Bridgestone Potenza S-04 Pole Position vs Michelin Pilot Super Sport ZP

The Potenza S-04 Pole Position is Bridgestone's Max Performance Summer tire developed for the drivers of ultra high performance sports cars, coupes and sedans who want to feel the rush of driving their vehicle. Potenza S-04 Pole Position tires are designed to perform in warm, wet and dry conditions. However like all summer tires, they are not intended to be driven in near freezing temperatures, through snow or on ice.

The Potenza S-04 Pole Position features an asymmetric tread design with a large outboard shoulder, interlocking tread blocks and a central circumferential rib to enhance dry road steering response, high speed stability and cornering precision. High angle tread blocks in the intermediate ribs promote longitudinal stiffness to enhance straight-line braking forces while slanted lateral grooves pump water into wide circumferential grooves to help resist hydroplaning. Another continuous circumferential rib adjacent to the inside shoulder blocks enhances wear quality to help reduce noise throughout the life of the tire, especially on cars with alignment settings that specify negative camber.

The tire's internal structure features a lightweight belt package consisting of twin steel belts supported by a spirally wrapped aramid/nylon cord reinforcement that enhances ride quality and high speed durability. Active rubber inserts in the sidewalls near the bead areas tune vertical sidewall stiffness to blend cornering grip with ride comfort.

The Pilot Super Sport ZP (Zero Pessure) is Michelin's Max Performance Summer run-flat tire originally developed for C7 Chevrolet Corvette, which was introduced for the 2014 model year. In addition to offering temporary extended mobility, Pilot Super Sport ZP tires also deliver world-class traction and handling in dry and wet conditions. However, like all summer tires, they are not intended to be driven in near-freezing temperatures, through snow or on ice.

Because the Z51 Performance Package takes the C7 Corvette to a more aggressive level of performance, Michelin has developed vehicle/size specific Pilot Super Sport ZP tires to permit fine-tuning features to match their vehicle application.

All versions of the Pilot Super Sport ZP employ an asymmetric tread design that features a low-void outboard shoulder for cornering while their notched center ribs and inboard shoulder promote high-speed performance in dry conditions. Wide circumferential grooves and lateral notches help channel water through the footprint to maintain wet traction. Sizes for the standard C7 Corvette use a single tread rubber compound that blends dry traction, wet traction and treadlife; while the sizes for Z51-equipped and Z06 models feature side-by-side tread compounds. Different from the standard Pilot Super Sport tread compounds, one is designed and manufactured in the U.S. specifically for the C7 Corvette, and the other is made for racing applications by the same people and equipment that produce the compunds in Michelin´s Le Mans-wining race tires. The two combine to deliver near-racing-slick dry grip and handling levels, without abandoning tread life and wet handling.

Tires for all three models feature twin steel belts reinforced by spirally wound Twaron cord. The angles at which the steel belts are molded into each version have been tuned to balance performance and comfort. The steel belt angles used for the standard C7 emphasize ride and treadlife, while the angles used for the Z51 and Z06 tires focus on increasing performance and at-the-limit handling.

Twaron is a polyamide cord that offers a lightweight, high-strength reinforcement above the steel belts to enhance high-speed handling, wear and durability. It is applied using Michelin FAZ Technology (Filament At Zero degrees) that allows Michelin engineers to tune tension and strength by winding the cord around the tire circumference much the same way fishing line is wound onto a fishing reel.

Michelin Zero Pressure Technology reinforces sidewalls by adding run-flat inserts that allow tires to temporarily carry the weight of the vehicle in the event a puncture results in complete loss of tire pressure. The Pilot Super Sport ZP is designed to allow Corvette drivers to continue their journey for up to 50 miles at up to 50 mph. All three versions of the tires feature asymmetric run-flat inserts and casing components designed to broaden tire performances by focusing distinct functions on the appropriate sidewall. Inboard sidewalls feature a more rigid insert that increases sidewall stability to provide the majority of run-flat capability, as well as to transfer torque during acceleration, braking and cornering. Outboard sidewalls feature a softer insert that increases sidewall flexibility to maintain footprint size when cornering, as well as to enhance ride quality and tread life.

The front/rear sizes of the standard C7 Corvette are the same as those used on many C6 Corvettes, and they can be installed in sets on the earlier cars.