Bridgestone Potenza Sport vs Pirelli P Zero PZ5
- TR Score
- 9.3/10
- Owners say
- 80% · 139
- TR Score
- 9.4/10
- Owners say
- 94% · 20
In the 3 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Pirelli P Zero PZ5 finished ahead 2 times and the Potenza Sport once. The Potenza Sport stopped 2.8% shorter in the wet; the P Zero PZ5 had 8.1% lower rolling resistance.
Data updated
Which should you buy?
Choose the Bridgestone Potenza Sport if your priority is maximum wet confidence (especially braking) and a more “connected” steering/handling feel, and you're less concerned about rolling resistance. Choose the Pirelli P Zero PZ5 if you want the best all-round package-very close performance pace with clearly better efficiency and typically better comfort/noise-making it the stronger everyday max-performance summer pick.
Where the Potenza Sport is stronger
- Class-leading wet stopping power in two of three shared tests (e.g., 27.56 m vs 29.68 m in EVO; 30.0 m vs 30.8 m in Auto Express)
- Very strong wet handling and confidence; standout subjective wet scores (e.g., 63 vs 58 in EVO, plus strong wet-handling win in the 2025 performance test)
- Sharp, precise steering/driver feel highlighted in professional feedback; strong subjective road score advantage in EVO (21.6 vs 19)
Where the P Zero PZ5 is stronger
- Consistently best rolling resistance across all shared tests (e.g., 9.1 vs 9.5; 7.99 vs 8.25; 8.9 vs 10.7 kg/t)
- Overall winner in 2/3 shared tests, showing strong balance rather than single-metric spikes
- Refinement advantage: better noise/comfort results where measured (e.g., 72.2 vs 73.3 dB; comfort 10 vs 8.5; subjective noise 9.3 vs 8.8)
The bullet points are analysis of the shared tests and of owner reviews; the measured wins in each discipline are in the tables below. Where the two disagree, the figures are right.
Potenza Sport vs P Zero PZ5 at a glance
| Category | Potenza Sport | Gap | P Zero PZ5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared tests won3 shared tests | 1 | 2 | |
| Dry9 measurements | 5 | The Potenza Sport stopped 0.6% shorter in the dry (3 tests) | 2 |
| Wet15 measurements | 9 | The Potenza Sport stopped 2.8% shorter in the wet (3 tests) | 6 |
| Comfort3 measurements | 0 | 3 | |
| Value3 measurements | 0 | The P Zero PZ5 had 8.1% lower rolling resistance (3 tests) | 3 |
| Tyre Reviews Scoreevery test and review we hold | 9.3/10 | The P Zero PZ5 by 0.1 | 9.4/10 |
| Owner rating139 and 20 reviews | 80% | The P Zero PZ5 by 14 points | 94% |
| Would buy againshare of owners | 67% | The P Zero PZ5 by 33 points | 100% |
Wins count every measurement the shared tests recorded for both tyres; a tick marks the tyre ahead on that line. Subjective driver scores count as wins but are never averaged, because each test uses its own scale.
Head to head in 3 tests, 2025 to 2026
Each row is one published test in which both tyres ran on the same car, in the same size, on the same day. The line is the whole field, winner on the left.
| Test | Potenza Sport | Field | P Zero PZ5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 EVO Summer Tyre Test | P1 of 9 | P6 of 9 | |
| 2025 Auto Express Summer Tyre Test | P2 of 9 | P1 of 9 | |
| Best Performance Tyres For 2025 | P6 of 7 | P1 of 7 |
Performance profile
9 measurements from the 3 shared tests, each tyre shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
Potenza Sport
P Zero PZ5
Point at or tap any spoke for both tyres' figures.
In each test the better of the two figures counts as 100% and the other as its share of it, so a 36 m stop against 34.2 m is 95%; each spoke averages the shared tests that recorded it. The scale stops at 96%: a point further in sits on the hub's edge, hollow. 5 measurements recorded in only one shared test are left off; every measurement is in the table further down.
Where each scores higher
Potenza Sport
P Zero PZ5
Point at or tap any spoke for both tyres' figures.
Category scores are percentiles among tyres of the same season and class: 90 means this tyre out-performs 90% of them, measured across every test we hold, not only the ones it appeared in.
Where owners rate each higher
Potenza Sport
Not ahead in any category
P Zero PZ5
Point at or tap any spoke for both tyres' figures.
Owners rate the Potenza Sport 80% from 139 reviews and the P Zero PZ5 94% from 20. Each spoke is one question owners answer out of 10; reviews are vetted by hand before publication.
