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Head-to-head Updated

Bridgestone Potenza RE050A Run Flat vs Bridgestone Potenza S001 — Compared

Relative Score (0–100): the weighted average of the categories below, each 60% road tests and 40% owner reviews. Based on 0 + 6 road tests and 146 + 5,807 owner reviews. How we score

Potenza S001 is ahead, 68–45

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Bridgestone Potenza S001
Tire BBridgestone

Potenza S001

Summer

Tests 72 · 6 tests Owners 55 · 5,807 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2020 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test (wet braking)

“Had a set of run flats for a brief period, heavy tires, very stiff sidewalls, wouldn't run them again.. .”

Category by category

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

  1. 46

    Dry

    Potenza S001 +27
    73
    Why this score
    SourcePotenza RE050A Run FlatPotenza S001
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 4 tests≈ 54 (est.)79
    Reviews found online3563

    Potenza RE050A Run Flat: 60% × 54.4 (est.) + 40% × 34.5 = 46

    Potenza S001: 60% × 79.1 + 40% × 62.7 = 73

    No road tests of dry for Potenza RE050A Run Flat. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.40).

  2. 47

    Wet

    Potenza S001 +29
    76
    Why this score
    SourcePotenza RE050A Run FlatPotenza S001
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 4 tests≈ 52 (est.)84
    Reviews found online3962

    Potenza RE050A Run Flat: 60% × 52.4 (est.) + 40% × 38.7 = 47

    Potenza S001: 60% × 84.4 + 40% × 62.3 = 76

    No road tests of wet for Potenza RE050A Run Flat. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.56).

  3. –

    Snow

    No comparison
    51
    Why this score
    SourcePotenza RE050A Run FlatPotenza S001
    Professional tests (TWG score)–≈ 59 (est.)
    Reviews found online–38

    Potenza S001: 60% × 59.2 (est.) + 40% × 37.6 = 51

    No road tests of snow for Potenza S001. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.33).

  4. 42

    Comfort

    Potenza S001 +16
    58
    Why this score
    SourcePotenza RE050A Run FlatPotenza S001
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 1 tests≈ 60 (est.)63
    Reviews found online1551

    Potenza RE050A Run Flat: 60% × 59.7 (est.) + 40% × 14.8 = 42

    Potenza S001: 60% × 63.3 + 40% × 51.1 = 58

    No road tests of comfort for Potenza RE050A Run Flat. The test half is the tested tires’ average (69): owners’ comfort ratings barely follow the road tests.

  5. –

    Noise

    No comparison
    57
    Why this score
    SourcePotenza RE050A Run FlatPotenza S001
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 3 tests–56
    Reviews found online–59

    Potenza S001: 60% × 55.7 + 40% × 58.6 = 57

  6. 48

    Treadwear

    Potenza S001 +6
    54
    Why this score
    SourcePotenza RE050A Run FlatPotenza S001
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 3 tests≈ 56 (est.)58
    Reviews found online3548

    Potenza RE050A Run Flat: 60% × 56.3 (est.) + 40% × 35.3 = 48

    Potenza S001: 60% × 58 + 40% × 48.4 = 54

    No road tests of treadwear for Potenza RE050A Run Flat. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.31).

  7. 29

    Handling (owners)

    Potenza S001 +32
    61
    Why this score
    SourcePotenza RE050A Run FlatPotenza S001
    Reviews found online2961
Scores at a glance
CategoryBridgestone Potenza RE050A Run FlatBridgestone Potenza S001
Relative Score 45 68
Dry 46 73
Wet 47 76
Snow – 51
Comfort 42 58
Noise – 57
Treadwear 48 54
Handling (owners) 29 61

Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.

Weight the categories that matter to you

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.

Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost

Only one of the two tires has a score here, so this weight changes nothing in the head-to-head.

Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost

Only one of the two tires has a score here, so this weight changes nothing in the head-to-head.

Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Recomputed
Headline score

Potenza RE050A Run Flat

Potenza S001

Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.

