Bridgestone Potenza S007 Review — OEM Supercar Tyre for NZ Roads

Overall Rating: 9.3 / 10

Category: Ultra High Performance Summer

Price in NZ: From $629 per tyre

Best for: Supercars, high-powered performance vehicles, OEM replacement

Available sizes: 18″ – 22″ rims

Quick Verdict

The Bridgestone Potenza S007 is not a tyre you choose — it is usually a tyre that chooses you, as factory-fit equipment on some of the world’s most capable sports cars. The S007 is OEM on the McLaren 720S, Aston Martin DB11, and selected Porsche models — vehicles where tyre performance directly determines safe handling at extreme speeds. When your car comes from the factory wearing Potenza S007s, Bridgestone has engineered the entire chassis handling balance around this tyre’s specific characteristics.

For New Zealand owners replacing S007s as they wear, this is a high-investment tyre ($629+ per tyre) that rewards with class-leading dry handling precision and strong wet performance.

Key Specifications

Performance Profile

The S007 is Bridgestone’s most advanced road tyre. It uses Ultimat Eye compound technology — a silica-infused rubber developed in partnership with Formula 1 tyre engineering teams (Bridgestone supplied F1 until 2010 and continues to supply MotoGP).

Dry Performance:

• Maximum lateral g-force is the S007’s primary strength
• Rigid shoulder blocks generate extreme cornering grip in dry conditions
• Steering feedback is precise and immediate — prized by supercar owners
• Dry braking: consistently top-ranked in its class

Wet Performance:

• EU Label A wet grip maintained despite extreme dry performance focus
• Wide circumferential grooves prevent aquaplaning under the high loads supercars generate
• Wet braking distance competitive with the best UHP tyres

Notable trade-offs:

• EU Label E fuel efficiency — high rolling resistance is the cost of extreme grip
• Tread life is shorter than touring-focused alternatives
• Firm ride — the stiff carcass transmits more road feedback than a comfort tyre

NZ Road Conditions Assessment

Auckland and North Island

Verdict: Excellent (performance priority)

McLaren, Porsche, and Aston Martin owners in Auckland running S007s will find the tyre delivers on NZ’s variety of road surfaces. On dry motorways it performs as intended. In wet conditions — which Auckland provides abundantly — the A-rated wet grip maintains the confidence-inspiring performance these cars demand. On chipseal, the compound’s high silica content maintains grip across the variable surface texture common in NZ.

South Island

Verdict: Coastal areas only

The S007 is not a year-round tyre for South Island alpine areas. Below 7°C, the summer compound hardens significantly, reducing grip. For Queenstown and alpine Canterbury supercar owners, a winter set on steel wheels is the correct approach when the S007s are stored for the season.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• OEM on McLaren, Aston Martin, Porsche — ultimate supercar credibility
• Class-leading dry handling and lateral grip
• EU Label A wet grip despite extreme performance focus
• Bridgestone’s Formula 1 compound technology applied to road use
• Wide size range from 18″–22″ covers most supercar fitments

Cons

• EU Label E fuel efficiency — high rolling resistance
• Very premium price ($629+) — the most expensive Bridgestone passenger tyre in NZ
• Shorter tread life than touring alternatives
• Not suitable for sub-zero South Island winter conditions

S007 vs S005 vs Potenza Sport — Which Bridgestone?

Rule of thumb: S007 if your car came with it from factory or you own a supercar. Potenza Sport if you want maximum test performance at a lower price for a sports car. S005 as a mid-step between the two.

Available Sizes in NZ (Common)

Sources

1. Bridgestone Potenza S007 — bridgestone.com — accessed 2026-06-01
2. Tyroola NZ pricing — tyroola.co.nz/tyre/bridgestone/ — accessed 2026-06-01
3. McLaren OEM tyre specification — mclarenauto.com — accessed 2026-06-01

Related Pages

• Bridgestone Potenza Sport — EVO 2025 test winner
• Bridgestone Tyres NZ — full brand overview
• Best Performance Tyres NZ — full comparison