Bridgestone BT021 review

[Mr Gear]

Just finished wrecking my first set of dual-compound BT021s, and my views are on the whole very positive.

Great mileage from them compared to the single-compound Bridgestones I had before, and enough grip for knee-down alpine hairpins and wet south-circular alike.

However, oddly, the front tyre has worn out before the rear, and both have worn out in a most strange way, with almost a "step" off the edge of the hard compound where the soft has worn away. It has created some iffy handling (but still enough grip) in the last few hundred miles, and confirms its time for some new rubber.

Despite that, I think I'll go with the same tyres again. Ideal for the Speed Four in my opinion.

[toxgobbler]

Still prefer the Michelin PR2's having used both.

[EvoBarry]

I'm on BT021s currently and have been impressed so far. They had 500 miles or so on them before our trip to France, did over 2k in France and still have loads of life in them. Not bad considering the weight my already porky Fazer1000 was carrying, and the pasting I gave them in southern France. My mate needed a new rear on his ZX12 over the same distance fwiw.

[Mr OCD]

I've been thinking about trying these myself but not sure yet... currently use the Avon Storm ST's which are utterly fantastic. My best mate raves about the Michelin PR2's which I'm also considering ...

[Hyperion]

Mr OCD said:

I've been thinking about trying these myself but not sure yet... currently use the Avon Storm ST's which are utterly fantastic. My best mate raves about the Michelin PR2's which I'm also considering ...

I'm thinking about switching to Avon Storm ST's from BT021's!...I think this 'stepping', or uneaven wear problem on the front tyres is a big issue. It really buggers up my bikes handling.
I get excellent mileage from them though (11'000 on the last rear).

[MaximumJed]

Hyperion said:

Mr OCD said:

I've been thinking about trying these myself but not sure yet... currently use the Avon Storm ST's which are utterly fantastic. My best mate raves about the Michelin PR2's which I'm also considering ...

I'm thinking about switching to Avon Storm ST's from BT021's!...I think this 'stepping', or uneaven wear problem on the front tyres is a big issue. It really buggers up my bikes handling.
I get excellent mileage from them though (11'000 on the last rear).

I have the same issue with the front tyre, I am used to the rear going flat around the centre, but on both sets of BT021s that I have had, the front has worn a flat section just to the right of centre. I assumed it was the soft section being affected by the camber of the road.

[Mr Gear]

MaximumJed said:

Hyperion said:

Mr OCD said:

I've been thinking about trying these myself but not sure yet... currently use the Avon Storm ST's which are utterly fantastic. My best mate raves about the Michelin PR2's which I'm also considering ...

I'm thinking about switching to Avon Storm ST's from BT021's!...I think this 'stepping', or uneaven wear problem on the front tyres is a big issue. It really buggers up my bikes handling.
I get excellent mileage from them though (11'000 on the last rear).

I have the same issue with the front tyre, I am used to the rear going flat around the centre, but on both sets of BT021s that I have had, the front has worn a flat section just to the right of centre. I assumed it was the soft section being affected by the camber of the road.

WOw, that is EXACTLY why I need to change my tyres now. They have taken a long time to get to this stage, so I am not complaining as such, but it is an odd wear characteristic and maybe Bridgestone should fix it to make the tyres last even longer.

[ZZR]

Mr Gear said:

MaximumJed said:

Hyperion said:

Mr OCD said:

I've been thinking about trying these myself but not sure yet... currently use the Avon Storm ST's which are utterly fantastic. My best mate raves about the Michelin PR2's which I'm also considering ...

I'm thinking about switching to Avon Storm ST's from BT021's!...I think this 'stepping', or uneaven wear problem on the front tyres is a big issue. It really buggers up my bikes handling.
I get excellent mileage from them though (11'000 on the last rear).

I have the same issue with the front tyre, I am used to the rear going flat around the centre, but on both sets of BT021s that I have had, the front has worn a flat section just to the right of centre. I assumed it was the soft section being affected by the camber of the road.

WOw, that is EXACTLY why I need to change my tyres now. They have taken a long time to get to this stage, so I am not complaining as such, but it is an odd wear characteristic and maybe Bridgestone should fix it to make the tyres last even longer.

Changed my tyres 2 weeks ago from BT021 front, they have always worn unevenly on my bike from middle to edge and fron heel to toe on each grip pad and I've had enough of the dodgy handling that gives. I've moved to the AVON ST Storms in the hope things improve (although a puncture last night really pissed me off!!

