tirewheelguide
Head-to-head Updated

Firestone WeatherGrip 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 1 + 1 road tests and 24 + 23 owner reviews. How we score

WeatherGrip is ahead, 65–54

Check price on Amazon · WeatherGrip or Potenza RE-71R on Amazon
Add your size for an exact match
/R

Both Amazon links then search this exact size.

TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.

Category by category

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

  1. 65

    Dry

    Potenza RE-71R +7
    72
    Why this score
    SourceWeatherGripPotenza RE-71R
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 66 (est.)≈ 70 (est.)
    Reviews found online6474

    WeatherGrip: 60% × 66.2 (est.) + 40% × 63.5 = 65

    Potenza RE-71R: 60% × 70.4 (est.) + 40% × 73.5 = 72

    No road tests of dry for WeatherGrip. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.42).

    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 0.42).

  2. 70

    Wet

    WeatherGrip +9
    61
    Why this score
    SourceWeatherGripPotenza RE-71R
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 70 (est.)≈ 63 (est.)
    Reviews found online7058

    WeatherGrip: 60% × 70.4 (est.) + 40% × 70.1 = 70

    Potenza RE-71R: 60% × 63.5 (est.) + 40% × 57.6 = 61

    No road tests of wet for WeatherGrip. 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. 75

    Snow

    WeatherGrip +30
    45
    Why this score
    SourceWeatherGripPotenza RE-71R
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 73 (est.)≈ 56 (est.)
    Reviews found online7730

    WeatherGrip: 60% × 73.1 (est.) + 40% × 77 = 75

    Potenza RE-71R: 60% × 55.6 (est.) + 40% × 30.3 = 45

    No road tests of snow for WeatherGrip. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.37).

    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 0.37).

  4. 65

    Comfort

    WeatherGrip +17
    48
    Why this score
    SourceWeatherGripPotenza RE-71R
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 68 (est.)≈ 63 (est.)
    Reviews found online6237

    WeatherGrip: 40% × 67.9 (est.) + 60% × 62.4 = 65

    Potenza RE-71R: 40% × 63.4 (est.) + 60% × 37.4 = 48

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

  5. 68

    Noise

    WeatherGrip +8
    60
    Why this score
    SourceWeatherGripPotenza RE-71R
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 67 (est.)≈ 67 (est.)
    Reviews found online6951

    WeatherGrip: 60% × 66.6 (est.) + 40% × 69.1 = 68

    Potenza RE-71R: 60% × 66.6 (est.) + 40% × 50.5 = 60

    No road tests of noise for WeatherGrip or Potenza RE-71R. The test half is the tested tires’ average (67): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests.

  6. 55

    Treadwear

    WeatherGrip +25
    30
    Why this score
    SourceWeatherGripPotenza RE-71R
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 1 tests5537
    Reviews found online5418

    WeatherGrip: 60% × 55.2 + 40% × 53.7 = 55

    Potenza RE-71R: 60% × 37.5 + 40% × 18.2 = 30

  7. 62

    Handling (owners)

    Potenza RE-71R +6
    68
    Why this score
    SourceWeatherGripPotenza RE-71R
    Reviews found online6268
Scores at a glance
CategoryFirestone WeatherGripBridgestone Potenza RE-71R
Relative Score 65 54
Dry 65 72
Wet 70 61
Snow 75 45
Comfort 65 48
Noise 68 60
Treadwear 55 30
Handling (owners) 62 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 and treadwear start at “Important” — the two things buyers rank highest. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.

Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Recomputed
Headline score
± 9

WeatherGrip

± 9

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.

DisciplineCategoryWeatherGripPotenza RE-71RΔHead-to-head
Tested Tread Life (Miles) Treadwear 65% #7/8 · 2022 Consumer Reports All-Season Tires 38% #22/22 · 2022 Consumer Reports Ultra High Performance Summer Tires – Different tests
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Overall Ranking Overall #8/8 2022 Consumer Reports All-Season Tires #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 WeatherGrip

Pros

  • Outstanding snow and winter weather traction
  • Confident wet weather and rain grip
  • Smooth and comfortable ride quality

Cons

  • Faster tread wear due to the softer rubber compound
  • Noticeable drop in fuel economy (MPG)
  • Subpar dry pavement performance compared to dedicated summer or standard all-season tires
All owner themes in the WeatherGrip 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 · Firestone WeatherGrip B · Bridgestone Potenza RE-71R
CategoryAll WeatherSummer
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available49—
Rim diameters15″ – 19″—
Tread depth10/32″8/32″
UTQG640 A A200 A A
Treadwear warranty65,000 mi—
SidewallBlackwallBlackwall
Max pressure44 psi44 psi

Which one should you actually buy?

Firestone WeatherGrip

Bridgestone Potenza RE-71R

Winner: Firestone WeatherGrip — better snow, treadwear and comfort. Pick the Bridgestone Potenza RE-71R if dry and handling matter most to you.

Pick tire A You drive through snowy winters

Firestone WeatherGrip scores 75 vs 45 on snow.

Pick tire A You want the longest tread life

Firestone WeatherGrip scores 55 vs 30 on treadwear.

Pick tire A You want the most comfortable ride

Firestone WeatherGrip scores 65 vs 48 on comfort.

Pick tire A Your priority is wet-weather safety

Firestone WeatherGrip scores 70 vs 61 on wet.

Tire A · Firestone WeatherGrip
Check price on Amazon
Tire B · Bridgestone Potenza RE-71R
Check price on Amazon

TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.

WeatherGrip or Potenza RE-71R?

Which is better in the wet, WeatherGrip or Potenza RE-71R?

Firestone WeatherGrip, 70 vs 61 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, WeatherGrip or Potenza RE-71R?

Bridgestone Potenza RE-71R, 72 vs 65 on our dry score.

Which is better in snow, WeatherGrip or Potenza RE-71R?

Firestone WeatherGrip, 75 vs 45 on our snow score.

Which is quieter, WeatherGrip or Potenza RE-71R?

Firestone WeatherGrip, 68 vs 60 on our noise score.

Which is more comfortable, WeatherGrip or Potenza RE-71R?

Firestone WeatherGrip, 65 vs 48 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, WeatherGrip or Potenza RE-71R?

Firestone WeatherGrip, 55 vs 30 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