Tests 64 · 2 tests Owners 68 · 4 reviews
Best test result: #2 of 6 in The BEST Track Day Tyres for 2024 (dry braking)
Head-to-head
Updated
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R vs Bridgestone Potenza RE 71RS — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
Potenza RE 71RS is ahead, 73–67
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Tests 76 · 3 tests Owners 72 · 452 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 3 in 2025 AutoView Extreme Performance Tyre Test (dry braking)
“Need heat cycle advice I recently got a screaming deal on some Bridgestone Potenza RE-71RS for my daily driver. It usually doesn't see track time but I figured it would be fun to try it out for the cost. The tires were cheap because they had a 2021 production date. In the past to heat cycle a tire, I've just driven on the highway a couple of hours and let the tire sit for 24 hours. The hurdle is, It's winter and too cold to really make an impact. To add to that, I doubt I will have clean enough roads for that tire. My track does have winter lapping when it is clean and dry, but it still may be cold. Any suggestions on how to get a heat cycle on these tires in cold temperatures? Read more”
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
82
Dry
Level82Why this score
Source Pilot Sport Cup 2 R Potenza RE 71RS Professional tests (TWG score) 81 75 Reviews found online 82 91 Dry Braking (% of best) 99% 100% Dry Handling (% of best) 100% 100% Dry Handling Long Run (% of best) 97% 100% -
50
Wet
Potenza RE 71RS +2575Why this score
Source Pilot Sport Cup 2 R Potenza RE 71RS Professional tests (TWG score) 47 81 Reviews found online 53 66 Wet Braking (% of best) 85% 100% Wet Handling (% of best) 93% 100% -
73
Comfort
Pilot Sport Cup 2 R +865Why this score
Source Pilot Sport Cup 2 R Potenza RE 71RS Professional tests (TWG score) – 71 Reviews found online 77 56 -
65
Noise
Potenza RE 71RS +166Why this score
Source Pilot Sport Cup 2 R Potenza RE 71RS Professional tests (TWG score) – 67 Reviews found online 63 64 -
63
Treadwear
Pilot Sport Cup 2 R +162Why this score
Source Pilot Sport Cup 2 R Potenza RE 71RS Reviews found online 61 59 -
79
Handling
Potenza RE 71RS +584Why this score
Source Pilot Sport Cup 2 R Potenza RE 71RS Reviews found online 79 84
Scores at a glance
| Category | Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R | Bridgestone Potenza RE 71RS |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 67 | 73 |
| Dry | 82 | 82 |
| Wet | 50 | 75 |
| Comfort | 73 | 65 |
| Noise | 65 | 66 |
| Treadwear | 63 | 62 |
| Handling | 79 | 84 |
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
67
/ 100
Pilot Sport Cup 2 R
73
/ 100
Potenza RE 71RS
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 | Pilot Sport Cup 2 R | Potenza RE 71RS | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 99% #2/6 · The BEST Track Day Tyres for 2024 | 100% #1/3 · 2025 AutoView Extreme Performance Tyre Test | −1.5 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 100% #2/6 · The BEST Track Day Tyres for 2024 | 100% #1/3 · 2025 AutoView Extreme Performance Tyre Test | −0.3 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling Long Run | Dry | 97% #4/6 · The BEST Track Day Tyres for 2024 | 100% #1/7 · 2025 Tire Rack Extreme Performance Track Tyre Test | −2.6 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 33% #3/6 · The BEST Track Day Tyres for 2024 | 67% #2/4 · 2022 TireRack Extreme Performance Summer Tire Test R17 | −33.3 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 85% #5/5 · 2026 AutoBild Track Day Tyre Test | 100% #1/7 · 2025 Tire Rack Extreme Performance Track Tyre Test | −15.0 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 93% #4/5 · 2026 AutoBild Track Day Tyre Test | 100% #1/4 · 2022 TireRack Extreme Performance Summer Tire Test R17 | −6.7 | Different tests |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A Pilot Sport Cup 2 R
Pros
- Phenomenal dry grip providing a planted and confident feel on the track
- Optimized design specifically for extracting maximum performance during time attacks
- Superior circuit performance compared to the standard Pilot Sport Cup 2
Cons
- Extremely limited performance longevity, with grip dropping off rapidly after just a few laps
- Poor performance and safety risks in damp to wet conditions due to shallow and narrow tread patterns
- Best suited strictly for single-lap time trials rather than extended track sessions
Tire B Potenza RE 71RS
Pros
- Outstanding dry grip and rapid warm-up characteristics.
