“The OE Michelin Energy Saver A/S tires wore out after a short 22k miles. I was not very impressed with those as far as handling. I replaced them with the Bridgestone Potenza RE980+ A/S. I can tell immediately these will...”
Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS
Replaced by the Potenza RE980AS Plus Replaces the RE970AS Pole Position
The Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS is a premium UHP all-season tyre with responsive dry handling and strong dry and wet braking in its independent test. A firm ride, high noise and limited snow traction are the main compromises, with some owners also reporting reduced wet confidence as it wears.
The Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS suits drivers who value responsive road behaviour. Dry cornering and feedback are the clearest shared owner positives, while the 2020 Tyre Reviews test placed it third of seven and Recommended. It was near the front for dry and wet braking and wet handling, supporting the favourable everyday grip impressions. The steering feels quick, although the tester found it lost detail near the grip limit.
Comfort is a consistent compromise across both sources. Four of seven owners criticise the ride, and the test also found modest comfort and the highest subjective noise. Two longer-term accounts describe increasing noise. Owners are less uniformly confident in wet conditions than the test suggests, with concerns about aquaplaning and grip as wear progresses. Snow handling and braking placed third in the test, but snow traction was sixth, 22% behind the best, so it is less convincing for acceleration on snow. Tread-life accounts vary, and the small owner group cannot establish a dependable mileage expectation.
The quick answer
Built from every independent test result and vetted owner review we hold for this tyre - the evidence is all further down the page. Data updated December 2025.
- 8owner reviews
- 166,729miles driven
- 1professional tests
All Tests
View Test Results2020 Tyre Reviews UHP All Season Tyre Test P3 of 7
The Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS is a dynamic feeling ultra high performance all season tyre with excellent grip in the dry and wet, that just lacks a little detail at the limit of grip.
| Year | Test | Result | Award |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 2020 Tyre Reviews UHP All Season Tyre TestTyre Reviews · 245/40 R18 | P3 / 7 | Tested by Tyre Reviews Recommended |
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View AllFrequently Asked Questions
How good is the Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS in the wet?
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How good is the Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS in the snow?
How many miles does the Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS last?
What do owners say about the Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS?
More questions about the Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS (5)
How comfortable and quiet are the Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS?
How well do the Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS wear, according to owners?
Would owners buy the Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS again?
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Has the Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS been replaced?
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Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS Owner Reviews
Review this tyreWhat owners say summarised from 7 reviews
Dry handling is the clearest shared strength of the Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS, with five of seven owners praising its cornering behaviour or feedback. Comfort is the main drawback, criticised in four accounts, particularly over broken surfaces. Two longer-term accounts describe increasing noise, and two raise concerns about aquaplaning resistance. Wet grip is satisfactory for some drivers but less reassuring as wear progresses in others. Tread life varies between the mid-life and end-of-life reports, so neither rapid wear nor exceptional mileage is a common verdict. Snow experience is limited but includes reservations about traction and control.
What owners mention most counted across 7 reviews
Tap one to read only the reviews that mention it.
Owner ratings averaged from 8 ratings
- Owner score 64%
- Dry Grip 88%
- Road Feedback 83%
- Wet Grip 76%
- Handling 70%
- Wear 63%
- Comfort 56%
- Snow Grip 40%
- Ice Grip 35%
Featured reviews
“I would NOT recommend these tires, and will not be purchasing them again. Long story short, 3 of my stock OEM tires on my sport hatch blew out at once while hitting the mother of all potholes. They were replaced with...”
“Well past the 50K warranty and still going but it's about time to replace. They are 90% highway at a very easy going speed to get great MPG's. With consistent rotation/balance as well as alignments these tires have been...”
All 7 Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS reviews
- Lexus IS250 AWD
- 225/40 R18
- 33,700 miles
- Mostly Town
- Spirited
These tires replaced a set of Bridgestone Turanzas that came with my car, and I replaced these tires with Continental DWS 06s. I chose to switch to DWS 06+ because it was heavily discounted on Tire Rack during Black Friday and about 35% cheaper than the Potenzas.
Pros:
For most daily driving scenarios, these tires give excellent feedback and feel planted in corners in the dry. These tires inspire confidence and deliver great performance for most backroad use. The tires are well-suited for warm, dry conditions. Even in light-to-moderate rain, these tires provide decent grip and retain most of the sporty feel.
Cons:
However, I would not recommend these tires if decent snow performance, comfort, and hydroplaning resistance are essential to you. If you push this car past 8/10s, the tires lose grip and performance. At the limit, the tires don't maintain that feedback and lose some of their grip. The tires by the end of their lifespan were ridiculously loud, and every pothole was felt in the cabin. The tire performance worsened in all conditions, and hydroplaning resistance dropped by the time I replaced them at 4/32. If you also live in a city and parallel park every day like me, when I replaced these tires with the DWS 06s, I noticed the new tires felt noticeably lighter. I was so shocked by the change that I embarrassingly checked if I had an issue with my power steering. As for wear, I am unable to compare it to other tires, as I did the bushing replacement fix for the increased tire wear on the Lexus 3IS about 14k miles into the lifespan of the tires.
I mainly replaced these tires because I had moved to a climate with consistent rain and light snow. With my aging Bridgestone Potenzas, I did not trust that these tires would be enough for the new conditions I was in. The Continental DWS 06+ is not significantly better than the Potenzas in snow, but the difference was enough that I felt the need to change tires for my ten-minute commute. Compared to the Potenzas, I prefer the tradeoff for wet grip and some improvement in snow grip in the Continentals. Ultimately, I think your buying decision for the Bridgestone Potenza should be influenced by the climate you live in and the trade-offs you are willing to make for an all-season UHP.
- Lexus ES350
- 215/55 R17
- 1,000 miles
- A Combination of Roads
- Average
- Toyota 2006 Avalon
- 225/45 R17
- 20,000 miles
- A Combination of Roads
- Average
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