New Bridgestone Battlax BT 016 Advanced Hypersport Tyre

BRIDGESTONE Sport	09.11.2007

Bridgestone has launched Battlax BT-016, an advanced hypersport tyre seen for the first time at the EICMA 2007 in Milano. It is designed to give maximum sporty performance to riders who are passionate about sport bikes – with the chance to enjoy the exciting grip performance of Bridgestone’s MotoGP multi-layer compound technology.

Compared to the BT-014 it will progressively replace, the new BT-016 provides total handling improvement in all riding modes – with noticeably better contact feel, feedback, stability and grip – as well as longer wear life and lower noise levels.

Maximum grip from MotoGP compound technology

Bridgestone has combined its top MotoGP construction technology with its latest multi-compound technology from SACT (Straight And Cornering Technology) to produce a sport tyre that gives high-level grip performance in braking, cornering and acceleration..

The BT-016 front tyre has a new 3-Layer Compound (3LC): a center compound for linear handling and longer wear life, flanked by a shoulder compound to secure high grip and a strong contact feeling.

The rear BT-016 tyre features Bridgestone’s new 5-Layer Compound (5LC) technology, used for the first time on a street tyre. The center compound gives good stability and higher mileage; the shoulder compound transfers the engine power to the road with strong traction; while the edge compound provides strong side grip and a massive contact feeling at deep lean angles. The line holding feels almost like riding on a rail.

Improved linear and sporty handling

Front and rear construction is based on Bridgestone’s proven HTSPC platform (High Tensile Super Penetrated Cord) with steel MSB (Mono Spiral Belt). This one-piece construction enhances slide controllability and line-holding through corners, while providing good shock absorption. The increased compression stiffness it produces helps to maintain a uniform contact patch and stability at high speeds.

The front pattern features S-shaped cross diagonal grooves in the centre tread area, for light handling, rich feedback and good wet performance. The rear pattern has L-shaped grooves without cross grooves in the centre, giving stronger traction and lower pattern noise – especially noticeable in the 80 km/h to 110 km/h cruising speed range. Both tyre treads give plenty of grip, with a lower 6% void ratio versus 11% on BT-014 front and 10% on BT-014 rear.

Strong OE sales

Motorcycle manufacturers are clearly impressed by Bridgestone’s new hypersport tyre. With tailor-made construction technologies using the same tread pattern design, the Battlax BT-016 has been approved as original equipment for leading 2008 models, including Yamaha YZF R6 and 100% fitment for Suzuki GSX-R600 and 750.

Battlax BT-016 Positioning chart

Motorcyclists in Europe will find Battlax BT-016 available in the replacement market in 4 front-wheel sizes and 7 rear-wheel sizes from early 2008.

110/70 ZR17 BT-016F (54W) TL
120/60 ZR17 BT-016F (55W) TL
120/70 ZR17 BT-016F (58W) TL
130/70 ZR16 BT-016F (61W) TL

160/60 ZR17 BT-016R (69W) TL
150/60 ZR17 BT-016R (66W) TL
170/60 ZR17 BT-016R (72W) TL
180/55 ZR17 BT-016R (73W) TL
190/50 ZR17 BT-016R (73W) TL
190/55 ZR17 BT-016R (75W) TL
160/60 ZR18 BT-016R (70W) TL

KOMMENTARE

01.09.2008, Moos

Time is the enemy of everything but antiques and wine. When it comes to motorcycle tyres, ageing is definitely an enemy. As the years roll by, the standard of a tyre?s performance effectively begins to drop off.

Development is so fast in the bike tyre world that you?re only usually king for a few years before rivals catch up and unseat you.

That?s been the case with Bridgestone?s BT-014 best-selling and award-winning sports tyre which in recent times has been relegated from its position of dominance in the class.
But its replacement, the BT-016 could well see Bridgestone leading the way once again. Called a ?Hypersport? tyre, the BT-016 has been built for fast road-riding and trackdays. It is not a race tyre. I tried it at the GP track, Jerez in Spain and was impressed with the way it performed.

On a variety of bikes including an 848, 1098S, GSX-R750, GSX-R1000, CBR600RR and ZX-6R the grip, turn in speed, and stability were all excellent. Better still, when the rear tyre eventually let go, it did so in a safe and predictable manner allowing you to correct it quickly.

Faster men than me were also impressed. Former GP rider Jeremy McWilliams said he thought the BT-016s were extremely good and very hard to fault. He thought the front was especially grippy and stable under braking.

Another rapid rider, Ron Haslam, liked the manners of the tyres. He thought they were significantly better than the BT-014s they replace, a tyre which he has much experience of on his race school bikes. He liked the feel and feedback of the BT-016s, and said they were easier to manage once they reached the limit of their grip.

MotoGP champion Bridgestone is claiming the multi-compounds the tyres feature will help both grip and wear. The rear has 5LC (five layer compound) which is actually just three different compounds, and the front a 3LC (actually just two).
Mono Spiral Belt construction, featuring HTSPCC (High Tensile Super Penetrated Cord) gives the BT-016s trustworthy stability at all speeds (especially round Jerez?s super fast corners), and the new pattern is said to reduce noise and add further grip.
After I?d tried the BT-016s on several bikes, I then tried the rubber they replace, the BT-014s on a GSX-R1000. To be honest I was quite surprised by how good they were. But the real difference between the two started to show after just four laps. Where the newer tyre?s performance would stay consistent for the whole ten laps, the BT-014s would start to go off and slide a little. In a race between the two I?m sure the difference in lap times wouldn?t be huge to begin with, but the BT-016s would start to be faster and increase that advantage each time.

I?ll be fitting a pair of the new Bridgestones to test on the road soon and will let you know about wet weather grip and wear rates in a few weeks.

28.02.2008, Mario Giesteira Almeida

Bridgestone`tyres for bycles are the best

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