If you’re in the market for new tires, two of the top options to consider are the Bridgestone Potenza and Firestone Firehawk. Both are highly rated performance tires from well-known brands. But which one is the better choice for your vehicle?
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll compare the Bridgestone Potenza and Firestone Firehawk to highlight the pros and cons of each. We’ll look at categories like tread life, traction, ride comfort, noise, and more. Read on to learn which tire is the winner for various driving needs and budgets.
A Brief Comparison Table
| Feature | Bridgestone Potenza | Firestone Firehawk |
| Dry Traction | Excellent – asymmetric tread patterns and stiff sidewalls enhance grip | Excellent – continuous center ribs and rigid tread blocks enhance grip |
| Wet Traction | Very good – grooves and sipes dispel water | Very good – wide grooves and crisscross sipes dispel water |
| Winter/Snow Traction | Capable all-season performance | Slightly better all-season winter/snow performance |
| Ride Comfort | Very quiet and smooth ride | Quiet and comfortable ride |
| Treadwear | 45,000 – 65,000 miles (up to 80,000 mile warranty) | 45,000 – 65,000 miles (up to 80,000 mile warranty) |
| Price | $$-$$$ | $-$$ |
| Best For | Max dry grip, responsive handling | Excellent year-round traction, value |
Overview of Bridgestone Potenza Tires
The Potenza line is Bridgestone’s ultra high performance and grand touring line of tires.
Potenza tires are optimized for responsive handling, grip, and comfort. Here’s an overview of some key features:
- Tread compound – Potenza tires use Bridgestone’s advanced tread rubber compounds molded in asymmetric tread patterns. This helps maximize dry and wet grip.
- Sporty handling – Potenza tires have stiffer sidewalls for sportier steering feel and handling agility. Continuous shoulder blocks enhance grip during cornering.
- All-season and summer options – The Potenza line includes both all-season and summer tires. Summer Potenza tires are focused on maximizing warm weather performance.
- Quiet comfort – Noise-reducing technologies like serrated shoulder edges help minimize road noise. The tread patterns absorb vibrations for a comfortable ride.
- Wet traction – Potenza tires perform well in wet conditions thanks to the Aquachannel grooves and lateral notches that dispel water.
Popular Potenza tire options:
- Potenza RE980AS – Ultra high performance all-season tire
- Potenza S-04 Pole Position – Max performance summer tire
- Potenza RE970AS Pole Position – Grand touring all-season tire
Overview of Firestone Firehawk Tires
Firehawk is Firestone’s line of ultra high performance and all-season tires. They are designed to deliver precise handling, traction, and comfort. Here are some key features:
- Responsive handling – The continuous center rib and stiff sidewall construction provide quick steering response and stability when cornering.
- Advanced tread compound – Firehawk tires use a silica-enhanced tread compound that enhances grip on both dry and wet roads.
- Year-round traction – Wide circumferential grooves and lateral sipes help dispel water and enhance wet weather traction.
- Ride comfort – The independent tread blocks have notches and sipes that absorb vibrations from the road. This helps improve ride smoothness.
- Treadwear warranty – Firehawk tires come with treadwear warranties of up to 80,000 miles, an indicator of long tread life.
Popular Firehawk tire options:
- Firehawk AS – All-season ultra high performance tire
- Firehawk Wide Oval AS – High performance all-season tire
- Firehawk Indy 500 – Max performance summer tire
Key Differences Between Bridgestone Potenza And Firestone Firehawk Tires
Now that we’ve covered the overview, let’s compare the two tires across some key factors:
Treadwear and Durability
Treadwear determines how long your tires will last before needing replacement. Both Firestone and Bridgestone tires are known for impressive treadwear warranties and owner experiences.
