Bridgestone Potenza RE97 AS
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The Bridgestone Potenza RE97 AS is a blend of the Ecopia EP422, an eco focused touring tire, and the RE970AS Pole Position, an ultra high performance tire. It provides a comfortable ride, but still gives amazing handling. Bridgestone developed this tire for use in dry and wet driving conditions and also light snow / winter conditions.
I always like to put a higher resolution picture of each tire for reviews like this so people can see in detail the tread pattern on the tires. If you click on the image to the left you can see the grooves and chutes for channeling out water when you are driving in the rain. You can also see the smaller grooves and sipes for winter traction in the snow and on ice. Driven: When tested, the Potenza RE97AS cornered very well, even when driven very aggressively. Steering response was also very good when toggling back and forth between cones to test a quick change in direction. Acceleration and braking were very responsive, and the tire grips the road well on the dry track. Wet traction was also very good when tested with sprinklers on the track, as was hydroplaning resistance when tested over a very large shallow puddle. The only place the Potenza RE97 AS struggles a bit is with ice and snow conditions. If you are driving most of the winter on snow and ice you will want to go with a dedicated winter / snow tire.
Conclusion:
The Bridgestone Potenza RE97AS is solid All Season tire that provides a smooth ride but still gives the steering response of a performance tire. Price ranges from $105 to $193 per tire depending on size and is a very good value for the money. The warranty is 55,000 miles for the V rated version and 45,000 miles for the W rated version, which is about average for this type of tire. Similar Tires: 1. Michelin Defender 2. Bridgestone Turanza Serenity Plus 3. Continental PureContact EcoPlus |
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