WhiteJames
Fun Nazi
- Location
- Sydney
- Car(s)
- VW Golf GTI MKV
RE001 – Bridgestone Potenza Adrenalin
Tyre:
The RE001 have been developed with an asymmetrical tread pattern. The inside of the tread has a twin rib for sharp, smooth response and stability. The centre right of the tyre have a 3D centre block with a mutli-curved slant groove for a sporty feel and added wet weather grip. The outside of the tyre has a harder tread block with a semi-slick shoulder tread to maximize cornering grip for on-the-limit driving.
The RE001 asymmetrical design is said to be better suited to performance vehicles that run loads of negative camber (I.e. lowered vehicles). The Goodyear Eagle F1 has recently moved to an asymmetrical tread pattern. The asymmetrical pattern helps maintain grip and stability by placing a larger footprint onto the roadway.
Cost:
$290 – 17inch * 45 * 225
$330 – 18inch * 40 * 225
Drive impressions:
After 500km of mixed city, motorway and tight twisty driving, it is clearly obvious that the Bridgestone RE001 is a very different beast relative to the Continental Contact Sport 2 that comes as OEM on the VW Golf GTI.
In comparison the Contis CS2 have very good straight line stability consummate with the high European Autobahn speeds encountered in Deutschland. The Contis CS2 are very abrupt when pushing towards the limit. This is evident when the rear of the GTI lets go, it really works the suspension having the rear end dancing around like its hitting the bumps stop when at maximum attack. Similar story with the front end; when under steer sets in, its there to stay on steady state corners on a constant throttle opening.
The RE001 Bridgestone Potenza Adrenalin feels to be a softer rubber composition. The RE001 offer more yaw initially. Yaw is the slippage front or rear (I.e. oversteer/understeer). RE001 feel as if they begin to slide earlier than the Conti CS2. But as the CS2 really let go; pressing on with the RE001 tyres indicate that they are progressive when approaching the limit of adhesion. The tyres loose grip but as you continue to push, they come back to offer more grip. Its like having a two dimensional tyre in one in that they offer you some progressive fun when on the inner side of the asymmetrical tread; but as things become serious and the tyre loads up on the its most outer side semi-slick edge, grip returns. It really makes it fun and safe for a street driven vehicle. On the limit handling caters for all experience levels making GTI more controllable and responsive to inputs as opposed to the Conti CS2. Tightening or loosening your line is an easier task with the RE001 when pushing on.
As a result the RE001 offer added oversteer compared to the CS2 which are predominately understeer based when nearing the limit. RE001 allow the car to track your movements to a higher degree enabling you to follow your intended line more accurately. Much more so than the Conti CS2 which tends to drift wide on early throttle openings out of a corner. RE001 maintain a tight line right way out of corner exit; sometimes too much with an over steer bias, but never dangerously so.
The added oversteer element introduced by the RE001 has me reconsidering the need for a larger rear H&R sway bar (currently run 22mm solid H&R bar). They make that much difference to the on the limit driving.
Having been conditioned to the CS2 when choosing lines through corners relative to steering angle; I found that the Bridgestone RE001 require less steering angle to maintain a tight line through a sweeping corner. This tendency increases as speeds in corners rise. Especially at and after apex of the turn. Initially I found that RE001 offered too tight a line for brisk cornering; but have since adjusted my driving style and steering inputs to compensate for the added on-the-limit grip.
When the rear end wants to break away and do its little dance with the RE001, the gyrations up and down as the heavier and tighter rear sway bar transfers lateral load between the rear wheels, result is less abrupt up and down movement of the springs (Yes – bigger sways bars work springs & dampers harder and cause wear sooner – that’s why its good to replace all three as a matched set). This is a sure indication that the on limit the Bridgestone RE001 is more progressive than the Conti CS2. This is good news for the street or novice driver. Its no fun having a car snap back at you went pushing on.
The Continental CS2 feel better for straight line freeway/motorway driving as they feel more direct and a communicative up to 7/10ths. Beyond this the RE001 are into their own, once the tyre loads up on its outside semi-slick tread pattern, the RE001 are a bit like having half a Conti CS2 and half a semi-slick and seemed to be a good match for the Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde personality of the progressive rate Eibach ProKit springs and Koni FSD fitted to the VW Golf.
With limited time in the wet weather on the RE001, they seem comparable with the Conti CS2. Both easily break loose in 1st gear in greasy conditions. Both hook up well in 2nd gear max throttle inputs; although the RE001 seem a tad grippier from 2nd gear onwards in the wet.
Braking indicates that the RE001 offers more grip with ABS cutting in less than the CS2; but to be fair to the Conti CS2, RE001 are on 18inch wheels that are also heavier.
RE001 noise levels are lower than CS2 with exception of coarse bitumen roadway where I still undecided.
When comparing the cost of the Bridgestone Potenza Adrenalin RE001 –v- Continental CS2. There is no comparison. Contis CS2 retail for about $440-$490 in 18” and RE001 for $330 ($280-290 for 17” RE001).
The Contis may offer more tread life – 35,000-40,000km as opposed to RE001 30,000km; but only time will tell.
For performance only: I’d rate Continental Contact Sport 2 – 7/10; Bridgestone Potenza Adrenalin RE001 - 8/10. If you include price into the equation: Conti CS2 – 7/10 and Bridgestone RE001 – 9/10.
I’d recommend the Bridgestone RE001 for anyone considering a budget performance tyre. Some would say that they are a stripped down version (performance only) of the Bridgestone RE050 (performance & comfort) seen as OEM on many high end performance vehicles like Mercedes AMG or HSV.
