Bridgestone to upgrade Potenza line, roll out Alenza SUV/CUV line

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Bridgestone Americas plans to address key market segments in 2021 with a pair of Potenza ultra-high-performance tires and an all-season luxury/SUV/CUV performance tire dubbed the Alenza Ultra AS.

Bridgestone previewed the three tire lines — Potenza Sport and Potenza RE980AS+ for the summer and all-season performance market segments, respectively, and Alenza Ultra for the growing luxury CUV, SUV and pickup segment — for its consumer dealer network during a two-hour on-line business conference on Nov. 18 under the moniker: "Today. Tomorrow. Together. We Thrive."

The Potenza Sport is an upgrade of the Potenza Sport, offering measurable improvements in wet-weather acceleration and grip and dry braking versus the current-generation model, according to Randy Street, executive director, sales strategy tires, consumer replacement, who covered the company's product introductions during the conference.

The newest iteration of the firm's uber-UHP tire is the OE fitment for Maserati S.p.A.'s MC20 super sports car, a 621-hp, two-door mid-engine coupe.

Key engineering innovations include: an ultra-high silica-content compound for improved grip and responsive handling in extreme conditions; a tread pattern with deep circumferential grooves to promote water evacuation and substantial ribs and blocks to maximize rubber to road contact; and 3D-siping to enhance tread pattern stiffness.

The Potenza Sport will launch in the first half of 2021 in 65 sizes, covering 81% of sports cars and sedans on the road.

The Potenza RE980AS+ fills a niche for a UHP tire that delivers "trusted traction and sporty performance" year-round, even in the winter, according to Mirella Cielo, president, consumer replacement tire sales and marketing.

"With this next-generation offering," Ms. Cielo said, "our engineers have significantly upgraded the tire's snow performance, without compromising on other ultra-high performance tire attributes."

The RE980AS+ features an asymmetric tread design with 3-D sipes and an optimized tread compound for better snow traction. The tire also offers enhanced ride comfort and better treadwear when compared to the Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS and is backed by a 50,000-mile limited mileage warranty.

The Potenza RE980AS+ will be available in the first half of 2021, covering 85% of sports cars and sedans on the road.

"Our goal for the Potenza family of products is to make driving as fun and safe as possible for enthusiast drivers," Ms. Cielo said.

The launch of the Alenza US Ultra, set for the latter half of 2021, will provide dealers with a luxury all-season tire designed for the growing CUV, SUV and light truck vehicle segments.

The Alenza AS Ultra tire is designed to offer improved overall wet performance, snow traction and treadlife compared with the Bridgestone Dueler H/L Alenza Plus, Bridgestone said, the result of a "next-generation" tread compound and proprietary tread design engineered for improved wet and snow performance.

The new tire also incorporates Bridgestone's QuietTrack technology for a quieter, more luxurious ride.

The new highway touring tire will be available in 49 sizes — including 41 larger-rim-diameter offerings (18 inches and above) — covering 70% of fitments for CUV, SUV and pickup truck models on the road and will be backed by an 80,000-mile limited treadwear warranty.