| |  | These days, Alfa owners with 15" or smaller wheels are having a harder and harder time finding true maximum performance rubber. Many manufacturers, including BF Goodrich, MIchelin, Yokohama, and Pirelli, have simply stopped issuing their newest, top-of-the-line performance tires in anything less than a 16" diameter size. Additionally, many perennial favorites, such as the Yokohama AVSi Intermediate, are in the process of being discontinued in some smaller sizes.
Thankfully, Bridgestone recently released its flagship Potenza S-03 Pole Position tire, which is available in a 205/50ZR15 size that is a perfect fit for my Milano. Other 15" sizes for the Potenza S-03 include 195/50ZR15, 205/55ZR15 and 225/50ZR15. This tire is a replacement for their well regarded Potenza S-02, which curiously was not available in 15" sizes.
For alternatives, there were a few other maximum performance tires available in this size, including the Dunlop SP Sport 9000 and the Toyo Proxes T1-S. However, the fact that the Bridgstones had received glowing reviews in several publications and were also slightly cheaper than the others influenced my choice. These three tires also differed somewhat in their specifications: while they all had a nominal section width of 205 mm, a careful examination of the specs showed that the Bridgestones had a considerably greater actual tread width than the others (7.6 inches, versus 6.9 for the Dunlops).
The Bridgestones features a directional, symmetrical tread pattern with large outer tread blocks connected at their inner edge, with a solid central rib and intermediate tread blocks designed to channel water towards the outside of the tire. For cars that see track time, sturdy outer blocks are extremely important as they provide stability, preventing overheating and chunking of the outer tire. This tire uses the same "dual layer compound" as the S-02, which is designed to expose more of the softer, inner compound as the tire wears, lessening the effects of aging on the tire's perfomance. Unfortunately, Bridgestone followed current convention with a full graphics package on the sidewalls, in this case said to represent Bridgstone's involvement in Formula 1 racing. They also offer a rim protection bar molded into the sidewall, something sadly absent in the 15" version of many tires (what, people with 15" tires don't like their wheels?)
On the road, the first things that I noticed about this tire was tenacious grip and a fairly supple ride. I found the Bridgestones liked a higher pressure than many tires, perfoming best at slightly over 40 psi. Even at these pressures, the expected harshness and jittery ride never materialized. This might lead you to suspect a soft, mushy sidewall not suited to a performance tire - but their crisp turn-in performance indicates that this is just not the case. They offer a very precise cornering experience, with a slight howl as the limits of adhesion are approached. A notable improvement over the Z-rated performance tires they replaced, the Bridgestones allow more speed to be carried through most corners, while feeling responsive and easily controlled at the limit. In fact, they have tamed the tail happy nature of my Shankle-suspended Milano, and are very easy to control when they do break free and slide.
Although not completely silent, these tires do not drone or produce any aggravating noises. At highway speeds (and above!) the tire noise is certainly quieter than the exhaust note and wind noise. Another pleasant surprise was that these tires are able to perform well in cold Fall temperatures that have produced poor and inconsistent grip in other high performance tires.
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