Tyre:
The RE001 have been developed with an asymmetrical tread pattern. The inside of the tread has a twin rib for sharp, smooth response and stability. The centre right of the tyre have a 3D centre block with a mutli-curved slant groove for a sporty feel and added wet weather grip. The outside of the tyre has a harder tread block with a semi-slick shoulder tread to maximize cornering grip for on-the-limit driving.
The RE001 asymmetrical design is said to be better suited to performance vehicles that run loads of negative camber (I.e. lowered vehicles). The Goodyear Eagle F1 has recently moved to an asymmetrical tread pattern. The asymmetrical pattern helps maintain grip and stability by placing a larger footprint onto the roadway.
Cost:
$290 – 17inch * 45 * 225
$330 – 18inch * 40 * 225
Drive impressions:
After 500km of mixed city, motorway and tight twisty driving, it is clearly obvious that the Bridgestone RE001 is a very different beast relative to the Continental Contact Sport 2 that comes as OEM on the VW Golf GTI.
In comparison the Contis CS2 have very good straight line stability consummate with the high European Autobahn speeds encountered in Deutschland. The Contis CS2 are very abrupt when pushing towards the limit. This is evident when the rear of the GTI lets go, it really works the suspension having the rear end dancing around like its hitting the bumps stop when at maximum attack. Similar story with the front end; when under steer sets in, its there to stay on steady state corners on a constant throttle opening.
The RE001 Bridgestone Potenza Adrenalin feels to be a softer rubber composition. The RE001 offer more yaw initially. Yaw is the slippage front or rear (I.e. oversteer/understeer). RE001 feel as if they begin to slide earlier than the Conti CS2. But as the CS2 really let go; pressing on with the RE001 tyres indicate that they are progressive when approaching the limit of adhesion. The tyres loose grip but as you continue to push, they come back to offer more grip. Its like having a two dimensional tyre in one in that they offer you some progressive fun when on the inner side of the asymmetrical tread; but as things become serious and the tyre loads up on the its most outer side semi-slick edge, grip returns. It really makes it fun and safe for a street driven vehicle. On the limit handling caters for all experience levels making GTI more controllable and responsive to inputs as opposed to the Conti CS2. Tightening or loosening your line is an easier task with the RE001 when pushing on.
As a result the RE001 offer added oversteer compared to the CS2 which are predominately understeer based when nearing the limit. RE001 allow the car to track your movements to a higher degree enabling you to follow your intended line more accurately. Much more so than the Conti CS2 which tends to drift wide on early throttle openings out of a corner. RE001 maintain a tight line right way out of corner exit; sometimes too much with an over steer bias, but never dangerously so.
The added oversteer element introduced by the RE001 has me reconsidering the need for a larger rear H&R sway bar (currently run 22mm solid H&R bar). They make that much difference to the on the limit driving.
Having been conditioned to the CS2 when choosing lines through corners relative to steering angle; I found that the Bridgestone RE001 require less steering angle to maintain a tight line through a sweeping corner. This tendency increases as speeds in corners rise. Especially at and after apex of the turn. Initially I found that RE001 offered too tight a line for brisk cornering; but have since adjusted my driving style and steering inputs to compensate for the added on-the-limit grip.
When the rear end wants to break away and do its little dance with the RE001, the gyrations up and down as the heavier and tighter rear sway bar transfers lateral load between the rear wheels, result is less abrupt up and down movement of the springs (Yes – bigger sways bars work springs & dampers harder and cause wear sooner – that’s why its good to replace all three as a matched set). This is a sure indication that the on limit the Bridgestone RE001 is more progressive than the Conti CS2. This is good news for the street or novice driver. Its no fun having a car snap back at you went pushing on.
The Continental CS2 feel better for straight line freeway/motorway driving as they feel more direct and a communicative up to 7/10ths. Beyond this the RE001 are into their own, once the tyre loads up on its outside semi-slick tread pattern, the RE001 are a bit like having half a Conti CS2 and half a semi-slick and seemed to be a good match for the Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde personality of the progressive rate Eibach ProKit springs and Koni FSD fitted to the VW Golf.
With limited time in the wet weather on the RE001, they seem comparable with the Conti CS2. Both easily break loose in 1st gear in greasy conditions. Both hook up well in 2nd gear max throttle inputs; although the RE001 seem a tad grippier from 2nd gear onwards in the wet.
Braking indicates that the RE001 offers more grip with ABS cutting in less than the CS2; but to be fair to the Conti CS2, RE001 are on 18inch wheels that are also heavier.
RE001 noise levels are lower than CS2 with exception of coarse bitumen roadway where I still undecided.
When comparing the cost of the Bridgestone Potenza Adrenalin RE001 –v- Continental CS2. There is no comparison. Contis CS2 retail for about $440-$490 in 18” and RE001 for $330 ($280-290 for 17” RE001).
The Contis may offer more tread life – 35,000-40,000km as opposed to RE001 30,000km; but only time will tell.
For performance only: I’d rate Continental Contact Sport 2 – 7/10; Bridgestone Potenza Adrenalin RE001 - 8/10. If you include price into the equation: Conti CS2 – 7/10 and Bridgestone RE001 – 9/10.
I’d recommend the Bridgestone RE001 for anyone considering a budget performance tyre. Some would say that they are a stripped down version (performance only) of the Bridgestone RE050 (performance & comfort) seen as OEM on many high end performance vehicles like Mercedes AMG or HSV.
