Tests 78 · 28 tests Owners 65 · 718 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 9 in 2021 Auto Bild UUHP Summer Tyre Test (wet braking)
“Replacement tires. Bridgestone Potenza Sport. 8k miles. Fronts/Rears. WTF Bridgestone? Or is it me? No burnouts!”
Head-to-head
Updated
Bridgestone Potenza Sport vs Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
Potenza Sport is ahead, 73–68
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Tests 76 · 19 tests Owners 59 · 3,335 reviews
Best test result: #2 of 11 in 2022 AutoBild Sports Cars UHP Summer Tyre Test (noise)
“Small tire size change having different ratings? (Hankook Ventus S1 Evo3) Hi all, I'm looking for a good all round tire for my MX5 (I'm in the non snowy regions of the UK so summer tires) and a pretty popular recommendation are the Ventus S1 Evo 3s. At the MX5's stock size of 205/45/R17 they are rated at A for fuel and wet performance, and 68db of noise, which is great! However I'd like to size up to 215/45/R17, and for whatever reason the ratings drop to B for fuel and wet performance, and most importantly to me, 71db of noise. I was just wondering how such a small difference in size changes things quite drastically? I know these ratings aren't that important, but it seems strange to me they'd change at all Thanks! Read more”
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
86
Dry
Potenza Sport +1175Why this score
Source Potenza Sport Ventus S1 evo3 Professional tests (TWG score) 92 84 Reviews found online 75 63 Dry Braking (% of best) 97% 97% Dry Handling (% of best) 99% 100% -
85
Wet
Potenza Sport +481Why this score
Source Potenza Sport Ventus S1 evo3 Professional tests (TWG score) 93 88 Reviews found online 73 69 Longitudinal Aquaplaning (% of best) 82% 98% Transverse Aquaplaning (% of best) 85% 87% Wet Braking (% of best) 100% 83% Wet Circle (% of best) 100% 98% Wet Handling (% of best) 99% 98% -
58
Comfort
Ventus S1 evo3 +563Why this score
Source Potenza Sport Ventus S1 evo3 Professional tests (TWG score) 55 65 Reviews found online 64 59 Interior Noise (% of best) 95% 94% -
40
Noise
Ventus S1 evo3 +3171Why this score
Source Potenza Sport Ventus S1 evo3 Professional tests (TWG score) 24 74 Reviews found online 64 – -
61
Treadwear
Potenza Sport +655Why this score
Source Potenza Sport Ventus S1 evo3 Professional tests (TWG score) 71 61 Reviews found online 45 46 -
73
Handling
Potenza Sport +1360Why this score
Source Potenza Sport Ventus S1 evo3 Reviews found online 73 60
Scores at a glance
| Category | Bridgestone Potenza Sport | Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 73 | 68 |
| Dry | 86 | 75 |
| Wet | 85 | 81 |
| Comfort | 58 | 63 |
| Noise | 40 | 71 |
| Treadwear | 61 | 55 |
| Handling | 73 | 60 |
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.
