Potenza RE050 RFT

Original equipment on many high-performance vehicles, the Potenza RE050 RFT is built for the pleasure of driving. This tire comes loaded with race-proven technology: UNI-T for outstanding wet and dry traction, a tread pattern that promotes rapid water evacuation, variable dimensions in the tread blocks, and a smoother shape to reduce road noise. Run-Flat technology allows the Potenza RE050 RFT to continue to operate safely at a speed of up to 50 mph for a distance of up to 50 miles under normal driving conditions with zero inflation pressure. Put this Potenza through its paces and discover what ultra-high performance really means.

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Model: Potenza RE050 RFT
Brand: Bridgestone
Vehicle Type: Passenger
Tire Type: Performance
Segment: Ultra High Performance Summer

Warranties:
- Platinum Pact Limited Warranty
- Full Warranty (8MB)
All warranties are limited to original purchaser on originally installed vehicle. See each warranty at your nearest Firestone Complete Auto Care Store for details and restrictions.

Features & Benefits

Feature: L.L. Carbon (Long Link)
Benefit: Helps improve tread wear and resist cracking, chipping and tearing through the use of a special long length carbon structure
Feature: O-Bead
Benefit: Improves uniformity and ride comfort through use of a single continuous strand of cable in the bead construction
Feature: Summer Tread Design
Benefit: Offers tenacious grip and superior handling on wet or dry roads for driving enthusiasts.
Feature: CO-CS (Computer Optimized Component System)
Benefit: Maximizes tire performance by optimizing the appropriate combination of tread design, casing shape, materials, and construction.
Feature: Reinforced Sidewall
Benefit: Support the weight of the vehicle and passenger even with a loss of air pressure with thicker sidewall, generally designed for RFT tires, made of special heat-resistant rubber

Specifications

Speed Rating

Q
99
mph
R
106
mph
S
112
mph
T
118
mph
U
124
mph
H
130
mph
V
149
mph
Z
149+
mph
W
168
mph
Y
186
mph
(Y)
186+
mph

Detailed Tire Specifications
Available Sizes	Speed Rating	Load Index	Technology	Mileage
225/50R16	V	92	RUN FLAT	-
225/50R17	W	94	RUN FLAT	-
225/50R17	W	94	RUN FLAT	-
245/50R17	W	99	RUN FLAT	-
245/45R17	W	95	RUN FLAT	-
245/45R17	W	95	RUN FLAT	-
245/45R18	Y	96	RUN FLAT	-
245/45R18 XL	H	100	RUN FLAT	-
285/40R18	Y	101	RUN FLAT	-

Safety Warning:
Serious injury may result from tire failure due to underinflation/overloading. Follow owner’s manual and tire placard in vehicle.

Tire Technology

What’s this?

Other Tire Technology

Tire Technology This design hasn't always been an exact science. Engineers relied on their experience and various design theories when developing new products. But now, our innovative COCS (Computer Optimized Component System) technology uses a supercomputer to determine the ideal combination of tread design, casing shape, materials, and construction based on consumer benefit criteria. Performing thousands of "what if" calculations and creating incredibly detailed tire simulations, COCS takes the guesswork out of designing tires. COCS makes it possible to create an endless diversity of tire designs to meet the demands of the consumer of today and tomorrow.

Tire Technology Rim Guard (45, 50, & 55 Series Tires) is a tough, raised rubber ridge that encircles the entire sidewall. Rim Guard protects wheels from damage by curbs and other objects.

Tire Technology If you can imagine the inefficiency of a rolling egg, you can understand the inefficiency of many tire and rim assemblies which are less than precisely round. Now, O-Bead changes the way the tire interacts with the rim, creating a rounder assembly. The "bead" is a cable inside a tire that helps the tire grip on the rim. On most tires, there are overlapped joints where the ends of the bead meet. O-Bead eliminates the overlapped joints by using a single, continuous strand of cable. This helps eliminate tiny, unwanted gaps between the tire and the rim, and creates a rounder tire assembly, for improved driving on straightaways and handling stability.

