Bridgestone’s proprietary Stealth Technology – developed for Formula One rain tires – has now made its way into the new Potenza RE-11, allowing everyday drivers to experience race-inspired performance and handling, the company reports.
First launched in Japan, the RE-11 is “already creating considerable buzz among performance enthusiasts, picking up where the Potenza RE-01R left off,” according to Phil Pacsi, vice president of consumer marketing for the U.S. and Canada.
“The RE-11 offers consumers a product that will perform well both on the street and on the track,” says Pacsi. “We took the best and made it better. In our testing, the new RE-11 offered faster lap times, less under-steer and better grip than our RE-01R, which has been dominating the field in Sports Club Car of America (SCCA) Autocross events over the last two years.”
The tire’s new sidewall shape and new “stealth” block, which was derived from Bridgestone’s Formula One race tires, promotes higher tread stiffness while enhancing water evacuation, Pacsi points out, adding that an asymmetric cavity shape offers improved handling and ride characteristics. Large outer tread blocks improve cornering performance, and grooves around the tire’s circumference help channel water from the tire’s footprint to decrease hydroplaning.
Available in V- and W-speed rated sizes, the RE-11 has a UTQG of 180 A A and will be offered in 31 sizes ranging from 15 to 19 inches.
The tire is targeted at the sports car segment, including the Honda S2000, Nissan 350Z, the Mini Cooper S and the BMW 3 Series. It comes with the company’s Platinum Pact three-year limited warranty, which provides replacement at no charge (excluding taxes and disposal fees) if the tire becomes unusable “for any reason within the manufacturer’s control” for up to three years from the purchase date or four years from the date of manufacture.
For more information, visit
www.bridgestonetire.com.
