Tire: Potenza RE050A I RFT
Category: Max Performance Summer
UTQG (treadwear): 140 AA A
Tire manufacturers can make a lot of different tire varieties from the same essentially 'base' tire. We've already reviewed both the Bridgestone Potenza RE050 and the Bridgestone Potenza RE050A, noting how on the A model, the asymmetric tread design improves grip during cornering -that being THE difference here in terms of performance. The RFT version of the Potenza RE050 just stands for Run Flat Tire. So if you get a puncture, you'll be able to drive about 50 miles on the flat tire. This particular tire was developed specifically for the BMW Z4 roadster as well as 3-series convertibles, reason being that you don't have much of a trunk for a spare tire when the top is down. Any BMW with their own sport package also picked up this tire as well. Not a whole lot more to say that can't be found in the other two reviews, but I will say that Bridgestone cautions against mixing run flat tires with regular tires. This is mainly a safety precaution as handling characteristics do vary slightly between the two flavors.