Bridgestone Potenza
- Treadwear warranties up to 80,000 miles
- Advanced tread compound resists irregular wear
- Stiff sidewalls protect against premature wear
Firestone Firehawk
- Treadwear warranties up to 80,000 miles
- Long-lasting tread compound enhanced with silica
- Scrub-resistant tread blocks avoid uneven wear
Most Potenza and Firehawk tires will last between 45,000 to 65,000 miles in real world driving. With proper maintenance and rotation, some models can last up to 80,000 miles.
The advanced tread compounds used by both brands allow for long tread life. Overall, the treadwear is quite comparable between the two tire lines. Drivers report getting a similar number of miles out of Potenza and Firehawk tires before needing replacement.
Verdict: Tie. Both offer exceptional treadwear warranties and owner-reported tread life.
Dry Traction and Grip
Grip in dry conditions is crucial for responsive handling and short braking distances. Let’s see how Potenza and Firehawk tires compare:
Bridgestone Potenza
- Optimized asymmetric tread patterns enhance grip
- Continuous shoulder blocks maintain contact during cornering
- Stiff sidewalls improve cornering responsiveness
Firestone Firehawk
- Continuous center ribs enhance straight-line stability
- Rigid tread blocks grip the road during corning
- Silica in the tread rubber boosts dry grip
Testers praise the dry grip and traction of both Potenza and Firehawk tires. The aggressive asymmetric tread patterns of the Potenza line allow for precise and nimble handling. The Firehawk tires offer stunning levels of grip and stability through corners thanks to the rigid tread blocks.
Overall, there is little difference in real world performance. Both tires provide excellent levels of dry grip for responsive handling, steering precision, and short braking distances.
Verdict: Tie. Potenza and Firehawk tires deliver similarly impressive levels of dry traction.
Wet Traction
Safe driving in wet conditions depends on a tire’s ability to channel water and maintain consistent contact with the road. Here is how Potenza and Firehawk tires compare in the wet:
Bridgestone Potenza
- Hydroplaning resistant tread patterns
- Notched shoulder blocks improve wet grip
- 3D sipes enhance water evacuation
Firestone Firehawk
- Wide grooves channel away water
- Advanced silica tread compound for wet grip
- Crisscross sipes maintain contact with the road
The wet performance of Potenza and Firehawk tires is on par with each other. Grooves and sipes work to eject water, while the tread compound maintains adhesion. This results in confident handling and short braking distances on damp roads.
In intense rain or deep water, the Potenza tires have a slight edge in resisting hydroplaning thanks to the optimized asymmetric tread patterns.
Verdict: Slight advantage Potenza. Both perform well, but Potenza has better resistance to hydroplaning in extreme wet conditions.
Ride Comfort and Noise
A tire’s ability to soak up imperfections in the road and run quietly are important factors for driving comfort. Here is how Bridgestone Potenza and Firestone Firehawk tires compare:
Bridgestone Potenza
- Serene and silent ride quality
- Independent tread blocks absorb vibrations
- Computer-optimized tread patterns reduce noise
Firestone Firehawk
- Cushioned ride from flexible tread blocks
- Quiet tread rubber compound
- Pitch sequence siping prevents noise
Both Potenza and Firehawk tires consistently receive high marks from drivers for smooth, comfortable rides. Vibration absorbing tread blocks coupled with noise minimizing technologies allow for serene, quiet performance.
Some drivers note that the Bridgestone Potenza tires have a slight edge in minimizing road noise compared to the Firehawks. However, both offer a major improvement in quiet performance over stock tires.
Verdict: Slight advantage Potenza. Both deliver exceptional comfort, but Potenza tires run a bit quieter.
Winter and Snow Performance
All-season performance tires naturally sacrifice some peak summer performance to maintain grip in cold weather and light snow. Here is how the two brands compare:
Bridgestone Potenza
- Only all-season models suitable for winter use
- Sipe-enhanced tread patterns improve snow grip
- Stiff construction prevents squirming on ice
Firestone Firehawk
- All-season tires can be used year-round
- Aggressive tread sipes for biting edges in snow
- Advanced silica tread mix enhances winter traction
The Potenza and Firehawk all-season tires both provide competent performance in cold and wintry conditions.
