Bridgestone S21 tire test

Menus

• Hypersport radial tire test at the Abu Dhabi F1 circuit
• Faster and further
• Sport at all costs: in the tradition of the S20 Evo
• Back to rubber sorting
• Drawing and sculptures
• A sharper tire profile
• Trip-gum and mixtures
• On track!
• Stable at over 250 km / h
• Conclusion
• Practical aspects
• The dimensions

Hypersport radial tire test at the Abu Dhabi F1 circuit

Faster and further

For the presentation of its new hypersport road tire, Bridgestone had put the small dishes in the big ones. It must be said that the newborn claims great benefits, at the height of the event organized on the Abu Dhabi F1 circuit (or Abu Dhabi depending on tastes). After the excellent S 20 Evo, the S 21 is a revolution on its own. Explanations.

Planted on the edge of the desert, the city of Abu Dhabi was only a small port with four hotels, twenty years ago. But the oil windfall has transformed it and now constructions are sprouting up like mushrooms after the rain. International and colossal airport, presidential airport, it is not the same, must not be kidding either, 4-lane highways in each direction with irrigated plantations on the edge, Ferrari world, an amusement park, etc. Here however, no skyscrapers like in Dubai. On the other hand, a great F1 circuit named Yas Marina, fully lit, with a luxury resort in the middle and a marina for yachts, hence its name. Air-conditioned stand, permanent hospitality for teams and grandstands offering 50,000 seats. The decor is set, grandiose. Let’s talk about the Battlax S21 tire now.

Sport at all costs: in the tradition of the S20 Evo

Invested for a long time in sport and particularly in Moto GP until last year, Brigestone has a very developed sports range. So the S 21 fits in line with BT 16, BT 16 Evo, S 20 and S 20 Evo. Tires which each in their own way have forged the brand’s “hypersport” history and the profile of the S21 itself. Thus the BT 16 was already a dual compound front and triple compound rear. Very efficient in the dry, it was more behind in the wet. A shortcoming that its successor the BT 16 Pro has successfully corrected, while using only two compound compounds. Then came the time of S 20, dual compound front and rear too, which set a benchmark on wet track, by its exceptional performance. The S 20 Evo widens its spectrum claiming this time an improvement on dry roads. But his Achilles heel remains a quick wear and tear. The competition is tough and there is no question of resting on your laurels, especially when you have accumulated so much experience in MotoGP. In addition, the rapid development and level of performance of modern hypersports lined with electronics, also requires manufacturers to constantly upgrade their products..

Back to rubber sorting

It is in this context that the new S21 arrives, flagship of the road sport range, a hypersport initially intended for sporting road use, but which will largely allow its owner to register without complex for days of driving. on tracks.

Compared to its glorious predecessor, it emphasizes three main points: longevity, performance in the dry, while retaining the recognized qualities of the S 20 Evo in the wet. A big challenge for the Japanese manufacturer who claims a longevity increased by 36% (it’s huge !!!) and an improvement in lap time of 2 seconds, over 2 minutes, in reference to the S 20 Evo, on the Sugo test track.

To achieve this, engineers reworked multiple areas.

Drawing and sculptures

Let’s start with the completely redesigned sculpture design. At the rear, there is a 100% slick central band, which improves both longevity and traction in the dry. On the wet track, on the other hand, we lose a bit, but this choice is part of a compromise which remains very favorable overall, as we said above. The scoring rate of the rear tire is 10.6%, which is still a very reasonable value for road use..

At the front, however, the designs cross the central part of the tire, to maintain excellent braking in wet conditions. Let’s not forget that Bridgestone’s objective was to maintain the performance of the S20 Evo in the wet. To significantly improve the longevity of her foal, Bridg applied the "old recipe of BT 16, namely the use of 3 different gums at the back delimiting 5 zones in the tire. This allows a harder central band that swallows the kilometers, with two outer bands that are softer and strongly notched to evacuate the water and finally, soft and almost slick ends to improve the lap times in the dry, while remaining rigid (in l ‘absence of sculpture). Areas that are not exploited in the wet anyway.

