Bridgestone Tyres - BT 023 or BT 32

ST1100Gold

ST1100Gold

Joined
Sep 14, 2018
Messages
171
Age
63
Location
Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Bike
'99 ST1100 AX
Looking for a quick reply, not a full blown discussion that upsets some members :) with yet another tyre discussion.
Annual MOT due at end of month and on checking her over the rear tyre is down at 2mm (centre, 3mm on sides) and the front at 3mm (centre, 4mm on sides), so I'm as well fitting a matching pair.
Bike: ST1100, '98/'99, 49,000 miles - low annual mileage, usually riding solo with minimal luggage, current tyres are Bridgestone Battlax BT30F & R

Which is best -
Bridgestone BT023 120/70 ZR18 & 160/70 ZR17 - £ 219 per set delivered (UK)
Bridgestone Battlax T32 120/70 ZR18 & 160/70 ZR17 - £ 287 per set delivered (UK)

I did hunt through quite a few posts, but gave up as there are sooooo many ...

EDIT: Corrected the tyre names/numbers & added photos
BT023:1707756712048.png BattlaxT32:1707756770693.png
 
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I don't think that there is a BT 32.

There was an Evo T32, and they knock spots off the BT-23 - you need the GT Rated version for the ST1300.
I've been using this - the T32 - for a good many years now - they seem to have gone back to using the Battlax name instead of the Evo. It is the same tyre - I did notice that the last set of EvoT32s that I ordered had the name Battlax on the side.

Very confidence inspiring. Doesn't square off as readily as most of the BT 020 and BT023 tyres that I have had. Good in the wet - but I don't push my tyres to the limit, so I am not a good judge of grip. They are the best Bridgestones that I have ever fitted.

1707755599840.png
 
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Either one will work (I've run both of them over the years) - however due to the weight of the ST1100 be sure the rear has the proper 'load' rating.
If it don't the sidewall wall will flex and the tire will wick away in short order - don't ask me how I know that ... ;)
 
FWIW, I run a BT020 Bias on the rear that goes on a BMW K1200LT (same size as ST1100) as it has a super stiff sidewall and handles well (but a bear to mount!).
I can usually get between 9,000-10,000 miles out of it - with a BT radial rear I'm lucky to get about 4,000-5,000 miles out of it.
I run a BT Radial 'flavor of the month' on the front - which now is BT32s.
 
ST1100Gold said:
Thanks for the benefit of your experience.
Ordered a set of Bridgestone Battlax T32, should be here by the weekend, get them fitted, then (weather permitting) "go break them in" :)
Click to expand...
You certainly are in area that's great for testing tyres! ;)
Scotland is my favorite place to ride after the Alps.
 
Uncle Phil said:
Either one will work (I've run both of them over the years) - however due to the weight of the ST1100 be sure the rear has the proper 'load' rating.
If it don't the sidewall wall will flex and the tire will wick away in short order - don't ask me how I know that ... ;)
Click to expand...
Thru the many flats ive had on the 31’s, i discovered just how important the sidewall is. When i flatted all of those times, the sidewall held my tout loaded bike up and gave me that “squiggle” that told me something was wrong, which caused me to pull over and investigate. Sidewalls matter, as you refer to the load rating.
 
True story on sidewalls -
IIRC it was BT020s radials (could have been BT023s) that I roasted the rear in less than 1,800 miles.
I contacted the seller who contacted Bridgestone whose motorcycle tire headquarters happens to be in Nashville where I live.
They came out (I knew one of the fellers from riding), I gave them the tires and they gave me a replacement set to try on another bike - to eliminate a 'bike' issue.
I had about the same results on the other bike.
Their conclusion was the sidewalls were not strong enough to carry the weight of the ST1100.
The sidewalls flexed so much that it killed the tire.
Shortly after that, Bridgestone came out with the GT series that has a beefier sidewall. ;)
 
Uncle Phil said:
True story on sidewalls -
IIRC it was BT020s radials (could have been BT023s) that I roasted the rear in less than 1,800 miles.
I contacted the seller who contacted Bridgestone whose motorcycle tire headquarters happens to be in Nashville where I live.
They came out (I knew one of the fellers from riding), I gave them the tires and they gave me a replacement set to try on another bike - to eliminate a 'bike' issue.
I had about the same results on the other bike.
Their conclusion was the sidewalls were not strong enough to carry the weight of the ST1100.
The sidewalls flexed so much that it killed the tire.
Shortly after that, Bridgestone came out with the GT series that has a beefier sidewall. ;)
Click to expand...
We did a trip to Lisbon, Portugal on The BeaST, two up and loaded. It was around a 4000 mile round trip but the tyres went from new to scrap and just got us home. Not good. In contrast the 32's would get you back with mm's to spare.
Upt.
 