- Highly predictable and communicative at the limit, allowing for easy recovery.
- Improved on-road refinement, noise levels, and comfort compared to its predecessor.
Cons
- Rapid tread wear, especially when used aggressively on track or heavy vehicles.
- Tendency to become 'greasy' or lose peak grip during extended track sessions.
- Stiff sidewalls can make mounting the tires onto rims difficult.
What real owners are saying
From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score
Tire A
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R
We haven't collected enough community discussion about this tire yet.
Tire B
Positive
Bridgestone Potenza RE 71RS
The Bridgestone Potenza RE-71RS is widely praised by the community as an exceptionally sticky and high-performing 200 treadwear tire, popular for track use and spirited driving. Users frequently discuss fitment considerations like whether they run wide compared to other tires, and note opportunities for closeout deals. While recognized for incredible grip, users acknowledge their short lifespan and limited utility in cold or wet conditions.
r/GR86
·256 upvotes ·2026-09-23
“Drove my GR86 coast to coast on pre-thrashed 200tw tires in 3.5 days AMA 2024 GR86 Premium performance package mt Bridgestone Potenza RE-71rs tires Car had 24,000ish miles and now has 27,000ish”
r/MechanicAdvice
·1 upvote ·2021-08-02
“Mileage-expectancy of Bridgestone Potenza RE-71Rs? (200-rated, I think?) Forgive me I'm getting the terminology wrong, but I just bought a super dynamite NA Miata that has had a TON of incredible suspension work (mostly Flyin' Miata stuff) and the stickiest tires I have ever experienced by FAR: Potenza RE-71Rs. (Forget full measurements but they're on 15 x 7.5" inch wheels, 6UL's by 949 Racing.) And I think their life is pretty much over. I love them but I don't want to track the car; I want to drive it two hours into the country every other weekend. I want to drive through the mountains with great . . . spiritedness . . . but I don't need track-focused tires. I'd much rather have something slightly less grippy in exchange for longer tread life. The previous owner (who I've stayed in touch with) recommenced I get "300-rated" tires instead of "200-rated" tires. I don't really know what that means or how many miles I can expect from such a tire. I'm contemplating getting the Continental Extreme Contacts, but I just don't know enough about tires to know what they're like or how much ACTUAL mileage I can get----I also dont' understand 200 vs. 300 tires. Please help?”
r/ElantraN
·5 upvotes ·2025-09-06
“Track tire fitment Just got some new Bridgestone Potenza RE-71rs in 245/40r18. I did my research on this subreddit and it seems like that will fit without rubbing/camber bolts. Does anyone know if the RE-71rs’ run wide cause they measure a full inch wider than the stock PS4s’, I’m just wondering now if I’ll need camber bolts. I’d prefer not, just want to throw them on and go. For reference they are being mounted onto a 18x8.5 +45 Enkei TS-V wheel. If anyone could offer insight cause I just can’t understand how they would fit but maybe I’m just over thinking it. Stock suspension by the way. I searched the sub and didn’t see anything with exact matching specs, only bigger and different tires. Tl;dr Will 245/40r18 Bridgestone Potenza RE-71rs’ fit on an 18x8.5 +45 wheel without clearance issues/adding other modifications (camber bolts) on our car? Thanks for any help! Read more”
Top themes
#exceptional track grip#tire sizing and fitment#closeout and clearance deals#short tread life expectancy#spirited driving performance
Based on 10 community posts
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R | B · Bridgestone Potenza RE 71RS |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer | Summer |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | — |
| Sizes available | — | 10 |
| Rim diameters | — | 15″ – 19″ |
| Tread depth | — | 7/32″ |
| UTQG | — | 200 A A |
| Sidewall | — | Blackwall |
| Max pressure | — | 51 psi |
Which one should you actually buy?
67
/ 100
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R
73
/ 100
Bridgestone Potenza RE 71RS
Winner: Bridgestone Potenza RE 71RS — better wet and handling. Pick the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R if comfort matters most to you.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Bridgestone Potenza RE 71RS scores 75 vs 50 on wet.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R scores 73 vs 65 on comfort.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Bridgestone Potenza RE 71RS scores 84 vs 79 on handling.
Tire A · Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R
Tire B · Bridgestone Potenza RE 71RS
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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.