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Pirelli P Zero vs Bridgestone Potenza S001 — Compared

Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.

Potenza S001 leads, 63–62 Narrow edge

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Tire APirelli

P Zero

Summer

Tests 73 · 3 tests Owners 51 · 3,469 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2019 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test (dry handling)

“Um I got my x3mc with p0's pz4 and I love them because there is no sideflex in them, you really only feel the suspension working and not the tire, so very darty steering if you will. Also put pzero all season plus on my cooper coupé s, and again excellent no sidewall flexing. May or may not try the Michelin one day. But the pzero on my x3mc burns really really fast in the back. 2 summers max, the front hardly get used, and can't swap since they are wider in the back”

Tire BBridgestone

Potenza S001

Summer

Tests 71 · 6 tests Owners 56 · 5,797 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2020 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test (wet braking)

“Quote: Originally Posted by ProjectBoost Yeah and the Bridgestone's should be replaced too. +1 Bridgestone Potenza S001 are near the bottom of all run flat tires. If you prefer run flat tires, Pirelli P Zero are much better.”

Category by category

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

  1. 73

    Dry

    P Zero +1
    72
    Why this score
    SourceP ZeroPotenza S001
    Professional tests (TWG score)7979
    Reviews found online6463
    Dry Braking (% of best)97%93%
    Dry Handling (% of best)100%98%
  2. 71

    Wet

    Potenza S001 +4
    75
    Why this score
    SourceP ZeroPotenza S001
    Professional tests (TWG score)8084
    Reviews found online5762
    Wet Braking (% of best)83%100%
    Wet Handling (% of best)99%94%
  3. 50

    Snow

    Potenza S001 +1
    51
    Why this score
    SourceP ZeroPotenza S001
    Reviews found online3739
  4. 62

    Comfort

    P Zero +3
    59
    Why this score
    SourceP ZeroPotenza S001
    Professional tests (TWG score)7063
    Reviews found online5152
  5. 59

    Noise

    P Zero +7
    52
    Why this score
    SourceP ZeroPotenza S001
    Professional tests (TWG score)6148
    Reviews found online5558
  6. 53

    Treadwear

    Potenza S001 +1
    54
    Why this score
    SourceP ZeroPotenza S001
    Professional tests (TWG score)6558
    Reviews found online3449
  7. 58

    Handling

    Potenza S001 +3
    61
    Why this score
    SourceP ZeroPotenza S001
    Reviews found online5861
Scores at a glance
CategoryPirelli P ZeroBridgestone Potenza S001
Relative Score 62 63
Dry 73 72
Wet 71 75
Snow 50 51
Comfort 62 59
Noise 59 52
Treadwear 53 54
Handling 58 61

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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Neutral
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Recomputed
Headline score

P Zero

Potenza S001

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.

DisciplineCategoryP ZeroPotenza S001ΔBoth?
Dry Braking Dry 97% #5/45 · 2019 Summer 53 Tyre Braking Shootout 93% #7/8 · 2018 Auto Bild 20 inch UHP Tyre Test +4.7 Different tests
Dry Handling Dry 100% #1/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test 98% #6/8 · 2018 Auto Bild 20 inch UHP Tyre Test +2.3 Different tests
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 73% #16/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test 73% #20/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test +0.3 Different tests
Noise Other 97% #18/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test 99% #6/8 · 2018 Auto Bild 20 inch UHP Tyre Test −1.8 Different tests
Price Other 66% #18/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test 54% #18/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test +11.9 Different tests
Value Other 53% #20/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test 60% #19/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test −6.9 Different tests
Wear Other 66% #15/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test 85% #12/16 · 2020 ADAC 18 Inch Summer Tyre Test −18.9 Different tests
Overall Ranking Overall 33% #3/9 · 2010 EVO FWD Tyre Test 47% #9/14 · 2020 TCS Summer Tire Test R18 −13.3 Different tests
Straight Aqua Straight 93% #14/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test 93% #3/8 · 2018 Auto Bild 20 inch UHP Tyre Test −0.5 Different tests
Subj. Comfort Subj 67% #14/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test 70% #5/8 · 2019 Sport Auto 20 Inch UHP Tyre Test −3.3 Different tests
Total Cost of Ownership Total 0% #17/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test 0% #20/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test 0.0 Different tests
Wet Braking Wet 83% #28/49 · 2020 Tyre Market Overview Braking Test 100% #1/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test −17.1 Different tests
Wet Handling Wet 99% #3/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test 94% #6/8 · 2018 Auto Bild 20 inch UHP Tyre Test +4.5 Different tests

Pros, cons & observations

Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.

