 60 · 31 reviews
Best test result: #2 of 10 in 2017 Sport Auto UHP and Track Day Test (dry handling)
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
| Source | Potenza RE 71RS | R888 R |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 2 tests | 78 | 76 |
| Reviews found online | 92 | 73 |
Potenza RE 71RS: 60% × 78.2 + 40% × 91.5 = 84
R888 R: 60% × 76.5 + 40% × 73 = 75
| Source | Potenza RE 71RS | R888 R |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) · 2 / 2 tests | 85 | 53 |
| Reviews found online | 67 | 59 |
Potenza RE 71RS: 60% × 84.6 + 40% × 66.7 = 77
R888 R: 60% × 52.9 + 40% × 59.1 = 55
| Source | Potenza RE 71RS | R888 R |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / – tests | 71 | ≈ 65 (est.) |
| Reviews found online | 52 | 53 |
Potenza RE 71RS: 40% × 71 + 60% × 52.2 = 60
R888 R: 40% × 65.5 (est.) + 60% × 52.8 = 58
No road tests of comfort for R888 R. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.20).
| Source | Potenza RE 71RS | R888 R |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / – tests | 67 | – |
| Reviews found online | 63 | – |
Potenza RE 71RS: 60% × 66.6 + 40% × 63.4 = 65
| Source | Potenza RE 71RS | R888 R |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | ≈ 61 (est.) | ≈ 59 (est.) |
| Reviews found online | 52 | 46 |
Potenza RE 71RS: 60% × 61.3 (est.) + 40% × 52.2 = 58
R888 R: 60% × 59 (est.) + 40% × 45.7 = 54
No road tests of treadwear for Potenza RE 71RS. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.36).
No road tests of treadwear for R888 R. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.36).
| Source | Potenza RE 71RS | R888 R |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews found online | 86 | 71 |
| Category | Bridgestone Potenza RE 71RS | Toyo R888 R |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 75 | 63 |
| Dry | 84 | 75 |
| Wet | 77 | 55 |
| Comfort | 60 | 58 |
| Noise | 65 | – |
| Treadwear | 58 | 54 |
| Handling (owners) | 86 | 71 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
Wet grip starts at “Important”. Treadwear starts at “Neutral” here: road tests measured it for at most one of the two tires, so it rests on owner reviews. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.
Only one of the two tires has a score here, so this weight changes nothing in the head-to-head.
Potenza RE 71RS
R888 R
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
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.
| Discipline | Category | Potenza RE 71RS | R888 R | Δ | Head-to-head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 100% #2/7 · 2025 Tire Rack Extreme Performance Track Tyre Test | 99% #2/10 · 2017 Sport Auto UHP and Track Day Test | – | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 100% #1/7 · 2025 Tire Rack Extreme Performance Track Tyre Test | 100% #2/10 · 2017 Sport Auto UHP and Track Day Test | – | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 100% #1/7 · 2025 Tire Rack Extreme Performance Track Tyre Test | 93% #5/10 · 2017 Sport Auto UHP and Track Day Test | – | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 100% #1/7 · 2025 Tire Rack Extreme Performance Track Tyre Test | 90% #8/10 · 2017 Sport Auto UHP and Track Day Test | – | Different tests |
| Also published by the testers (not in the score) | |||||
| Overall Ranking | Overall | #1/7 2025 Tire Rack Extreme Performance Track Tyre Test | #4/10 2017 Sport Auto UHP and Track Day Test | – | Different tests |
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score
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.
“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”
“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.”
“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”
Based on 33 community posts
We haven't collected enough community discussion about this tire yet.
| Attribute | A · Bridgestone Potenza RE 71RS | B · Toyo R888 R |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer | Summer |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 10 | 45 |
| Rim diameters | 15″ – 19″ | 13″ – 20″ |
| Tread depth | 7/32″ | — |
| UTQG | 200 A A | 100 A A |
| Sidewall | Blackwall | — |
| Max pressure | 51 psi | — |
| Sizes in common | 4 | 4 |
Bridgestone Potenza RE 71RS
Toyo R888 R
Winner: Bridgestone Potenza RE 71RS — better wet, handling and dry. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Bridgestone Potenza RE 71RS scores 77 vs 55 on wet.
Bridgestone Potenza RE 71RS scores 86 vs 71 on handling.
Bridgestone Potenza RE 71RS scores 84 vs 75 on dry.
Bridgestone Potenza RE 71RS scores 58 vs 54 on treadwear.
TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.
Bridgestone Potenza RE 71RS, 77 vs 55 on our wet score.
Bridgestone Potenza RE 71RS, 84 vs 75 on our dry score.
Neither, by our numbers: 60 vs 58 on the comfort score, within 3 points.
Bridgestone Potenza RE 71RS, 58 vs 54 on our treadwear score.
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
