Bridgestone Tires for Sale

Choosing the best tire is one of the most important factors of a successful autocross season. Racers spend lots of time and energy in extracting every ounce of horsepower and torque from their engine, and sometimes forget that all of this power is useless unless it can be effectively transferred to the track. There are four small patches of rubber that play the most important role in determining your vehicle's level of performance.  
 

There are two distinct groups of autocross tires. The first group is made up of dedicated track tires that are D.O.T. approved, but are never intended for street use. Drivers using these tires want maximum dry grip and will have separate wheels to install at the track. I believe the best tires in the Track & Competition DOT category are the Hoosier A6, Hankook Ventus Z214 and Kumho Ecsta V710.
 

Hoosier A6

Hankook Ventus Z214

Kumho Ecsta V710

 

The second group of tires is for the autocrosser who's willing to sacrifice some dry grip in order to have a tire they can drive to and from the track. In the Extreme Performance Summer category I like the Bridgestone Potenza RE-11, Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec and Hankook Ventus R-S3.

 

Bridgestone Potenza RE-11

Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec

Hankook Ventus R-S3

 

I think these tires are the best choices in each group because of their dry traction and steering response are some the highest rated by customers who have used the tires. Unlike shopping for any other tire, these are the two most important attributes to an autocross tire. Anything else like ride comfort or road noise is ancillary to your autocross needs.
 

Whether you're looking for Hoosier tires for sale, Hankook reviews or to buy Dunlop tires, our website offers you everything you need to have the best autocross season!

In a global economy, shoppers have more options than ever at their fingertips. From toasters to tires, products can be manufactured and shipped all over the world at a competitive price. And, when it comes to tires, how can you choose the most reliable and cost-effective brands? Let us help. 

Over our 32-year history, Tire Rack has developed close relationships with well over a dozen different tire manufacturers, including globally-respected brands like Michelin and Bridgestone to high quality but smaller companies such as Kumho and Yokohama. With every delivery to our warehouse and all shipments to our customers, tires are closely inspected for potential issues. Also, if an issue develops after the sale, we can work with you to get the issue resolved over the phone with the help of one of our friendly customer service representatives, via email or with the help of one of our independent Recommended Installers.

Regardless if you're looking for a new set of performance SUV tires, suspension parts, ceramic disc brake pads or more, we are sure to have what you want at the price you desire.

Due to the recent sales success of the popular and newly redesigned Ford Focus, many customers have been calling in exploring their options for dedicated winter / snow tires.

This hot new hatch and sedan, dependent on trim level, came with 15"-17" wheel fitments and several different Original Equipment tire selections. Regardless of model and trim levels, the modern Ford Focus shares the same brakes and wheel hubs. This allows us to recommend and supply a large number of wheel fitments including steel wheels (car rims).

This season, Tire Rack's recommendation for a Winter / Snow Tire & Wheel Package mirrors my own personal choice: the low-cost option of a 15" steel wheel paired with the Bridgestone Blizzak WS70 tire is a hard to beat combination of performance and affordability. Of course, alloy wheels are available for those looking for a more aesthetically pleasing setup.

And if you could use some extra help on whether to choose an alloy or steel wheel, read "Alloy vs. Steel Wheels in Winter Tire & Wheel Packages."

If you have a 2006-2011 BMW 3 Series, odds are you're considering run-flat winter / snow tires in 225/45R17. For the upcoming winter season, there are only two options left in stock: the Bridgestone Blizzak LM-25 RFT and Pirelli Winter 210 Sottozero Serie II RFT. 

Bridgestone Blizzak LM-25 RFT

Pirelli Winter 210 Sottozero Serie II RFT

How Do They Compare? 

The Pirelli Winter 210 Sottozero Serie II RFT would be a noticeable step down in terms of snow and ice traction but would provide better dry grip and steering response compared to the Blizzak LM-25 RFT. In other words, a set of Blizzak LM-25 RFTs would offer your vehicle better winter traction than a set of these Pirelli car tires, but not quite as much dry grip and handling. 

While both options are quality tires, if you live in a light snow area and prefer a tire with better dry grip and faster steering response, but are willing to give up some snow and ice traction to get it, then you should purchase the Sottozero Serie II RFT. However, if you see more mixed conditions, or simply want a safer tire for better traction on ice and snow-covered roads, then I'd suggest the Blizzak LM-25 RFT.

Decision is Made, What's Next?

