Bridgestone’s engineers worked with Renault during the car’s development so they could tailor the 19 inch Potenza S001 rubber to its unusual characteristics.

Not only is the Megane R.S. a very powerful car with around 280 bhp from its turbocharged engine, it also has four wheel steering so the tyres have very specific jobs for accelerating, braking and turning to achieve. Renault development driver, Laurent Hurgon, 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 tyres to respond to this and maximise the benefits of these innovations.” Christophe de Valroger, Vice President of Original Equipment for Bridgestone Europe, added: “The Megane R.S. 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 optimise 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.” Bridgestone used an advanced material compound and reinforced the sidewalls, increasing the stiffness of the tyre carcass and improving responsiveness and cornering power.