04/05/2012: The Renault Racing Car Comes With Bridgestone Potenza RE050A Tyres

Racing cars are equipped, by the definition in everyone’s minds, with the latest technology in terms of power, aerodynamic design and tyres. But it seems that the rules have been bent a bit by Renault when the company launched its new racing car this March.

The new Renault Clio RS Red Bull Racing RB7 comes fitted with Bridgestone Potenza RE050A tyres.

The Renault Red Bull Racing car is, as you might have guessed, a powerful car. It comes with a RD27 V8 engine, which has been used before in the F1 Season of 2007. The powerful engine is supported by a solid coachwork and suitable tyres.

The Potenza RE050A has been designed to support powerful engines and give great results on different types of terrain in terms of traction and steering. Therefore these are the tyres that have been chosen to equip the Red Bull Renault racing car, despite being a commercial tyre line.

An overview of the Bridgestone Potenza RE050A tyres

The Bridgestone Potenza RE050A tyres are known especially for their unique design that offers high support for powerful engines in terms of performance, steering and increased adherence on different driving surfaces and dry surfaces in particular. They are a good choice for a large range of car types including sports cars.

The technology that Bridgestone used in the development of these tyres is the UNI-T technology. This technology facilitates traction in the most common environment, dry pavement. It also offers good results on wet pavement.

The tread patterns of the tyres facilitate water evacuation from the tyre surface, while the asymmetrical pattern improves the contact of the tyre with the driving surface which in turn increases acceleration.

Another feature of the tyre which is especially beneficial for the standard consumer is design of the tread that decreases tyre noise on road.

The Potenza offers the greatest results on dry driving surfaces and in handling and the lowest results on snow surfaces. On wet surfaces the tyres offer average results with lower handling capabilities and lower car control.

In fact, inexperienced drivers might begin to have problems in controlling the car through puddles and wet asphalt. They are not particularly recommended for regions with prolonged rain periods. But one should take in mind that this is a summer tyre.

The tyre wear is good, but around the 20000 km point you will notice that the wearing process begins to increase gradually and in certain conditions tyres might have to be changed around the 29000 km point. The estimate wearing of the tyres is in between 30000 km and 50000 km.

From the quality/price balance point of view we could say that the Potenza RE050A tyres are a particularly good investment for those who drive a high powered engine car on different terrain during the summer or if you require increased handling on dry asphalt. The high tread wear of the tyres might be a high negative point for many, especially considering the purchasing price of the tyres.