For the Bridgestone Potenza Adrenalin range, it’s been a long time between drinks, over a decade in fact. The introduction of the new Potenza Adrenalin RE005 sees the succession of the legendary RE003 and it has been developed specifically with the enthusiast in mind.
Designed and engineered for the true enthusiast, RE005 delivers unwavering confidence in both wet and dry conditions. Its sports-centric construction enhances handling precision, performance and long-term durability for spirited driving and I experienced this first-hand at the recent media launch of this much anticipated new tyre.
“Potenza Adrenalin RE005 enters the Australian and New Zealand market with enormous anticipation as the next tyre in what has become an iconic range. There are few products in the world that have a cult following like Potenza Adrenalin,” said Bridgestone Australia & New Zealand Managing Director, Heath Barclay.
“There is always excitement around the launch of a new Bridgestone tyre, but the build-up and anticipation for the Potenza Adrenalin RE005 internally, within our sales network and with consumers has been to another level. It’s a tyre that genuinely thrills its loyal customer base.”
The typical Potenza Adrenalin RE005 customer is a male, aged between 26-65 years, they are highly engaged enthusiasts, mechanically capable, are members of the car community , own multiple cars, are interested in driving as a passion, research their tyres before buying, and are open to trying new tyres, especially if they are on special. Bridgestone acknowledge the male-dominated character of tyre purchasing and are working on ways change it, particularly in their Bridgestone Select Tyre & Auto network.
As Bridgestone’s street performance hero, the Potenza Adrenalin RE005 enters the market continuing the rich heritage of the company’s motorsport history spanning more than 60 years. The Potenza Adrenalin was developed specifically for the Asia Pacific region and Bridgestone chose not to bring the RE004 to Australia because it was deemed not suited for Australian/New Zealand driving conditions.
Potenza Adrenalin RE005 launches a total of 50 sizes in Australia and 48 in New Zealand ranging from 195/55R15 though to 275/30R20, it covers the majority of the performance market and is suited to a wide range of fitments, including Japanese icons like Toyota 86, Mazda MX-5, Subaru WRX, Mitsubishi Evo and Nissan Skyline, to the BMW 3 Series, as well as homegrown heroes, Holden Commodore and Ford Falcon, and modern classics Ford Mustang and Kia Stinger.
The Bridgestone Potenza Adrenalin RE005 continues this legacy and remains as Bridgestone Australia and New Zealand’s entry point to the street-to-track line of Potenza products, complementing the flagship Potenza Sport tyre, and the street legal semi-slick RE-71RS track focussed tyre and sits at the top of the Potenza pyramid – ideal for motorsport applications as well as remaining a street-legal fitment.
Potenza Adrenalin RE005’s development was underpinned by the characteristics that matter most to enthusiasts: superior handling, exceptional wet traction, and long-lasting wear life. It was engineered to instil driver confidence in all conditions, without compromise and I feel they have achieved these objectives.
Along with a select group of journalists, I got to experience this first-hand at the Australian Media Launch of the Potenza Adrenalin RE005 at Norwell Motorplex in sunny Queensland. On the skid-pan the RE005 provided amazing grip, was predictable on the limit and it felt like I wasn’t even stressing the tyre in the tight sequence of turns and hard stopping.
On the track in the dry, driving Toyota 86s, it was even more evident that the tyre was quite a superior performer. The turn in on cornering was excellent and it remained sticky even after repeated heat cycles. During my ‘flying laps’ of Norwell, my instructor encouraged me to keep pushing harder every lap, which I did, and the RE005s were willing to oblige with the grip. At the end of the day, we road shot gun in a pack of 86s as the instructors simulated a race around the track at close proximity, demonstrating the optimum performance level of the tyres.
Chatting to Paul Morris, owner of the Norwell Motorplex, he reiterated the performance of the RE005 over the longer term. The tyres we were using had been on the cars for previous events and from looking at them, so weren’t even looking tired, pardon the pun. Paul said that even at the end of their lives on these demonstration cars, the rubber does not go hard.
The aggressive tread pattern design integrates connecting blocks that are optimised for cornering stability, engineered to navigate sharp turns and accelerate with confidence on corner exit. Its distinctive and iconic “A”-shaped groove offers precise and predictable handling, even in the tightest turns. Coupled with a wide inside rib, the tyre responds quickly to steering input, providing enhanced responsiveness and confidence during dynamic driving situations.
A significant step up compared to the previous generation RE003, is Potenza Adrenalin RE005’s wet performance characteristics. It features an advanced rain pulse groove for enhanced water evacuation, reducing the risk of aquaplaning and providing excellent grip and control.
Compared to Potenza Adrenalin RE003, the new generation tyre provides a 7% enhancement in dry grip and a 12% improvement in wet grip, resulting in superior performance across a wide range of driving conditions. Testing ahead of the launch of Potenza Adrenalin RE005 highlighted a significant performance difference to even a mid-tier competitor – with a 2-metre difference in the 70km/h to 0 braking test, and 1.5 metres in the same dry braking test.
As well as the traditional performance tyre traits of traction and handling, Potenza Adrenalin RE005 boasts increased wear life and a lower rolling resistance than its predecessor, ensuring its suitability for fitment on electric vehicles (EVs) as well as internal combustion powered performance models. RE005 has a 25% reduction in rolling resistance compared to RE003, is 7% lighter, and benefits from a 4% increase to wear life in standard testing, aided by its advanced compound incorporating the ENLITEN design philosophy.
Bridgestone Potenza Adrenalin RE005 tyres are on sale now through the Australian Bridgestone Select Tyre & Auto network, Bridgestone Service Centres, and reputable wholesale partners such as Bob Jane T-Marts, JAX Tyre & Auto, Tyrepower and Costco, as well as in New Zealand though Bridgestone Select, Bridgestone Tyre Centre locations and Tony’s Tyre & Auto stores. Pricing starts at $228 for the RE005 and the average price across the range is $328 and this represents a modest increase over the RE003.
Photographs by Driven Women Magazine. Diagram by Bridgestone Australia.