Tire A P Zero

Pros

  • Outstanding dry grip and handling performance
  • Precise steering feedback and high-speed stability
  • Good wet-weather braking and cornering when warm

Cons

  • Rapid and uneven tread wear, often requiring replacement much sooner than expected
  • Poor grip and unpredictable traction in cold temperatures (below 7°C/45°F)
  • Prone to tramlining and tracking road imperfections
All owner themes in the P Zero review

Tire B 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
All owner themes in the Potenza S001 review

What real owners are saying

From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score

Tire A

Pirelli P Zero

Mixed

Community opinions on the Pirelli P Zero lineup are heavily polarized depending on the specific sub-model and application (automotive vs. cycling). While performance summer variants and the newer AS Plus 3 or PZ5 tyres receive strong praise for dry grip, steering feel, and value compared to Michelin or Continental alternatives, older OEM specs and certain summer variants face heavy criticism for poor wet weather traction, fast wear rates, and difficult mounting.

r/bikewrench ·4 upvotes ·2026-02-17

“Impossible to install P Zero Race TLR I have Hollowgram R45 carbon wheels on my road bike and went for Pirelli P Zero TLR 700x30 after reading great reviews. The fact is, they are impossible to install. I tried and had two mechanics try and they said it’s absolutely impossible. The tire is too tight for the wheel and there is absolutely no way of putting it on. The wheel is ETRTO standard compliant and has a 21 mm internal canal. Has anyone had any similar experience? I am quite surprised”
r/tires ·2 upvotes ·2024-12-30

“I got a pair of 22" P zeros on a flash sale on Simple tire for just over $200 each. They're over $500 everywhere else. And back up over $400 a few days later.”
r/AudiRS3 ·2 upvotes ·2026-03-28

“P Zero Winter Tire Hydroplaning I have these installed on my 8V RS3 stock wheels, 245/35 19’. In heavy rain, the car is so sketchy I literally had to turn around on my commute the other day and switch cars. Even small amounts of standing water make the car lose composure ever so slightly when traveling at 50+ in a straight line. Anyone experience the same? TireRqck has offered a refund, but I must replace with another Pirelli of any type.”
Top themes
#Wet weather grip performance#Treadwear and mileage longevity#Ride comfort and low noise#Difficult tire mounting process#Comparison with Michelin and Continental

Based on 107 community posts

Tire B

Bridgestone Potenza S001

Mixed

Community opinion on the Bridgestone Potenza S001 is divided, with some users praising their dry grip and stability, while many others criticize their rapid wear, stiffness (especially run-flat variants), noise, and cracking issues. Owners frequently compare them unfavorably to alternatives like Michelin or Pirelli, though budget-friendly deals tend to draw occasional interest.

r/CarTalkUK ·2 upvotes ·2023-11-15

“Brand New Bridgestone Potenza S001 Tyres worn after 10k mileage? So I got 4 brand new tyres last June from Costco, 255/35 R19. I only drive locally, occasional trips to another city. 10k mileage later, my front two tyres flagged up on my recent MOT as : Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge CHANGE ASAP (5.2.3 (e)) Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge EDGED (5.2.3 (e)) Seems surprising to me as I don't drive crazy, occasional spirited driving. 2011 Audi s5. is this normal? Thinking of getting another brand this time for the front two tyres. Car is a quattro but same types on same axis should suffice? Any recommendations on tyres? Read more”
r/TyreReviews ·3 upvotes ·2026-02-22

“Replacing Bridgestone Potenza s001 RunFlats with Primacy 5 vs. PS5. Suggestions? I drive a VW Jetta which only has 160 Hp. I do occasionally really enjoy some spirited driving or taking aggressive turns. My considerations are that I do really care about Comfort and road noise and so that leads me towards the Primacy 5. At the same time, I don't think the power of my car justifies the PS5. My question is basically, I've online that for runflats to be runflats they have really stiff sidewalls, which might be contributing to the current feel of my car and I wonder if, even though everything else about the Potenza s001 is quite worse compared to the Primacy 5, I wonder if I will miss the stiff sidewall? And just because of that should I consider the PS5?”
r/BMWi3 ·1 upvote ·2024-01-09

“I put the Potenza S001 tires on the rear of my i3s with that Tire Rack deal but I didn't think they would fit on the 5.5 inch rims. I think the rears are 6.0".”
Top themes
#Tread Wear and Longevity#Run-Flat Stiffness and Comfort#Road Noise and Harshness#Dry Grip and Stability#Quality and Cracking Issues#Value and Deals

Based on 16 community posts

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Pirelli P Zero B · Bridgestone Potenza S001
CategorySummerSummer
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available19455
Rim diameters17″ – 24″15″ – 21″
Tread depth10/32″8/32″
UTQG220 A A280 A A
SidewallBlackwallBlackwall
Max pressure50 psi50 psi

Which one should you actually buy?

Pirelli P Zero

Bridgestone Potenza S001

Too close to call: Pirelli P Zero and Bridgestone Potenza S001 are within 2 points overall. Pirelli P Zero is stronger on noise and comfort. Bridgestone Potenza S001 is stronger on wet and handling.

Pick tire A You want a quieter cabin

Pirelli P Zero scores 59 vs 52 on noise.

Pick tire B Your priority is wet-weather safety

Bridgestone Potenza S001 scores 75 vs 71 on wet.

Pick tire A You want the most comfortable ride

Pirelli P Zero scores 62 vs 59 on comfort.

Pick tire B You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Bridgestone Potenza S001 scores 61 vs 58 on handling.

Tire A · Pirelli P Zero
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Tire B · Bridgestone Potenza S001
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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.

63

Narrow edge

Potenza S001

Amazon