- Bridgestone launches the highly anticipated Potenza Adrenalin RE005 street performance tyre in Australia & New Zealand.
- Next generation of the iconic Potenza Adrenalin line is developed for superior handling, exceptional wet traction and long-lasting wear life.
- Potenza RE005’s development was focussed on ‘maximising driving pleasure’, engineered for confidence and tuned for the street.
BRISBANE, Queensland (8 April, 2026) – Bridgestone has launched its most anticipated product of the decade, the next generation of its iconic Potenza Adrenalin line, RE005. The introduction of the Potenza Adrenalin RE005 sees the succession of the legendary RE003 and has been developed specifically with the enthusiast in mind.
The RE005 builds on the legacy of the Potenza Adrenalin range - renowned for its aggressive design, strong street presence and outstanding value and enters the market as the gateway tyre to Bridgestone’s track- and street-focused performance range.
Designed and engineered for the true enthusiast, RE005 delivers unwavering confidence in both wet and dry conditions. Its sports-centric construction enhances handling precision, performance and long-term durability for spirited driving.
“Potenza Adrenalin RE005 enters the Australian & New Zealand market with enormous anticipation as the next tyre in what has become an iconic range. There are few products in the world that have a cult following like Potenza Adrenalin,” said Bridgestone Australia & New Zealand Managing Director, Heath Barclay.
“There is always excitement around the launch of a new Bridgestone tyre, but the build-up and anticipation for the Potenza Adrenalin RE005 internally, within our sales network and with consumers has been to another level. It’s a tyre that genuinely thrills its loyal customer base.”
Potenza Adrenalin RE005’s Market Position
As Bridgestone’s street performance hero, the Potenza Adrenalin RE005 enters the market continuing the rich heritage of the company’s motorsport history spanning more than 60 years.
The Potenza Adrenalin was developed specifically for the Asia Pacific region and the growing cohort of enthusiasts – including the passionate customer base in Australia and New Zealand.
The Adrenalin range was introduced to complement Bridgestone’s flagship Potenza products and launched with Potenza Adrenalin RE001 in 2007. Built on the concept of “maximising driving pleasure” through precision and performance, the Potenza Adrenalin series focusses on delivering street performance suitable for everyday conditions, while also providing confidence for occasional track use.
The Bridgestone Potenza Adrenalin RE005 continues this legacy and remains as Bridgestone Australia & New Zealand’s entry point to the street-to-track line of Potenza products, complementing the flagship Potenza Sport tyre, and the street legal semi-slick RE-71RS track focussed tyre.
According to Bridgestone Australia Sales Director, Claudio Sodano, the Potenza Adrenalin RE005 sits perfectly in the line up as a high-performance product underpinned by exceptional value.
“The Potenza Adrenalin has always been hugely popular and successful for Bridgestone, and I have no doubt that the RE005 will be no different,” he said.
“In the planning process, it was essential that we recognised the shift in performance cars in Australia and New Zealand, and we have launched Potenza RE005 in 15 additional sizes compared to the predecessor to cater to an even wider range or vehicles.”
Potenza Adrenalin RE005 launches a total of 50 sizes in Australia and 48 in New Zealand ranging from 195/55R15 though to 275/30R20, it covers the majority of the performance market and is suited to a wide range of fitments, including Japanese icons like Toyota 86, Mazda MX-5, Subaru WRX, Mitsubishi Evo and Nissan Skyline, to popular European models the VW Golf GTi and Polo GTi and BMW 3 Series, as well as homegrown heroes, Holden Commodore and Ford Falcon, and modern classics Ford Mustang and Kia Stinger.
Development of the Potenza Adrenalin RE005
Potenza Adrenalin RE005’s development was underpinned by the characteristics that matter most to enthusiasts: superior handling, exceptional wet traction, and long-lasting wear life. It was engineered to instil driver confidence in all conditions, without compromise.
