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Bridgestone Potenza S001 RFT View Gallery (1)

Bridgestone Potenza S001 RFT

Bridgestone Tires Max Performance Summer

The Bridgestone Potenza S001 RFT is a Max Performance Summer tire designed to be fitted to Passenger Cars.

6.3
Tire Reviews Score Based on User Reviews
Limited Confidence View Breakdown
Dry Grip
73%
Wet Grip
59%
Road Feedback
67%
Handling
66%
Wear
74%
Comfort
49%
Buy again
45%
65 Reviews
62% Average
856,668 miles driven
Bridgestone Potenza S001 RFT

Bridgestone Potenza S001 RFT

Summer Premium
BETA
6.3 / 10
Based on User Reviews · Limited Confidence · Updated 23 Feb 2026

The Tire Reviews Score is the most comprehensive tire scoring system available. It aggregates professional test data from multiple independent publications, user reviews, and consistency analysis using Bayesian statistical methods, weighted normalisation, and recency-adjusted scoring to produce a single, reliable performance rating.

Learn more about our methodology
Score Components
Professional Tests
Weight: 80%
Tests: 0
Publications: 0
User Reviews
Weight: 15%
Reviews: 65
Avg Rating: 61.8%
Min Required: 5
Consistency
Weight: 5%
Score Std Dev: 0.1
History Points: 10
Methodology & Configuration
Scoring Process
  1. Collect Test Data: Gather results from professional tire tests across multiple publications. Minimum 1 test(s) required.
  2. Normalize Positions: Convert test positions to percentile scores using exponential weighting (factor: 1.2).
  3. Apply Recency Weighting: More recent tests are weighted higher with a decay rate of 0.95.
  4. Incorporate User Reviews: Factor in user review data (minimum 5 reviews). Weight: 15%.
  5. Bayesian Smoothing: Apply Bayesian prior (score: 7, weight: 1.5) to prevent extreme scores with limited data.
  6. Calculate Final Score: Combine all components using normalization factor of 1.1. Max score with limited data: 9.5.
Component Weights
Test Data
80%
User Reviews
15%
Consistency
5%
All Configuration Parameters
ParameterValueDescription
safety_weight 0.7 Weight multiplier for safety-related metrics
performance_weight 0.55 Weight multiplier for performance metrics
comfort_weight 0.4 Weight multiplier for comfort metrics
value_weight 0.45 Weight multiplier for value-for-money metrics
user_reviews_weight 0.15 How much user reviews contribute to the final score
test_data_weight 0.8 How much professional test data contributes to the final score
consistency_weight 0.05 How much score consistency contributes to the final score
recency_decay_rate 0.95 Rate at which older test results lose influence (higher = slower decay)
min_test_count 1 Minimum number of professional tests required
min_review_count 5 Minimum number of user reviews required
score_version 1.9 Current version of the scoring algorithm
score_normalization_factor 1.1 Factor used to normalize raw scores to the 0-10 scale
confidence_factor_weight 0.2 How much data confidence affects the final score
position_penalty_weight 0.2 Penalty applied for poor test positions
gap_penalty_threshold 12 Score gap (%) that triggers additional penalties
min_metrics_count 2 Minimum number of test metrics needed per test
limited_data_threshold 2 Number of tests below which data is considered limited
single_test_penalty 0.75 Score multiplier when only one test is available
critical_metric_penalty 0.7 Penalty for poor performance on critical safety metrics
critical_metric_threshold 70 Score below which a critical metric penalty applies
position_exponential_factor 1.2 Exponent used to amplify position-based scoring
position_exponential_threshold 0.9 Position percentile below which exponential scoring applies
gap_multiplier_critical 3 Multiplier for critical gap penalties
max_category_weight 2 Maximum weight any single category can have
max_score_limited_data 9.5 Score cap when data is limited
bayesian_prior_weight 1.5 Weight of the Bayesian prior in smoothing
bayesian_prior_score 7 Prior score used for Bayesian smoothing
evidence_test_multiplier 1.9 Multiplier for test evidence in confidence calculation
evidence_metric_divisor 3 Divisor for metric count in evidence calculation
evidence_review_divisor 10 Divisor for review count in evidence calculation
combined_penalty_floor 0.2
All Tests

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Questions and Answers for the Bridgestone Potenza S001 RFT

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January 10, 2017

Is the Potenza S001 (which is fitted on my new Mercedes SLC) a run flat tire or are there two versions ie run flat and normal? Thank you.

