Bridgestone has announced the launch of its new semi-slick Bridgestone Potenza Race tyre. 

The company said in a statement that the tyre would deliver lap times that beat all main competing tyres, along with the best braking performance in dry conditions. The tyre is homologated for public roads, but with performance focussed on track days. 

The Potenza Race is the latest addition to Bridgestone’s Potenza tyre range – itself born from Bridgestone’s long association with Formula One racing – empowering motorsports enthusiasts to remain in control at speed. Emilio Tiberio, COO & CTO, Bridgestone EMIA, said, “The Potenza Race adds an additional dimension to our iconic Potenza range. The existing Potenza Sport has been an incredible success since it launched, and now the Potenza Race takes things a step further by offering unrivalled performance to track day enthusiasts. Many have already seen and experienced what the Potenza Race original fitments can do on the Lamborghini Huracán STO and Seat Leon Cupra – we’re thrilled to be bringing it to the replacement market for more drivers.” 

Developed and manufactured in Europe, Bridgestone’s new Potenza Race will be available in 13 popular sizes between 17 and 20 inches from June 2022, supporting the hot hatchbacks and sportscars most commonly found attending track days.  

Benefitting from this heritage and the expertise gained during the development of Potenza Race OE fitments for the Lamborghini Huracán STO and SEAT Leon Cupra hot hatchback, along with the Huracán STO Tecnica supercar launched recently, the Potenza Race is Bridgestone’s first-ever dedicated replacement tyre for track days. 

The new Potenza Race completes Bridgestone’s ultra-high performance tyre line-up, providing a track-focussed tyre ideal for driving enthusiasts, the release said. 

According to tests carried out by independent TÜV SÜD, the Bridgestone Potenza Race posts the best lap times ahead of its main competitors on the track. The Bridgestone Potenza Race tyre also offers the shortest braking distance on a dry surface. 

The tread design applies an asymmetric pattern, with differentiation between the outside and inside of the tyre to maximise cornering power and braking potential while still guaranteeing suitable usage on wet roads, it said. 

Asymmetric wall angles on the Potenza Race tyre further increase lateral stiffness and reduce block deformation, and a special rear tread pattern with an increased shoulder rib provides maximum dry performance with optimised braking and block stiffness. 

The Potenza Race also incorporates a sporty profile shape, helping to increase the contact area and maximise braking potential. An optimised contact patch helps to improve steering feel and controllability, increasing driver confidence. 

It also benefits from a new compound, with innovative mixing to improve chemical reaction control, balancing the reinforcing mechanism and rolling resistance. The result is an optimised formula for enhanced dry performance, with high stiffness that boosts dry cornering and straight-line stability. 

The new Potenza Race has been developed using Bridgestone’s Virtual Tyre Development technology. This enables a digital version of an in-development tyre to be created and tested, helping Bridgestone to predict how a tyre will perform in different conditions before physically building prototypes. As a result, Bridgestone can test far more variants in a virtual world, which cuts tyre development time by up to 50 per cent and delivers a host of environmental benefits including a reduction in raw material consumption due to the need for fewer prototype tyres and tests, the release added. (TT)  

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

NEXEN TIRE has expanded its original equipment tyre supply for the Kia all-new Seltos into North America and Europe, following an earlier rollout for the Korean market in March with the N’PRIZ S and N’FERA AU7.

For North America, the company provides the N’PRIZ S in a 16-inch fitment for United States and Canada. This tyre is designed for electric, hybrid and combustion vehicles, emphasising mileage performance and ride comfort. In Europe, including Germany, France and the Netherlands, NEXEN TIRE supplies summer tyres across multiple sizes. The N’FERA Primus comes in 16- and 18-inch fitments, offering high-speed stability and wet braking, while the 19-inch N’FERA Sport delivers ultra-high-performance capability validated in European tyre tests.

This regional strategy highlights NEXEN TIRE’s ability to tailor OE solutions for a single vehicle model across different markets. The manufacturer continues to grow its global OE portfolio, covering mass-market SUVs to premium brands.

