Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS+ vs Pirelli P Zero All Season Plus 3 tires

Bridgestone Tires and Pirelli Tires are two of the top global tire manufacturers that offer a range of tires for various fitments including passenger vehicles, light trucks, SUVs, Jeeps, minivans, commercial vehicles, and so on. Bridgestone is a Japanese tire manufacturer and is a worldwide partner of the Olympics and Paralympics, while Pirelli is an Italian tire manufacturer with a lengthy history with Formula 1, Grand Prix, and sports cars such as Ferraris and Porsches. Both tire manufacturers offer a range of all-season, ultra-high-performance, all-weather, summer, winter, and other categories of tires.

UHP tires are generally used on sports and performance-oriented vehicles and are designed to offer excellent performance at higher speeds. The tires are designed to offer sporty handling, responsive steering, and unparalleled performance, allowing drivers to test the limits of their vehicles. Today, we will be comparing two leading tires from the brands - Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS+ and Pirelli P Zero All Season Plus 3. Both these tires are designed to be used in sports, luxury, and performance-oriented vehicles and offer unparalleled performance. We will be taking a look at some of the similarities and differences between these two tires in this Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS+ vs Pirelli P Zero All Season Plus 3 tire review.

Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS+ tires

The Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS+ is an all-season ultra-high-performance tire designed for use on sports cars and sedans. The tire offers drivers excellent grip in dry, wet, and light winter weather conditions paired with a quiet, comfortable ride. The tire is built with an ultra-high grip rubber compound and is backed by a 50,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty.

The Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS+ scored an excellent overall SimpleScore of 9.4 out of 10.

Pirelli P Zero All Season Plus 3 tires

Pirelli P Zero All Season Plus 3 is an ultra-high-performance all-season tire designed for use on performance-oriented coupes and sedans, and offers excellent traction, handling, and braking performance to the drivers. The tire is designed with a silica-based rubber compound, dense sipes, and wide grooves, paired with a 50,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty for excellent overall performance.

The Pirelli P Zero All Season Plus 3 scored an excellent SimpleScore of 9.5 out of 10.

Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS+ vs Pirelli P Zero All Season Plus 3 tires on traction

When buying tires, it's crucial to factor in traction, which dictates how well the tires grip the road surface under both wet and dry conditions, ensuring optimal control. Traction influences braking efficiency, resistance to hydroplaning, and maneuverability, making it pivotal for safe driving. Various factors like tread pattern, tire design, and rubber compound formulation collectively determine a tire's traction capability.

In traction, the Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS+ scored an excellent score of 9.9 out of 10 thanks to the ultra-high grip rubber compound that ensures excellent traction and performance in dry, wet, winter, and snowy conditions. Additionally, the open shoulder slots and see-through voids help funnel water out of the tread to reduce the risk of hydroplaning.

In traction, the Pirelli P Zero All Season Plus 3 scored an excellent score of 9.9, thanks to the silica-based rubber compound for tire flexibility, four wide grooves for reducing the risk of hydroplaning, and an asymmetrical tread pattern paired with dense sipes for excellent traction.

Both tires offer similar traction performance and are given top scores. Any of these tires will deliver excellent traction and grip in wet, dry, and light winter weather conditions. Based on SimpleScore, both tires have the same performance with no clear winner.

ADVANTAGE: Tie

Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS+ vs Pirelli P Zero All Season Plus 3 tires on handling

When selecting tires, handling is a key factor to consider as it directly impacts your ability to control the vehicle, especially at higher speeds. Good handling ensures smooth maneuverability, easy lane changes, and comfortable driving experiences. It's influenced by factors like tread design, rubber composition, and advanced technology incorporated into the tire's construction.

The Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS+ also scored an excellent score of 9.9 out of 10 in handling, thanks to the advanced tread pattern with 3D full-depth siping and chamfered slots that help enhance braking and handling performance on wet and dry roads.

The Pirelli P Zero All Season Plus 3 scored an excellent score of 9.9 in handling, thanks to the asymmetrical tread pattern that allows for improved braking and handling performance on wet and dry roads. Additionally, the tire is designed to offer a smooth, comfortable ride.

As in traction, both tires also have similar SimpleScore in handling and will provide responsive and sporty handling for your vehicle.

ADVANTAGE: Tie

Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS+ vs Pirelli P Zero All Season Plus 3 tires on longevity

Longevity stands out as a top priority for drivers when selecting tires, as it directly impacts the mileage potential of a set. With regular use, tread gradually wears down, emphasizing the need for tires that offer extended longevity to maintain optimal handling and traction over time. Factors like tread pattern, rubber formulation, and tire design collectively influence the tire's longevity.

In longevity, the tire scored a great score of 8.6, which is lower than that of traction and handling but still strong considering the irregular wear-resistant tread compound of the Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS+. Additionally, the tire is backed by a 50,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty, ensuring a long tread life with excellent performance.

The Pirelli P Zero All Season Plus 3 scored a great score of 8.9 out of 10 in longevity, thanks to the asymmetrical tread pattern and silica-based rubber compound that resists uneven tread wear for a longer tread life which is paired with a 50,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty.

Both the Bridgestone tires and Pirelli tires offer great longevity, which is less but still high considering UHP tires are not generally designed for longer tread life. Additionally, both tires are backed by a 50,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty. However, based on SimpleScore, the Pirelli P Zero All Season Plus 3 has a higher rating, making it better.

ADVANTAGE: Pirelli P Zero All Season Plus 3

When to use each

Both Bridgestone Potenza RE980 AS+ and Pirelli P Zero All Season Plus 3 are UHP tires and are designed for use on sports, luxury, and performance-oriented vehicles. These tires will deliver superb traction, shorter braking distances, responsive and sporty handling, and consistent tread wear. Additionally, these tires are designed with an all-season rubber compound and can be used in dry, wet, or light winter weather conditions.

Which one should you choose?

So which UHP tire might be the right choice for you? Well, the answer depends on your personal preference as both tires have their sets of advantages and disadvantages. However, performance-wise both tires offer excellent traction, handling, and longevity. These tires are designed to push your sports vehicles to the limit while providing an excellent level of control over your vehicle. However, there are some key factors that can help you decide which tire might be the better fit for you. For instance, while both Bridgestone and Pirelli tires offer similar performance in handling and traction, the Pirelli P Zero All Season Plus 3 scores slightly better on longevity.

Additionally, the biggest difference between the two tires lies in handling. The Potenza RE980AS+ costs around $187.97 per tire or $751.88 for a set, whereas the P Zero All Season Plus 3 costs $192.63 per tire or $770.52 per tire.

Based on SimpleScore, you should choose Bridgestone Potenza RE980 AS+ if you:

• Drive a car like the 2018 Audi A6 Quattro or something like the 2021 Mercedes-Benz A35 AMG
• Offers great performance in dry, wet, or light winter weather conditions.
• Want a set of tires that are slightly cheaper.

Based on SimpleScore, you should choose the Pirelli P Zero All Season Plus 3 if you:

• Drive a muscle car like the 2021 Audi RS Q8, or a 2018 BMW X2
• Want a set of tires that offers better longevity (8.9 v 8.6) and overall SimpleScore (9.5 v 9.4)
• Are willing to pay slightly more for an overall better set of tires.

Still not sure which tire to buy? Fortunately, SimpleTire is here to help as our helpful agents are more than happy to assist you in selecting the right tire for your ride and budget.