When it comes to tyres, motorcycle riders have never had it so good!
Modern day hoops are grippier, more versatile and longer lasting than ever before – some of the very latest sports touring tyres can even outperform older generation hypersports tyres on track.
However, manufacturers still continue to produce older second and third line tyres to give motorcyclists some more budget friendly options to choose from.
In their January 2020 edition, RiDE Magazine decided to put two of Bridgestone’s current hypersport tyres to the test to see what you get for your money.
It’s almost a decade since the Japanese brand launched the Battlax BT-016 Pro, and today it remains as one of the most popular hypersport tyres on the market. On the other side, the brand new Battlax S22 came out in 2019 and was crowned the winner of the industry leading Motorrad hypersport tyre test last year too.
In terms of cost, there is no set RRP in the tyre market, but after speaking to several retailers RiDE found that the older BT-016 Pro was around 37% cheaper than the new tyre, which can represent a substantial saving.
The Specs
Launched: 2011
Generation: 5th: (S20 & S20 EVO discontinued)
Available Sizes: 13 – (16 to 18″ rims)
Front Tyre: 3-Layer Compound
Rear Tyre: 3-Layer Compound
Compound – Rich Silica
Launched: 2019
Generation: 1st
Available Sizes: 10 – (17″ rims)
Front Tyre: 3-Layer Compound
Rear Tyre: 5-Layer Compound
Compound – Rich Silica (with fine silica molecules for greatly improved distribution and performance)
The Test Bike...
Both sets of tyres were put through their paces on a twisty, dry road route on the Triumph Street Triple RS.
The Triumph uses sizes 120/70 ZR17 and 180/55 ZR17.
So what are they like to ride on?
Starting off with the older BT-016 Pro, in their review RiDE stated:
“At road speeds, they are hard to fault in terms of grip or stability but they give the impression of being quite hard in their construction which delivers a solid ride that lacks a bit of feel.
At pace, the ripples in the road’s surface appear harsh (not helped by the Triumph’s firm suspension) and when you brake hard, there isn’t that impression of the rubber being driven into the road – more squashed onto that forced into the surface.
If you rode the BT-016 Pros in isolation you would be perfectly happy with their performance. However, when you swap to the S22 you are rewarded with a far more compliant feeling, which in terms of rider confidence and comfort is a noticeable step up.
Bumps are less harsh, allowing you to feel what the tyres are telling you with greater clarity, and the rubber feels like it is easily deforming into the road’s surface and finding grip.
Overall, while I’d be perfectly satisfied riding on the BT-016 Pros on the road, I’d be much happier on the S22s. It’s a bit like riding on an eight-year-old bike compared to a modern one – the Pros just feel a bit dated in terms of their performance as tyre technology and development has simply moved on.”
Head-to-Head Scores
| Steering | Confidence | Stability | Ride Quality | Braking | Overall | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BT-016 Pro | 7/10 | 6/10 | 8/10 | 6/10 | 6/10 | 33/50 |
| Battlax S22 | 8/10 | 8/10 | 8/10 | 9/10 | 8/10 | 41/50 |
The truth of the matter is, if you’re looking to get the most out of your bike, then a brand new set of the latest suitable tyres is one of the best investments you can make. They really can make all the difference, whether it’s from sharpening up the handling or giving you the confidence to push in the corners.
However, if you’re currently riding on an older model tyre like the BT-016 Pro, and you’ve never got close to finding it’s limits, then why change? If you don’t feel limited by fitting a second or third generation tyre, then save yourself some money and go with the option that suits you best.
Just be honest with yourself… and if in doubt, consult your local motorcycle tyre dealer!
If you want to read the test in full, you’ll need to get hold of the January 2020 back-issue of RiDE.