Pros, cons & observations

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

Tire A Potenza RE050A Run Flat

Pros

  • Strong grip and predictable handling in dry conditions
  • Precise steering response and high-speed cornering stability
  • Good overall longevity and mileage for certain drivers on smooth highways

Cons

  • Extremely harsh, rigid, and uncomfortable ride quality
  • Severe tramlining and tendency to follow ruts or road imperfections
  • Poor grip, reduced traction, and nervous handling in wet weather
All owner themes in the Potenza RE050A Run Flat review

Tire B Potenza S001

Pros

  • Precise and sharp steering response
  • Strong dry-pavement cornering grip
  • Stiff sidewalls providing robust rim protection and high-speed stability

Cons

  • High levels of road noise and cabin drone
  • Stiff, harsh ride quality (particularly noticeable on run-flat versions)
  • Poor or unpredictable wet-weather grip and sudden loss of traction
All owner themes in the Potenza S001 review

What real owners are saying

From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score

Tire A

Bridgestone Potenza RE050A Run Flat

We haven't collected enough community discussion about this tire yet.

Tire B

Bridgestone Potenza S001

Mixed

Community sentiment regarding the Bridgestone Potenza S001 is predominantly mixed to negative, particularly concerning the run-flat variants. Drivers frequently report stiff sidewalls, harsh ride quality, road noise, premature wear, and tread cracking, leading many to switch to non-run-flat alternatives like Michelin. However, several owners find them adequate for spirited driving, citing satisfactory dry and wet grip as well as acceptable ride comfort on specific vehicle setups.

r/CarTalkUK ·2 upvotes ·2023-11-15

“Brand New Bridgestone Potenza S001 Tyres worn after 10k mileage? So I got 4 brand new tyres last June from Costco, 255/35 R19. I only drive locally, occasional trips to another city. 10k mileage later, my front two tyres flagged up on my recent MOT as : Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge CHANGE ASAP (5.2.3 (e)) Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge EDGED (5.2.3 (e)) Seems surprising to me as I don't drive crazy, occasional spirited driving. 2011 Audi s5. is this normal? Thinking of getting another brand this time for the front two tyres. Car is a quattro but same types on same axis should suffice? Any recommendations on tyres? Read more”
mybmwi3.com ·2026-03-31

“I run the Bridgestone Potenza S001 Ultra-High Summer Peformance Tire 215/45R/20s on the rear and 195s on the front. They ride softer than stock tires. Not cheap tho.​”
bimmerfest.com ·2012-02-16

“Thanks for the comments. I'm not sure a paltry $3m fine will move BMW to more or quicker recalls. It's just a drop in the bucket for them. In this case too, BMW has yet to accept any responsibility for the tire issues and has put it all on Goodyear for warranty and replacement. This is the sort of BS thing I am expecting to happen, although unlike the LS2's, I have been assured that there are no Excellence tires to be had anywhere. I just hope they do the right thing here. The latest issue of Roundel reviews the new F30 and they claim the new Bridgestone Potenza S001 uses "third generation run-flat technology", whatever that is, and say its a great tire. I called around though, and no tire dealers even have that tire in their system yet.”
Top themes
#run-flat stiffness and harshness#premature tread wear#tread cracking issues#wet and dry grip#switching to non-run-flats#road noise generation#OEM tire replacement

Based on 43 community posts

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Bridgestone Potenza RE050A Run Flat B · Bridgestone Potenza S001
CategorySummerSummer
Vehicle type—Passenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available—55
Rim diameters—15″ – 21″
Tread depth—8/32″
UTQG—280 A A
Sidewall—Blackwall
Max pressure—50 psi

Which one should you actually buy?

Bridgestone Potenza RE050A Run Flat

Bridgestone Potenza S001

Winner: Bridgestone Potenza S001 — better handling, wet and dry. It leads or ties in every category we score.

Pick tire B You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Bridgestone Potenza S001 scores 61 vs 29 on handling.

Pick tire B Your priority is wet-weather safety

Bridgestone Potenza S001 scores 76 vs 47 on wet.

Pick tire B You want the most grip on dry roads

Bridgestone Potenza S001 scores 73 vs 46 on dry.

Pick tire B You want the most comfortable ride

Bridgestone Potenza S001 scores 58 vs 42 on comfort.

Tire A · Bridgestone Potenza RE050A Run Flat
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Tire B · Bridgestone Potenza S001
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Potenza RE050A Run Flat or Potenza S001?

Which is better in the wet, Potenza RE050A Run Flat or Potenza S001?

Bridgestone Potenza S001, 76 vs 47 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, Potenza RE050A Run Flat or Potenza S001?

Bridgestone Potenza S001, 73 vs 46 on our dry score.

Which is more comfortable, Potenza RE050A Run Flat or Potenza S001?

Bridgestone Potenza S001, 58 vs 42 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, Potenza RE050A Run Flat or Potenza S001?

Bridgestone Potenza S001, 54 vs 48 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