Buy tires online through Tire Rack, of course. Or, as always, contact one of our sales specialists for pricing and availability. Need an installer? Learn more about our Recommended Installer program by checking out my blog titled, "How Does Our Recommended Installer Program Work." 

Better yet, select a combination of winter / snow tires and rims (wheels) to create a Winter / Snow Tire & Wheel Package so you can do the installation yourself.

With winter on its way, parts of the country will experience wet conditions instead of or on top of snow. When it comes to tires, it's important to understand that there are always compromises. A particular tire may have certain performance characteristics, however there are residual effects to those advantages. Tires that are directional offer excellent hydroplaning resistance and as a result of not being able to rotate side-to-side, they do tend to get noisier as they wear. Of the three tires listed below, only the Bridgestone Potenza RE970AS Pole Position is a directional tire.

Another feature that contributes to a tire's water handling capabilities is compounding. Silica is a common additive to tires to increase their grip levels in water. Silica infused rubber also resists getting firm in the last half of a tire's life. Hydroplaning is one of the last things we want to experience as drivers and to better understand how your tires affect your ability to drive in wet conditions, read "Hydroplaning: The Roles Tires Play."

Each time a tire is brought up to its operating temperature by driving is known as heat cycling. A heat cycle is completed when the vehicle has been parked after driving and the tires return back to a cooler temperature. As a tire ages and the amount of heat cycles increase, often times the rubber becomes firmer and less compliant as a result. Silica infused rubber resists the firming tendency due to heat cycling.

Below are a few of the all-season tires that have good wet handling capabilities:

Dunlop SP Sport Signature

Michelin Primacy MXM4

Bridgestone Potenza RE970AS Pole Position

 
We tested each tire on our closed track that was watered heavily by sprinklers to simulate standing water. All of our sales specialists tested the aforementioned tires by driving one of four identical BMW 3 Series test vehicles. To see how we test the tires that we recommend, check out "Tire Rack's Tire Testing Program."

And, if you're looking for all-season tire reviews, take a look at the Tire Test Results to see how each tire performed, then shop by vehicle to find the tire that works best for your vehicle.

Bridgestone's Blizzak winter / snow tires are among the best in the industry. The Blizzak isn't just one tire, but an entire line of winter / snow tires that encompass many different models. Take a look at three of the most recommended Bridgestone winter tires: 

Bridgestone Blizzak WS70: If you're looking for a winter / snow tire that offers maximum ice and snow traction while providing the most safety in winter conditions, this is the model to consider. The WS70 is developed for the drivers of coupes, sedans, minivans and crossover vehicles looking for traction on winter's slushy, snow-covered and icy roads. Personally, I used these Bridgestone car tires for two seasons on my 1997 Audi A4 quattro and loved them. These A4 tires were able to navigate me through the harsh Indiana winters with no problem.

Bridgestone Blizzak LM-60: The LM-60 is appropriate for drivers who are willing to trade some ultimate ice and snow traction for better dry road grip and faster steering response. This tire is common to use in light snow areas or simply by drivers who want a more sporty feeling winter / snow tire that still has acceptable snow traction.

Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V1 : This Blizzak model is very similar in traction to the WS70 but comes in larger sizes for trucks, SUVs and luxury crossovers. The DM-V1 is designed with a focus on ice traction and braking, as well as wet road handling and hydroplaning resistance to provide wintertime driving confidence. This is the tire I currently use in the winter for my 2009 MAZDA CX-7.

Blizzak WS70

Blizzak LM-60

Blizzak DM-V1

For more information on how Bridgestone Blizzak tires live up to their reputation, read "Bridgestone Blizzak FAQs."

When you're looking for Bridgestone tires for sale this winter, be sure to check out our entire selection of Bridgestone Blizzak winter / snow tires.

A co-worker of mine recently relayed the following account of a road trip he took last winter. As a sales specialist at Tire Rack, he had great experience testing the Bridgestone Blizzak WS60 and was able to compare its characteristics to the WS70 he installed on his vehicle. Here is his story:This past winter, I embarked on a 1200-mile (round-trip) drive with the Bridgestone Blizzak WS70 at full tread depth. With the tires installed two days prior to me leaving, I thought this would be a great opportunity to provide a comparison to the previous generation, WS60.

Leaving Indiana, there was a huge snowstorm that made me glad I had a new set of winter tires. Throughout the state I was able to avoid approximately four or five accidents, one of which was directly in front of us and quite scary. The traction and control in the snow was great, but not a huge difference from the WS60.