[MaximumJed]

ZZR said:

I've moved to the AVON ST Storms in the hope things improve (although a puncture last night really pissed me off!!

I'd really like to know how well these work. I've been impressed by the 021s in all aspects other than the strange wear issue. If the Avons can give similar grip in all conditions without becoming an abnormal shape - I'll switch!

[Yoda954]

Mr Gear said:

MaximumJed said:

Hyperion said:

Mr OCD said:

I've been thinking about trying these myself but not sure yet... currently use the Avon Storm ST's which are utterly fantastic. My best mate raves about the Michelin PR2's which I'm also considering ...

I'm thinking about switching to Avon Storm ST's from BT021's!...I think this 'stepping', or uneaven wear problem on the front tyres is a big issue. It really buggers up my bikes handling.
I get excellent mileage from them though (11'000 on the last rear).

I have the same issue with the front tyre, I am used to the rear going flat around the centre, but on both sets of BT021s that I have had, the front has worn a flat section just to the right of centre. I assumed it was the soft section being affected by the camber of the road.

WOw, that is EXACTLY why I need to change my tyres now. They have taken a long time to get to this stage, so I am not complaining as such, but it is an odd wear characteristic and maybe Bridgestone should fix it to make the tyres last even longer.

I used to get the 'stepping' on my front BT 101's on my ZX6...oooh, what...5 years ago...and they still do this?? Ridiculous really !!!

[Hooli]

i went through two sets of 021s on my 14 & both did exactly this 'step' thing on the front.
now on PR2s & i'll never go back to 021s given the choice, the PR2s are so much nicer to ride on with several million more times feedback & they even feedback in the cold & wet when my 021s were busy pretending to be a block of wood. oh & when they let go the slide is much more gentle than the 021s.
from people on other forums PR2s seem to last slightly longer too.

[Mr Gear]

Hooli said:

i went through two sets of 021s on my 14 & both did exactly this 'step' thing on the front.
now on PR2s & i'll never go back to 021s given the choice, the PR2s are so much nicer to ride on with several million more times feedback & they even feedback in the cold & wet when my 021s were busy pretending to be a block of wood. oh & when they let go the slide is much more gentle than the 021s.
from people on other forums PR2s seem to last slightly longer too.

Well there ya go then. Despite me generally being positive about the BT021s, I think I'll give the PR2s a go instead next time. Then in a few thousand miles time, I'll come back and tell you which were better!

In the meantime, I've got a rear tyre that needs using up and a front that is already used up. Only one thing for it... BURNOUT!!!

I'll try and get you some pics

[Hooli]

you wont regret it. another bonus is the PR2s make the bike feel soooooo much lighter, i assume from a different profile. the first few corners i nearly threw it on the floor as it takes so little effort to turn compared to before.

[untruth]

I wish they made PR2s in the NC30 profile. Waaaaa.

[Mr OCD]

ZZR said:

Mr Gear said:

MaximumJed said:

Hyperion said:

Mr OCD said:

I've been thinking about trying these myself but not sure yet... currently use the Avon Storm ST's which are utterly fantastic. My best mate raves about the Michelin PR2's which I'm also considering ...

I'm thinking about switching to Avon Storm ST's from BT021's!...I think this 'stepping', or uneaven wear problem on the front tyres is a big issue. It really buggers up my bikes handling.
I get excellent mileage from them though (11'000 on the last rear).

I have the same issue with the front tyre, I am used to the rear going flat around the centre, but on both sets of BT021s that I have had, the front has worn a flat section just to the right of centre. I assumed it was the soft section being affected by the camber of the road.

WOw, that is EXACTLY why I need to change my tyres now. They have taken a long time to get to this stage, so I am not complaining as such, but it is an odd wear characteristic and maybe Bridgestone should fix it to make the tyres last even longer.

Changed my tyres 2 weeks ago from BT021 front, they have always worn unevenly on my bike from middle to edge and fron heel to toe on each grip pad and I've had enough of the dodgy handling that gives. I've moved to the AVON ST Storms in the hope things improve (although a puncture last night really pissed me off!!

Avon tyres come with free replacement insurance should you get a puncture within first 30% of its tyre life or something ... I remember reading about it at place I got my tyres fitted and is what made me choose them over the Michelin PR's that I was considering...

Looks like I'm staying with the Avon Storm's then ... as the Michelin PR2's are going to cost an extra £50 ... sod that

£180 fitted for storms front and rear will do nicely