Not a lot of people know that Bridgestone used to make motorcycles.
The story goes that Bridgestone did a deal with Honda where they stopped making bikes but Honda agreed to fit Bridgestone tyres to all their bikes. Which is why, to this day, Honda motorcycles still mainly come on Bridgestone rubber.
Bridgestone is a Japanese company and produced their first tyre in 1930. Supplying motorcycle and car tyres all over the world, they centred in on the USA in the 70s and bought Firestone in the 80s. Bridgestone entered MotoGP in 2002 and looking back now, you can see why their trackday tyres and motorcycle slicks are so popular, thanks to years of racing experience at the highest level.
Bridgestone’s experience in MotoGP has trickled down to their road tyres and if you’re been biking for more than a few years, the chances are you’ll have ridden on their BT-010, BT-016 or BT-023 tyres.
Their modern range of performance tyres for fast road riders, includes the S22, while those looking for more wear while still getting excellent grip go for the T31, a high quality sports touring tyre.
The ‘A’ range of A41 and AX41 are gaining in popularity with riders of adventure bikes, who know and trust the Bridgestone brands but who have moved on from the sportsbikes and super nakeds of yesteryear.
Their product descriptions make it really easy to see what Bridgestone’s intention is for that tyre: A is for Adventure, S is for Sport, R is for Racing, T is for Touring, X is for MotoCross, E is for Enduro and SC is for Scooter. You kind of wish every manufacturer had a naming convention that was as simple!
Our Bridgestone Motorcycle Tyre Range
We have a motorcycle tyre fitting workshop in London and we have a decent selection of Bridgestone’s motorcycle and scooter tyres. We stock all the popular fitments for the most popular motorcycle tyres and also a good selection of the popular sizes of Bridgestone’s scooter range. If you need a tyre that we don’t have in stock, we can order it in for next day fitting or have it sent to you anywhere in the UK. Just give us a call on 0207 205 2205 to discuss your requirements.
Bridgestone motorcycle tyres by type
We’ve listed Bridgestone’s motorcycle tyre range by their common application and picked the most popular tyre for each category. We’ve also listed the other tyres worth considering in that sector.
Adventure
Bridgestone A41
New in 2018 the Bridgestone A41 replaced the A40. With a huge choice of sizes and OE fitments available in sizes suitable for bikes as diverse as the 3 wheeled Yamaha Niken to Ducati’s Scrambler with its unusual 18″ front fitment along with all the common Adventure sizes. It’s a great road/trail tyre and one that’s popular with riders of the most common Adventure bikes, like the BMW R1200GS, KTM 1190 Adventure (and quite a few 1290s) and the Honda CRF1000 African Twin.
Other tyres in this category: If you want a proper knobbly tyre then check out the Bridgestone AX41 which is great for off-roading but not such a good pick if you cover a majority of your miles on the tarmac. Then there’s the Bridgestone AX41S which is a modern retro sort of flat-track style tyre. It can handle light trails but it’s probably more at home in Hoxton. Then there’s the Bridgestone Battlewing BW501-502which is a popular OEM fitment for a wide range of Adventure or Adventure-style bikes from the Honda NC750X to the BMW F800GS.
Road Riding and Touring
Bridgestone T31
Classic Bridgestone quality, superb turn in and excellent wet weather performance. Feels very very sporty and will make big sports tourers feel like a 600 supersport bike. We kid you not! It’s a great tyre for bikes like the BMW R1200RT.
Other tyres in this category: The tyre that came before the T31 was the Bridgestone T30 EVO and it’ll be no surprise so you that the tyre before that was the T30. The T30 EVO was a really good tyre but it’s since been discontiuned. Then there’s the somewhat classic (or should that be cult?) Bridgestone BT-023 which is a budget sports-touring tyre but by no means lacking in quality. It might not have *quite* the same amount of grip and mileage as a T31 but then it’s around 30% cheaper than a T31 and it’s arguably 95% as good. There’s also a new Battlax T32 coming out in 2021.
Fast Road Riding
Bridgestone S22
The S22 is Bridgestone’s tyre for Sportsbikes and fast road riders. It takes over from the S21 and offers superb outright grip, fast warm up and good wet weather performance. Good enough for Jeremy McWilliams to get his knee down on it in the wet at the Jerez launch. Incredible wet and dry performance. This tyre can do it all. If you have a Fireblade, an S1000RR or a similar litre-class superbike these are a firm favourite.
Other tyres in this category: The predecessor to the 22 is the Bridgestone S21 and it’s still a great tyre, known for its quick warm up and long tyre life. Then there’s the Bridgestone BT-016 Pro which was an OE fitment on sportsbikes like the original new generation Kawasaki ZX-10R. It’s an older tyre now but still in production because it’s a great bit of kit.
Road Legal Trackday
Bridgestone R11
This is Bridgestone’s stickiest road legal trackday tyre. The Battlax Racing R11 is more than good enough to lap at the front of the fast group, offering superb edge grip and excellent Bridgestone feel. Like any track-focused tyre it performs best when it’s at the right temperature, so this isn’t the best option for pure fast road riding. However, with a set of tyre warmers and some grippy tarmac, you’re in business. It’s available in Soft and Medium compound for both the front and rear.
Other tyres in this category:Â If your riding is way more road then track and you want the stickiest tyre for road conditions but one that is more than capable of fast lap times, then go for the Bridgestone RS11. It has almost all of the outright grip of the R11 but with its slightly more forgiving compound it isn’t so reliant on perfect temperature to perform. It’ll be a slightly better tyre in wet conditions and faster to warm up than the R11 but if you’re going on track we still recommend you use tyre warmers to get the best out of their grip potential and tyre life. If you are a pure road rider with no plans to do any trackdays, then go for the Bridgestone S22 over the R11 or RS11.