As we entered Kentucky, the temperature was still cold, but the roads were dry. With the opportunity to test the tire's road noise, I noticed a big improvement when compared to the WS60. I also noticed that as I hit patches in the road with bumps, that the handling was better as well. 

Coming into Tennessee, the temperature was anywhere between 30 and 50 degrees Fahrenheit. The roads were in great condition, as I felt they were smooth and without potholes. I had flashbacks of driving in the Black Forest along the Germany and Austria border, except I was not in a Porsche, rather a 2004 VW Jetta 1.8T manual transmission.

After reaching my destination, I believed the tires did pretty well! I did notice some delay in the "switchback" from one direction to another in 'S' curves but overall very impressed with the Blizzak tires; especially considering how hard I pushed them on a stock suspension with 12/32nds tread depth. Once I was anchored in a curve, they felt confident and stable. I am very impressed, and was able to see all major winter conditions in the first week of driving, which allowed me to make a great comparison. And I must say these are now my favorite winter tire.

With the growing popularity of Hybrid vehicles, most tire manufacturers (including Goodyear, Michelin, Bridgestone and others) are offering replacement tires with lower rolling resistance to further improve fuel economy. 

While our last complete test has a great deal of information to help distinguish the different models from one another, the question remains: How much difference will I see once a low rolling resistance tire is installed?

One thing to bear in mind is that, initially you may not see an improvement over your last set of tires. At full tread depth, the switch to new tires will typically result in an increase in rolling resistance of about 20%, which would translate into a potential 2% to 4% decrease in mpg. Only as the tire wears will your numbers improve.

Another thing to consider is a new tire at full tread depth will have a slightly larger overall diameter than the tire it replaced, so your revolutions per mile will change and give the appearance that fuel economy has dropped. For example, a Toyota Prius getting approximately 50 mpg just before replacing its worn-out tires may be reduced to 47.25 mpg with new tires of the same brand, type and size, even if all driving conditions were identical.

In the end, it's important to choose a tire that best meets your needs and to have a little patience to reap the rewards of your decision!

For more information, review our tech article titled, "Understanding Corporate Average Fuel Economy" or talk directly with one of our sales specialists.

Shop by vehicle to see which tires work best for your vehicle, or contact one of our sales specialists to help guide you into a great choice for your driving style and conditions.

Thinking about winter tires? Wondering what the difference is between a winter / snow tire and an all-season tire, and whether of not you will need them?

The first thing to understand is that it is never really too soon to be thinking about winter weather. While it may still be warm outside, fall is on its way, and with it the first shipment of winter tires comes along. Why look this early? Winter tires are usually only produced once a year, and that's it. Unlike all-season tires, or even summer tires, we will usually only receive a set amount of winter tire applications; then after that it will be another year until we get more. Not a year goes by that someone looking for a specific winter tire has to settle for something different in November because the sales volume for that tire exceeded that of our received shipment. 

Does a winter tire really work that much better than an all-season tire in wintery conditions? Plain and simple, yes. Winter conditions are a complete culmination of freezing temperatures, snow, slush and ice, usually mixed with some blend of unpleasantness that makes road conditions a possible hazard for any driver, no matter the skill. A typical all-season tire will have a rubber compound meant to be a jack-of-all-trades style and formula, thus giving the driver the ability to drive in all temperatures and all conditions, albeit not with optimum traction in each. Its design incorporates some siping (all the little lines located on the tread) that help assist with biting in slick conditions, but these are minimal as winter grip is not the all-season tire's primary concern. Dedicated winter tires, however, incorporate a rubber compound that stays soft in the most freezing conditions. That, along with an exceptional amount of siping throughout the tire, allows it to have many more biting edges than any all-season tire would. 

So, you may be asking yourself, "What kind of winter tires do I need?" That really depends on the vehicle, its size and how you choose to drive. For many vehicles, we offer a choice between Performance Winter / Snow tires, Studless Ice and Snow and maybe a few Studdable tires as well.

While studded tires are only allowed in some states, people looking for studded tire-like grip without studs will go into a Studless Ice and Snow tire. These tires promote features like squared shoulder blocks, deep tread and extra-heavy siping to give the absolute best possible grip for wintertime. They are available in low-speed rated designs as their primary concern is the best possible traction in the worst possible conditions. 