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Recomputed
Headline score
73
/ 100
Potenza Sport
68
/ 100
Ventus S1 evo3
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 Sport | Ventus S1 evo3 | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interior Noise | Comfort | 95% #5/8 · 2024 Auto Express Summer Tyre Test | 94% #6/8 · 2024 Auto Express Summer Tyre Test | +0.8 | Same test |
| Curved Aquaplaning | Curved | 92% #10/10 · 2024 Motorhome Summer Tyre Test | 84% #10/10 · 2022 AutoBild 19 Inch Summer UHP Tyre Test | +8.0 | Different tests |
| Dry Braking | Dry | 97% #2/9 · 2025 Auto Express Summer Tyre Test | 97% #7/45 · 2019 Summer 53 Tyre Braking Shootout | +0.3 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 99% #3/11 · 2024 Summer SUV Tyre Test | 100% #4/10 · 2021 Auto Zeitung Summer UHP Tyre Test | −0.6 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 88% #7/9 · 2021 EVO Summer Tyre Test | 93% #5/11 · 2022 AutoBild Sports Cars UHP Summer Tyre Test | −5.0 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 99% #6/9 · 2021 Auto Bild UUHP Summer Tyre Test | 98% #2/11 · 2022 AutoBild Sports Cars UHP Summer Tyre Test | +0.7 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 71% #8/10 · 2023 AZ UHP Summer Tyre Test | 75% #12/20 · 2023 AutoBild UHP Summer Tyre Test | −4.4 | Different tests |
| Value | Other | 80% #5/20 · 2025 Auto Bild Summer Performance Tyre Test | 58% #15/20 · 2023 AutoBild UHP Summer Tyre Test | +21.8 | Different tests |
| Wear | Other | 50% #8/8 · 2024 EV Tyre Test | 90% #11/16 · 2020 ADAC 18 Inch Summer Tyre Test | −40.2 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 33% #3/10 · 2025 AZ Summer Tyre Test | 17% #6/11 · 2022 AutoBild Sports Cars UHP Summer Tyre Test | +16.7 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 96% #4/7 · Top Tire Review 2026 UHP Tyre Test: Big Brands vs Challengers | 86% #10/10 · 2022 AMS Performance Summer Tyre Test | +9.9 | Different tests |
| Subj. Comfort | Subj | 100% #3/8 · 2025 Die Reifentester UHP Summer Tyre Test | 67% #10/10 · 2021 Auto Zeitung Summer UHP Tyre Test | +33.3 | Different tests |
| Subj. Dry Handling | Subj | 97% #2/9 · 2025 EVO Summer Tyre Test | 60% #8/8 · 2025 Die Reifentester UHP Summer Tyre Test | +37.0 | Different tests |
| Subj. Noise | Subj | 80% #3/8 · 2025 Die Reifentester UHP Summer Tyre Test | 100% #2/8 · 2025 Die Reifentester UHP Summer Tyre Test | −20.0 | Same test |
| Subj. Wet Handling | Subj | 97% #3/7 · 2024 EVO Summer Tyre Test | 80% #3/8 · 2025 Die Reifentester UHP Summer Tyre Test | +16.7 | Different tests |
| Total Cost of Ownership | Total | 0% #10/20 · 2025 Auto Bild Summer Performance Tyre Test | 0% #14/20 · 2023 AutoBild UHP Summer Tyre Test | 0.0 | Different tests |
| Longitudinal Aquaplaning | Wet | 82% #7/9 · 2023 ACE/ARBÖ/GTÜ 2023 Summer Tire Test R18 | 98% #3/7 · 2024 Auto Express Summer Tyre Test | −15.9 | Different tests |
| Transverse Aquaplaning | Wet | 85% #8/7 · 2024 Auto Express Summer Tyre Test | 87% #6/7 · 2024 Auto Express Summer Tyre Test | −1.8 | Same test |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 100% #1/9 · 2021 Auto Bild UUHP Summer Tyre Test | 83% #10/10 · 2021 Auto Zeitung Summer UHP Tyre Test | +17.2 | Different tests |
| Wet Circle | Wet | 100% #1/10 · 2022 Sport Auto UHP, UUHP and Semi Slick Tyre Test | 98% #9/13 · 2023 AutoBild Sports Car Summer Tyre Test | +1.8 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 99% #2/7 · 2024 Autobild Sportscars Summer TIre Test R20 | 98% #6/8 · 2024 Auto Express Summer Tyre Test | +0.3 | Different tests |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A Potenza Sport
Pros
- Outstanding dry and wet grip
- Precise, telepathic steering response and feedback
- Excellent braking performance
Cons
- Fast tread wear and short lifespan
- High road noise
- Firm, sometimes harsh ride quality over bumps
Tire B Ventus S1 evo3
Pros
- Exceptional grip and confidence in wet and dry conditions
- Low road noise and high ride comfort
- Competitive pricing compared to premium tier-one brands
Cons
- Faster-than-expected tread wear, particularly on rear axles or heavy vehicles
- Soft sidewalls leading to reduced steering feedback and precision
- Vulnerability to sidewall damage or bubbling from potholes
What real owners are saying
From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score
Tire A
Mixed
Bridgestone Potenza Sport
Community opinion on the Bridgestone Potenza Sport and its variants (including the AS and newer Evo/Enliten versions) is mixed, balancing praise for exceptional dry and wet grip, direct steering response, and sharp handling against concerns regarding faster tread wear, lower rolling resistance, and occasional durability issues like sidewall cracking or failures.
