Triumphrat

PtboSprintSt · 05-31-2006

Hi,
I got my '02 sprint in the fall of 05. It wouldn't pass the safety, so I took the advice of the previous owner and put on Bridgestone BattleAx tires. At the time the bike had around 6500 KM. It now has 11 000 KM. The tires look to me like they have lots of wear left, but from reading these lists I've learned one can go through bike tires pretty quick. Also, the previous owner loved the Bridgestones, but the owner of the shop I had maintenance work done on the bike after I bought it said they were the wront tires for the Sprint.

I like to go around windy curves and drive around 120 km/hr on the open road, but I'd say I'm a conservative driver by nature and not super aggressive.

Any advice on how many km's I should get and how I can tell when the tires need to be changed would be appreciated. Also, if you have strong feelings for or against the Bridgestones let me know with possible alternative choices.

Thanks!!

DrTriumph · 05-31-2006

The way to know if you "need" new tires is by the wear bars. If you look in the center of the tire and down the treads you sill every once in a while see a bit of rubber that seems to be out of place, these are the wear bars. They should not be flush with the rubber of the tire. If the tire is flush with the wear bar it is time to replace the tire.

Point 2, Bridgestone 020's: Everyone on Sport and Sport Tour bikes that I ride with run these. The question I had was why? They stated that they are good in the twisty turns in the dry and the wet. A couple of the riders had tried Metzler's, and found them about the same, around here much more expensive. So we all now due to a group buying which brought the price down a lot, we have B 020's. We ended up paying 301 Canadian per set. I had them mounted at a local shop for 65.00 drive in and drive out service. I could have taken the tires in separate and had them done for 35.00 but I figured for the extra 30.00 it was not worth my time to take them off and reinstall them.

Just some food for thought,

Dr. Triumph

basco · 05-31-2006

I found that Metzlers handled better in the rain and bridgestones are better for long distance.

On price, Metzlers beat the OEM Bridgestones from my source. I think I paid 202 usd delivered.

DaveM · 06-01-2006

Bridgestones are the bottom of the rung in my opinion.

They last for ever but are not well known for a lot of grip if conditions are less than ideal.

Bridgeys are also not well known for being very grippy in the wet.
Having bagged them a lot of folks use em but I don't like em one bit.
They are a very average tyre in my opinion.

There are a lot of better tyres on the market, if you want a sports touring tyre the Metzeler Z6 or Avon Azaro 45/46 ST's. These get good milage and are good in the wet and dry. They also handle better than the Bridgestones.

If you want a stickier tyre at the moment the Michelin Pilot Power would have to be one of the best for grip, handling, wear.
I havent tried the latest Diablo's or the Avon Vipers though.

my 2c worth.

Have a nosey in the tyre sticky at the top of the page. Lots newsy stuff there and also check the reviews section.

Davem

rodneybrown · 06-01-2006

To me one of the most important things about any tire is how much confidence you have in it. I don't have anywhere as much confidence in a Bridgestone as I do in a Metzler or Pirelli (same manufacturer really). The bad thing that I found with MEZ4 and 6 is that you really can't predict when the chords will show up in that last 1000 or so miles which leaves you with the choice of dumping them too early or waiting till you see the chord which can happen a few hundred miles from home.