Bridgestone introduced new track tires
The Bridgestone corporation has added a new tire, Bridgestone Potenza RE-71RZ, to its flagship Potenza line, which has existed since 1979, replacing the RE-71RS model. Like its predecessor, it is designed for use on both public roads and racing tracks, making it suitable for track day enthusiasts and participants in various automotive sports competitions.
Compared to the previous generation model, the tires have become more efficient in several parameters, allowing for an improvement in lap time at the famous Tsukuba circuit in Japan on dry and wet surfaces (by 0.74 and 0.75 seconds, respectively). According to the manufacturer, the stiffness of the tread and the size of the outer shoulder area have been increased, which has improved traction and stability, while the revised pattern with main grooves in the inner section has improved the tires' resistance to uneven wear.
A new rubber compound has also been developed, using Bridgestone's experience in motorsports and NanoPro-Tech technology, which allows changing the properties of compounds at the molecular level. Silica particles have been added to the mixture, and compared to the RE-71RS, traction has been increased on both dry and wet surfaces. Additionally, the pattern with wide straight longitudinal grooves, which accelerate water drainage, and a "slick" design of the shoulder areas, increasing the stiffness of the blocks, has been designed to improve handling in various conditions and increase the life of the tires. The Ultimat Eye digital modeling technology was used to optimize the profile and internal structure of the tires, which improved the evenness of the load distribution in the contact patch and traction during maneuvering.
During the development of the RE-71RZ, professional racers Masahiro Sasaki, the 2016 Toyota Gazoo GR Cup champion, and Yuji Tachikawa, a three-time winner of the Super GT series in the GT500 class (also participated in the creation of the Bridgestone Regno GR-XIII high-comfort tires), were involved. At the Tsukuba circuit, both drivers were able to improve their lap time by approximately 0.7 seconds (1.2%) on the new tires.
"The strong point of the Potenza RE-71RZ is that they provide an excellent level of both traction and controllability," Sasaki noted. "The tires have become more efficient on dry and wet surfaces when used on regular roads, and when used on the track, they demonstrate higher durability and allow for improved lap times. The traction is excellent in any situation, which allows for enjoyable driving and ease of handling both in everyday life and on the racing track."
In turn, Tachikawa also stated that due to the ease of handling, any driver can fully utilize the control and traction provided by the new tires. "Particular attention was paid to quick warm-up for optimal grip, as well as safety on wet roads, i.e., the tire has balanced characteristics and is effective in any conditions," he added.
The Potenza RE-71RZ meets the requirements of the SCCA (Sports Car Club of America) and will be allowed for use in races next year. In the North American market, the novelty will be released in 45 sizes. Additionally, the tires will be available in Japan, where the lineup will include 61 sizes from 165/55 R14 to 285/35 R20, and the recommended retail price set by the manufacturer will range from 20.6 to 111.3 thousand yen (from 10.3 to 55.5 thousand rubles).
Over the past few weeks, Bridgestone has also added new Adrenalin RE005 tires to the Potenza family, designed not only for sports cars but also for a wider range of vehicles, and the Potenza Sport Evo model, suitable for use on the most powerful supercars.