Bridgestone taps materials science for new Potenza tires

Tokyo – Bridgestone Corp. will launch two new Potenza passenger car tires, RE-71RZ" and Adrenalin RE005, initially for the Japanese domestic market next February, the group announced 1 Dec.  

The RE-71R is said to offer “precise control even when pushed to the limits - whether on the circuit or to support safety on public roads.”

Key features, added Bridgestone, include “excellent” dry grip, responsive handling, improved wet performance, and enhanced wear resistance providing sustained high performance.

Enhanced grip, on both dry and wet surfaces, was linked to a new rubber compound developed using Bridgestone’s NanoPro-Tech technology for optimising silica/polymer blends.

Also in the toolkit, Ultimat Eye technology helped refine the tire structure and profile to provide a more uniform contact area for improved grip on cornering.

Meanwhile, the Adrenalin RE005 “achieves an optimal balance of driving performance and fuel efficiency at a high level, providing enjoyable driving for daily use.”

The tire is stated to deliver excellent handling stability at higher speed on highways and reliable grip in corners daily driving, including on winding roads and highways.

Among the features here are enhanced wet performance – JATMA* grade ‘A’ in all sizes – while 19 sizes have grade ‘A’ rolling resistance performance based on JATMA*.

Bridgestone further highlighted the sustainability benefits of the tire through its fuel efficiency as well as its use of NanoPro-Tech technology to enhance the polymer structure.

*Japan Automobile Tyre Manufacturers Association