“The R&D team has done an exceptional job on Potenza Adrenalin RE005. Not only have they engineered a product that is a noticeable step up on the performance of the well-loved RE003, but they’ve also met ambitious targets for emerging needs like wear life, noise levels and rolling resistance,” Mr Sodano said.
“These are traits that are becoming increasingly more important to consumers for performance cars they use as their daily drivers. They want the precision and handling for spirited drives, but it’s also important to have a tyre that you can enjoy every day as well, and RE005 does a fantastic job of both needs.”
Compared to Potenza Adrenalin RE003, the new generation tyre provides a 7% enhancement in dry grip and a 12% improvement in wet grip*1, resulting in superior performance across a wide range of driving conditions.
The aggressive tread pattern design integrates connecting blocks that are optimised for cornering stability, engineered to navigate sharp turns and accelerate with confidence on corner exit. Its distinctive and iconic “A”-shaped groove offers precise and predictable handling, even in the tightest turns. Coupled with a wide inside rib, the tyre responds quickly to steering input, providing enhanced responsiveness and confidence during dynamic driving situations.
A significant step up compared to the previous generation RE003, is Potenza Adrenalin RE005’s wet performance characteristics. It features an advanced rain pulse groove for enhanced water evacuation, reducing the risk of aquaplaning and providing excellent grip and control.
The new-generation rubber compound delivers next level performance with enhanced grip, improved responsiveness, and greater confidence and control across a wide range of driving conditions, including in the wet, while the tyre’s construction contributes to its precision, reliability and durability.
As well as the traditional performance tyre traits of traction and handling, Potenza Adrenalin RE005 boasts increased wear life and a lower rolling resistance than its predecessor, ensuring its suitability for fitment on electric vehicles (EVs) as well as internal combustion powered performance models. RE005 has a 25% reduction in rolling resistance*2 compared to RE003, is 7% lighter, and benefits from a 4% increase to wear life in standard testing, aided by its advanced compound.
“The Potenza Adrenalin RE005 is a significant product for the Australian and New Zealand market, and we have every confidence that it will be as widely loved and iconic as the superseded Potenza Adrenalin RE003,” Mr Barclay added.
Bridgestone Potenza Adrenalin RE005 is on sale now through the Australian Bridgestone Select Tyre & Auto network, Bridgestone Service Centres, and reputable wholesale partners such as Bob Jane T-Marts, JAX Tyre & Auto, Tyrepower and Costco, as well as in New Zealand though Bridgestone Select, Bridgestone Tyre Centre locations and Tony’s Tyre & Auto stores.
###
*1 Notes on Testing Conditions: Wet and dry grip improvement values are based on subjective evaluation scores from experienced test drivers using a Volkswagen Golf GTI equipped with tire size 225/40R18 (inflation pressure: 250 kPa, rim size: 7.5J x 18).
*2 Notes on Testing Conditions: RRC improvement refers to internal measurements based on EU labeling reference values for tire grade categories A (6.5), B (7.7), C (9.0), E (10.5), and F (12.0) for size 225/40R18.
About Bridgestone Australia & New Zealand:
Bridgestone Australia & New Zealand offers a range of services and solutions to all segments of the Australian market to deliver social value and customer value. Bridgestone’s extensive range of quality tyres is complemented by the provision of mechanical and fleet services through the company’s nationwide retail network of Bridgestone Select, Bridgestone Service Centres and Bridgestone Tyre Centres, mobile service provider Lube Mobile, and the manufacturing and sale of quality retreads through Bandag Pty Limited. Bridgestone offers a diverse product portfolio of premium tyres and advanced solutions backed by innovative technologies, improving the way people around the world move, live, work and play.
About Bridgestone Corporation:
Bridgestone is a global leader in tires and rubber building on its expertise to provide solutions for safe and sustainable mobility. Headquartered in Tokyo, the company employs approximately 130,000 people globally and conducts business in more than 150 countries and territories worldwide. Bridgestone offers a diverse product portfolio of premium tires and advanced solutions backed by innovative technologies, improving the way people around the world move, live, work and play.