Racing Slick
Bridgestone V02
The longest-lasting and arguably best performing slick on the market. The Bridgestone V02 is designed for superbikes and comes in a range of different compounds for both the front and the rear. It is as capable at Cadwell Park as it is at Jerez, an awesome choice of a tyre.
Other tyres in this category: Bridgestone only does one track slick but they also produce a rain tyre, called the W01 (Racing Wet) and it’s also a well-liked tyre in the motorcycle trackday and club racing circles.
Cruiser / Harley Davidson
Bridgestone Battlecruise H50
New from Bridgestone in 2019 the Battlecruise H50 ticks all the boxes for V-Twin type cruisers and choppers. Offering class leading mileage along with superb cornering attributes. This one will become a future classic.
Other tyres in this category: Bridgestone also produces a range of cruiser tyres under the Exedra name. These tyres are available in radial and bias-ply versions with sizing that covers all the Japanese cruisers and the majority of Harley Davidsons.
Commuter Cross-Ply
Bridgestone BT46
New for 2020 The Bridgestone BT46 replaces the iconic BT45. Using all the great features of the BT45 but updating the technology, more silica is used in the rear tyre and the front now has an inverted tread pattern helping reduce irregular tyre wear.
Other tyres in this category: The 46 takes over from the iconic and well loved BT-45 which was always known as a touring tyre when it was launched but these days it’s a tyre for modern classics. It’s available in fitments to cover everything from an RD350 to an older CB500.
125cc
Bridgestone BT-090
For sporty 125s then check out the BT-090 which is a great tyre for road riding. If you’re riding a Japanese import, like a Honda VFR400R NC30 I bet it’s fitted with Bridgestone’s BT090‘s (or at least the rear is). It’s still made in the unusual 150/60 HR18 size along with the more common 17″ sizes. If you’re lucky enough to be riding a 250cc stroker or a 16000rpm 400cc RRRRRSP then these tyres tick all the boxes.
Other tyres in this category:Â You could also go for the BT-46, which is a very similar tyre but available in a wider range of sizes which will suit slightly older bikes.
Scooter
Bridgestone SC
With a huge choice of sizes available the Bridgestone SC will probably be suitable for your scooter. We’ve had customers praise these hoops for wet weather performance, dry grip and how they make their scooter feel more agile.
Other tyres in this category: Bridgestone also makes the Hoop which is a really good scooter tyre. Capable in all conditions and it offers really good feel in the wet. OEM fitment for a lot of Japanese scooters including bikes like the SH125i and SH300i, it’s right up there in terms of our best-rated scooter tyres.
Maxi Scooter
Bridgestone SC2 Radial
Sporty performance for your Maxi Scooter. This one uses knowledge gained in the production of Bridgestone’s excellent S21 sports tyre and it’s a great option for ’round-town riding in all weathers.
Other tyres in this category: If you want a tyre specifically for wet weather (or indeed winter riding) then check out the Bridgestone SC2 Scooter Rain tyre which is as close to a racing wet as you can get for a road legal bike.
Classic
Bridgestone Accolade AC03-AC04
If you own one of Kawasaki’s W650s these are the tyres that came on it and what you probably want to replace them with when needed. The Bridgestone AC03 and AC04 offer classic retro looks with modern performance – both sizes are tube type. If the question is ‘can I fit these to other bikes?’ the answer would be if the speed and load index suits, then yes!
Other tyres in this category:Â If you have a modern retro then check out the Bridgestone AX41S which is a Ducati Scrambler style tyre. Then there’s the BT-45 which isn’t a vintage tyre, we grant you but it’ll fit on an RD350 YPVS and that is a definite classic!
Common Questions
What pressures should I run my Bridgestone motorcycle tyres at?
Check out Bridgestone’s recommended tyre pressures and tyre care guide in the link here. For road riding, we recommend you run your tyres at 36psi in the front and 42psi in the rear.
What is the longest lasting Bridgestone motorcycle tyre?
If you want an Avon motorcycle tyre for a ‘regular’ motorcycle, that can rack up the miles in all weathers then go for the Bridgestone T31 but if you want a similar tyre for a lot less cash then look at the Bridgestone BT-023.
Where are Bridgestone’s motorcycle tyres made?
Bridgestone has factories all over the world, including locations in Europe, America and Asia. It also produces tyres in its home country of Japan.
Can I run two different tyres on a motorcycle?
We don’t recommend you run different brands of tyres on the front and rear on your motorcycle as tyres are designed to work in pairs. If you are in a tight spot, for example your tyre’s knackered and the tyre shop only has a select few tyres, then the sensible choice is to fit your new tyre and be on your way. However we recommend you then replace the other tyre as soon as possible so that you have a matching pair.
How much does it cost to fit motorcycle tyres?
Here at Two Tyres, we have a London motorcycle workshop and we charge £50 to fit a pair of tyres when bought from us. That includes removal and fitting, balancing, new valves and environmental tyre disposal.
If you live out of London, the chances are your fitter will charge slightly less.
What’s the average life of motorcycle tyres?
This depends on the tyre’s compound. The harder the compound, generally speaking, the longer the tyre will last but mileage also depends on the rider, the type of bike and the road conditions.
Generally speaking, if you can get 4,000 miles from a pair of sports tyres on the road, you’re doing well. For road legal trackday tyres, you’ll probably get two trackdays from a set of tyres, but for super sticky tyres, you’ll probably knacker a rear in a day.
For Touring tyres, you can expect to get a minimum of 6,000 miles from a pair of tyres, but we regularly see riders getting 10,000 and so it’s reasonable to expect anything in between.
Any other questions?
If you have a question about motorcycle or scooter tyres then give us a call on 0207 205 2205. We’ll be happy to help.
