Bridgestone Tires Review

Bridgestone is the world’s largest tire company, eclipsing Michelin, Continental, Pirelli and Goodyear. This reputable company has production facilities in 24 countries.

Bridgestone paid $2.6 billion for Firestone in 1988 and the new conglomerate was named Bridgestone Americas, headquartered in the United States.

Today, the company produces tires in nearly every category. It has more than 8,500 recommended installers. Here are some standout offerings in each of the main categories of consumer tires.

Bridgestone Pros and Cons

Best Bridgestone Tires by Car Type

Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 - Best Winter Tire

If there is one way that Bridgestone is the default in a tire class, it is winter tires. The “Blizzak” is the standard by which all others are judged. These are premium winter tires, formulated to provide secure handling for sedans and minivans on snow and ice. WS90s use an all-new tread compound that features the company’s “multi-cell” design to attract water, draw it away from the ice surface, and enhance winter grip. Switching to winter rubber each season may seem like an unnecessary chore in this era of all-season tires, but it provides a significant safety enhancement in locations that experience serious winter conditions. Car Talk testers have a decade of experience using Bridgestone Blizzak tires in various configurations and can validate their reputation as one of the best choices a person can make when shopping for winter tires.

Specs:

• Brand: Bridgestone
• Model: Bridgestone Blizzak WS90
• Weight: 17 to 29 pounds
• Available Sizes: 14", 15”, 16”, 17” ,18”, 19"

Bridgestone Dueler H/L Alenza Plus - Best SUV Tire

The Bridgestone Dueler H/L Alenza Plus is an all-season tire formulated to optimize performance, fuel efficiency and ride comfort on SUVs, CUVs and light trucks. It’s also long-lasting, and backed by a very good 80,000-mile treadwear warranty. The Bridgestone Dueler H/L Alenza Plus is available in sizes 15" to 22".

Specs:

• Brand: Bridgestone
• Model: Dueler H/L Alenza Plus
• Weight: 33 to 49 pounds
• Available Sizes: 15", 16", 17", 18", 19", 20", 21", 22"

Bridgestone Dueler HT685 - Best Truck Tire

The Bridgestone Dueler H/T 685, launched in 2017, is specially formulated for the pickup trucks beloved of the American workforce. It’s an all-season, heavy-duty truck tire that’s happiest hauling heavy loads and not wearing itself out in the princess. The tire’s tread-to-road contact footprint adapts to the load being carried and results in even tread wear and longer life.

Specs

• Brand: Bridgestone
• Model: Dueler H/T 685
• Weight: 32 to 52 pounds
• Available Sizes: 16", 17", 18", 19", 20"

Bridgestone Potenza RE980 A/S - Best Performance All-Season

First seen in 2018, the Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS aims for ultra-high performance in both luxury and sporty sedans, coupes and two-seaters. This is the choice if you want maximum grip and stability going into turns, as well as very capable high-speed roadholding. It’s also an all-season tire that fights hydroplaning by expelling water from where the rubber meets the road and (with 3D full-depth sipes) handles light snow well—but can’t substitute for the security of a winter tire.

Specs:

• Brand: Bridgestone
• Model: Potenza RE980AS
• Weight: 24 to 27 pounds
• Available Sizes: 16", 17", 18", 19", 20"

Bridgestone Potenza RE71R - Best Performance Summer

The Bridgestone Potenza RE-71R is undergoing an update due this winter or early spring. Inventory is now very limited and the prior generation may be replaced by a new model in the Bridgestone family. Our friends at Bridgestone tell us they have not yet decided on the official name of the replacement, but they may stick with RE-71R. Distributors tell us they are not sure how long matching inventory will last. Being a summer-only tire, Bridgestone has chosen its transition time wisely. Those looking for a great ultra-high performance tire should feel confident buying the RE-71R if any are left, but be aware an exact replacement may be tough to find.

One other great option is the Potenza Sport, which was launched in 2021. Some pretty impressive automakers chose it for several high end models including the Maserati MC20, Lamborghini Huracan STO, and the Ferrari Roma. In addition to being a track-ready tire, Bridgestone lists among the Potenza Sports best attributes wet surface performance, and a quiet ride. If you plan to have the tires on your car for many years, we’d opt for this model in case you need one replacement later. More good news is that the tire is not “direction,” so rotation from side to side is possible if you own a car with different size tires front to back, something common on performance cars and some grand touring cars.

Specs:

• Brand: Bridgestone
• Model: Potenza RE-71R
• Weight: 19 to 23 pounds
• Available Sizes: 15", 16", 17", 18", 19", 20"

Bridgestone Dueler A/T Revo 3 - Best Off-Road Tire

This is a best-in-class all-terrain tire with a laser-like focus on crossovers, SUVs and pickup trucks. It was formulated both to provide a smooth ride on the highways where it will be spending most of its time, and to maximize off-road agility. It includes Bridgestone’s Traction Claw tech for quick passage through drifted snow or mud. The tread pattern uses large tread blocks and staggered shoulder lugs to both give the tire a more aggressive look--that’s big with off-roaders--and longer-lasting performance. The tires are chip- and tear-resistant, and engineered to fight uneven wear.

Specs:

• Brand: Bridgestone
• Model: Bridgestone Dueler A/T Revo 3
• Weight: 34 to 59 pounds
• Available Sizes: 16”, 17”, 18”, 20”

Bridgestone Turanza QuietTrack - Best All-Season Tire

The Bridgestone Turanza QuietTrack is a good all-arounder, designed for all-season touring duty on popular cars and sedans. If you want zen-like repose while you cover distance, this is a good choice. The tire was engineered with the all-new QuietTrack Technology, a noise-dampening technology exclusive to Bridgestone that is precisely tuned to reduce high-frequency noise and ensure a quieter ride. The tire is a survivor, backed by an 80,000-mile limited mileage warranty.

Specs:

• Brand: Bridgestone
• Model: Turanza QuietTrack
• Weight: 18 to 21 pounds
• Available Sizes: 15", 16", 17", 18", 19", 20"

Why Choose Bridgestone Tires?

Bridgestone, including the venerable Firestone brand, is the world’s largest tire maker, and has a good reputation for producing competitive tires in every category. I’ve had very good results with them, on both my cars. Bridgestone tires have outstanding longevity, backed in many cases by an 80,000-mile warranty. The quality is high--I’ve been to Bridgestone’s plant in Aiken County, South Carolina and seen the care that goes into company rubber. Bridgestone won the General Motors 2017 and 2018 Supplier Quality Excellence Award.

Bridgestone is also leading research into viable artificial rubbers, and in 2017 announced a new polymer that has five times the crack resistance of natural rubber, and 2.5 times the abrasion resistance.

The company makes high-performance tires, tires that are outstanding for snow and ice, and also using its QuietTrack technology produces tires with very low noise levels.

Important Considerations When Choosing a Tire Brand

Customer satisfaction is important. Check company message boards for recurring complaints. Automotive OEM confidence is another measure--see which companies are using your brand as original equipment. Consumer Reports maintains a useful tire-buying guide. Don’t forget to match your new tires with the speed rating of the originals.

Read more on the Best Tire Deals available here.

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