Upt' North said:
We did a trip to Lisbon, Portugal on The BeaST, two up and loaded. It was around a 4000 mile round trip but the tyres went from new to scrap and just got us home. Not good. In contrast the 32's would get you back with mm's to spare.
Upt.
Click to expand...
For me, it was this twisty 'road' and this throttle problem that seems to occur with all of my ST1100s ... :biggrin:
 
ST1100Gold said:
Looking for a quick reply, not a full blown discussion that upsets some members :) with yet another tyre discussion.
Annual MOT due at end of month and on checking her over the rear tyre is down at 2mm (centre, 3mm on sides) and the front at 3mm (centre, 4mm on sides), so I'm as well fitting a matching pair.
Bike: ST1100, '98/'99, 49,000 miles - low annual mileage, usually riding solo with minimal luggage, current tyres are Bridgestone Battlax BT30F & R

Which is best -
Bridgestone BT023 120/70 ZR18 & 160/70 ZR17 - £ 219 per set delivered (UK)
Bridgestone Battlax T32 120/70 ZR18 & 160/70 ZR17 - £ 287 per set delivered (UK)

I did hunt through quite a few posts, but gave up as there are sooooo many ...

EDIT: Corrected the tyre names/numbers & added photos
BT023:1707756712048.png BattlaxT32:1707756770693.png
Click to expand...

I still use the OEM
Front: Bridgestone Exedra G547 110/80 18 ((58V)TL)
Rear: Bridgestone Exedra G548 160/70 17 ((73V)TL)

I like them and get around 9,000-10,000 miles from them riding mainly two up tour laden or with the Flexit outfit. Quite difficult to find, my last purchase was from Germany. Also available from Italy with a bit of shopping around. Not cheap in Europe but I like the fact that I know that I won't have to worry about tyre wear when on a long European trip.

Frank
 
My mileage dropped form around 12,000 per year with the Exedras on the 1100
To about 8,000 per year when I fitted the radial (F rated) 020 to my 1100AY (2000)
To 5,000 per year with the 020 F rated on my 1300 - Good tyres but they squared off pretty badly in the last 1000 miles.
I now get 5,000 per year and a bit with the T32 GT rated - but the wear is much more even and the ride is so much nicer.

Maybe it is the greater power, or my riding has become less conservative - I don't think os, but it is hard for me to tell.

My mileage from tyres appears to be about as low as it can get - so don't take my figures as a representative value for what you might get. But I am in UK (Yorkshire Dales) although we get more rain, snow / grit than Gloucester.

Whatever - you caption says that you have a sidecar attached ? I would imagine that you would wear through to the softer rubber of the dual compound tyres pretty quickly - since that is the only bit that you will ride on. I'd be looking for a tyre with a less round profile. The T32 certainly isn't that !
 
jfheath said:
Whatever - you caption says that you have a sidecar attached ? I would imagine that you would wear through to the softer rubber of the dual compound tyres pretty quickly - since that is the only bit that you will ride on. I'd be looking for a tyre with a less round profile. The T32 certainly isn't that !
Click to expand...

@jfheath Sorry John, normally I would agree with you, if I had a conventional chair I would fit smaller wheels and car tyres. But.... the Flexit isn't conventional and it rides like a solo, hence the use of motorcycle tyres

39152.jpg39155.jpgFlexit Screen.JPG
 
Oh, wow - that is brilliant. I still want one ! Yay. the T32s are certainly worth a try. I don't know if they do one for the sidecar though.

With the hinged coupling, I would guess that the chair doesn't try to lift in left handers ? (UK rider - steering in the direction of the chair).
 
I just replaced an Avon front with a B'stone T32 and find that the new tyre is made of rock! I thought the loose tyre was stiff when it was delivered.......
The (1100) bike steers and grips just fine, but it's like riding over bricks. The tyre is true on the rim and was balanced OK, 'cos I saw the bloke do it. THe forks are set up right and pressure is 32 p.s.i. (edit - OOPS! Meant 36 p.s.i.) same as always. Any ideas?
 
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