Every measurement, side by side
Averages of the figures both tyres posted in the same tests. The gap is the average of each test's own gap, so figures from different cars and years are never mixed. Open a discipline for its measurements, and a measurement for every test's figure.
| Measurement | Potenza Sport | Gap | P Zero PZ5 | Wins | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33.77 | 0.6% | 33.57 | 2-1 | |||||||||||||
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| 76.9 | 0.1% | 76.93 | 1-1 | |||||||||||||
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| scored | 1.6% | scored | 1-0 | |||||||||||||
|
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| scored | 13.7% | scored | 1-0 | |||||||||||||
|
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| 26.79 | 2.8% | 27.65 | 2-1 | |||||||||||||
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| 89.11 | 0.8% | 89.93 | 2-1 | |||||||||||||
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| scored | 6.9% | scored | 2-0 | |||||||||||||
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| 28.1 | 0.4% | 28 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||
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| 77.82 | 1.6% | 76.65 | 2-1 | |||||||||||||
|
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| 6.87 | 0.6% | 6.4 | 1-2 | |||||||||||||
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| scored | 17.6% | scored | 0-1 | |||||||||||||
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| scored | 5.7% | scored | 0-1 | |||||||||||||
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| 73.3 | 1.1 dB | 72.2 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||
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| 9.48 | 8.1% | 8.66 | 0-3 | |||||||||||||
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Braking distances and lap times are better when lower; speeds, wear and grip figures when higher. A test's figures are its own: sizes, cars, surfaces and temperatures differ from one to the next, which is why the averages here are only ever of tests the two tyres shared. "Scored" rows are subjective driver ratings: each test uses its own scale, so only the wins are counted.
Scores beyond the shared tests
On the Tyre Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Potenza Sport scores 9.3 and the P Zero PZ5 9.4 out of 10.
| Potenza Sport | Category | P Zero PZ5 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 96 | Dry | 95 | ||
| 97 | Wet | 95 | ||
| 12 | Comfort | 37 | ||
| 9 | Value | 19 | ||
Category scores are percentiles among tyres of the same season and class: 90 means this tyre out-performs 90% of them, measured across every test we hold, not only the ones it appeared in.
What owners say
| Potenza Sport | Category | P Zero PZ5 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Dry Grip | 9.9 | ||
| 8.6 | Wet Grip | 9.6 | ||
| 8.8 | Road Feedback | 9.6 | ||
| 8.9 | Handling | 9.6 | ||
| 6.1 | Wear | 8.8 | ||
| 7 | Comfort | 8.7 | ||
Owners rate the Potenza Sport 80% from 139 reviews and the P Zero PZ5 94% from 20. Reviews are vetted by hand before publication; ownership is not verified.
Bridgestone Potenza Sport
- 80%from 139 reviews
- 67%would buy again
- 947,770 milesdriven by reviewers
Owners generally rate the Bridgestone Potenza Sport as a very sporty road tyre, with strong dry and wet grip and sharp, precise steering feel. The main drawback is longevity: around one in three owners complain about fast wear, sometimes markedly so. Road noise is another common issue (raised by around one in four), while a smaller but notable group report a big drop in grip and confidence in cold weather.
- Very strong dry grip with a predictable, confidence-inspiring feel
- Impressive wet grip for a performance-focused summer tyre
- Sharp, precise steering response and good road feedback
- Strong dry handling and cornering ability
- Short tread life / rapid wear for many owners
- Loud road noise, often getting intrusive
- Noticeable performance drop in cold conditions
Summarised by AI from 129 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tyre page.
All 139 Potenza Sport reviewsOn road it's like having a semislick which is capable of handling water showers like an UHP tyre. On track you can feel it's not a semislick, but you can enjoy a stable performance allowing you 100% of fun with 80% lap time or something like that.
On the road wear on external shoulder is high, on track it's really impressive lap after lap.
Pirelli P Zero PZ5
- 94%from 20 reviews
- 100%would buy again
- 120,924 milesdriven by reviewers
Owners are overwhelmingly happy with the Pirelli P Zero PZ5, praising its strong dry grip and confident, sporty handling, with many also highlighting improved comfort for a UHP tyre. Around two in five owners comment on steering feel, and while the balance is generally positive, a noticeable minority report a softer or more muted initial response compared with sharper rivals. A smaller group mentions trade-offs such as higher rolling resistance and slightly weaker dry braking, while road noise feedback is mixed rather than clearly better or worse.
- Outstanding dry grip and traction
- Sporty, confidence-inspiring dry handling
- More comfortable than expected for a UHP tyre
- Strong wet grip and confidence in rain
- Steering can feel muted or slower on initial turn-in
- Rolling resistance higher, hurting fuel economy
- Dry braking can feel a bit longer than key rivals
Summarised by AI from 17 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tyre page.
