Tires – In the footsteps of Capirossi and Co … –

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In the footsteps of Capirossi and Co…

Tires - In the footsteps of Capirossi and Co ... -

In order to make the most of the performance of their ever more powerful and sharp motorcycles, sports bikers are offered "competition" tires approved on the road, like the last Bridgestone BT002 Racing Street…

The Battlax BT-002 Racing Street range is the new generation of "supersport" tires from Bridgestone: "MotoGP type"as announced by the Japanese, this tire does not forget its road vocation, the BT-002" quite short "- from which Racing Street comes – being already there to satisfy the exclusive trackers.

Thus the BT-002 RS (Racing Street) has the arduous task of assigning "for motorcycles over 600 cc, exceptional performance on the road and on the circuit"and wants to be sportier than its predecessor, the BT-012 SS. The Japanese manufacturer therefore promises that"the Racing Street front / rear axle (Z performance index) ensures exceptional sensitivity and high precision in curves".

But if for a road tire, its efficiency in curves is important, its longevity is essential. What led Bridgestone to adopt "a tread composed of more durable compounds and excellent grip in most road conditions", in the dry as in the wet.

In addition, rare are the bikers who spend more time on the angle than straight like i’s, along our national roads which unfortunately look more and more like motorways. As a result, the BT-002 RS front tire is fitted with the DTC system – Dual Tread Compound – which combines "a medium hard rubber (in the center) and a soft rubber (shoulder) for high grip without weighing down the steering", says Bridgestone.

The rear tire does not benefit from two different types of rubber but its "high silica content"is supposed to improve grip, promises the Japanese manufacturer."The shallow radius of curvature of the top provides smooth and predictable cornering behavior. The tread provides excellent heading hold, the optimal distribution of the grooves making it easier to take turns at medium to steep inclines", adds the builder.

We note that the profile and the sculptures – almost absent on the angle – of these new tires are "directly from the BT-002 competition tire". Its behavior at a sustained pace should therefore not call for criticism, unless perhaps chasing the hundredths of a second. Above all, it remains to explain to the representatives of the police that this tire is indeed approved on the road !

A monospiral belt is fitted to both tires, providing according to Japanese engineers "significant weight reduction compared to the classic system (multiple overlapping belts)"Bridgestone is also the first manufacturer to equip an MSB belt with five distinct, twisted steel filaments with a rubber coating."which guarantees constant and regular tension. This system, called "HTSPC" (High Tensile Super Penetrated Cord) ensures high rigidity, flexibility and excellent damping.", assures Bridgestone.

The Battlax BT-002 Racing Street range has been on sale since April 2006 in the following three sizes: 120 / 70ZR17 (58W) TL (front), 180 / 55ZR17 (73W) TL and 190 / 50ZR17 (73W) TL (back). A fourth dimension – 190/55 ZR17 (75W) TL – (rear) is expected to follow later this year.

Certainly, it is not only in competition that the manufacturers are pulling the plug … Between the Pirelli Diablo Corsa III (read), the Michelin Power Race 2CT and the Dunlop D 208 RR, among others, avid bikers thrills on the slopes – like on the road? – are spoiled for choice !

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