a reply from the bridgestone man
Hi Dave,
Thank you for your correspondence with Neil.
First of all, the BT-021 is a Sports Touring tyre and there are many different specs of it on the market, and some of these specs will work better on certain bikes and some of them have varying compounds, too!
For the ZZR1200, which appears on the forum, the BT-021’s are not an approved option for this bike. The only approved option is the BT-020 in AA spec front and rear. In comparison to the BT-021’s, the AA spec BT-020’s have stiffer beads and sidewalls to help carry the weight and load exerted on it by the natural nature of this particular bike. The BT-020 AA spec on the front is also a taller tyre, therefore fitting a BT-021 front, which has a smaller overall diameter, will put more weight on the front of the bike and load the front tyre more that it should.
In addition to the above, the BT-021 rear is taller than the BT-020 so, in conjunction with the above, this will add even more weight to the front…hence the reason, when pushed, the rider will have the feeling he is having on the ZZR1200.
It’s of huge importance that fitting “approved fitments” is adhered to as fitting the same type of tyre is not as simple as one would think. There can be many differences between the varying specs of tyres we have, and other manufacturers have, in their ranges.
I have attached the latest edition of the Bridgestone fitment guide for you. All fitments seen in the chart have been tested and approved by either the motorcycle manufacturer or, by Bridgestone. Feel free to use this should you need to. I will add you to my “fitment guide” mailing list and copy you in each and every time it is updated. Just simply delete the old one as on occasions, some fitments can, and are, taken out.
I have also attached some press copy of the new BT-023 for you too. There is also a link below from the latest blog on Visordown, reference the BT-023’s
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Login I trust the above helps you. However, if something appears on the forum that you think I can help you with, please feel free to contact me directly and I will do my upmost to answer any questions you, or indeed your fellow posters may have.
Kind Regards,
Gary Hartshorne
Sales Development & Technical Manager
Motorcycle Department
Bridgestone UK Ltd
fitment guide :
its mahoosive so im not sure how to post it or link to it at the moment