If the tire on your new Mercedes is the runflat version of the S001, it will have "runflat" / "rft" marked clearly on the sidewall.
February 4, 2017

I want to buy a summer tire for my Honda Civic.. 205/55 R16.. I live in Zonguldak Ereğli.. Wet roads.. But if I make 25000 km for only 1 year.. Half is at highway, half is at wet roads.. I wanted to buy 205/55/16 94w , XL.. Safe and hard tire.. But I think this type of tire is very hard. Are there adverse effects on road handling? Which tires can you suggest to me?

The Bridgestone Potenza S001 RFT is a runflat tire, so has a very hard sidewall. This will protect you from sidewall damage on poor surface roads, but as a result it will be less comfortable than a non-runflat tire. We suggest you look at the <A href="http://www.tirereviews.co.uk/Article/Bridgestone-DriveGuard-Have-Bridgestone-Solved-the-Runflat.htm">Bridgestone DriveGuard</a>
April 2, 2019

What tire do you recommend on a BMW m 140I I have Bridgestone potential soo1 rf on now which I have had since new

The default non-runflat option is the Michelin Pilot Super Sport, however this has now been replaced by the PIlot Sport 4 which offers better wet grip and higher levels of comfort, at the expense of some steering feel.
February 21, 2024

When are you going to do a runflat group test?

Unfortunately due to the extremely high costs and lack of real demand it seems unlikely I'll get to do this any time soon. The good news is that a tire that performs well in non runflat is generally good in runflat, however with a large % of runflat tires being OE specifications the translation doesn't always work out.
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Size Price Range  
225/40 R18 $332.99 - $426.96 (3 Prices) Compare Prices >>
225/45 R17 $256.99 - $256.99 (1 Price) Compare Prices >>
225/50 R17 $237.99 - $237.99 (1 Price) Compare Prices >>
245/35 R18 $317.99 - $352.99 (2 Prices) Compare Prices >>
255/35 R19 $351.97 - $418.99 (3 Prices) Compare Prices >>
Available in 20 tire sizes - View all.

Top 3 Bridgestone Potenza S001 RFT Reviews

Given 46% while driving a Audi A6 Avant Quattro 2.0TDI (245/45 R19) on mostly country roads for 0 average miles
I have a 2021 Audi quattro estate, these tires came with the car, purchased as second user. I LOATH these tires, never felt so little grip in a 4wd car, bad in the dry, worse in the wet, and any bumps in the road seems to make the car feel like it is constantly slipping. Not good in windy conditions either . I am not an overly speedy driver, but driving at least 10mph slower to feel safer. Changing out ASAP
Helpful 973
August 28, 2024
Given 47% while driving a BMW 318 (225/50 R17) on mostly motorways for 20,000 spirited miles
BMW F30 user.
Pros:
1. Wears out very slowly
2. No worry in case of a flat tire (RFT)

Cons:
1. Very hard tires produces high vibration and loud noise gets inside the cabin and greatly effects comfort level
2. Very uncomfortable especially when dealing with road bumps
3. Poor dry grip where the car easily oversteers when cornering at high speed
4. Very poor wet grip
Will not buy again.
Helpful 1158
November 1, 2023
Given 53% while driving a BMW X1 25D Xdrive (225/45 R19) on a combination of roads for 5,000 easy going miles
Absolutely dreadful, collected my 20k miles BMW X1 with these things on and my god are these things LOUD and uncomfortable! ! my part exchange was a Skoda YETI and it was absolutely silent in comparison with Potenza S02s on it. I don't care how much ware there is left on them they are being swapped for anything that's quieter than these! Absolutely the WORST tire I've had in 40+ years driving!
Helpful 982
February 7, 2024

How would you rate the Bridgestone Potenza S001 RFT?

