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
Bridgestone announced the launch of the Potenza RE-71RZ on December 1st, 2025, and the automotive world was both shocked and excited. Shocked because the current iteration, the Potenza RE-71RS, is still dominating as we speak. Excited because what could an even better successor bring to the table; think of the possibilities! Well, TJ and Brent got their hands on a prototype set back in the fall to get their first impressions of this highly anticipated tire and compare it to the stellar Potenza RE-71RS. Don’t miss this first drive on what could be another game-changing Extreme Performance Summer tire!
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(513)Tire Category: Extreme Performance Summer
| Best in Category |
| Miles Reported |
| Recommended |
| Treadwear |
Bridgestone Potenza RE-71RS
|
|---|
| 96% |
| 1M |
| 9.0 - Excellent |
| 7.0 - Good |
|
|
| 9.5 - Excellent |
|
|
| N/A |
|
|
| 7.5 - Good |
|
|
| 7.1 - Good |
Ratings highlight excellence in the Hankook Kinergy ST's treadwear, with many scores in the 9-10 range, emphasizing long-lasting durability. Comfort receives strong praise for a smooth, quiet ride, often rated 8-10. Winter traction shows solid performance in light snow (7-8 range), though ice traction scores dip to 6-7, reflecting typical all-season limitations. Wet traction is reliably rated 8-9, with consistent hydroplaning resistance. Dry traction shines with near-perfect 9-10 scores, highlighting confident handling and stability. Customers frequently note satisfaction with its balanced all-season versatility, aligning well with its touring focus. A few mention ice performance as a trade-off, but most agree it delivers dependable year-round comfort and value.
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There are many ways for enthusiasts to compete. Autocross, track events, and time trials are just some of the ways drivers can test their mettle. When cross-competing, events don’t stop because of the rain, so is there a single tire that stands out across the board? In this test, the finale of our 2025 Extreme Performance/Track & Competition evaluations, we set out to answer that question.
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When it comes to track days or race events, Extreme Performance Summer tires are a popular choice. In this test, we took seven exciting EP tires to a local road course to see how they stack up in this environment. From newcomers to category stalwarts, this test will help racers of all stripes find the right tire for their needs. If you haven’t already, see how this same lineup did in our standard test, Extreme Performance Summer – 2025 Test 4D.
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Extreme Performance Summer tires are at home during track days and racing events, but they’re also excellent at helping drivers get the most spirited experience out of their commutes or weekend drives. Our standard test format, which consists of road rides, dry and wet test track handling, dry and wet skid pad, and dry and wet braking, is designed to highlight these different areas and help our customers make the best choice for their needs.
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Testing Extreme Performance Summer, Streetable Track & Competition, and Racetrack & Autocross Only tires means returning to GingerMan Raceway for head-to-head testing. This year, a whopping 19 tires took part in this portion of the test to find out one thing: which are the fastest track and streetable track tires. Also included this year is a full racing slick, a Tire Rack first!
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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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!
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.
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