A sharper tire profile

This work is completed by a new more pointed profile, to make the bike more lively and more manageable, associated with a reworked footprint, to reduce the "natural" slip zone at the origin of the rapid wear of a tire.

Trip-gum and mixtures

The gum mixes have of course also been the subject of attention from the manufacturer, but we will not know much more, manufacturing secrecy requires. All these efforts allow Bridgestone to claim a joint improvement in performance and mileage, which are usually contradictory. Thank you sorting eraser technology. It’s beautiful progress no?

On track!

While we were unable to test the behavior on wet ground or the longevity on the road, we were on the other hand able to do laps to gauge the new champion in the dry. In the absence of any element of comparison and without knowing either the layout or its level of grip, we can still very widely appreciate the qualities of S21, pushed to its limits..

Stable at over 250 km / h

First observation, the maneuverability announced is beautiful and there. In the chicane, the bike swings quickly and effortlessly from side to side. It’s easy and once on the angle, the stability is excellent, as confirmed by the behavior in the long parabolic curve of the Yas Marina circuit, which throws up really hard at the end of a very slow left right sequence. We leave almost at a standstill and we go up the gears, without anything stumbling. In the fast sections, we also appreciate the stability on hard braking, which is never faulted, as long as the bike is upright. Handy, but also stable, even at over 250 km / h, this S21. At the rear, on strong acceleration, we manage to make it stall, but it then sends you warning signals and shows great thoughtfulness. On motorcycles equipped with electronic assistance, the regulation is done in full transparency, the marriage S21 / traction control being very happy..

It’s hardly the corner entry on the brakes that we would have appreciated with a little more feedback to improve confidence. A criticism already leveled against the S20 Evo and which persists on the S21. However, don’t worry about its performance in this situation, it will suit the most demanding and go-getter bikers, but just the desire to know a little more where we are. Other reasons for satisfaction, the consistency of performance throughout the sale, without ever weakening hot. High quality in a tire that claims excellent performance in the wet and therefore in the cold, thanks to a strong presence of silica. We have known some who did not support this treatment after a few turns … here the operating temperatures were around 50 ° in front and 65 ° behind with pressures of 2.3 bars in front and 2.2 bars behind, at hot. When cold, it makes about 1.8 bar in front and 1.9 behind. On the road, 2.5 bars in front and 2.9 bars behind will be used. Finally, without having been able to test the longevity claimed over the long term, we still see both low and regular wear of our test tires, which are however severely strained. A good sign!

Conclusion

Hyper-versatile and sufficiently efficient on the track, the S 21 will suit demanding roadster drivers and sports drivers who ride on the road, but do not disdain a few days of driving on the track. Its longevity and its claimed performance in the wet make it an excellent daily companion, combining the advantages of a GT sport tire with those of a hypersport. To be checked in the long term, but with the S21, Bridgestone seems to have succeeded in squaring the circle. Good game !

Practical aspects

The S 21 replaces the S 20 Evo and resumes its prices in the same way. A great deal if you take into account the 36% increased longevity! The S 20 Evo goes into second range and sees its price drop by 20%, another good deal, if the 2 seconds difference per lap does not bother you and its rapid wear is not penalizing for you. (small rollers). The BT 16 pro goes into third range, while in this set of musical chairs, the BT 14 disappears.

Indicative price: € 227.80 per game in 120/180 X 17

Strong points

• Extreme versatility
• Hot hold
• Excellent level of grip
• Rates kept
• Increased longevity (manufacturer claim)
• Slow and uniform wear (observed)
• Improved performance compared to the S 20 Evo
• Nice rear progressiveness

Weak points

• Slight lack of forward feeling when braking when entering a curve

The dimensions

Battlax Hypersport S21 is available in four front and six rear sizes

• Front: 110 / 70ZR17M / C (54W) – 120 / 60ZR17M / C (55W) – 120 / 70ZR17M / C (58W) – 130 / 70ZR16M / C (61W)
• Rear: 150 / 60ZR17M / C (66W) – 160 / 60ZR17M / C (69W) – 180 / 55ZR17M / C (73W) – 190 / 50ZR17M / C (73W) – 190 / 55ZR17M / C (75W) – 200 / 55ZR17M / C (78W)

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