Bridgestone gives foretaste of new motorcycle tyres for 2020

Bridgestone is limbering up to add no less than four products to its motorcycle tyre portfolio in 2020. It has announced the impending arrival of four all-new or evolved lines – the Battlax Classic Racing CR11, Battlax BT46, Battlax Racing Street RS11 and Battlecross E50 Extreme.

Battlax Classic Racing CR11

Specially developed for maxi classic racing, this tyre proved its superior performance while still in development as a winner at the FIM Europe classic endurance championship (EEC). At the 4-hours Biker’s Classic in Spa-Francorchamps, it helped #10 Poweracing-Japauto take home first place and team #5 Roadrunner pick up the second place. In damp and tricky conditions, the best lap time and the fastest pace were recorded with Bridgestone tyres.

Bridgestone says the Battlax Classic Racing CR11 offers super-fast warm-up – vitally important for races that don’t allow tyre warmers. The tread pattern is derived from the Battlax Racing R11 grooved racing tyre. This pattern, says the manufacturer, gives the rider consistent grip and superior performance. The CR11 features a V-MS-Belt (variable monospiral belt) construction on the front for excellent braking stability and offers extra feedback when cornering. On the rear tyre, a combination of high-racing performance compounds in a three-layer compound configuration boost performance in the wet. The CR11 is compliant with the FIM Europe regulations for the Maxi Classic.

The CR11 will be available from March 2020 in size 110/80 R18 for the front and 150/65 R18 for the rear.

Battlax BT46

The Battlax BT46 is set to replace the iconic Battlax BT45. Since its introduction 22 years ago, the Battlax BT45 has been the go-to touring tyre for many. Bridgestone has now upgraded this design with modern technology.

The Battlax BT46 features an inverted V-shape in the front pattern – Bridgestone says this tackles working forces on the tyre, reduces irregular wear and gives the rider incredible feedback for superior handling. The rear tyre is enhanced with a newly-adapted silica single compound to maximise performance, grip and wear. Wet performance has been upgraded from the BT45 without impacting upon on the predecessor’s dry handling performance and wear resistance. And the BT46 is compatible with UM application: tubeless marked tyres are approved for mounting on tube type rims if they are used with a tube.

Bridgestone developed the Battlax BT46 to cover the wide range of motorcycles competing in the touring segment. The entire range will comprise of 21 front and 27 rear sizes. Ten main sizes will be launched in January 2020, with the rollout of the full line to follow soon after.

Battlax Racing Street RS11

Bridgestone says its new Racing Street category flagship offers impressive grip and ultra-sharp handling. It adds that the RS11 has already proven itself two seconds faster than the RS10 predecessor tyre in a two-minute lap. And it’s the first street-oriented tyre to incorporate V-MS-Belt construction, a configuration tried and tested in the racing environment. Battlax Racing Street RS11 is many motorcycle manufacturers’ tyre of choice for their premium sport bikes – it is original equipment on Yamaha YZF-R1 and YZF-R1M models, Kawasaki H2 and H2 carbon, Suzuki GSX-R 1000 and GSX-R 1000 R. Bridgestone says many more homologations are to come.

The Battlax Racing Street RS11 features a dry-grip-oriented pattern that’s directly inspired by the Bridgestone R11 racing grooved tyre and adapted for excellent contact patch behaviour. Overall stiffness and stability of the rear tyre is improved with a cap and base. Both front and rear tyres adopt a 3LC configuration, which is incomparable for performance and wear life. V-MS-Belt construction optimises the tread stiffness distribution on the rear tyre to increase the contact length at the shoulder and greatly improve the grip on a lean angle. Fine carbon particles in the newly developed shoulder rear compound improve the grip so riders can, says Bridgestone, blast around corners at full speed, on a full lean, with full confidence.

The RS11 will be available from March 2020, in 1 size for the front: 120/70 ZR 17 M/C (58W); and 2 sizes for the rear: 190/55 ZR 17 M/C (75W) and 200/55 ZR 17 (78W).

Battlecross E50 Extreme

Introduced in 2019, the Battlecross E50 has had a victorious first year, winning races across different enduro categories. On the back of this success, Bridgestone is releasing a new, dedicated racing tyre for extreme enduro. The new E50 Extreme challenges even the toughest terrain. It features a soft compound specially developed for superior grip and high traction power. The tread pattern incorporates advanced block positioning and works with the E50’s Castle Block technology to maximise edge effect and deliver extra traction.

The E50 Extreme will be available from January 2020 in 1 rear size: 140/80 – 18 70M NHS.