Best test result: #1 of 49 in 2020 Tyre Market Overview Braking Test (wet braking)
“Potenza S001 cracking Has anyone had issues with their OEM Bridgestone Potenza S001 tires cracking? I have OEM tires on my 2018 CLub with 17k miles with cracking in the treads for all 4 tires and because they are 4 years + 3 months past manufacture date, Bridgestone told me to Beat It. These are $185 tires that don't last 4 seasons....why would I ever buy them if they are PoS?”
Best test result: #1 of 3 in Michelin Pilot Sport VS EV Specific Performance Tyres (dry handling)
“The Tire Rack no longer has the selection with the major name brands it once did. I can order the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 in 225/45R18 from Costco but the Tire Rack doesn't offer it in that size. I can order the Continental Sport Contact 7 at Discount Tire in 225/45R18 but not at the Tire Rack. When my wife and I had a Corolla Hybrid, it took a 195/65R15. Michelin quit offering the CC2 in that size so the next best all-weather tire at the time that fit was the Hankook Kinergy 4S2 750. The Tire Rack never offered that tire but Discount Tire had it in stock locally. None of the tires I mentioned are exclusive tires for certain retailers. I enjoy the Tire Rack website and the testing they do, but they are no longer the go to merchant when buying tires like they once was.”
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
72
Dry
Pilot Sport 5 +16
88
Why this score
Source
Potenza S001
Pilot Sport 5
Professional tests (TWG score)
79
91
Reviews found online
63
84
Dry Braking (% of best)
96%
97%
Dry Handling (% of best)
99%
100%
75
Wet
Pilot Sport 5 +15
90
Why this score
Source
Potenza S001
Pilot Sport 5
Professional tests (TWG score)
84
92
Reviews found online
62
87
Wet Braking (% of best)
100%
95%
Wet Handling (% of best)
96%
100%
51
Snow
No comparison
–
Why this score
Source
Potenza S001
Pilot Sport 5
Reviews found online
39
–
59
Comfort
Pilot Sport 5 +16
75
Why this score
Source
Potenza S001
Pilot Sport 5
Professional tests (TWG score)
63
71
Reviews found online
51
80
52
Noise
Potenza S001 +7
45
Why this score
Source
Potenza S001
Pilot Sport 5
Professional tests (TWG score)
48
30
Reviews found online
58
–
54
Treadwear
Pilot Sport 5 +28
82
Why this score
Source
Potenza S001
Pilot Sport 5
Professional tests (TWG score)
58
87
Reviews found online
49
75
61
Handling
Pilot Sport 5 +22
83
Why this score
Source
Potenza S001
Pilot Sport 5
Reviews found online
61
83
Scores at a glance
Bridgestone Potenza S001 vs Michelin Pilot Sport 5: scores by category (0–100)
Category
Bridgestone Potenza S001
Michelin Pilot Sport 5
Relative Score
65
82
Dry
72
88
Wet
75
90
Snow
51
–
Comfort
59
75
Noise
52
45
Treadwear
54
82
Handling
61
83
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
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neither tire has a score here yet, so this weight changes nothing.
Less important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Less important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Recomputed
Headline score
65
/ 100
Potenza S001
82
/ 100
Pilot Sport 5
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 S001
Pilot Sport 5
Δ
Both?
Dry Braking
Dry
96%#7/49 · 2020 Tyre Market Overview Braking Test
97%#9/20 · 2023 AutoBild UHP Summer Tyre Test
−1.5
Different tests
Dry Handling
Dry
99%#12/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test
100%#1/3 · Michelin Pilot Sport VS EV Specific Performance Tyres
−1.5
Different tests
Rolling Resistance
Efficiency
89%#8/8 · 2019 Sport Auto 20 Inch UHP Tyre Test
81%#2/3 · Michelin Pilot Sport VS EV Specific Performance Tyres
+8.0
Different tests
Noise
Other
96%#20/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test
97%#12/13 · 2023 AutoBild Sports Car Summer Tyre Test
−0.9
Different tests
Price
Other
54%#18/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test
58%#20/20 · 2023 AutoBild UHP Summer Tyre Test
−3.5
Different tests
Value
Other
60%#19/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test
80%#6/10 · 2025 AZ Summer Tyre Test
−20.1
Different tests
Wear
Other
85%#12/16 · 2020 ADAC 18 Inch Summer Tyre Test
93%#2/20 · 2026 Autobild Summer Tyre Test
−8.4
Different tests
Overall Ranking
Overall
33%#3/11 · 2011 AMS Ultra High Performance Tyre Test
11%#9/50 · 2026 Summer Braking Super Tyre Test - How do 52 Tyres Perform in Wet and Dry Braking?
+22.2
Different tests
Straight Aqua
Straight
97%#7/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test
99%#8/20 · 2025 Auto Bild Summer Performance Tyre Test
−2.2
Different tests
Subj. Comfort
Subj
70%#5/8 · 2019 Sport Auto 20 Inch UHP Tyre Test
70%#5/10 · 2025 AZ Summer Tyre Test
0.0
Different tests
Subj. Dry Handling
Subj
90%#2/8 · 2019 Sport Auto 20 Inch UHP Tyre Test
100%#1/20 · 2026 Autobild Summer Tyre Test
−10.0
Different tests
Subj. Wet Handling
Subj
78%#3/8 · 2019 Sport Auto 20 Inch UHP Tyre Test
60%#7/8 · 2025 Die Reifentester UHP Summer Tyre Test
+18.0
Different tests
Total Cost of Ownership
Total
0%#20/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test
0%#13/20 · 2026 Autobild Summer Tyre Test
0.0
Different tests
Wet Braking
Wet
100%#1/49 · 2020 Tyre Market Overview Braking Test
95%#4/8 · 2025 Die Reifentester UHP Summer Tyre Test
+5.3
Different tests
Wet Handling
Wet
96%#5/8 · 2019 Sport Auto 20 Inch UHP Tyre Test
100%#1/4 · Michelin CrossClimate 3 & 3 Sport vs Pilot Sport 5 vs Primacy 5
−4.0
Different tests
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A 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
From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score
Tire A
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.
#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
Tire B
Michelin Pilot Sport 5
Positive
Community opinion on the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 is overwhelmingly positive for daily street driving, praising its exceptional wet grip, tread longevity, and quiet comfort compared to run-flats and older performance tires. However, several enthusiasts note downsides for aggressive or track use, specifically citing softer sidewalls, muted steering feedback, and poor heat resistance leading to delamination under track conditions. Most drivers consider it an outstanding premium all-rounder for sporty street cars rather than a dedicated track or extreme-performance tire.
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.