While not full winter tires, they have enhanced snow traction versus summer tires while retaining year-round versatility.
Between the two brands, the Firestone Firehawk all-season tires seem to have a slight advantage in light snow and ice.
The crisscross siping and silica-enhanced tread rubber helps maintain grip when temperatures drop.
Verdict: Slight advantage Firehawk. The all-season Firestone tires perform a bit better in cold and snowy conditions.
Price and Value
Tire prices can range widely depending on the model, size, and retailer. Here is how Bridgestone Potenza and Firestone Firehawk tires generally compare:
Bridgestone Potenza
- Premium tires have higher cost
- All-season models from $130 – $250 per tire
- Summer tires from $160 – $350 per tire
Firestone Firehawk
- Competitively priced versus other premium brands
- All-season tires from $100 – $220 per tire
- Summer models from $150 – $300 per tire
While prices vary, the Firestone Firehawk tires tend to cost slightly less than comparable Potenza models. However, the performance you get across categories like traction, comfort, and treadwear is highly similar between the two brands.
Drivers feel both the Potenza and Firehawk lines provide excellent value given the long tread life and advanced performance you get from these premium tires.
Verdict: Slight advantage Firehawk. The Firestone tires cost a bit less than comparable Potenza models.
Which Tire Is Best For You?
Potenza and Firehawk tires have more similarities than differences when it comes to important categories like traction, comfort, and treadwear. Choosing the right tire ultimately depends on your exact driving needs.
Here are some quick recommendations:
- For max dry grip and responsive handling, choose Potenza summer tires like the RE-71R.
- For the best year-round traction, the Firehawk all-season tires can’t be beat.
- For a quiet, comfortable ride, Potenza tires like the RE970AS have a slight edge.
- For value oriented ultra high performance, Firehawk tires give you more for your money.
You can’t go wrong with either brand – both Potenza and Firehawk tires deliver impressive performance. Take a look at the models that best match your priorities in terms of weather conditions, driving habits, and budget to select the right tire.
Also Read: Comparison of Bridgestone Blizzak LT And DM-V2 Winter Tires.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
It is hard to definitively claim one brand is better. Both Firestone and Bridgestone make exceptional tires. Firestone tires tend to cost slightly less for comparable performance. But some Bridgestone Potenza tires have a slight edge in categories like wet grip and ride comfort. For most drivers, the performance will be comparable between the two brands.
Bridgestone and Firestone are now the same company but operate as distinct brands. Bridgestone acquired Firestone in 1988. Both continue engineering tires independently while benefiting from shared technology and research. This allows each brand to maintain its own identity and specialization.
Yes, Potenza tires consistently earn outstanding reviews and test results. As Bridgestone’s high performance line, Potenza tires deliver precise handling, strong traction, long treadwear, and a comfortable ride. Models like the Potenza RE980AS provide a great blend of year-round performance. For summer driving, the Potenza RE-71R offers incredible grip and control. Overall, Potenza tires live up to their premium reputation.
No Potenza tire is a dedicated winter tire. However, certain all-season Potenza models like the RE970AS provide competent traction in light snow and cold weather while still performing well year-round. These would be a good 3-season option in milder winter climates. For heavy snow or icy conditions, you would need true winter tires, not the Potenza all-seasons.
Bottom Line
When comparing Bridgestone Potenza and Firestone Firehawk tires, you have two excellent performance tire lines to choose from. Both offer impressive levels of grip, long tread life, ride comfort, and year-round versatility.
While there are some small performance differences in specific categories, real world driving will be highly comparable between comparable Potenza and Firehawk models. You can feel confident with either brand.
Make sure to consider the warranty coverage, pricing, and capabilities that best match your driving needs when deciding on your next set of tires.