Tire Technology Carbon black is a reinforcing material that strengthens rubber. All tire manufacturers use it. But tires with UNI-T technology use L.L. Carbon, an advanced form of carbon black that offers real advantages. Under a microscope, conventional carbon black particles look like bunches of grapes. L.L. Carbon molecules resemble long chains. Think of these as the equivalent of the long steel rods used to reinforce concrete. Because this molecular structure absorbs and spreads road stresses over a larger area, you get a stronger tire better able to resist cracking, chipping, tearing, and excessive wear.

What’s this?

Uniform Tire Quality Grading

UTQG is intended to provide simple, comparative data for your use in making an informed buying decision. However, the ratings are based upon test results achieved under very specific conditions. As a result, misinterpreting the comparative data as it relates specifically to your particular driving habits, conditions, etc., is a possibility. UTQG designates the comparative performance levels of a tire based upon government-specified tests. Tire manufacturers and brand name owners are required to grade regular and all-season tires in three categories: Treadwear, Traction, and Temperature.

DOT QUALITY GRADES

All passenger car tires must conform to Federal Safety Requirements in addition to these grades.

TREADWEAR

The treadwear grade is a comparative grade assigned by the manufacturer based on the wear rate of a tire when tested under controlled conditions on a course that meets government-specified requirements. For example, a tire graded 150 would wear one and a half (1 1/2) times as well as a tire graded 100 under the controlled test conditions. The relative performance of tires depends upon the actual conditions of their use and may depart significantly from the norm due to variations in driving habits, service practices and differences in road characteristics.

TRACTION AA, A, B, C

The traction grade is based on wet skid tests of a tire on government-specified concrete and asphalt surfaces. The traction grade is based on a straight-ahead wet braking traction test and does not include a cornering traction test. The comparative tire grade letters, AA, A, B, and C (AA being the highest and C being the lowest) represent the tire's ability to stop the vehicle on wet pavement under the controlled test conditions. Ice and snow traction capabilities are not tested.

WARNING:

The traction grade assigned is based on braking (straight ahead) traction test and does not include cornering (turning) traction.

TEMPERATURE A, B, C

The temperature grade is based on an indoor, high-speed test that meets government-specified requirements. The comparative grade letters, A, B, and C (A being the highest and C being the lowest) represent the tire's resistance to the generation of heat and its ability to dissipate heat when tested under controlled conditions on a specified indoor laboratory test wheel.

Sustained high temperature can cause the material of the tire to degenerate and reduce tire life, and excessive temperature can lead to sudden tire failure. The grade C corresponds to a level of performance which all passenger car tires must meet under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 109. Grades A and B represent higher levels of performance on the laboratory test wheel than the minimum required by law.

WARNING:

The temperature grade is established for a tire that is properly inflated and not overloaded. Excessive speed, under inflation, or excessive loading, either separately or in combination, can cause heat buildup and possible tire failure.

EXAMPLE #1:

A tire with the ratings of TREADWEAR 80, TRACTION B, TEMPERATURE C, is interpreted by the manufacturer as having:

TREADWEAR grade less than that of a tire graded 100.
TRACTION capability greater than tires of C grade, but not as good as tires of AA or A grade.
TEMPERATURE performance on the laboratory high-speed test greater than required by the government standards, but less than tires graded B or A.

EXAMPLE #2:

A tire with same brand name and same construction type with ratings of TREADWEAR 160, TRACTION A, TEMPERATURE B, compares to the tire in example #1 as follows:

TREADWEAR is graded two times better than the tire in example #1.
Wet TRACTION and TEMPERATURE are better than the tire in example #1.

IMPORTANT NOTE

Keep in mind that comparing the performance of various tires is too complex to be based exclusively on UTQG grades.

UTQG grades are not government grades. They are manufacturer grades that are not based on head-to-head interbrand testing. Test data is not typically submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Treadwear grades are not a guarantee for a given mileage warranty, or an indicator of overall tire quality. Treadwear grades are assigned by the manufacturer for comparison purposes within the same brand names and construction types only.
UTQG grades are not safety ratings. Overall tire quality and safety are not graded. Tire selection based on any one, two, or even three UTQG ratings may not satisfy your needs.
One brand name of tires cannot be considered superior or inferior to another brand name of tires based solely on UTQG grades.
UTQG grades are not required for snow tires, light truck tires and maximum traction tires.
UTQG is used but not required in Canada.

Treadwear: 140
Traction: A
Temperature: A