"How can we create the ideal high-performance tyre?" That's the question Bridgestone engineers asked themselves as they set out to create the next-generation Potenza. In the late 1970s, Potenza was a breakthrough tyre for its time and helped define the high-performance segment. Learn how Bridgestone engineers tapped into this historical legacy to envision and develop the new Potenza Sport.
Defining the ideal high-performance tyre
Engineers started with a simple idea: Develop a high-performance tyre that both car manufacturers and sports enthusiasts want.
For car manufacturers, the requirements for a high-performance tyre vary on a case-by-case basis. But generally, most manufacturers expect this type of tyre to maximise certain features of a supercar or high-performance vehicle in dry conditions.
But understanding what a sports enthusiast looks for in a high-performance tyre required a bit more research. The Bridgestone product team interviewed and surveyed almost 4,000 people who identify themselves as drivers who enjoy unlocking their vehicle's potential and a controlled sporty driving experience.
Based on the results, Bridgestone discovered these drivers expect:
1) A maximised driving experience (safely and responsibly)
2) Increased control and confidence behind the wheel
3) A tyre that delivers on these performance factors:
- Increased stability at speed
- Secure grip in wet and dry conditions
- Shorter braking distances
With this insight, the Bridgestone engineers had a roadmap to start building the Potenza Sport.
Developing Potenza Sport
Designing a new tyre is similar to creating a work of art. It takes patience, dedication and a little experimentation to get the final result just right. To build Potenza Sport, Bridgestone engineers focused their efforts on four main features:
- Tread pattern
- Contour
- Compounds
- Construction
Tread pattern
The tread pattern is the feature that most consumers inspect to understand a tyre's performance capabilities. For Potenza Sport, engineers opted for an asymmetrical pattern design to increase stiffness and stability at speed. The variable rib profile maximises wet friction and the 3D sipes enhances braking potential and abrasion resistance.