The Bridgestone Potenza RE-71RS summer tire is a thoroughly revamped model with the RE-71R index, differing from it with a number of significant engineering innovations. But, like its predecessor, this tire is not intended for a wide audience. It is positioned by the manufacturer as a high-performance tire for training drivers in the racing craft, as well as for the most demanding owners of sports cars, seeking maximum traction in turns, balanced handling, and short braking distance.
One of the key engineering innovations is the rubber compound. It includes special polymers that provide the tread with exceptional strength and elasticity, allowing the tire to closely hug even the smallest road irregularities. This ensures exceptional traction not only on dry but also on wet surfaces, as the tread retains much of its elasticity at low temperatures.
Another difference from the previous model is the design of the tread pattern. In addition to the asymmetric arrangement of elements, it is characterized by an extremely small angle of inclination of the transverse grooves. This increases the resistance of the blocks and ribs to deformation, which improves directional stability, traction stability, and handling accuracy when maneuvering. The changed profile and increased size of the longitudinal grooves add much better resistance to aquaplaning to these characteristics. The aforementioned asymmetric arrangement of the tread pattern elements made it possible to significantly increase the size of the outer shoulder area. As a result, traction and handling in turns have improved, and the process of abrasive wear of the tread has slowed down significantly, increasing the tire's mileage.
Key features of the Bridgestone Potenza RE-71RS
- The polymer-based rubber compound allows the tire to literally stick to the road surface;
- The small angle of inclination of the transverse grooves improves traction and directional stability in turns, increasing handling accuracy;
- The asymmetric arrangement of the tread pattern elements improves handling, prevents rapid tire wear.
