Bridgestone Battlax Tires?

[Wolf]

So the last time I had to buy tires (~2003), I got a BT010 front and BT020 rear for my SV.

I need tires again for my FZ8, and looking at the different Bridgestone models, I have no idea what the differences between all the BT0xx models.

Went out for a ride this morning, when I left the house, tires were fine, when I got home 50 miles later, this was my front. :wow

It's the factory installed BT021 (~6k miles on the bike).

What are the differences between the models, and are there any models I should be looking at? In TX, it's a lot of straights/highway stuff, but I'd like some grip for the twisties too.

 

[kuksul08]

Their site tells u pretty much what the tires are for. More treadlife=less grip. Plain and simple.
http://www.bridgestone.com/products/motorcycle_tires/products/category/index.html

You're prolly looking for a BT023 or T30 based on your riding area

 

[Wolf]

Their site tells u pretty much what the tires are for. More treadlife=less grip. Plain and simple.
http://www.bridgestone.com/products/motorcycle_tires/products/category/index.html

You're prolly looking for a BT023 or T30 based on your riding area

:thumbup

I'm guessing the BT023 is the newer version of the BT020/021? I'm just kinda worried that maybe the BT021 couldn't handle the heat :teeth :rofl (not saying that I'm fast, because I'm not- not by any stretch of the imagination.... just wondering if I should do like I did on the SV and get a sport-touring rear and sportbike front. :nchantr


Also, I'm not totally sold on Bridgestone, are there any other makes/models which would fit my reqs?

 

[mototireguy]

Went out for a ride this morning, when I left the house, tires were fine, when I got home 50 miles later, this was my front. :wow

Nothing abnormal there, except that your tire was well past worn out when you left the house and just more obviously well past worn out when you got home.

*Sport-Touring Tire Choices (For Extra Mileage & Cold/Wet Performance)
AVON Storm ST2, BRIDGESTONE T30, CONTINENTAL Road Attack2, DUNLOP Roadsmart2, METZELER Roadtec Z6 & Z8, MICHELIN Pilot Road3 & Road4, PIRELLI Angel GT

*Sport Tire Choices (For Extra Dry/Warm Performance)
AVON Viper Sport, BRIDGESTONE BT016 Pro & S20, CONTINENTAL Sport Attack2, DUNLOP Qualifier Q3, METZELER Sportec M5 & M7, MICHELIN Pilot Power3, PIRELLI Diablo Rosso2 & Rosso Corsa

 

[Wolf]

Nothing abnormal there, except that your tire was well past worn out when you left the house and just more obviously well past worn out when you got home.

*Sport-Touring Tire Choices (For Extra Mileage & Cold/Wet Performance)
AVON Storm ST2, BRIDGESTONE T30, CONTINENTAL Road Attack2, DUNLOP Roadsmart2, METZELER Roadtec Z6 & Z8, MICHELIN Pilot Road3 & Road4, PIRELLI Angel GT

*Sport Tire Choices (For Extra Dry/Warm Performance)
AVON Viper Sport, BRIDGESTONE BT016 Pro & S20, CONTINENTAL Sport Attack2, DUNLOP Qualifier Q3, METZELER Sportec M5 & M7, MICHELIN Pilot Power3, PIRELLI Diablo Rosso2 & Rosso Corsa

I had someone on the FZ8 forums mention Shinko tires... thoughts?

 

[kuksul08]

:thumbup

I'm guessing the BT023 is the newer version of the BT020/021? I'm just kinda worried that maybe the BT021 couldn't handle the heat :teeth :rofl (not saying that I'm fast, because I'm not- not by any stretch of the imagination.... just wondering if I should do like I did on the SV and get a sport-touring rear and sportbike front. :nchantr


Also, I'm not totally sold on Bridgestone, are there any other makes/models which would fit my reqs?

What went wrong is you don't look at your tires often enough :laughing

Bridgestone is a known brand. I have used the S20's twice before. They wear kind of weird imo. Check out the Michelin Pilot Road 4. I probably sound like a michelin spokesperson sometimes but they're really that awesome.

 

[RickM]

I have bstone S20 on my ninja 650. They have about 2500 miles on them now including 4 trackdays. The rear is about done. I'll probably replace the rear with a bridgestone sport touring tire for now or get another S20 rear and switch to ST tires when the current front is also done. Haven't made a decision yet.

I have used the Bt-023 on my VFR before and really liked those. Currently Have michelin PR2 on the VFR and they are about done at 12k miles. I'll be replacing those with the newer version of the Pilot Roads.

For your stated riding I highly recommend the Bridgestone or Michelin ST tires. I imagine other brands ST tires are also equally good.

 

[Junkie]

I run Michelins at this point, Pilot Power 3 front/Pilot Road 4 rear.

 

[Wolf]

I run Michelins at this point, Pilot Power 3 front/Pilot Road 4 rear.

How many miles do you get on the Power 3? What about a Road 3 front?

 

[Junkie]

Don't know, haven't worn out a set yet. If you're going with a Michelin ST on either end, I'd do PR4 rather than PR3.

When I get home today I'll look at how many miles are on them, and post pictures.

 

[fast4d]

S30 replaced BT-023

 

[Wolf]

Don't know, haven't worn out a set yet. If you're going with a Michelin ST on either end, I'd do PR4 rather than PR3.

When I get home today I'll look at how many miles are on them, and post pictures.

Wouldn't the 3 have better grip?

 

[Junkie]

fast4d, the S30 was more of a replacement for the BT-016. The T30 was the replacement for the 023.

I was under the impression that the Pilot Road series improved as it increased the number, but I could be wrong. Why do you think the PR3 has better grip than the PR4?

 

[dangeranger]

The S20 is the replacement for the bt-016, and the T30 is the replacement for the bt-023.
You can still find both of the older ones as there's still plenty of stock around.
I've ridden on all of then but the new T30 and liked them all.
I had the BT-023 on my sv and loved it, no complaints other than after a few spirited canyon runs I wore the sides down enough to be able to see the difference in the compounds between the center and sides, but it never felt any different, and after commuting for a week or so it'd go back to normal. It would happen every couple of weeks or so, when I'd go out for fun.
I currently have the S20 on the vs and I like them. I've done a couple trackdays on then with no issues, however they will wear much fast than the sport touring tires for commuting purposes obviously, due to it being a purely sport tire.

 

[Wolf]

I was under the impression that the Pilot Road series improved as it increased the number, but I could be wrong. Why do you think the PR3 has better grip than the PR4?

Yes, you're right. I is dum.

 

[Wolf]

Just ordered the Pilot Road 4.

 

[fast4d]

fast4d, the S30 was more of a replacement for the BT-016. The T30 was the replacement for the 023.

I was under the impression that the Pilot Road series improved as it increased the number, but I could be wrong. Why do you think the PR3 has better grip than the PR4?

you're right, T....not S