NC30 Battlax Tyres - My Opinion

[Doomah]

As tyres tends to be quite a hot issue, I just thought people may be able to benefit from my experience with the Bridgeston Battlax 090s and 92s. I spent months in total, trawling this site and other sites for someone to tell me which tyre to buy after I wear the rest off of my 090s. Alas, there was nothing... Except for conflicting opinions, with people saying and recommending opposite things.

So I just bought (a month ago - has had three rides) a brand new rear BT92! With an almost new (500 miles on it) BT090 front. I chose to opt for this setup because; the rear tyres wear much faster than my front tyres, I'd rather slide on my rear wheel than my front (if at all!), and because I just generally wanted the rear tyre to last a bit longer than the verging-on-dreadful life span of the 090. A brilliant idea, don't you think?

Terrible decision.

The rear BT92 is mind-blowingly disappointing. The promises of "plenty grip for the road" and "heats up very quickly" are captivating lies. In truth, the BT92 is not the worst tyre on the market by far, but compared to the BT090 it just doesn't perform at all. I have found that I am now must less able to simply 'flick' the bike into a lean - lean responsiveness feels hugely worse. I have also found that the BT92, being a harder compound than the 090, is prone to sliding of its own accord at times - something which I secretly anticipated but really didn't want. If I give it too much power at low speed while leaning the rear of the bike now runs away from me - the 090 wouldn't throw a sweat in such a condition, provided it's warm. The 92 also takes its time when warming up - about 3-4 miles for me and it'll be at a decent temperature, whereas the 090 managed it in a mile or so.

So... I've gained about 1500 extra miles of life in my rear tyre. But these "free miles" will be confined to the centre of the tyre, with the majority of the tread on the sides of the tyre quite plentiful. Not because I am unable to lean it and ride it (well if I were Valentino I probably could but..), but because the tyre itself now seriously limits my riding potential, and as a result it has a knock-on effect with my confidence.

Woop! I shalln't be doing that again...

[Cammo]

That combo seems to be a popular choice on here, but the 2 tyres have different (mismatched) profiles, the back will always feel unsettled when used with an 090 front.

[wullvfr]

im nearing the end of my rear bt014 and am wondering whether to stick with it.......my personal experience with this tyre has been a good one,compared to the last two i had which didnt last very long at all.i think you will find that the centre of the tyre will always wear a lot more than the outside whether we are leaning well over or not but ive managed more miles on the bto14 so i think i will stick with it.......or maybe i will try the bt090,who knows :D :D

[Morespeedvicar]

I've had my BT092 right to the edge with no problems at its never slid, squirmed or anything, ive got a bt014 on the front this also seems fine to me. Weather its because ive got a new nitron shock and rebuilt forks etc i dont know?
Cheers
Ian

[CRM]

I agree and have said this for years, fitting a 92 rear while giving more miles feels like a lethal combi when pushed.
For a winter tyre its fine, far less lean angle and greater contact patch make is in theory a good combi for day to day use, however for summer sports riding its scary. just looking at a 92 and something like a 090 side by side on rims you can clearly see more agressive curve on the 090 and the 92 tyre runs out or tyre at a far less angle than the 090.
I nearly threw my 3XV away on a 92 rear and same for one NC30 i had, if you lean the bike hard it will slip off the edge of the tyre (same as any tyre) but far earlier than sporting tyres.
So in the common sense world - for winter riding only

[1990nc30]

My bto90's are awesome the only problem is that they wear out too quickly and its always the two sides of the tyre that goes quickest coz they just get chewed up on a nice summers day leaning it at maximum angle. They are the best tyre though and very sticky, i often feel the sides of the tyre at the end of a blast and feel the stickeness of the rubber.

[DAC]

Hi,
I reckon the BT-92 rear looks like a tractor tyre, although incredibly, I used a brand new one (150 fitting) for a trackday a couple of years ago. It was a blisteringly hot day at Cadwell Park and the edges of the tyre were bobbled after the first sighting session. At the end of the day, the tyre was pretty much destroyed on the edges (esp RHS) and although I ran it on the road for the rest of the summer and the following winter without problems (raised eyebrows at the MOT), I wouldn't buy another one. The wear rate in the centre was good though for all the commuting. Have since fitted a BT014-160 and am loving it.
Regards,
Dave.