What do a Subaru WRX RS and an Aston Martin DB11 have in common? It sounds like the beginning of a bad joke, but the answer is quite serious: both vehicles are equipped with the same tires! Indeed, even though they occupy very different niches in the automotive market, both models share a similar philosophy: performance at all costs. Whether on the track or on the road, Bridgestone Potenza S007 tires ensure the grip and roadholding of both the more affordable Japanese model and the luxurious British one.
Why the Potenza S007?
It has to be said that Bridgestone's tire design hides several elements that are at the heart of its impressive capability. Indeed, the tires have been designed to maximize the pressure they exert on the road to deliver optimum braking performance and even greater traction. The tread pattern has also been perfected to provide a perfect contact surface without compromising acceleration or cornering control. Even the rubber, a secret recipe of the Japanese company, is specifically adapted to high-performance cars.
Aston Martin, in particular, likes to boast of its rigorous OE tire selection process for its models. As Bridgestone so aptly puts it, not all tires are created equal, and making the perfect choice for a vehicle can be a difficult task. The Potenza range was the obvious choice, given the powerful nature of the vehicles, but it's through track and laboratory testing that manufacturers can really see the effect of tires on driving.
WRX and DB11: hardly comparable
Obviously, the similarities between the Subaru and Aston Martin models stop at the tires, or nearly so. It's hard to compare the English car's 528 hp V8 with the Japanese car's 271 hp engine. The latter is certainly satisfactory, but decidedly in a different league. However, it's in terms of price that the two vehicles differ the most. While the WRX RS is available for the rather reasonable price of $44,363, you'll have to spend over $250,000 to enjoy the benefits of the DB11. Whatever your budget, a quarter of a million is certainly not insignificant!
Needless to say, the two models also have a host of differences in terms of comfort technologies, but, maybe surprisingly, the Subaru fares well in terms of safety systems. In any case, I don't believe that the target audience for these two vehicles is really the same. After all, you don't buy an ultra-luxury vehicle for the same reasons as a Subaru model, but both companies' tire choice demonstrate a shared passion for performance, regardless of the price tag.
