Tires go high tech for improved handling

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Bridgestone Potenza RE970AS Pole Position

Updated: November 28, 2011 3:30PM

For a majority of drivers, tires are just the “black rubber doughnuts” upon which the car rolls. Tires are actually one of the most important components on a vehicle from a comfort, safety and performance standpoint.

While attending a “Classroom Behind the Wheel” drive event sponsored by Bridgestone, I got a chance to test the new ultra-high-performance line of Potenza tires. During the event, participants experienced the latest in tire technology, performance offerings and proper maintenance by driving identical 2011 BMW 328i sedans around a handling course under the instruction of professional drivers. After securing my helmet, I had the opportunity to test Bimmers shod with Potenza RE970AS Pole Position tires, Potenza S-04 Pole Position or Potenza RE-11 tires.

Of the three tires tested, the Potenza RE970AS Pole Position is the best immediate application for Chicago’s impending winter driving season. Bridgestone indicates that this tire is designed to offer all-season capability and enhanced wear while still delivering confident wet and dry handling.

The RE970AS features a silica-rich compound to enhance grip in wet and dry traction situations, and it has large shoulder blocks for improved cornering performance. The RE970AS tread pattern features advanced 3-D sipes for improved braking performance, and it incorporates 3-D stealth tread elements, which increase block stiffness and handling.

A big center rib enhances responsiveness. The RE970 Pole Position’s footprint is maximized for better load distribution, which improves wear performance. The RE970AS Pole Position tires are currently available and come in sizes up to 34 W rated sizes.

I moved on to Bridgestone’s top performance tire: the Potenza S-04 Pole Position. Bridgestone indicates that putting these tires on your ride next spring will deliver the ultimate in dry, warm weather performance. These are not tires to be rolling on in cold weather or in snow and ice. The Potenza S-04 Pole Position rolls with an asymmetric tread design and large outside edges. It claws at the pavement via interlocking tread blocks and a central circumference spine. During testing I found that it provided great feedback on the hot, dry surface with plenty of road steering action, great cornering and stability during quick maneuvers and speed bursts on the course. In wet summer conditions the slanted lateral grooves funnel water into deep channels to reduce hydroplaning.

The last tire I tested was the Potenza RE960AS Pole Position RFT. This tire incorporates Bridgestone’s third-generation run-flat technology, which improves ride comfort over previous run-flat tires. This run-flat tire is made for all-season performance driving. Bridgestone’s RFT technology combines cooling fins and NanoPro-Tech sidewall reinforced rubber compound to control heat build up, which is really important when the tire is losing air or is flat.

Pricing on these tires is in the premium category. The smallest sizes begin in the $160-$185 range, but check around to see what different dealers in your area are charging, and note that pricing will vary by tread width, rim size, all-season, performance or run-flat.

Bridgestone and other manufacturers like Goodyear offer some great winter tires, including a complete line of Blizzak (Bridgestone) and Ultra Grip (Goodyear) snow tires to help tackle our rough winter roads and conditions.

The best-performing winter tires have a mountain/snowflake symbol branded on the tire’s sidewall. The Rubber Manufacturers Association uses this symbol to designate winter tires that meet the newest severe snow standard. This rating sets the true winter tire apart from other standard M&S-rated all-season designs. According to Bridgestone, tires that have earned this symbol will provide 25 to 50 percent more traction in winter’s sloppiest, iciest conditions. This additional traction could put you in a safety zone (versus standard all-season tires) and may help keep you from losing control.

Bridgestone advises installing winter tires in sets of four, whether you have a rear-, front- or all-wheel vehicle. This also holds true for summer tires. Cars are designed to perform, handle and ride optimally using a single size; mismatched tires will affect your car’s handling and the performance of its braking and stability control systems.

Saving a few bucks now by mixing different tires could cost you a lot more in the future. Most reputable tire dealers will not sell short sets (two snow tires) due to potential liability concerns.