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Latest Bridgestone Potenza S001 RFT Reviews

Initial Impressions Review
Given 77% while driving a Cadillac ATS4 (225/45 R17) on for 33,000 miles
The tires are very grippy. Slip very occasionally when pushed to the limits but in a predictible way. Not too quite but not too noisy either. The vehicle dynamic and overall feel is pretty good with them on. To give you their best potential, I noticed that they must be on the over-inflated side a bit which makes the ride not very comfortable.
Helpful 29
February 11, 2026
Given 53% while driving a Lexus LS460 (245/45 R19) on mostly motorways for 1,000 average miles
Absolutely horrible comfort level. Extremely loud and harsh. Turned my Lexus LS into an econobox. Would never ever buy again. Do not ever consider them.
Helpful 222
December 22, 2025
Given 49% while driving a BMW 740d msport (245/40 R20) on a combination of roads for 20,000 average miles
Certainly worst tires I had and those cam factory fitted on my BMW 7 Series. Recommended for Audi S5 and Sport BMW's. You must be mad to buy it. I compare to Michelin, Pirelli, GoodYear, Hankook, Nokian, Continental. Literally every other tire I had was better. Also - this tires almost killed me in wet when new. Improved after couple weeks of driving, but still let's go at 40mph on a roundabout if there is a rain. Total cr**p.
Helpful 239
October 21, 2025
Given 89% while driving a BMW 120d M sport (245/35 R18) on a combination of roads for 27,000 spirited miles
A brand new seat of the Potenza 001 were on my 1 series when I left the forecourt. All I can say is they've been great and the wear has been amazing considering its a rear wheel drive. The front have still got 4mm left so I expect a few more thousand miles before I will need to replace.
A bit noisier than others on the market but these have been run flats so to be expected.
Helpful 394
September 6, 2025
Given 47% while driving a BMW 320 d (255/35 R19) on a combination of roads for 13,000 spirited miles
Not much positives I can give on this tire apart from it having a nice sporty feeling when driving but noisy at the same time. Unreliable dry grip and wet grip is much worse. The wear on them are okay. I would overall recommend Goodyear over them as it's a much better tire.
Helpful 844
November 6, 2023
Given 60% while driving a BMW 523I (225/50 R17) on mostly motorways for 30,000 spirited miles
Likely due to it being a run flat, but terribly uncomfortable and loud, on standard suspension. Okay grip in dry, but bumps in the road completely ruin both the ride quality and your grip, latter especially in the wet. Only positive is the wear, as my set lasted about 50.000 km-s and still have thread depth, but the ride quality is so bad with these i will never equip run flats again.
Helpful 826
May 19, 2023
Given 53% while driving a Mercedes Benz 190 2.3 16 (225/40 R19) on a combination of roads for 6,000 average miles
Expensive and lousy tire, not comfortable at all. But last quite long.
Helpful 984
January 31, 2023
Given 43% while driving a BMW 318 (225/45 R18) on mostly town for 62,000 average miles
I have these fittet on my 2017 BMW F30. I could stand only 1500km to these. Constant understeer and no comfort whatsoever. Never again RFT, never again Potenza S001. The only little good side of the tire is wear. But, what you do with it when you have no grip at all.
Helpful 958
January 28, 2023
Given 50% while driving a BMW 118i Sport (225/40 R18) on mostly country roads for 20 average miles
Too many noisy and vibrating tires. I feel this is not a tire, it should be wooden wheel which contact between the road and the car. My tire sizes are 225/40/18 on the front and 245/35/18 on the back. I also did sound insullation on my car but the vibrating and tire noises can not cut unfortunately.
Helpful 1114
January 16, 2023
Given 43% while driving a BMW 1 series M pack (225/40 R18) on mostly country roads for 25 spirited miles
Very bad in all areas, handling on dry and wet ground. Comfort, all the faults of the road its accentuated power 10 and tires very noisy and very expensive (former owners invoice, fortunately that I did not pay for this Shit). The lifespan looks ok but they are so bad that I will change them long before they die. The feeling of the road and average and consumption, I have no elements of comparison.
Helpful 921
September 18, 2022
Given 53% while driving a BMW 1 series M pack (225/45 R17) on mostly country roads for 0 spirited miles
Tire mounted by the previous owner on my 2016 bmw 118d m sport, so bad that I will change them even though they are barely worn. Catastrophic handling, insecurity, always ready to countersteer because the car stalls for a yes or a no. Very poor and noisy comfort on the fast lane. Only positive point, slow wear but degrades the quality of the car so hard to keep.
Helpful 1190
September 18, 2022
Given 54% while driving a BMW 330i M SPORT SALOON (225/45 R17) on mostly motorways for 10,000 spirited miles
aquaplaning a problem
Helpful 822
June 20, 2022
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