What happened to the Bridgestone Potenza S03

Boosted_Brian · 08-03-2010, 10:21 PM

They were some of the best tires I ever owned. Does anyone know what happened to the line, or what tires replaced it?

Dartanium · 08-04-2010, 01:21 AM

they were replaced by Potenza RE050A Pole Position, these are considered "Max Performance Summer" tires by tirerack. Few years back there was not a class of "Extreme Performance Summer" tires existing in the current days, RE-11 is the best street tires bridgestone currently offers with stiff sidewalls and square shoulders.

MasterDank · 08-04-2010, 03:57 AM

I had the SO3 pole positions on my 93 FD RX-7 and loved those damn tires!

unclejesse1 · 08-29-2010, 06:46 PM

+1 for RE11's

SCtud · 08-30-2010, 10:38 AM

Any other real world reviews of the Potenza RE050A Pole Position? Picking up a set of these shortly (mainly because of their rounded shape that lets me squeeze in a wider tire without rubbing). Seems to get decent reviews on tire rack, but very little talk of it on the forums.

Malek@MRF · 08-30-2010, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SCtud

Any other real world reviews of the Potenza RE050A Pole Position? Picking up a set of these shortly (mainly because of their rounded shape that lets me squeeze in a wider tire without rubbing). Seems to get decent reviews on tire rack, but very little talk of it on the forums.

They are great tires. Plenty of grip, greeeaaat steering feedback and turn it. Has nice stiff sidewalls just like the S03 did, but they are also much more quiet.

I think I like them more than PS2's.

SCtud · 08-30-2010, 12:02 PM

That's good to know! Thanks!

Victory Road · 08-30-2010, 03:18 PM

I've always wondered as well, great tires!

Thanks for the info

**ben@tirerack** · 09-02-2010, 03:42 PM

Dartanium has it just right. The 050A Pole Position is the direct successor to the S-03.

It is more capable than the S-03 in both wet and dry, but has not gotten quite as much love as the S-03 did back in its day. Bridgestone had to replace it though, it was well off the pace as far as grip level vs. some of the competitors by the time they replaced it.

I also think the Re-11 is the most fun tire that Bridgestone makes right now. They are not as focused on rain, which was traditionally a strength of the Pole Positions (S03 or 050) but they are a lot of fun to drive.

Malek@MRF · 09-10-2010, 04:08 PM

RE050A Pole Positions are awesome. One of my favorite tires, and they have a great price point as well compared to PS2's. I personally find that the handling is better than PS2's in regards to steering feedback.

And yes, they are the direct successor to the S0-3 tire, and are far better.

08-03-2010, 10:21 PM	#1
Boosted_Brian New Member 2 Rep 24 Posts Drives: It moves Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Ft Lauderdale iTrader: (0)	What happened to the Bridgestone Potenza S03 They were some of the best tires I ever owned. Does anyone know what happened to the line, or what tires replaced it?
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

08-04-2010, 01:21 AM	#2
Dartanium Lieutenant 11 Rep 566 Posts Drives: 09 E90 M3 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: CA iTrader: (0)	they were replaced by Potenza RE050A Pole Position, these are considered "Max Performance Summer" tires by tirerack. Few years back there was not a class of "Extreme Performance Summer" tires existing in the current days, RE-11 is the best street tires bridgestone currently offers with stiff sidewalls and square shoulders.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-04-2010, 03:57 AM	#3
MasterDank Boats & Hoes 21 Rep 345 Posts Drives: 13 F10 M5 Sakhir Orang,Chohiba Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: K-Town HI iTrader: (0)	I had the SO3 pole positions on my 93 FD RX-7 and loved those damn tires!
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-29-2010, 06:46 PM	#4
unclejesse1 Private First Class 4 Rep 135 Posts Drives: 13 f13 M6 Sakhir, 12 GTR SS Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Irvine/Pasadena iTrader: (0)	+1 for RE11's
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-30-2010, 10:38 AM	#5
SCtud First Lieutenant 20 Rep 329 Posts Drives: 2008 E93 M3 Join Date: May 2009 Location: CT iTrader: (1)	Any other real world reviews of the Potenza RE050A Pole Position? Picking up a set of these shortly (mainly because of their rounded shape that lets me squeeze in a wider tire without rubbing). Seems to get decent reviews on tire rack, but very little talk of it on the forums.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-30-2010, 12:02 PM	#7
SCtud First Lieutenant 20 Rep 329 Posts Drives: 2008 E93 M3 Join Date: May 2009 Location: CT iTrader: (1)	That's good to know! Thanks!
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-30-2010, 03:18 PM	#8
Victory Road Major 114 Rep 1,323 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Chicago, IL iTrader: (6)	I've always wondered as well, great tires! Thanks for the info
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-02-2010, 03:42 PM	#9
ben@tirerack M3Post Supporting Vendor 87 Rep 964 Posts Drives: 740i Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: South Bend, IN iTrader: (0)	Dartanium has it just right. The 050A Pole Position is the direct successor to the S-03. It is more capable than the S-03 in both wet and dry, but has not gotten quite as much love as the S-03 did back in its day. Bridgestone had to replace it though, it was well off the pace as far as grip level vs. some of the competitors by the time they replaced it. I also think the Re-11 is the most fun tire that Bridgestone makes right now. They are not as focused on rain, which was traditionally a strength of the Pole Positions (S03 or 050) but they are a lot of fun to drive. __________________ _______________________________________________ I have accepted a new position at Tire Rack and am no longer in the sales department. gary@tirerack.com is available to assist with M3 questions.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-10-2010, 04:08 PM	#10
Malek@MRF BimmerPost Supporting Vendor 731 Rep 3,735 Posts Drives: E92 M3, E46 M3, G82 M4 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Irvine, California iTrader: (5)	RE050A Pole Positions are awesome. One of my favorite tires, and they have a great price point as well compared to PS2's. I personally find that the handling is better than PS2's in regards to steering feedback. And yes, they are the direct successor to the S0-3 tire, and are far better. __________________ BMW PERFORMANCE SPECIALISTS. Race Engines. Suspension. F/I. Brakes. Race Preparation. Factory Service. Alignments. OFFICIAL PARTNERS: KW. MOTON. Brembo. AP Racing. BBS Motorsport. iND. HRE. Turner Motorsport. VAC. BMW Motorsport. Facebook \| Instagram \| Yelp! \| Flikr Phone: 949-233-0448 \| E-Mail: info@mrfengineering.com
	Appreciate 0 Quote