Bridgetstone Potenza G019 Grid test update

[Nissan Sport Editor]

In the Winter 2009 issue we reviewed the Bridgetstone Potenza G019 Grid, a solid all-season tire. But we hadn't tested the tire in snow yet. That changed this past weekend as I purposely got myself caught in a big snowstorm ... and drove down the same mountain that caused my earlier 360-degree spin in my G35x.

I didn't spin this time, indeed the "slip-slip" warning on the dash almost never came on. 10" of snow, no problem (well, at least the plowed part). The Potenza's handled the white stuff easily.

That said, the tires also work great in emergency handling. This test was unintentional. My wife saw an object in the middle of the road about two feet high. Thinking it might be a rock that was going to rip up our undercarriage, she did a quick left-right snap at 65 mph. A picture-perfect emergency avoidance maneuver and the tires barely squealed. The prairie dog that was saved was probably also relieved, if not in a bit of shock.

[dmuramoto]

Did the groundhog have that high-pitched scream like in the Bridgestone commercial? LOL

[audtatious]

Good to hear. The stock RE92's that Nissan put on their cars a few years past were horrible in snow and rain while the RE050's thus far seem to be good summer tires that can be driven in some slush. It's a shame they don't seem to have sizes to fit the 19" sport rims at this point, at least per TireRack, as I'm sure I'll have to get some new tires this year.