It’s all well and good reading review after review in glossy monthly magazines from an experience on a hot, sun baked European circuit, but sometimes as a rider all you want to know it “how well does this tyre work for the average rider here in the UK, on British roads in typical British weather?”
In the latest edition of their internal magazine, the Wey Valley Advanced Motorcycle Club based near Woking were trying out the Bridgestone Battlax T30 sport touring tyre for the very first time, and true to form the good old British weather gave them plenty of wet roads, and a wet day track day at Thruxton to boot. Ideal conditions for a rider to test a sport touring tyre in the UK.
“We set off from Hogs Back with Jeremy in afterburner mode, some wet roads to really try out the new tyres – no problem, grip levels felt good. We then turned onto what were described as nadgery lanes, you know the sort with grass growing up the middle, potholes and gravel. Once again my tyres (or my head) performed well with no unexpected buttock-clenching moments! The whole ride was really good with my confidence levels from the new tyres now high.
Having tried the tyres on some iffy roads I had the opportunity to try them out at Thruxton, where I had hoped the surface would be dry.
Dawn on track day was really rubbish with fine rain whilst riding over the Hogs Back to meet up with fellow track-dayers Penny, Stu and Chris. We arrived at Thruxton after a very damp ride down the M3/A303.
We attended the briefing, all eager to get out onto the track – until we saw the amount of standing water. The first lap was completed with the instructor leading, after which we all took a turn in front. So far so good, very impressed with the grip levels from the new tyres. The second session was even wetter – one lap in front of the instructor then free to go off at your own pace. I managed to tag onto the back of Crispin for a few laps (result) and had a ball, again no squirrelly moments in spite of the rivers that were now forming across the track. Several further sessions with ever increasing amounts of rain and the tyres felt superb.
All I can add is if you are in the market for a new set of tyres give the T30’s a try. For me the sidewall feel stiffer, turn in quicker and they have made my bike, or convinced my head it is altogether nicer to ride.”
The Battlax T30 is also the choice of the Ron Haslam Race School who use the latest sport touring tyre from Bridgestone on their fleet of track day bikes. See more details and a full list of sizes.
