Bridgy BT-016 Pro

[zxsixr03]

What are these like in the wet?

[Blurr]

The 016's are crap but not sure about the new ones

[z900/zx9]

Dunlop road smarts are pretty good in the wet,also metzler M5s seem ok in the wet too

[zxsixr03]

unfortunately i don't get a choice... new steed being picked up today and as with every bike i have bought its wet....

[z900/zx9]

If i bought another bike i would negotiate fitting the tyres of my choice,probably too late now as you have done the deal

[Maccarocks]

The BT-016's are ok on the road on a nice warm day.. and they wear really well becasue they are so frigging hard..!!

So that should tell you a thing or two...!!

I have them on my 2011 ZX10R Road bike only because it came with them and I dont ride in the wet, and I spend all my money on my track bike..

But dont try to use them on the track, they really are a shit track tyre.. you will crash..

Remember the most important thing you can spend money on is tyres and suspension..

In a nutshell, if you are just commuting, the BT-016's are OK...

Macca

[StuMiller]

Some good advise there!

What would you recommend for my 2007 ZX6 that will do the majority of its work on the road, with some hard track day rides thrown in.

I have a Diablo on the rear at the moment and a Dunlop on the front and both are nearly ready for replacement. The mixed tyres were how I bought it....

I did have Pilot Powers on my other bike and they were quite good.

[Maccarocks]

Hi Stu,

If you are planning to do some track days as well as ride on the road, then you need a good quality Dual compound tyre. Hard in the centre for the road miles and softer on the sides for that edge grip...!! Now it also depends on how quick you are and how hard you push your tyres, but seriously most of us cannot really push tyres like the pro's. At the island I sell so many Dunlop Q2 'Qualifiers' to everyday track riders who like to ride on the road as well.. no problems with this tyre as it was designed just for this purpose.

Our ride coaches use these same tyres and some are doing mid to high 1.40's around the island on them.. They are on GSXR 750's, but also very skilled riders. But this is what the tyre can take lap after lap, and take plenty of heat cycles as well. So I would definitely recommend the Dunlop Q2's and the price is very good too.

If you want a stickier tyre, a Pirelli Super Corsa (SC-2) medium compound will give you heaps of grip, but they are a much softer tyre, so wear on the road will become apparant and there is the possibility of 'squaring' off the centre section, which makes that tyre bad if it is worn on the track... when you are tipping over.. bad feeling getting past that squared off edge..!! so what I am saying is with tyres, you have to be careful to select the right one.. they are also expensive, so you want to get the 'bang for your buck'.. so you should go for a tyre that is designed for what you want.. when you are doing 1.40's around the island, well you should be on a race tyre... I never sell a tyre to anyone just to sell it.. it has to fit the bike and the rider..

There are other brands we sell of course, but this page would go on forever if I kept rambling..!!


Hope this helped..

Macca

[s man]

There are 2 different BT 016s there is the OEM tyre, fitted to new ZX10s etc, & there is the aftermarket BT016 tyre. The OEM tyre I have on my ZRX1200 & compaired to the Pilot Powers I was running , I think they are better.They stick really well in the dry, & Ive havent had an issue in the rain. Im pretty sure the OEM tyre is single compound.
The aftermarket 016 is multicompound & I think would be better than the OEM tyre.
Just my 2.5 cents worth.

[pittster]

Yeah OEM are heaps harder than the aftermarket bought ones.

My rear peels rubber off when we got thru the twisties so soft enogh for me & i have never run out of grip (but i have no talent either).

The older non PRO Bt016 had a 3 layer and 5 layer setup (front3C soft/hard\soft , rear5C soft/medium|Hard|medium\soft)

The new Pro versions are better in the wet and now have a 3 layer on the rear.

I have used the older BT016's and never had issues they are grippy but do take a little bit of time to get to temp (i never push on a cold tyre ever but.).

I have a new set of Pro's to go on i'll see how they go. Best compromise for me I also Double my misses so hard centre is good I avg 8,000kms on these vs corsa 3 or pilot 2's which shred in 5000kms.

[StuMiller]

Thanks for the advise Macca. I've never really thought about Dunlop tyres as the majority of the talk I've heard for bikes mine has been about Pilot Powers....

When I'm ready, I'll most certainly consider the Q2 hoops.

Many thanks!

[born green]

Yep, dunlop qal, will do the trick stu. pilot powes are not a great ride day tyre, trust me, but im sure some will not agree!!!. having said that ive got pilot's on my roady,zx7r, great road tyre, not so good track tyre, been there, done that.
I hade them on my zx10 when she was a roady, did a track day at broady, and never, never again!!! nuf said.

[born green]

I spent more time sideways, than not. and i gave up speedway in 86,(5oo jawa) used to crew for dale munz.got a great look at my headlight off the top of turn 1 at broady, and yep it was on!!!!
And no, it was not fun!!!

[twelve]

Hi Stu,

If you are planning to do some track days as well as ride on the road, then you need a good quality Dual compound tyre. Hard in the centre for the road miles and softer on the sides for that edge grip...!! Now it also depends on how quick you are and how hard you push your tyres, but seriously most of us cannot really push tyres like the pro's. At the island I sell so many Dunlop Q2 'Qualifiers' to everyday track riders who like to ride on the road as well.. no problems with this tyre as it was designed just for this purpose.

Our ride coaches use these same tyres and some are doing mid to high 1.40's around the island on them.. They are on GSXR 750's, but also very skilled riders. But this is what the tyre can take lap after lap, and take plenty of heat cycles as well. So I would definitely recommend the Dunlop Q2's and the price is very good too.

If you want a stickier tyre, a Pirelli Super Corsa (SC-2) medium compound will give you heaps of grip, but they are a much softer tyre, so wear on the road will become apparant and there is the possibility of 'squaring' off the centre section, which makes that tyre bad if it is worn on the track... when you are tipping over.. bad feeling getting past that squared off edge..!! so what I am saying is with tyres, you have to be careful to select the right one.. they are also expensive, so you want to get the 'bang for your buck'.. so you should go for a tyre that is designed for what you want.. when you are doing 1.40's around the island, well you should be on a race tyre... I never sell a tyre to anyone just to sell it.. it has to fit the bike and the rider..

There are other brands we sell of course, but this page would go on forever if I kept rambling..!!


Hope this helped..

Macca

Ive got BT 016s on my zx6r and am not a fan. Ive come from pilot powers and pures. Some complain about them but i like them more than the bridgestones.

Great write up. Ive been looking at Dunlop SportSmarts. Ive heard they are better than the Q2s for commuting and occasional track days. I think Dunlop are marketing them this way as well. Could be a point to consider.

[Blurr]

Yep, dunlop qal, will do the trick stu. pilot powes are not a great ride day tyre, trust me, but im sure some will not agree!!!. having said that ive got pilot's on my roady,zx7r, great road tyre, not so good track tyre, been there, done that.
I hade them on my zx10 when she was a roady, did a track day at broady, and never, never again!!! nuf said.

Wattie may disagree with ya on that. He loves them as a all-round tyre. Sure they do move a bit ( read squirm) but that is something you learn to read. However he managed low 40's on them at EC with no dramas.

Myself I like the q2's but will admit that they dont last long. My rear last from my driveway, down to PI with the CDT tour and back before it was tufted. 1800kms return.