John Bosco (Hyeon Suk) Kim, CEO, NEXEN TIRE, said, "This OE supply for the all-new Seltos goes beyond simply increasing volume – it demonstrates NEXEN TIRE's ability to deliver products tailored to the specific road conditions and consumer needs of each market. We will continue to strengthen partnerships with global automakers and expand our market-optimised OE supply going forward."

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. has confirmed the supply of its ADVAN FLEVA V701 tyres as original equipment for Honda Motor Co., Ltd.’s new compact electric vehicle. The Super-ONE, launched in Japan in May 2026 with a gradual rollout planned for United Kingdom and several Asian markets, uses the tyre in size 185/55R15 82V.

Engineered under the ADVAN brand’s philosophy of delivering driving enjoyment, the sporty high-performance tyre provides sharp handling across city streets, winding roads and highways. The EV is marketed under different names regionally, including Super-ONE in Japan and Asia & Oceania, Honda Super-ONE in select Asia & Oceania countries and Super-N in  UK.

Honda developed the Super-ONE to combine everyday usability and environmental performance with a unique fun-to-drive character. By engaging all driver senses through sporty handling only a small EV can offer, the model aims to deliver an exciting and uplifting driving experience.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Yokohama Rubber has begun supplying its ADVAN V61 and GEOLANDAR X-CV tyres as original equipment for the new Trailseeker battery electric sport utility vehicle developed by Subaru Corporation.

The vehicle, known as the E-Outback in Europe, was first unveiled in the United States in April 2025.

Tyres supplied for the Japanese and European markets are ADVAN V61 in size 235/60R18 103H, while North American models are fitted with GEOLANDAR X-CV tyres in size 235/50R20 100V.

The ADVAN V61 is a summer SUV tyre within Yokohama Rubber’s flagship ADVAN range. According to the company, it combines fuel and energy efficiency with handling stability and low noise levels.

The GEOLANDAR X-CV is a highway terrain tyre that meets the M+S (mud and snow) standard. Yokohama Rubber said the tyre was designed to deliver high-speed performance and drivability while balancing safety, comfort, durability and fuel efficiency.

Both tyre models supplied for the Trailseeker carry Yokohama Rubber’s proprietary “E+” mark on the sidewall, indicating technologies intended to address the requirements of electrified vehicles, including durability, quietness and energy efficiency.

Yokohama Rubber said the tyres were developed using HAICoLab, its artificial intelligence-based development framework designed to combine human input with data-driven analysis.

The Trailseeker is Subaru’s new battery electric SUV designed to combine BEV driving performance with utility for both daily and recreational use.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., has been selected to supply two distinct tyre models as original equipment for Mazda Motor Corporation’s new crossover SUV, the MAZDA CX-5. The vehicle launched in North America in March 2026. Yokohama’s GEOLANDAR X-CV tyres, in size 225/65R17 102H, are designated for the North American market, while the ADVAN V61 tyres are fitted on CX-5 units sold in Japan, Europe and other regions.

The GEOLANDAR X-CV is a next-generation highway terrain tyre that meets mud and snow standards, emphasising high-speed performance and drivability alongside safety, comfort, durability and fuel efficiency. Development relied on Yokohama Rubber’s proprietary HAICoLab, an artificial intelligence framework that merges human creativity with massive data processing to drive digital innovation and new discoveries.

The ADVAN V61, part of Yokohama’s flagship ADVAN range for premium SUVs, delivers high-level balance in fuel efficiency, handling stability and quietness. Suited for both city driving and long-distance touring in heavy SUVs, this tyre is already original equipment on many premium models. Yokohama began offering a broad range of replacement-market sizes for the ADVAN V61 in 2025.

As Mazda’s current best-selling model, the third-generation MAZDA CX-5 evolves the Soul of Motion design and Jinba-Ittai driving experience. Enhancements to interior space, usability, ride comfort and quietness support a comfortable drive across diverse conditions, reinforcing the vehicle’s emotional and tactile appeal.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!