Tire: Potenza RE-11
Category: Extreme Performance Summer
UTQG (treadwear): 180 AA A
I think the best way to classify this tire is to say that it is a toned down (dare I say well rounded) version of the Bridgestone Potenza RE070 that we have also reviewed. It will have a bit better wet traction, a bit better ride comfort, a bit better treadwear, but gives up only the slightest amount of dry traction in the process. As with other summer type tires, it is not intended to be driven in snow/ice, or even at near freezing temperatures.
All that being said, this tire is a bit groundbreaking in that it was the first in the Bridgestone lineup to use their in house 3D Seamless Stealth technology -which first appeared on their Formula 1 tires! The name itself is fairly impressive, and pretty much all you need to know is that it provides an awesome amount of lateral stiffness and stability. When you see a picture, note the incredibly large independent shoulder blocks. The whole setup does great work for dry traction, and resists hydroplaning very well.
One thing you'll note about this tire if you decide is the best option for your vehicle, is how expensive it is. But for the money, you will be driving one of the most consistently high performing tire on the market. Another good thing about this tire is how long it will last compared to other high performance summer tires. The treadwear rating is low, I'll admit, but it is not uncommon for a set of these to get over 35,000 miles, which makes them a pretty decent deal for the money.
