It’s getting to that time of year when tyre manufacturers start to announce their brand new tyres for 2021,and the first to break cover are Bridgestone with their all-new Battlax T32 sport touring tyre.
Set to take over from the Battlax T31 at the top of their range, this brand new tyre has been proven to offer enhanced wet weather performance with braking distances reduced by 7% in wet conditions versus the Battlax T31. It also boasts a 13% larger contact patch, and the GT variant for heavyweight motorcycles offers 10% more mileage than the current T31 GT.
Bridgestone’s engineers have employed several innovative new design elements to achieve the all-round improvement in wet weather performance.
The introduction of their new Pulse Groove Pattern Technology combines pulse-shaped grooves with small centre deflectors to equalise waterflow in comparison with a straight groove and optimise the waterflow’s speed. This in makes for more effective water channeling and drainage across the tyre, which enhances grip and adhesion and reduces the tyre’s slip ratio in wet conditions.
The tread pattern has been further enhanced with an increased groove ratio, with optimised tread groove angles and positions around the whole circumference of the tyre. The 13% increase in contact patch size has been achieved without affecting the lifespan of the tyre, and it increases the overall contact area which connects your bike the the road for improved handling behaviour and enhanced wet performance.
Bridgestone has also developed a fully dedicated Battlax T32 GT tyre option for heavier touring bikes like the FJR1300 and Pan European with technical features and a tweaked tread pattern design designed to suit the very specific requirements for these extremely demanding machines.
The GT version also uses Bridgestone’s state of the art Pulse Groove Pattern Technology, alongside an optimised groove positioning and construction for the optimal pattern stiffness required heavy motorcycles. The benefits include improved wet performance and grip versus the Battlax T31 GT, plus a 10 per cent increase in wear life from the predecessor.
Both the Battlax T32 and T32 GT are expected to hit the market in early 2021, and you can be among the first to hear when they land by following us on Facebook.
