May 10, 2022
Extreme Performance Summer tires are the highest-performing category of true "street" tires, and they’re the only street tires Tire Rack recommends for use on the track. They’re hyper-focused on providing ultimate traction in dry conditions, and some - but not all - manage to be surprisingly impressive in the wet, too. Of course, the dry-focused tread patterns typically leave little void for evacuating standing water, and on-road refinement sometimes can seem like an afterthought in their development. Even so, the Extreme Performance Summer tests are typically our drivers’ favorite of the year, and almost always the most highly anticipated and hotly-debated by consumers.
With that in mind, it’s always exciting when new products are launched in the category, and 2022 features some big new releases. The Bridgestone Potenza RE-71RS has teased North American drivers for years, with screenshots of the Japanese-market tire making regular appearances on enthusiast forums. After significant deliberation, enthusiast factions within Bridgestone’s North American operations finally were able to make the case to bring the tire to our market. The new model isn’t designed to be a simple reboot of its predecessor; as Bridgestone has told us, the Potenza RE-71RS is focused on dry traction, consistency, and wear in road course use, whereas the original tire seemed to be perfectly suited for the tight confines of an autocross.
The NEXEN N FERA Sport R is the second major splash in the Extreme Performance Summer category. Its predecessor, the N FERA SUR4G, essentially matched the objective performance of the fastest tires of its day. Even so, it never quite achieved the commercial success or recognition of its contemporaries. NEXEN hopes to change that with the N FERA Sport R, and they’ve packed their new tire with their latest, cutting-edge compound technology and given it a purposeful, singularly-focused pattern to take aim squarely at the top of the category.
We were excited to find out how these two new competitors stacked up against the best and fastest in the category, so we decided to compare them to the Falken Azenis RT660 and Yokohama ADVAN A052. Our evaluation used 2022 Subaru BRZ Limited test vehicles fitted with new, full tread depth 225/45R17 tires mounted on 17x8.0 wheels.
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.
Dry track driving is arguably the prime objective for Extreme Performance Summer tires, and subjectively, the four tires in our test were only separated by a tenth of a point across the board. Objectively, we found enough of a spread to be considered significant, but lap times are only part of the story and don’t necessarily correlate with the subjective rankings.
Subjectively, the Azenis RT660 earned the highest score from our drivers. The immediate steering response combined with test-leading (tied) lateral traction meant the vehicle railed around turns and danced through the slalom faster than the other tires. Ultimately, though its average lap time was good for a very close third in the test. The ADVAN A052 was easy to drive very, very quickly. Its impressive longitudinal traction and remarkable ability to combine inputs could mask minor driver errors, and it allowed our testers to spend more time at full throttle than any of the other tires in the test. While the steering wasn’t quite as precise as some of the competition, our team could place the vehicle where desired, and it felt stable and planted through turns and rapid transitions and set the fastest average lap by a notable margin. The Potenza RE-71RS was just three-hundredths of a point behind the Yokohama in subjective scores, and it tied for the highest lateral grip on the skid pad, but its average lap times rounded out the group. The steering was precise, linear, and had a great feel, though it didn’t have the immediate response that helps when trying to set ultra-low lap times around our track. The immense lateral grip allowed our drivers to carry big speed through the larger-radius turns, but the tire was a step behind in fast transitions like the slalom. In the end, we could tell there was tremendous capability, but it felt like it would be better exploited on a larger track. The N FERA Sport R set the shortest 50-0mph braking distance and was the closest competitor to the Yokohama in average lap time. It was also incredibly easy to drive from the first turn, and it was very consistent throughout the day of testing. It delivered a small amount of usable looseness at the rear axle that helped rotate around turns, had direct and responsive steering, and simply went about the business of being fast without drawing much attention to itself.
Wet testing shuffled the order and created some additional separation among the group, with the Potenza RE-71RS distinguishing itself as the top performer both objectively and subjectively. Our team seemingly couldn’t heap enough praise on the Bridgestone, from its ability to grip through corners, to its immediate braking, to the way it felt like it would accept as much throttle as the driver was brave enough to provide. The objective results were the fastest average lap, fastest slalom time, and shortest 50-0 mph braking distance. The ADVAN A052 was our previous wet-testing champion, and it delivered another impressive performance, despite being slightly outpaced by the new competitor. With the highest lateral g measurement around the skid pad and braking distances a mere 1.5-feet longer than the test leader, the Yokohama demonstrated it has monumental wet traction. Its average lap time was a minor drawback, but noticeable. It was three tenths of a second back from the best in the test, primarily because our drivers couldn’t lean quite as hard on the front tires at corner entry and because it required slightly more disciplined throttle application at corner exit. The Azenis RT660 was a step behind the two leaders, though in isolation, its objective figures were impressive in their own right. As we have found previously, its subjective scores didn’t quite measure up to what the objective testing seemed to promise. While the traction provided by the tire was quite good, it was somewhat difficult to maximize. The immediate steering response could be a bit too much for the limited grip on the wet surface, which had the potential to overwhelm the available traction at the front tires, leading to noticeable understeer. Additionally, some movement at the rear axle, particularly under power, sometimes made the vehicle feel a bit nervous, and overall it could be a bit edgy at the absolute limit. Our wet testing revealed the N FERA Sport R couldn’t quite match the traction delivered by the rest of the group. Whether discussing 50-0 mph braking distances, lateral gs on the skid pad, or average lap time, unfortunately the NEXEN trailed in the objective results. Subjectively, our drivers found it mostly had a nice balance within its limits, but those limits were simply lower than the rest of the group. The steering response made it easy to gently load the front tires, and aside from a tendency to step out the rear axle when accelerating, the tire had no bad habits to report.
