Renault has selected Bridgestone as an original equipment supplier for the new Megane RS. The hot hatch will be shod with bespoke 19in Potenza S001 tires.
Laurent Hurgon, Renault’s development driver for the new model, said, “This is a very different vehicle. It has a more powerful engine and the suspension as well as the four-wheel-steering system have been recreated. Bridgestone engineered the Potenza S001 tires to respond to this and maximize the benefits of these innovations.”
Christophe de Valroger, VP of original equipment for Bridgestone Europe, commented, “The Mégane RS is a hot hatch. We designed the Potenza S001 on this basis. We put larger blocks on the outside of the tread pattern to improve dry handling and braking, and smaller blocks on the inside to optimize performance in the wet.
“This improved the contact line for a better connection with the road’s surface and better stability at high speed. It also increased the lateral forces, making it possible to corner quickly, a must for a hot hatch.”
The tires are made from an advanced compound and feature a reinforced sidewall, which increases the stiffness of the tire carcass and improves responsiveness and cornering power.
“We reduced the rolling resistance, keeping the Potenza S001 in line with regulations for today and tomorrow and obtained an A grade on the EU label for wet grip,” explained de Valroger.
“Designing and producing tires in Europe for a vehicle being engineered in Europe allowed us to work closely together at every step.”
Hurgon added, “Bridgestone and Renault partnered on the previous generation of the Mégane RS, but this tire took our collaborative efforts to a new level. We were genuinely fine-tuning every little update with each other. You feel this incredible accuracy in the performance.”
March 6, 2018
