The Potenza RE-71RS is Bridgestone's Extreme Performance Summer tire developed for sports cars, performance sedans and enthusiast drivers who participate in high-performance driving events, track days and endurance-style competition. The Potenza RE-71RS is designed to deliver massive levels of grip and precise handling on the street and maintain that performance at race-pace on the track. Like all Extreme Performance Summer tires, the Potenza RE-71RS is not intended to be serviced, stored or driven in near-and-below-freezing temperatures, through snow or on ice.
The highly asymmetric pattern is molded from a tread compound that utilizes race-developed, high-grip polymers engineered to maximize dry grip. An optimized footprint helps manage contact pressure under heavy cornering loads for more uniform distribution. This optimization allows the tire to exploit every bit of surface contact available while helping prevent areas of acute heat generation, encouraging even wear in competition environments. The solid circumferential ribs are designed to help ensure quick and precise steering response at the limit in dynamic cornering events. The expansive outboard tread element features low-angle grooves for enhanced lateral stiffness, promoting consistent and predictable cornering traction. Strategically placed, circumferential grooves are beveled to help further support the inboard ribs under intense cornering while allowing sufficient area for hydroplaning resistance.
The internal construction of the Potenza RE71-RS consists of a robust, two-ply polyester casing tuned to increase feedback and steering response. Twin steel belts provide a lightweight and durable base for the tread, and a nylon reinforcement ply is added for high-speed capability.
Note: Potenza RE-71RS tires exposed to temperatures of 20 degrees F (-7 degrees C) or lower must be permitted to gradually return to temperatures of at least 40 degrees F (5 degrees C) for at least 24 hours before they are flexed in any manner, such as by adjusting inflation pressures, mounting them on wheels, or using them to support, roll or drive a vehicle.
Related Information: Shaving Tires for Autocross / Track Use / Competition | Competition Tire Air Pressure | Storing Track & Competition DOT Tires in Cold Temperatures
We understand that tire performance categories can be confusing. You want an all-season tire, but there are several all-season categories; how do you know which one is right for you? You want a summer tire, but again, which summer category? In this special demonstration, we took six all-season tires from three all-season categories and three summer tires from two summer categories to lay it out for you. Category-leading tires from the Standard Touring All-Season, Grand Touring All-Season, Ultra High Performance All-Season, Max Performance Summer, and Extreme Performance Summer categories are tested so you can see exactly what each "step up" gets you as a driver and what trade-offs were made along the way.
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(430)Tire Category: Extreme Performance Summer
| Best in Category |
| Miles Reported |
| Recommended |
| Treadwear |
|
Bridgestone Potenza RE-71RS
|
|---|
| 96% |
| 798K |
| 9.0 - Excellent |
| 7.0 - Good |
|
|
| 9.5 - Excellent |
|
|
| N/A |
|
|
| 7.5 - Good |
|
|
| 7.1 - Good |
Reviews highlight excellence in dry traction, with customers praising the RE-71RS's exceptional grip, precise steering response, and confidence-inspiring cornering for autocross, HPDE, and track use. Many note strong wet traction in light rain, though some report hydroplaning risks in standing water. Treadwear earns praise for a 200TW tire, with users reporting consistent performance through multiple heat cycles and 6-8 track days when properly managed. While a few mention accelerated wear under aggressive driving or heavy vehicles, most consider durability impressive for the category. The stiff sidewall and predictable limit behavior are frequently cited as strengths, making these a top choice for competitive drivers prioritizing dry performance and track-day longevity.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
We understand that tire performance categories can be confusing. You want an all-season tire, but there are several all-season categories; how do you know which one is right for you? You want a summer tire, but again, which summer category? In this special demonstration, we took six all-season tires from three all-season categories and three summer tires from two summer categories to lay it out for you. Category-leading tires from the Standard Touring All-Season, Grand Touring All-Season, Ultra High Performance All-Season, Max Performance Summer, and Extreme Performance Summer categories are tested so you can see exactly what each "step up" gets you as a driver and what trade-offs were made along the way.
Read the Full Test Report
EP tires wear two distinct hats. They’re great on sporty and high horsepower vehicles conquering the everyday road and on those same vehicles as they dominate in various races and track days. The nuances here are many as increased traction and performance in one of these arenas can mean a tradeoff elsewhere. This two-part test lays it all bare and reveals just how close, but different, this category can be!
Read the Full Test Report
EP tires wear two distinct hats. They’re great on sporty and high horsepower vehicles conquering the everyday road and on those same vehicles as they dominate in various races and track days. The nuances here are many as increased traction and performance in one of these arenas can mean a tradeoff elsewhere. This two-part test lays it all bare and reveals just how close, but different, this category can be!
Read the Full Test Report
Bridgestone’s Potenza RE-71RS is an Extreme Performance Summer tire for the drivers of sports cars, performance sedans, and enthusiast drivers. Perfect for those who participate in driving events, track days, and endurance competitions.
In this episode of “TJ Talking,” our Tire Information and Testing Manager, TJ Campbell, speaks with Will Robbins, from Bridgestone North America, about the much-anticipated Potenza RE-71RS. The pair discuss the focused technology that went into the RE-71RS, its journey from the Japanese to US market, and how it compares to its predecessor, the RE-71R.
We compared the long-awaited Bridgestone Potenza RE-71RS to the best in the category to see how this new entry stacks up.
Read the Full Test Report
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