Bridgestone Launches New Generation Potenza S001 UHP Tyre
Bridgestone has launched a new flagship UHP tyre aimed at the world’s top sports cars. The Potenza S001 is designed for maximum sports performance and, according to the company, can also offer high efficiency/reduced rolling resistance at the same time. Already factory fitted on the Aston Martin Rapide and Ferrari F458 Italia, the Potenza S001 is now also available in the European replacement market.
Bridgestone reports that the launch of the Potenza S001 extends its line-up and that the company is “reliving the motor-sport heritage” of its Potenza tyres in the new release. “The S001 is designed to give the world’s most powerful sports models even sportier handling and higher efficiency than the current Potenza RE050(A) it complements. With factory fitments on the Aston Martin Rapide and Ferrari F458 Italia, the Potenza S001 clearly meets the challenging demands of both heavier luxury sports cars and the new breed of lighter, extreme sport models,” company representatives said in a statement.
As far as construction is concerned, the new tyre features an asymmetric tread pattern (as you would expect with a premium UHP tyre) and large, stiff “high grip” shoulder blocks, which are said to produce optimum road contact. Handling performance is enhanced by a “strong but lightweight active insert in the bead area which increases longitudinal stiffness, generating the high braking force required while maintaining vertical stiffness for cornering grip and ride comfort.” According to the company, drivers will enjoy the remarkable steering response, giving an exciting sporty feel behind the wheel, countered by the perfect high-speed stability provided by the off-centre straight rib tread design.
In addition to overall UHP performance characteristics, the new tyre is also said to be “tuned for safety.” Technical aspects that support this include: wide groove design for rapid water evacuation and high-angle lug grooves for excess water drainage into the main grooves for hydroplane resistance. Technicians have angled these lug grooves to minimise block deformation during braking, thus maintaining the most effective braking edge and contact patch for maximum wet safety and control.
On top of all this (and no-doubt in preparation for the forthcoming European legislative framework that mandate tyre labels that publish noise, wet-grip and rolling resistance performance characteristics), the Potenza S001 is designed to meet and exceed continuing trends to fuel efficient motoring with a lighter belt construction than the previous Potenza generation and reduced rolling resistance. Pattern noise is said to be diminished by the even road contact provided by the new block design combined with the latest groove and lug technology to suppress surface noise.
The Potenza S001 is available in 19 sizes for 18 to 20-inch rims, having been launched into the European market in January 2010.
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