r/tires
·2 upvotes ·2026-03-30
“The potenza sport AS is the successor to the RE980+. It is a more modern tire with better performance. In tirerack’s testing though, it was beaten by the Continental DWS06, Michelin Pilot all season 4, and Pirelli Pzero AS+3.”
r/TyreReviews
·61 upvotes ·2026-04-09
“Bridgestone Potenza Sport Evo - quick initial review - 250 miles Very early impression on this newly released update, used as a track tyre on my modded MX-5 done about 50 laps at Bedford Autodrome GT layout, 8-15C air temp, as well as to and from the track. Fun track tyres, great handling feedback and direct steering feel, plenty of grip when push and stable through corner. Confident under heavy braking. Track performance much improved overall compared to the PS4 previously which was quite snappy at limit. Not driven in the wet yet so cannot comment on wet performance. Not driven enough to comment on wear but seems decent after 50 laps/250 miles Road noise is louder, and side wall is stiffer compared to PS4, maybe by ~10%. Would recommend, especially if you can get them on a deal. I paid £330 for 4 corners fitted. Size was 225/45/17. The side wall is quite pretty too if you care for this. Read more”
r/fordfusion
·2 upvotes ·2026-09-16
“Just replaced my set of Potenza Sport AS. 2 side wall failures with 70% tread left. Replaced them with Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 4s. Michelin's are a much better riding tire than the Bridgestones. A little more road noise though.”
Top themes
#Steering Response and Handling#Grip and Wet Performance#Tread Wear and Longevity#Rolling Resistance and Fuel Economy#All-Season vs Summer Variants#Price and Value Comparison
Based on 34 community posts
Tire B
Mixed
Hankook Ventus S1 evo3
The Hankook Ventus S1 Evo 3 receives mixed reviews from the community, with some users praising its solid performance, great value, and good grip compared to competitors, while others note concerns regarding longevity, stock wear, and variations in ratings across different sizes. Discussions also highlight specific variant differences, such as the K127 standard version versus the K127e Tesla-specific version.
r/Golf_R
·6 upvotes ·2026-04-29
“Tire preferences? My MK8 has a little over 18,000 miles now and the stock tires look like they’ve already gone to sh*t? Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 aren’t as good as they advertise? What do you recommend for tires?”
r/TyreReviews
·2 upvotes ·2026-01-04
“That would tally with what this person found with the 127 variant that preceded it “Hi just for information,I asked Hankook what tread depth when new was on their Ventus S1 Evo 3 K127 tyre, the reply was 6.6 mm””
r/Volkswagen
·1 upvote ·2026-03-15
“F/S Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 235/35 R19 Hi Guys Selling a full set (4) Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 235/35 R19 summer tires, with 9/32 tread depth which is exactly the same depth when these ultra high performance tires are new. No punctures anywhere. Tires came of my 2024 VW GTI with less than 3k miles on the odometer. The production date on the tires is 3324 which means 33rd week of 2024.This translates to late August 2024. $500/obo but no shipping. Local pick up only. I am in Long Island NY. Message if interested. Read more”
Top themes
#Wet and dry grip#Price and value#Tread wear and longevity#OEM stock performance#Size variations and ratings#Comparison with competitors
Based on 12 community posts
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Bridgestone Potenza Sport | B · Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer | Summer |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 128 | 110 |
| Rim diameters | 16″ – 24″ | 17″ – 22″ |
| Tread depth | 7 - 10/32″ | — |
| UTQG | 200 - 320 A - AA A | — |
| Sidewall | Black Side Wall - Raised Black Lettering | — |
| Max pressure | 50 - 51 psi | — |
Which one should you actually buy?
73
/ 100
Bridgestone Potenza Sport
68
/ 100
Hankook Ventus S1 evo3
Winner: Bridgestone Potenza Sport — better handling, dry and treadwear. Pick the Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 if noise and comfort matter most to you.
Pick tire B
You want a quieter cabin
Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 scores 71 vs 40 on noise.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Bridgestone Potenza Sport scores 73 vs 60 on handling.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Bridgestone Potenza Sport scores 86 vs 75 on dry.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
Bridgestone Potenza Sport scores 61 vs 55 on treadwear.
Tire A · Bridgestone Potenza Sport
Tire B · Hankook Ventus S1 evo3
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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.
Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score.