Bridgestone BT46 comparo for your front darkside

jodog

jodog

Joined
Jan 27, 2012
Messages
591
Location
Minnesota
Bike
2012 ST 1300
2025 Miles
004649
Here is a shot of Bridgestone BT46s in 130/70 and 120/80 sizes. The BT45 in 130/70 was a perfect fit but the BT46 proves to be wider. Some riders report these fit without rub issues while others have problems. I have seen some mounted that had trouble getting a credit card between the tire and fender. The 120/80s are the way to go I think. These are rear tires for the front and you can decide if you want to mount them backward or not.

And the 130/80 is for sale! Cheap! Pick up in Minnesota.

B
tires.jpg
 
I bought mine last year, Bridgestone Battlax BT46 Rear Tire (120/80-18) and had no width issues; sufficient clearance.
The taller spec necessitated I remove the front fender to reinstall the front wheel, but once it was all put back together, I checked to make sure that there is no rubbing anywhere, except where the tire is on the ground.
I think that's what we call the "contact patch", or something similar.
2008 ST1300.
 
Obo said:
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Well, I'm not worried about throwing off the speedometer with a front tire. But I am happy to hear that my tire is wearing out 13 less revs per mile. Come to think of it, I can't recall the last time I saw my speedometer. Phone is mounted right in front of it.
 
jodog said:
Here is a shot of Bridgestone BT46s in 130/70 and 120/80 sizes. The BT45 in 130/70 was a perfect fit but the BT46 proves to be wider. Some riders report these fit without rub issues while others have problems. I have seen some mounted that had trouble getting a credit card between the tire and fender. The 120/80s are the way to go I think. These are rear tires for the front and you can decide if you want to mount them backward or not.

And the 130/80 is for sale! Cheap! Pick up in Minnesota.

B
tires.jpg
Click to expand...
Wow, that’s closer to 140 width
 
Sadlsor said:
I bought mine last year, Bridgestone Battlax BT46 Rear Tire (120/80-18) and had no width issues; sufficient clearance.
The taller spec necessitated I remove the front fender to reinstall the front wheel, but once it was all put back together, I checked to make sure that there is no rubbing anywhere, except where the tire is on the ground.
I think that's what we call the "contact patch", or something similar.
2008 ST1300.
Click to expand...

Did you mount the 120/80-18 backwards?
 
ASPC said:
Did you mount the 120/80-18 backwards?
Click to expand...
I did, but I still don't know exactly why, other than it's the common recommendation.
The brilliant minds here (well, some of them) have tried to e'splain it to me, but I'm too obtuse to understand.
But then again, I've come to learn that some double-darksiders run the rear tire in the front BOTH ways... backwards, AND / OR regular orientation.
 
Sadlsor said:
I did, but I still don't know exactly why, other than it's the common recommendation.
The brilliant minds here (well, some of them) have tried to e'splain it to me, but I'm too obtuse to understand.
But then again, I've come to learn that some double-darksiders run the rear tire in the front BOTH ways... backwards, AND / OR regular orientation.
Click to expand...
"The tread on (most) motorcycle front tires is 'backwards' from the rear tire because the rear tire's most important function is to push the bike forward from the power of the engine while the front tire's most important function is to slow down the bike when braking." From the web ... What I read somewhere in rain the front tire has already channeled the water away making a track for the rear tire. At speed the rear tire doesn't need to chanel water away just push.
 
I've mixed feeling for the BT46 in 120-80-18 at this point. I'm up to 17,151 miles on the tire but the amount of shake and the tread noise is getting bad fast. Looking at the tire in the threads first post picture, to the left or right of every center line V I have a 2" long scallop I'm guessing 1/16 deep. Lots of tread left but the shakes from the scallops are continuous from 35 to 50 mph. Roll the bike just a small amount off straight up and the tread howl starts. This tire may not make it much longer. 20,000 at most?

I mounted it backwards so I'll turn it around and see what happens. I doubt much of anything since the center tread pattern is about the same down the center area.

On past tires I've actually ground down high spots next to a scallop and made the tire "round" again. It doesn't look possible on this tire.

I sure do wish the Michelin Pilot Activ were still made. I got up to 35,000 out of them.
 
W0QNX said:
I've mixed feeling for the BT46 in 120-80-18 at this point. I'm up to 17,151 miles on the tire but the amount of shake and the tread noise is getting bad fast. Looking at the tire in the threads first post picture, to the left or right of every center line V I have a 2" long scallop I'm guessing 1/16 deep. Lots of tread left but the shakes from the scallops are continuous from 35 to 50 mph. Roll the bike just a small amount off straight up and the tread howl starts. This tire may not make it much longer. 20,000 at most?

I mounted it backwards so I'll turn it around and see what happens. I doubt much of anything since the center tread pattern is about the same down the center area.

On past tires I've actually ground down high spots next to a scallop and made the tire "round" again. It doesn't look possible on this tire.

I sure do wish the Michelin Pilot Activ were still made. I got up to 35,000 out of them.
Click to expand...
I've had the same experience with the BT46. I could easily get 30k+ out of the BT45. Any other tire recommendations out there?
 
Ok, I finally swapped out my BT46 which I had mounted at 74,000. I'm at 110K. That's 36,000 on that tire but the last few thousand weren't happy. The tire still had plenty of tread but the scalloping was getting downright unpleasant. Yeah, it made some noise, but worse was the feeling that you were riding on some rumble strips most of the time. Small rumble strips, but combined with the head bearings that had worn a notch at dead center it was a problem. New head bearings and new tire (also a BT46) and it rides like a new bike.

I had the dealer install the head bearings and they told me they had never seen such badly worn ones, ever. They compared it to some GoldWing trikes which evidently are prone to this same problem, but said mine were worse. Every bearing had worn a divot in the race.

Bob
 
30k - PLUS! - sounds good for a front tire.
It appears the front and rear (double dark, to be clear) will wear at a much more comparable rate than my formerly typical motorcycle tyres.

Usually, the ratio for all my bike tyres is 2 rears to 1 front, or close enough for averaging, regardless of 650 single, V-twin, or inline or V-four.
 
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