Performance tires like Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 Vs Bridgestone RE003 are perfect for drivers who need an enhanced grip on the road sport handling. These tires are like a version of each other for all similarities and price ranges. If you wonder which of them will be the better choice, let’s see below what they can offer for the budget.
In this comparison, we are going to talk about:
- Do You Need a High-Performance Tire
- What are Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 and Bridgestone RE003
- What Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 and Bridgestone RE003 can offer
- How are the Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 and Bridgestone RE003 on Dry Road
- How are the Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 and Bridgestone RE003 on Wet Road
- How are the Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 and Bridgestone RE003 on Snow
- How is the Fuel Consumption of Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 and Bridgestone RE003
- Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 Vs Bridgestone RE003
Choosing High-Performance Tire
Just like how some vehicles are designed for a specific type of terrain, the tires accompanying them are also varied. For the daily driving purpose, most of us probably stick to the all-season because they are the most convenient, but if you have a performance car, then a set of performance tires will be ideal. The tire boasts grip and sport handling while versatile for everyday driving in regular road and weather conditions. They tend to be expensive, just like how sports cars are.
The most popular options for non-off-road vehicles are all-season and high-performance tires for the car we use daily. What is the difference between all-season and high-performance tires? The experience of driving on a performance tire is different. This type of tire is made for maximum traction on a regular road, whether for dry or wet surfaces. All-season offers excellent traction on these surfaces, too but not as aggressive, and they are more forgiving for colder weather or versatile for winter.
Do you need a high-performance tire? The answer varies based on what you want to achieve because no single option can satisfy everybody. But, if your goal is to get the most excellent grip on the road or often drive in a challenging situation like rainy days, then we think a high-performance tire will be a perfect decision. The compound and tread pattern on performance tires are crafted to stick to the road surface. Another advantage is you can stop quickly with them on.
About Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 and Bridgestone RE003
There is plenty of performance tire to choose from. Some of the most famous manufacturers of performance tires are Hankook, Bridgestone, Pirelli, and Michelin. Because the tires are meant to offer sports performance, they are typically expensive too. You can find many alternatives from other brands too, and usually, even popular names have various options to consider at different price points. Tires will not stay there forever, so it is wise to consider their price and value. Read also: Pirelli Cinturato P7 Vs Michelin Pilot Sport 4 here.
Some promising high-performance tires but still friendly to the pockets are Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 and Bridgestone R003, whose actual prices can often be found for less than $150 depending on the size and rating. These tires are perfect for drivers who want high traction for their vehicle but don’t want to spend the extra. Indy 500 is currently one of the best options for the price, and this tire is not lacking at all, with an almost perfect score for the daily application and when you drive for fun.
The Bridgestone RE003 is also a good tire for dry and wet conditions. Many ask if the RE003 is a semi-slick tire. No, they are not made for the more serious driving or racing because the compound will heat to optimal grip almost instantly. This is ideal for us who drive the car daily for commuting or doing some errands out there. The R003 is also known as Potenza Adrenaline RE003 and is currently one of the most famous lines from Bridgestone.
In comparison, both Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 and Bridgestone RE003 are working well. It is difficult to choose because they are very similar, and if you see the tread pattern, you will notice how they are practically identical to each other. Traction is not the only thing we like from the tire, but they are also comfortable to drive with, especially when it comes to road-noise, a very nice option for everyday driving and long-distance application.
Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 and Bridgestone RE003 Features
For those unfamiliar with how two tires from different companies can be so similar, this is because Firestone is a rebranded version of Bridgestone. This is an excellent solution if you want to save some since everyone wants to spend less if possible. These tires are made of high-performance silica-enhanced rubber compounds. The tread pattern is asymmetrical, meaning the left and right sides are not identical. We will talk about Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 and Bridgestone RE003 at the same time since they are identical.
These tires are featured with large independent shoulder blocks, which are meant to improve the cornering and handling when driving on dry roads. You can notice the circumferential grooves, called proprietary Pulse Groove Technology for the water evacuation channel and removing the water from its contact patch. Newly developed material combined with two circumferential grooves is useful for improving the stopping distance so your vehicle can brake effectively.
On the inside, the tires have a high turn-up polyester casing or two plies on some sizes, while there are twin high-tensile steel belts below it. Nylon is added as a reinforcement to provide responsive handling, high-speed rating, and stability on the road.
Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 and Bridgestone RE003 On Dry Road
Knowing that Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 and Bridgestone RE003 are related, it is not surprising to see similar results on the road. These tires are perfect if you prefer light handling because they are responsive and quick. Some tires often make the steering a bit difficult to control, but this is not the case for both. The traction is never an issue, and you can feel how the compound grip on the surface well on a dry road.
We feel the front is somehow more responsive with these tires compared to similar options in the market. This way, even small inputs can generate meaningful maneuvers, and it is also easy to keep the vehicle in your intended line. However, some drivers may want to spend more time with these tires to get used to how handling works. Some drivers tend to over-steer the vehicle, resulting in abrupt inputs that can step out the tail, but most people will get familiar with later.
Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 and Bridgestone RE003 On Wet Road
Things are turning a bit different when you step to the wet road, and this tendency to over-steer makes both Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 and Bridgestone RE003 are difficult to handle. The fast response makes the tire feel unsafe when you want to push the speed. Water reduces the grip of almost every tire you put on the wheels, and we have to manage the input so they become more stable yet, it seems the tire is not very reliable in this aspect, so we often go from “too little” and “too much.”
Overall these tires are perfect for the hard surface when there is very little water. The wet performance is lacking but should not affect the daily driving experience unless you want to drive for fun under the rain. The tires are modest when driven mildly and will be as comfortable as on a dry surface.
Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 and Bridgestone RE003 On Snow
Next, for the snow performance, none of Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 and Bridgestone RE003 are made for driving on cold and snow-packed roads. We have heard some people can drive just fine with them in winter, but we doubt its safety. Chances are you will need to be extra careful on the steering and driving very slowly, or the car may skid over. They behave identically for cold weather, so we recommend changing into an A/S as it gets colder out there.
Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 and Bridgestone RE003 Fuel Consumption
Lastly, for the fuel consumption, both Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 and Bridgestone RE003 are very similar. Typically fuel economy is not something that high-performance car owners are worried about, but if you want to optimize the spending, these tires are still good. Depending on the driving style, tire wear and fuel consumption are subjective, but we see these tires are still very good or slightly more than 500 gallons per year if you drive them at least for 15K miles.
Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 Vs Bridgestone RE003
The Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 and Bridgestone RE003 are identical tires that somehow have different names. The Indy 500 is an NA variant of the Bridgestone tires and not only RE003; this tire is probably known as an alternative to the RE11 as well. It is often more affordable, and since high-performance wear is quite fast, it is crucial to consider the price point. Performance-wise they are on par with each other, and they also have the same tread design to achieve impressive dry performance.
| Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 | Bridgestone RE003 |
|---|---|
| - Often cheaper | - More expensive |
| - Fewer sizes available | - More sizes available |
| - Easier to find | - May not be available in all-region |
Conclusion
Both are good options, but you may choose the Firehawk Indy 500 if the size matches because this tire is often more affordable than the named Bridgestone while being the same in design and performance. It is also suitable for everyday driving while not very impressive on the wet surface.