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.
If you’ve never driven an Extreme Performance Summer tire on the road, it’s quite the experience. Their focus on dry traction and track-worthiness often leave much to be desired in terms of on-road manners, which is part of what earned the "Extreme" portion of the category’s moniker.
Every time we’ve tested the ADVAN A052, our team has been impressed by its relative refinement on the road, and this test was no different. While still noticeably stiff compared to a touring tire or even most performance tires, the ride was surprisingly accommodating to bumps of all sizes. It even managed to filter out some small imperfections that were noticeable in the other tires. Similarly, the noise created by the tread pattern was medium-volume and relatively broad, which in this category is about the highest praise that can be reasonably expected. The Potenza RE-71RS was slightly firmer than the Yokohama, though it nearly matched the test leader in how well it rounded over impacts, mostly avoiding the sharpness that was sometimes found in other competitors. The sound comfort was closer to what we expect from traditional Extreme Performance Summer tires, with a grind that sounded reminiscent of four bad wheel bearings on coarse surfaces. Over the smoothest sections of our road ride route, the Bridgestone was acceptable relative to the category, but it still wouldn’t be described as "quiet" by any driver. When driving the Azenis RT660, every imperfection in the road could be felt in the cabin, and medium and large bumps could be very sharp. Though impacts were quick and concise, they were easily noticed. Noise comfort was very similar to the Bridgestone, but in addition to the "grinding" sound over coarse surfaces, the Falken added some "sizzle" over certain patches of smooth pavement. Rounding out the on-road comfort portion of our testing was the N FERA Sport R. While none of its traits were out of place for the category, it felt like the least-polished tire in the group. The ride was as firm as the Falken, but where that tire felt sharp over certain impacts, the NEXEN seemed "clunky" over nearly every medium-to-large bump. It also didn’t filter out any imperfections in the road, and they felt even more noticeable than the other tires here. The noise created by the N FERA Sport R’s performance-focused tread pattern sounded similar to an Off-Road Maximum Traction tire on deceleration, with a grinding, ever-present resonance at speed.
The Azenis RT660 earned the highest score for steering and road handling from our team, thanks to its taut, precise feel and immediate response to inputs. The personality paired very well with our Subaru BRZ test vehicles to create a satisfying driving experience that would feel great on any winding road. The Potenza RE-71RS was also satisfying, but it didn’t have the immediate response of the Falken. Instead, it required a bit more effort to elicit any directional changes, which made it feel a little dull on-center. Once slightly loaded, however, the effort ramped up, and the steering felt linear and natural and nicely weighted. The ADVAN A052 responded predictably and quickly to the driver’s inputs, but never felt as precise as the best in the test. The change in vehicle trajectory was always what the driver expected, but the tire didn’t communicate as clearly with its response. The N FERA Sport R featured steering that is likely to satisfy drivers, but some non-linearity hurt its score slightly with our team. Particularly at lower speeds, the steering wheel seemed to "lead" the tire by a small amount, instead of feeling like a direct connection between the driver’s hands and the front axle of the car. It firmed up noticeably at highway speeds, though ultimately wasn’t as sharp or precise as we know Extreme Performance Summer tires can be.
We once again have four amazing competitors in our Extreme Performance Summer test set. In addition to the known category leaders, the two new entries further add to the compelling options for enthusiast drivers. As we’ve seen in previous tests, the Yokohama ADVAN A052 leads the way with the highest subjective score from our drivers, in addition to the fastest average lap in the dry. The test-leading dry laps, plus impressive, close-second-place wet traction demonstrates the ADVAN A052 excels in on-track metrics. When you add in its highest combined rating in the Road Ride portion of our testing, it results in an overall package that’s very difficult to beat. Bridgestone’s new Potenza RE-71RS is just a breath behind the Yokohama in our combined scoring. Its remarkable capabilities in the wet reset the category benchmark for traction, and it is also acceptably refined on the road. Dry lateral traction that ties for best in the test is a high point, as is the overall praise from our team. While purely objectively, its dry lap times are at the back of the pack, its personality and performance characteristics make it feel more suited to driving on the race track, as opposed to our smaller, autocross-style track testing. The Falken Azenis RT660 again demonstrates why it deserves a spot in the conversation regarding the best tires in the category. Its dry skid pad performance is the other half of our tie for best in the test, and its highly-responsive steering and taut nature make it feel like the athlete of this incredibly talented group, earning the top subjective score in dry track testing. Its wet traction is very strong in its own right, but some tail-happy tendencies and the previously mentioned immediate steering make it feel nervous when being pushed to the limit. On the road, it’s very firm and loud, though not out of the ordinary for Extreme Performance Summer tires, and its steering and light handling characteristics are good for the top score from our testers in that metric, as well. The N FERA Sport R is the new entry from NEXEN, and it also is worthy of serious consideration. In the dry, its 69.5-foot 50-mph braking distances are the shortest in our test. While that’s the only place it leads the group, it has strong second-place figures in all other measured criteria, and our drivers were very impressed with its consistent, easy-to-master driving characteristics. It’s a step behind the group in the wet, trailing in all objective and subjective categories. Similarly, it doesn’t feel quite as refined on the road as the other tires here, though when discussing Extreme Performance Summer tires, "on-road refinement" is relative, and it’s typically far from a high priority.
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