All 20 P Zero PZ5 reviewsPreviously had continental sportcontact 5p and michelin pilot supersports and the pirellis are way better especially in the wet. So much confidence.
Sizes, EU label and lineage
| Category | Potenza Sport | P Zero PZ5 |
|---|---|---|
| Season | Summer | Summer |
| On the market since | 2021 | - |
| Replaced | Bridgestone Potenza S001 | Pirelli P Zero PZ4 |
| Replaced by | Bridgestone Potenza Sport Evo | - |
| Awards | - | Winner: Supersports Tyre of the Year (WhatTyre, 2025) |
Previous generation: Bridgestone Potenza Sport vs Pirelli P Zero PZ4 (12 shared tests)
Reading the results
Written from the test results and owner reviews above. It is analysis, not a measurement: where it and the tables disagree, the tables are right.
Bridgestone's Potenza Sport and Pirelli's P Zero PZ5 sit in the same “max-performance summer” bracket, so the expectation is simple: strong dry grip, believable wet safety, and the kind of steering precision that makes a hot hatch or sports saloon feel keyed-in. Where they separate is in how they balance outright pace and feedback against day-to-day efficiency and comfort.
Across three shared group tests in two common performance sizes (225/40 R18 and 235/35 R19), the headline is a split decision. The Potenza Sport delivers the more “hardcore” performance impression-especially in wet handling confidence and subjective sporting feel-while the PZ5 is the more modern all-rounder, repeatedly scoring big on rolling resistance, refinement, and overall balance (and taking more overall wins).
Conclusion
If you want the tyre that most consistently feels like a sharp tool from behind the wheel, the Bridgestone Potenza Sport makes a strong case. In the 2025 EVO test (235/35 R19) it dominated the result (1st vs 6th) with clear wet-safety margins-most notably wet braking (27.56 m vs 29.68 m, ~2.1 m advantage) and aquaplaning (74.95 vs 71.45 km/h straight; 16.87 vs 15.28 m/s² curved). Testers also highlighted exceptional wet-circuit balance, fast, precise dry manners, and unusually good road refinement for the category.
But viewed across all three tests, the Pirelli P Zero PZ5 is the smarter “live with it every day” pick and the more repeatable winner: 1st overall in both the Auto Express and the 2025 performance-tyre test, plus a clean sweep on rolling resistance in every shared test. The efficiency gap can be large (e.g., 10.7 vs 8.9 kg/t in the 225/40 R18 performance test), and PZ5 also tends to score better for comfort/noise. Dynamic performance is still right at the front-often separated by tenths in dry and wet lap times-so unless you're chasing maximum wet-handling bite and steering feel above all else, the PZ5's blend is the more compelling total package.
Practical takeaway: Potenza Sport is the enthusiast's wet-grip/feedback specialist (with an asterisk on efficiency and potential track-shoulder wear), while PZ5 is the newer-generation all-round UUHP tyre that gives up little speed but returns better comfort and energy efficiency.
Potenza Sport vs P Zero PZ5: your questions
Is the Bridgestone Potenza Sport or the Pirelli P Zero PZ5 the better tyre?
In the 3 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Pirelli P Zero PZ5 finished ahead 2 times and the Potenza Sport once. On the Tyre Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Potenza Sport scores 9.3 and the P Zero PZ5 9.4 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the Potenza Sport or the P Zero PZ5?
The Potenza Sport led 9 of the 15 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 2.8% shorter in the wet across 3 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The Potenza Sport led 5 of the 9 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 0.6% shorter in the dry across 3 tests.
Which lasts longer and costs less to run?
The P Zero PZ5 had 8.1% lower rolling resistance (3 tests). Owners rate wear 6.1/10 for the Potenza Sport and 8.8/10 for the P Zero PZ5.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
Owners rate comfort 7/10 for the Potenza Sport and 8.7/10 for the P Zero PZ5.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Potenza Sport 80% from 139 reviews and the P Zero PZ5 94% from 20. 67% of Potenza Sport owners would buy it again, against 100% for the P Zero PZ5.
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Where this data comes from
Finishing positions and measurements are transcribed from each published test. A test only counts here when both tyres ran in it, so every figure was recorded on the same car, size and day as the one it is compared to.
About the TR Score
The Tyre Reviews Score rates each tyre out of 10 from every independent test result and vetted owner review we hold, so two tyres can be compared even before a test has run them together.
Who does the testing
Every test published as a Tyre Reviews test is run by Jonathan Benson, who has been testing tyres independently since 2007.
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