Getting the right tire for a more confident drive

The new Potenza Adrenalin RE003 was tested in different conditions at the Performance Driving Center in Goldcoast, Australia.

When my husband and I started training for a triathlon, we were introduced to the complicated world of running shoes. In fact, there were stores that specifically catered to runners and offered in-house foot evaluation by type; you could either be neutral, cushioning or stability.

We were told that we were the stability foot-type, and thus we needed shoes that would help  keep our foot from rolling to avoid ankle sprains (and I had a lot of this in college when I played soccer).

From then on, we would use this as a guide in buying sneakers both for sports and travel, and it made all the difference. It gave additional spring and confidence in our every step.

It’s the same with tires. Both shoes and tires are the only contact point that you and your car have to the ground. They carry the body’s weight, and can either spell comfort and performance or pain and inconvenience.

If the car comes with more speed such as a sports car (for example, a BMW, a Porsche, or a Ferrari), a performance tire is needed, a tire that can offer more grip, ergo made of a softer compound. When the car is just for your regular commute  to the office, it will usually only require tires that are more economical and longer lasting, hence, of a tougher compound.

When you put the wrong tire on a car, the first concern is safety. A regular tire cannot provide the grip needed to stop a vehicle with higher speed and horsepower.

On the other hand, when a performance tire is placed on a regular vehicle, economy—especially fuel use—is the main concern. Because the car has more rolling resistance due to its grip, it would take more power to get the car going, hence, fuel use goes up and the tire needs to be replaced earlier.

Just like running shoes, there are also those in-between types. These are the medium-type sport cars such as the Subaru, the newly launched VW Golf GTI, the Honda Civic R, the Lacer EVOS, the Toyota 86, etc.

We traveled to Australia to find out more about this type of tire. Media people were given a sneak peek to the new Potenza Adrenalin RE003, and a full day of testing was done at the Performance Driving Center in Gold Coast.

There, we were able to test the tire in different conditions, and in comparison with its predecessor and competitor tires.

According to Minoru Kuroki, director of Bridgestone Corp.’s International Tire Administration Division, the Bridgestone Adrenalin RE003 is designed to deliver precision-handling and maximum control.

The RE003 is built with the optimal mix of powerful traction, handling stability, and quick initial response on dry roads, while boasting sure handling and braking on wet roads. Compared to the previous generation’s product, RE002, the new tire offers sharp responsive turn-in, direct steering feel and greater cornering stability without compromising on comfort.

Potenza Adrenalin RE003 is a street tire primarily for medium-class sport cars. It is available in 46 different sizes, fitting rims 15 to 20 inches in diameter and for 60 to 30 series tire profiles.

Targeted for drivers who are interested in experiencing sports driving performance, Adrenalin RE003 offers excellent driving pleasure on winding roads.

If you ever wondered what those grooves are on tires, they actually have a purpose and not just for design. Those grooves are where water will pass when you drive on wet roads.

If the tire has less grooves, then there would be no way for the water to disperse, and the water stays between the tire and the road.

Driving a car on water,  called aquaplaning, is a tricky situation. We put the RE003 to the test when we drove a VW Golf GTI on a wet skid pad.

We were asked to drive at a fast pace and we were comfortable to see how grippy the RE003 was in the wet. The tire held up during a much faster pace, without the feeling that you were going to lose it.

The RE003 is now made with a silica-based compound that gives enhanced dry- and wet-handling performance. Its design offers optimized wet and dry braking, precise cornering, better drainage and antihydroplaning performance.

Another thing you have to consider is the tire’s footprint: The more real estate the tire claims, the better it would be because it has more contact with the road.

The RE003 has a more rounded block to give a more stable ride. Since it is designed for medium-type sports car, there is more precise cornering and responsiveness.

Some tires do not offer any driver feedback and make you feel like you are driving a boat. We tested the dry cornering and handling of the RE003 on a slalom exercise and a short course. The RE003 claims powerful traction and upgraded handling stability.

According to Karl Bobis-Castillo, marketing manager of Philippine Allied Enterprises Corp., exclusive distributor of Bridgestone in the Philippines, Bridgestone’s third-generation Potenza Adrenalin RE003 set the bar even higher for the street-sport tire market by delivering precise handling, traction and stability for maximum control.

Compared to the second-generation Adrenalin RE002, which was already a leader in its class, the RE003 provides drivers with an even better driving experience in terms of noise, improved ride comfort and rolling resistance, while offering a high level of balance between wet and dry performances.

As an added bonus, the RE003 comes in 46 different sizes to suit so many vehicles that almost every motorist will be able to have a version of Bridgestone’s race-winning Potenza pedigree on their cars.

So the next time you go tire shopping, find the tire that best suits your car. Know how much power your car can produce, hence, how much stopping power your tire should give. Estimate how many times you drive on wet roads. What is the main use of your vehicle?

In the end, the right choice of tires will give you a world of difference: better performance, responsiveness, and better wet and dry handling. So what does this all give you? Confidence in your drive.

For comments and suggestions, please e-mail me at jnt@chicdriven.com, follow me on Instagram/Chicdriven and Twitter/Chicdriven, or like me on Facebook/chicdriven.