Bridgestone Potenza Sport, the tyremaker’s flagship efficiency mannequin, is now formally launched in Malaysia. It’s a alternative for the Potenza S007A and sits above the Potenza Adrenalin RE004 within the model’s Potenza efficiency line-up.
As the unique gear (OE) manufacturing facility match tyre for the brand new Maserati MC20 and Lamborghini Huracan STO – which is basically a highway authorized race automotive – and a few Ferraris to return, the Potenza Sport is confirmed credentials out of the field. Right here’s an summary of the UHP tyre’s options.
Developed at Bridgestone Technical Heart Europe in Rome, Italy, the Potenza Sport is manufactured in Europe, not like its S007A predecessor. The Japanese tyremaker says that it interviewed over 3,800 drivers globally to assemble suggestions in growing the brand new mannequin, which was designed utilizing Bridgestone’s Digital Tyre Growth tech. This allowed the corporate to precisely predict the tyre’s efficiency with out having to bodily produce and take a look at each model, saving round 200 improvement tyres for each mission. Eco-friendliness apart, digital R&D additionally cuts time-to-market by as much as half.
The Potenza Sport’s three foremost objectives are stability at excessive velocity (straight-line and corners), safe grip in each moist and dry, and shorter braking distances. These do sound very generic and can be utilized to explain any sporty avenue tyre, however we’re speaking about supercar ranges and the top of tyre tech right here. By the best way, Bridgestone counts the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S, Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperSport, Continental SportContact 6 and Pirelli P Zero PZ4 as rivals. All of these UHPs aren’t any strangers to profitable tyre shootouts.
Bridgestone’s flagship options varied new and revolutionary applied sciences in tread sample design, compound and building. “Revolutionary 3D sipes” are utilized to the tyre tread sample design to extend shear stiffness, in addition to to enhance and improve braking and abrasion resistance.
The compound comprises an optimised components that’s mixed with revolutionary mixing expertise to enhance the tyre’s moist and dry dealing with efficiency. Bridgestone says that the eventual combine improves chemical response management, balancing the reinforcing mechanism and rolling resistance. It additionally achieved excessive stiffness to profit dry cornering and straight-line stability.
A brand new hybrid crown reinforcement – utilizing nylon and aramid – helps maximise tyre stability at excessive velocity, whereas a sporty carcass bundle (sidewall and bead filler) can also be utilized to extend stability and steering response, whereas optimising rolling resistance.
As for the tread design, it doesn’t look tremendous aggressive, however then once more, a lot of the top-tier efficiency tyres aren’t designed to look spectacular. What tyre insiders name the “land-sea ratio” (tread and ribs) is all the time optimised for the following mannequin, and the Potenza Sport has an uneven wall angle to extend lateral stiffness and cut back block deformation. This advantages cornering efficiency and straight line stability.
There’s additionally a sporty profile form to the tyre, which in easy phrases means the tyre is extra “sq.” for maximised contact space – this improves dry braking efficiency.
Final however not least is the optimised rib and void distribution to maximise water evacuation and enhance moist cornering and braking efficiency. The above-mentioned “revolutionary 3D sipes” additionally do their half within the moist efficiency division. Should you’re questioning how the Potenza Sport compares to the S007A, its maker claims that the Sport betters its predecessor in all efficiency areas (moist cornering is the most important acquire) apart from one – noise ranges are equal.
As for sidewall design and branding, Bridgestone has gone for the straightforward however distinguished look, with the wordmark on opposing ends and “Potenza Sport” and the B brand on the opposite axis. Gone are the times the place the Potenza/Turanza identify is essentially the most seen ingredient – this look can also be seen on the Turanza T005A. Additionally simplified is the identify of the tyre itself – no extra alphanumeric combo.
The made-in-Europe Bridgestone Potenza Sport is available in 84 sizes starting from 17 to 22 inches, and 16 of these sizes at the moment are out there in Malaysia (six 18-inch sizes and 10 19-inch sizes), priced from RM959 to RM1,723 a bit. Bridgestone Malaysia says that it’ll deliver in additional sizes once in a while, in accordance with market demand.
