May 17, 2021
When one of the premium tire manufacturers releases a brand-new Max Performance Summer tire, it’s a big deal. While the category doesn’t sell the absolute highest volume, these flagship products typically showcase their respective manufacturers’ cutting-edge technology. They represent their brands and speak to the passions of enthusiasts, not to mention frequently compete for high-visibility Original Equipment applications.
In the spring of 2021, Bridgestone released the Potenza Sport with their sights set squarely on the top competitors in Max Performance Summer. As a global product, the Potenza Sport is designed to meet the needs of drivers not just in North America, but around the world. The new tire utilizes Bridgestone’s latest high-performance compound, which was designed to not only enhance dry and wet traction but also increase stiffness for improved handling. The rigid pattern further emphasizes handling response and has been optimized for hydroplaning resistance along with ride and noise comfort.
We were excited to find out how the Potenza Sport compares to the best of the best in Max Performance Summer, so we tested it against the Continental ExtremeContact Sport, Michelin Pilot Sport 4S, and the Pirelli P Zero (PZ4). Our evaluation used 2020 BMW F36 430i Gran Coupes fitted with new, full tread depth 245/40R18 tires mounted on 18x8.0 wheels.
Our 6.0-mile loop of expressway, state highway and county roads provides a great variety of road conditions that include city and highway speeds, smooth and coarse concrete, as well as new and patched asphalt. This route allows our team to experience noise comfort, ride quality and everyday handling, just as you would during your drive to school or work.
Along our road ride route, the four tires in our test all felt athletic and exhibited varying degrees of comfort and refinement. Each one is likely to satisfy the most demanding drivers, yet thanks to our back-to-back comparison, our testers were able to discern significant differences in their personalities.
The P Zero (PZ4) delivered a pleasing blend of sport and refinement that would feel at home on a high-powered performance vehicle, which isn’t surprising given the tire’s many original equipment homologations. The ride was taut and controlled, and it managed to round over bumps a little better than the competition. The minimal noise produced by the tires was unobtrusive, and impacts merely created a dull thud. The steering was one place our testers would have liked a small change. While it had nice weight and a linear build-up of effort, we felt it could have been a bit more responsive. As we have found in previous testing, the Pilot Sport 4S was also a very enjoyable companion on the road. While just a touch firmer than the Pirelli, the ride nonetheless felt composed, with even the largest bumps on our route being handled with aplomb. Noise comfort was very good as well, with just some medium-volume, white noise over all surfaces. Steering feel has long been a hallmark trait of the Pilot Sport 4S, and it didn’t disappoint in this test. With immediate response to every turn of the wheel, the vehicle felt alive and athletic, and the ideal weight and linear response delivered accuracy, precision, and driver satisfaction. The ride of the Potenza Sport was the firmest in the test, with abrupt rebound following impacts that could feel a touch choppy, particularly over repetitive bumps. Sound quality was acceptable for the category and consisted of some medium-volume, ever-present tones that filled the background. The steering stood out as easily the most responsive of the group, with small inputs eliciting a larger change of direction than expected. While it took our drivers a moment to adjust, it’s likely that consumers would enjoy the added urgency for their sporty, street-driven vehicles. The ExtremeContact Sport fit right in with the rest of the group on the road. The ride was the softest in the test, with the occasional, minor reverberation following impacts that made our drivers wish for a little added composure. Some light, higher-pitched tire noise was slightly distinct, and impacts had a ring to them that was noticeable in the structure of the vehicle. The steering was fast and light, with great precision and linear response to inputs, though our drivers expressed a desire for some additional weight to complete the package.
Our 1/3-mile per lap test track course includes 90-degree street corners, a five-cone slalom and simulated expressway ramps. Run in both dry and wet conditions, the test track allows our team to experience the traction, responsiveness, handling and drivability normally only encountered during abrupt emergency avoidance maneuvers or competition events.
In our dry track testing, the Pilot Sport 4S set the fastest average lap time and the highest lateral gs on the skid pad. In addition to leading the objective metrics, it was our test team’s top pick in the subjective ratings, as well. The precise steering allowed our drivers to place the car where intended, and impressive cornering traction held the vehicle through turns. Balanced handling and confidence-inspiring braking feel and capability completed the package. The P Zero (PZ4) also was a balanced and easy-to-drive option, syncing up with our testers almost innately. The steering was accurate and predictable, though we would have liked it to respond with a little more urgency. Mid-pack objective figures and the second-fastest average lap time were a solid showing. The Potenza Sport tied with the P Zero (PZ4) in subjective ratings, and nearly tied in average lap times, as well. The ultra-responsive steering we felt on the road allowed for very fast directional changes on the track, lending a light and nimble feel to the front end of the vehicle. The cornering traction felt stronger than the third-place skid pad figure may lead one to believe, building speed with ease around turns and through the big sweepers on our track. The one place we wanted a little more from the Potenza Sport was in braking. While its 80.2-foot 50-0mph stopping distance was strong, it didn’t quite match up to the performance delivered by the rest of its talents. With test-leading dry braking distances, the ExtremeContact Sport demonstrated it was a strong competitor, and our team enjoyed driving it around the track. The light and fast steering required little effort to redirect the vehicle’s trajectory, and the whole package had a playful, tossable feel. Though it was fun to drive, our team could tell it wasn’t going to be a contender for the fastest time of day, and the Continental’s average lap was a touch off the pace.
Wet track testing shuffled the order considerably, with the P Zero (PZ4) defending its crown as the top wet performer. Though it didn’t record the shortest stopping distance or the highest lateral grip, its ability to put it all together on the track was unmatched. Predictable, balanced handling; strong front-end authority; confident braking; and the uncanny ability to put the power down while exiting a turn all combined to lead the test by a significant margin. The ExtremeContact Sport once again led the test in braking, and its wet lap times were mid-pack. When driving on the track, our drivers could tell the tire had very strong traction laterally and longitudinally, though it didn’t combine those impressive talents as seamlessly as the test leader. Michelin’s Pilot Sport 4S has always been very strong in the wet, and this test was no exception, though its average lap times were at the back of the pack. The steering, braking, and acceleration were all world-class, just like in the dry, though it was plagued by understeer from mid-corner to corner exit that ultimately hurt lap times and its score with our testers. The Potenza Sport set average lap times that were good for second in the test, but some tricky handling traits meant it found the least favor with our testers. The ultra-urgent steering response felt good, though it could overpower the rear axle, leading to some oversteer on corner entry. Similarly, the rear axle could be a little twitchy under heavy throttle or at corner exit, requiring some concentration to prevent or manage the rotation. While the outright capabilities were very strong, putting them all together wasn’t as easy as the rest of the group.
As flagship products for some of the most storied tire manufacturers in the world, all four tires in our test are top-notch, without a bad choice in the bunch. The Pirelli P Zero (PZ4) combines on-road refinement, athleticism on the track and test-leading wet lap times in an all-around impressive package. The Michelin Pilot Sport 4S feels the most focused on driver satisfaction. It has precise, natural steering that feels just right, not to mention very strong wet traction and category-leading dry lap times. Bridgestone’s Potenza Sport delivers bright and urgent steering response that will surely be noticed by drivers looking for a performance tire. The outright traction in the dry and the wet are competitive with the best in Max Performance Summer. The ride is quite firm, and there is some noticeable, though not objectionable, cabin noise. The Continental ExtremeContact Sport is agreeable on the road and enjoyable on the track, and while it may not set the fastest outright lap times, it is easy to drive, fun, and leads this group in dry and wet 50-0 mph braking.
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