Tests – · none yet Owners 78 · 166 reviews
Best test result: #4 of 9 in 2010 EVO FWD Tyre Test (overall ranking)
Head-to-head
Updated
Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 vs Bridgestone Potenza RE050A — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
Pilot Sport PS2 is ahead, 75–59
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Tests – · none yet Owners 53 · 2,182 reviews
Best test result: #6 of 6 in 2010 Autocar Tyre Test - RWD (overall ranking)
“I've gone through two sets of RE050As, and I've got 75k on my car. The second set is in dire need of replacement. HTH.”
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
79
Dry
Pilot Sport PS2 +1663Why this score
Source Pilot Sport PS2 Potenza RE050A Reviews found online 86 61 -
78
Wet
Pilot Sport PS2 +1860Why this score
Source Pilot Sport PS2 Potenza RE050A Reviews found online 80 57 -
–
Snow
No comparison57Why this score
Source Pilot Sport PS2 Potenza RE050A Reviews found online – 49 -
73
Comfort
Pilot Sport PS2 +1657Why this score
Source Pilot Sport PS2 Potenza RE050A Reviews found online 76 44 -
70
Noise
Pilot Sport PS2 +862Why this score
Source Pilot Sport PS2 Potenza RE050A Reviews found online 74 56 -
66
Treadwear
Pilot Sport PS2 +1254Why this score
Source Pilot Sport PS2 Potenza RE050A Reviews found online 66 46 -
81
Handling
Pilot Sport PS2 +2457Why this score
Source Pilot Sport PS2 Potenza RE050A Reviews found online 81 57
Scores at a glance
| Category | Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 | Bridgestone Potenza RE050A |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 75 | 59 |
| Dry | 79 | 63 |
| Wet | 78 | 60 |
| Snow | – | 57 |
| Comfort | 73 | 57 |
| Noise | 70 | 62 |
| Treadwear | 66 | 54 |
| Handling | 81 | 57 |
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
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Important
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Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neither tire has a score here yet, so this weight changes nothing.
Less important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Less important
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Important
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Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Recomputed
Headline score
75
/ 100
Pilot Sport PS2
59
/ 100
Potenza RE050A
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 | Pilot Sport PS2 | Potenza RE050A | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 25% #4/9 · 2010 EVO FWD Tyre Test | 17% #6/6 · 2010 Autocar Tyre Test - RWD | +8.3 | Different tests |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A Pilot Sport PS2
Pros
- Outstanding dry grip and traction
- Confident, predictable handling and progressive limit feedback
- Excellent steering response and turn-in precision
Cons
- High initial purchase price
- Rapid tread wear, particularly on rear axles or under spirited driving
- Reduced wet traction and potential for sudden breakaway as the tread wears down
Tire B Potenza RE050A
Pros
- Phenomenal dry grip and cornering stability
- Precise steering response and sharp turn-in feedback
- Stiff sidewalls that enhance sporty handling and provide rim protection
Cons
- Harsh ride quality and stiff impact absorption, especially over rough roads and potholes
- Noticeable and escalating road noise as the tires wear
- Mediocre performance and reduced traction in cold temperatures or wintry conditions
What real owners are saying
From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score
Tire A
Michelin Pilot Sport PS2
We haven't collected enough community discussion about this tire yet.
Tire B
Mixed
Bridgestone Potenza RE050A
The Bridgestone Potenza RE050A is recognized as an older high-performance summer tire design that still delivers strong dry grip, handling, and cornering capabilities. While some users appreciate their longevity with proper maintenance, others note reduced wet and cold weather traction and point out that newer alternatives are available.
r/Miata
·1 upvote ·2014-10-30
“Replacements for Bridgestone Potenza RE050A sticky Summer tires Went to for an NC (2008) Miata and they are trying to sell their house brand tires for around $350 (205/45R17, all season generic, I believe the treadware is 400, official rating is 30,000 miles but will realistically be more like 20,000). They mentioned their model is the "Sofero s1000" if I heard it correctly. Can't find any product reviews online, has anyone used them? How do they compare to name brands (have been using Bridgestone Potenza RE050A sticky summer tires, treadware 140, traction A, temperature A, ). The issue here is that you can't "try on" their house brand tires to see if it's to your liking. One you buy them, you're stuck. And I really like the feeling of the tires I have now, but they are very expensive to replace! Edit: going for the Continental ExtremeContact DW (around $400, best bang for the buck it would seem). Now just need to find a quality tire shop in San Diego!”
r/AskAMechanic
·1 upvote ·2025-12-09
“Is my tyre repairable? Apologies in advance I know the question has been asked a million times, shop says no, I don’t think it is repairable either, but I want to know what mechanics say. Because I think the shop just wants me to pay more and I don’t have much ideas about the inner workings of a tyre. Thank you! 255/30/R19 Potenza RE050A Run Flats.”
r/cars
·2 upvotes ·2017-11-18
“My FiST came with the Potenza RE050A and i am pleasantly surprised with how well they handle. Excellent grip from acceleration and cornering as well as excellent stopping power. The only problem is when it gets cold out and if it's wet the tires don't grip as well as I'd like but other than that no complaints.”
Top themes
#Dry grip and handling#Wet and cold performance#Tread life and mileage#Run-flat options#Aging tire design#Pricing and value
Based on 13 community posts
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 | B · Bridgestone Potenza RE050A |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer | Summer |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 7 | 37 |
| Rim diameters | 17″ – 540″ | 15″ – 20″ |
| Tread depth | — | 10/32″ |
| UTQG | — | 140 A A |
| Sidewall | — | Blackwall |
| Max pressure | — | 50 psi |
Which one should you actually buy?
75
/ 100
Michelin Pilot Sport PS2
59
/ 100
Bridgestone Potenza RE050A
Winner: Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 — better handling, wet and dry. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 scores 81 vs 57 on handling.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 scores 78 vs 60 on wet.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 scores 79 vs 63 on dry.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 scores 73 vs 57 on comfort.
Tire A · Michelin Pilot Sport PS2
Tire B · Bridgestone Potenza RE050A
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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.