7 tests, 2011 to 2016
- Test win
- Second
- Third
- Average 36%
Head-to-head record
Overall finishing position against the tyres that have most often shared a test with the Bridgestone A001. Only tyres tested alongside it at least three times are listed.
| Rival | Shared tests | Ahead | Behind | Level | Finished ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 2 | 2 | - | 50% | |
| 4 | 1 | 3 | - | 25% | |
| 3 | 3 | 0 | - | 100% | |
| 3 | 0 | 3 | - | 0% | |
| 3 | 0 | 3 | - | 0% | |
| 3 | 0 | 3 | - | 0% | |
| 3 | 0 | 3 | - | 0% |
Against its own line
The same record for the tyre it replaced and the tyre that replaced it.
| Tyre | Tests | Wins | Avg finish | Field beaten |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgestone A001 This tyre | 7 | 1 | 5th | 36% |
| Bridgestone Weather Control A005 Successor | 13 | 4 | 5th | 47% |
Performance Analysis
Drawn from 6 tests. Updated October 29, 2026.
The Bridgestone A001 has repeated praise for aquaplaning resistance, but weaker snow results and less favourable later overall placings. Auto Bild praised wet-road ability in 2011, 2012 and 2013, with shortest wet braking distances in 2011 and 2012 and the best aquaplaning margins in 2012 and 2013. Overall, it finished 5th of 10 in 2011, 6th of 10 in 2012 and 4th of 9 in 2013. Snow performance was a reservation in all three, although the 2013 comparison with a full winter tyre should be read in that context.
Later tests were less favourable: 6th of 6 for Auto Express in 2015, then 6th of 7 for ADAC and 10th of 10 for ACE in 2016, all in 205/55 R16. Auto Express found it last overall on snow and near last in wet and dry handling, an unusual contrast to the earlier handling praise. It still did well for cabin noise and aquaplaning. ADAC described very weak dry and snow performance with high fuel consumption, while Auto Bild had already criticised rolling resistance in 2013. Wear was only a favourable expectation in the Auto Express verdict, not a measured result, so it cannot establish a test-proven durability strength. The record supports aquaplaning resistance more consistently than all-round grip.
Performance Strengths
-
Aquaplaning resistance
Strong
in 4 of 4 tests
Details
- Auto Bild praised aquaplaning resistance in 2011 and the best safety margins in 2012 and 2013.
- Auto Express identified aquaplaning among its favourable results in 2015.
the A001 only managed to well in the cabin noise and aquaplaning tests
- 2015 Auto Express All Season Tyre Test (2015)Best safety margins when aquaplaning
- 2013 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test (2013)best safety reserves to aquaplaning
- 2012 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test (2012)Good aquaplaning resistance
- 2011 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test (2011)
-
Wet braking
Strong
in 2 of 4 tests
Details
- Auto Bild praised the shortest wet braking distances in its 2011 and 2012 all-season tests.
shortest braking distances in the wet
- 2012 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test (2012)shortest braking distances on wet roads
- 2011 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test (2011)
-
Wet handling
Strong
in 2 of 4 tests
Details
excellent driving qualities on both wet and dry conditions
- 2012 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test (2012)good handling
- 2011 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test (2011)
-
Wet grip
Strong
in 2 of 4 tests
Details
Rain professional with dynamic sporting driving qualities on wet roads
- 2013 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test (2013)The rain specialist
- 2011 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test (2011)
-
Steering feel
Minor
in 1 of 4 tests
Details
high steering precision
- 2011 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test (2011)
Performance Weaknesses
-
Snow traction
Strong
in 2 of 4 tests
Details
- Auto Bild criticised comparatively weak snow performance in 2011 and average snow performance in 2012.
- Auto Express found it last overall on snow in 2015; ADAC described very weak snow performance in 2016.
less traction than a full winter
- 2013 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test (2013)slightly let down by its snow performance
- 2011 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test (2011)
-
Dry handling
Minor
in 1 of 4 tests
Details
- Auto Express described near-last dry handling in 2015, contrasting with Auto Bild’s favourable 2012 dry-road verdict.
near last in the wet and dry handling tests
- 2015 Auto Express All Season Tyre Test (2015)
-
Rolling resistance
Strong
in 1 of 4 tests
Details
- Auto Bild criticised increased rolling resistance in 2013.
- ADAC criticised high fuel consumption in 2016.
Increased rolling resistance
- 2013 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test (2013)
Do owners agree with the tests?
Every tester write-up on the Bridgestone A001 (4 tests) and 40 owner reviews were tagged for the aspects they judge. Where both have spoken, this is how they line up.
Where owners and testers agree
- Wet grip strength in 2 of 4 tests 19 praise, 0 criticise of 40 reviews · Read those reviews
- Aquaplaning resistance strength in 4 of 4 tests 6 praise, 0 criticise of 40 reviews · Read those reviews
Where they disagree
- Snow traction weakness in 2 of 4 tests 16 praise, 0 criticise of 40 reviews · Read those reviews
- Snow handling weakness in 1 of 4 tests 4 praise, 0 criticise of 40 reviews · Read those reviews
Raised by owners, not by any test of this tyre
- Tread life no test mentions it 12 praise, 2 criticise of 40 reviews · Read those reviews
- Dry grip no test mentions it 13 praise, 0 criticise of 40 reviews · Read those reviews
- Ice grip no test mentions it 7 praise, 0 criticise of 40 reviews · Read those reviews
- Cold-weather grip no test mentions it 5 praise, 0 criticise of 40 reviews · Read those reviews
- Ride comfort no test mentions it 3 praise, 1 criticise of 40 reviews · Read those reviews
Flagged by testers, not mentioned by owners
- Wet braking strength in 2 of 4 tests no owner mentions it
Every test, newest first 7
Strong = top two of the field in that measurement. Weak = bottom two.
2015 Auto Express All Season Tyre Test
As the first all season tyre to prioritise wet and dry grip over snow at launch in 2013, the Bridgestone A001 was a good option for the UK climate. Sadly, this was over three years ago, and the competition has moved the game on. Finishing last overall in the snow, and near last in the wet and dry handling tests, the A001 only managed to well in the cabin noise and aquaplaning tests. Had the test included wear we expect the Bridgestone will have scored well in this category.
Back to the Bridgestone A001 overview
Owner reviews, sizes and EU label data, comparisons and the Tyre Reviews score. All Bridgestone tyres

