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Head-to-head Updated

Bridgestone Potenza S-04 Pole Position vs Bridgestone Potenza RE-71R — 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 0 + 1 road tests and 10 + 23 owner reviews. How we score

Potenza RE-71R leads, 57–55 Narrow edge

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Category by category

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

  1. 63

    Dry

    Potenza RE-71R +8
    71
    Why this score
    SourcePotenza S-04 Pole PositionPotenza RE-71R
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 65 (est.)≈ 70 (est.)
    Reviews found online6073

    Potenza S-04 Pole Position: 60% × 64.7 (est.) + 40% × 60.1 = 63

    Potenza RE-71R: 60% × 70.1 (est.) + 40% × 73.2 = 71

    No road tests of dry for Potenza S-04 Pole Position. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.41).

    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 0.41).

  2. 57

    Wet

    Potenza RE-71R +4
    61
    Why this score
    SourcePotenza S-04 Pole PositionPotenza RE-71R
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 61 (est.)≈ 63 (est.)
    Reviews found online5257

    Potenza S-04 Pole Position: 60% × 60.5 (est.) + 40% × 52.1 = 57

    Potenza RE-71R: 60% × 63.3 (est.) + 40% × 57.2 = 61

    No road tests of wet for Potenza S-04 Pole Position. 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 Potenza RE-71R. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.55).

  3. 35

    Snow

    Potenza RE-71R +11
    46
    Why this score
    SourcePotenza S-04 Pole PositionPotenza RE-71R
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 52 (est.)≈ 58 (est.)
    Reviews found online1130

    Potenza S-04 Pole Position: 60% × 51.6 (est.) + 40% × 11.2 = 35

    Potenza RE-71R: 60% × 57.5 (est.) + 40% × 29.8 = 46

    No road tests of snow for Potenza S-04 Pole Position. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.32).

    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 0.32).

  4. 57

    Comfort

    Potenza S-04 Pole Position +10
    47
    Why this score
    SourcePotenza S-04 Pole PositionPotenza RE-71R
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 65 (est.)≈ 62 (est.)
    Reviews found online5237

    Potenza S-04 Pole Position: 40% × 65.3 (est.) + 60% × 51.7 = 57

    Potenza RE-71R: 40% × 62.3 (est.) + 60% × 36.5 = 47

    No road tests of comfort for Potenza S-04 Pole Position or Potenza RE-71R. The test half is the tested tires’ average (69): owners’ comfort ratings barely follow the road tests.

  5. 62

    Noise

    Potenza S-04 Pole Position +2
    60
    Why this score
    SourcePotenza S-04 Pole PositionPotenza RE-71R
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 66 (est.)≈ 66 (est.)
    Reviews found online5550

    Potenza S-04 Pole Position: 60% × 66.5 (est.) + 40% × 54.9 = 62

    Potenza RE-71R: 60% × 66.5 (est.) + 40% × 50 = 60

    No road tests of noise for Potenza S-04 Pole Position or Potenza RE-71R. The test half is the tested tires’ average (66): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests.

  6. 50

    Treadwear

    Potenza S-04 Pole Position +19
    31
    Why this score
    SourcePotenza S-04 Pole PositionPotenza RE-71R
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 1 tests≈ 57 (est.)39
    Reviews found online4019

    Potenza S-04 Pole Position: 60% × 57.1 (est.) + 40% × 40.1 = 50

    Potenza RE-71R: 60% × 39.3 + 40% × 18.6 = 31

    No road tests of treadwear for Potenza S-04 Pole Position. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.36).

  7. 57

    Handling (owners)

    Potenza RE-71R +11
    68
    Why this score
    SourcePotenza S-04 Pole PositionPotenza RE-71R
    Reviews found online5768
Scores at a glance
CategoryBridgestone Potenza S-04 Pole PositionBridgestone Potenza RE-71R
Relative Score 55 57
Dry 63 71
Wet 57 61
Snow 35 46
Comfort 57 47
Noise 62 60
Treadwear 50 31
Handling (owners) 57 68

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
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Recomputed
Headline score
± 8

Potenza S-04 Pole Position

± 8

Potenza RE-71R

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 S-04 Pole PositionPotenza RE-71RΔHead-to-head
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Overall Ranking Overall #2/4 2011 Tirerack Max Performance Summer Tyre Test #13/22 2022 Consumer Reports Ultra High Performance Summer Tires – Different tests

Pros, cons & observations

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

Tire A Potenza S-04 Pole Position

Pros

  • Exceptional dry and wet handling with predictable, repeatable limits
  • Solid sidewall design that improves cornering and braking performance
  • Surprisingly smooth and comfortable ride quality for a performance tire

Cons

  • Accelerated tread wear, which is typical for tires in this category
  • Complete lack of usability in freezing temperatures, ice, or snow
  • Development of a road humming noise as the tire wears
All owner themes in the Potenza S-04 Pole Position review

Tire B 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

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Bridgestone Potenza S-04 Pole Position B · Bridgestone Potenza RE-71R
CategorySummer tireSummer
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Tread depth10/32″8/32″
UTQG280 A A200 A A
SidewallBlackwallBlackwall
Max pressure50 psi44 psi

Which one should you actually buy?

Bridgestone Potenza S-04 Pole Position

Bridgestone Potenza RE-71R

Narrow edge: Bridgestone Potenza RE-71R — better snow, handling and dry. Pick the Bridgestone Potenza S-04 Pole Position if treadwear and comfort matter most to you. Bridgestone Potenza S-04 Pole Position rests on little evidence so far (0 tests, 10 reviews), so read this result as provisional.

Pick tire A You want the longest tread life

Bridgestone Potenza S-04 Pole Position scores 50 vs 31 on treadwear.

Pick tire B You drive through snowy winters

Bridgestone Potenza RE-71R scores 46 vs 35 on snow.

Pick tire B You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Bridgestone Potenza RE-71R scores 68 vs 57 on handling.

Pick tire A You want the most comfortable ride

Bridgestone Potenza S-04 Pole Position scores 57 vs 47 on comfort.

Tire A · Bridgestone Potenza S-04 Pole Position
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Tire B · Bridgestone Potenza RE-71R
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Potenza S-04 Pole Position or Potenza RE-71R?

Which is better in the wet, Potenza S-04 Pole Position or Potenza RE-71R?

Bridgestone Potenza RE-71R, 61 vs 57 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, Potenza S-04 Pole Position or Potenza RE-71R?

Bridgestone Potenza RE-71R, 71 vs 63 on our dry score.

Which is better in snow, Potenza S-04 Pole Position or Potenza RE-71R?

Bridgestone Potenza RE-71R, 46 vs 35 on our snow score.

Which is quieter, Potenza S-04 Pole Position or Potenza RE-71R?

Neither, by our numbers: 62 vs 60 on the noise score, within 3 points.

Which is more comfortable, Potenza S-04 Pole Position or Potenza RE-71R?

Bridgestone Potenza S-04 Pole Position, 57 vs 47 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, Potenza S-04 Pole Position or Potenza RE-71R?

Bridgestone Potenza S-04 Pole Position, 50 vs 31 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