Many of the most popular Studless Ice and Snow winter tires are:

• Bridgestone Blizzak WS60
• Bridgestone Blizzak WS70
• Michelin X-Ice Xi2
• Continental ExtremeWinterContact

These models will shift slightly for light truck and SUV applications, but will adhere to the same primary functions.

The most popular Performance Winter tires are:

• Dunlop SP Winter Sport 3D
• Dunlop SP Winter Sport M3
• Michelin Pilot Alpin PA3
• Bridgestone Blizzak LM-25
• Pirelli Winter 210 Sottozero

The difference in performance on all of these selections comes down to what you want most out of the tire itself. Each has its own emphasis, which may include traction, longevity, handling and feel, that will cause one selection to be a better choice for the way you drive than another.

Reading survey results and checking out consumer reviews will help you make these decisions and ensure that you will get the best possible fit for your vehicle.

Sounds obvious, but when it comes down to it, conducting a tire comparison isn't always the easiest thing to do. It involves a lot of research, as you want to compile detailed information about each of the tires you are interested in. But that's where Tire Rack comes into play—we do all of that research for you.

Whether you need to compare Bridgestone tires or compare performance tires within other brands, spending a little time with our Tire Survey Results will produce all of the information you need to successfully shop for tires. We study our consumer feedback to chart all of the tires in our inventory, which lets you look at things like hydroplaning resistance and noise comfort. And we even label the best sellers according to their performance in our sales logs. Beyond that, we publish every test we conduct which gives you our unique perspective on how certain tires hold up against others.

All of this information, along with a library full of Tire Reviews, puts all of the information you need to conduct a tire comparison right in front of you. 

And in the end, that's how we make it really easy for you to buy auto tires online.

Bridgestone Potenza tires combine the tradition of Bridgestone excellence with all of the qualities you seek in a performance series tire. If you drive a sports car, sporty coupe or performance sedan—you'll appreciate the following.

Potenza RE050A Pole Position: Exceptional dry and wet road traction, responsive handling. This Max Performance Summer tire walked away an industry leader when we tested it. Read "Bridgestone Potenza RE050A Pole Position Preview—The New Pole Position" for our Real World Road Ride and Performance Track test results.

RE960AS Pole Position: Featuring UNI-T AQ II Technology to enhance and preserve wet traction, these are the Ultra High Performance All-Season Bridgestone Potenza tires. You'll get year-round flexibility with predictable handling, traction and control on dry, wet and light snow roads. Tire Rack recently tested this tire in Sweden, the results of which you can read in "Winter Testing at the Arctic Circle: Ultra High Performance All-Season."

See all Bridgestone car tires for sale at Tire Rack.

    Last winter was a pretty bad one for NW Indiana and most everywhere else. It was my first full winter in an Audi A4 Quattro. The snow was bad and my commute is long so I decided to go with Bridgestone's Blizzak WS60 .

    On Wednesday Feb 4th we had an incredible snow storm that sat idle for most of the day as it dumped close to 3 feet. The screen shot is radar from that day.

















    My commute 34 miles one way of country back roads and two lane highways. Not many people were around that night and the county plows were more concerned about major highways and towns than the roads I travel. As you can see below the snow was deep but my Blizzaks got me home safely.





Half way up the doors!!















    I've tried many other snow tires since I've been in sales, but nothing has come close to these. The incredible ice, snow, and slush traction is exactly what I need in the snow belt. Best to be proactive rather than reactive when it comes to snows this time of year.  Pick yours up today!

Many of  the newer tires being introduced have an asymmetric design that were previously directional. 

Bridgestone Potenza RE750 old directional design	Bridgestone Potenza RE760  new asymmetric design

      

Why asymmetric design.
Europe recent phased in new stricter noise standards over the past 5 years.

as found in a Tire Rack Technical article

The entire article which covers the Economic Commission for Europe's influence on the tire industry can be found at E.C.E. Tech Article

The directional tire design, with its v-shaped pattern to pump water out of the way, was presenting challenges in meeting these new standards. 

The asymmetric tread patterns blend the different traction elements with different patterns across the face of the tread.  The inboard side typically will have small independent tread blocks for wet (and snow if an all season) traction.  The outboard side usually will consist of larger tread blocks or ribs for dry road cornering capability and increased contact patch.

In addition to lower noise levels,  the asymmetric designs allow for multiple tire rotation patterns instead of the basic front to rear of the directional tires.

In summary, the new asymmetric designs are meeting and exceeding the traction levels of the directional patterns while reducing noise and allowing better rotation combinations.