New Bridgestone T30's (A small review)

[c_dug]

As a massive fan of the previous BT023's I am sad to say I haven't had a brilliant first impression of their replacements the T30's.

During normal riding including pressing on a bit in the wet I can't claim to have noticed any difference between the 023's and the T30's, they both have a very similar very linear lean in and generally feel good.

However as per my recent thread I have a knocking coming from the front end of the bike and in an attempt to identify it's cause I have been subjecting the bike, and therefore the tyres, to numerous emergency stop style situations. I ride over a thousand miles a month and have almost never locked a front tyre unintentionally and can not think of a time when I have managed to at all in the dry intentionally or not.

During my testing I have had the tyre "chirping" two or three times, and today I had a full on front end slide on a well surfaced bone dry road after an hours commute home so on fully warm tyres. I can't say I've ever managed that before.

My suggestion would be to read a few reviews before making the change, I've not looked for other reviews so I have no idea if it has generally been rated well so I concede it is possible that I have got a bad tyre, or that whatever is causing my knocking sound is giving the tyre a hard time. However if the tyre is to blame I guess I may save you an expensive trip down the road!
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[Pigeon]

Read in MCN the other week that Ron Haslam's race school use only T30's as they are the best all rounder he's tried. They are subjected to all sorts of antics there.

Not saying it's not happening on your bike, and of course he probably gets them free via sponsorship, but he was pretty complimentary about them.

[evoboy]

They are Bridgestones.

For me, that is enough reason to not buy.
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Suzuki GT250 x7------- Fazer 600------CB250RS------Aprilia Rally 70----- Bandit 600

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[Jim Mc]

I was interested in getting some of these but when you look at how much soft compound is on the outer section of the tyre, it looks like just a narrow strip compared to previous versions.

[garth]

[c_dug]

In fairness to Bridgestone I think the 023 was a pretty phenomenal tyre, easily a match for the PR3's, I'd have no issue recommending an 023 to anybody.

I'm reserving complete judgement of the T30's for when I have sorted the front end out, it seems bizarre that there could be such step down from how good I found the 023's.

I'd be interested to know how the compound they use has changed, if at all. Obviously the 023 has only been around for 5 years or so, so there can't have been that much of a technological change in the rubber, can there? I was told by the tyre place that it is purely a marketing/re-branding reason for the change.
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[c_dug]

Well I had my first E-Stop situation on this tyre yesterday, cue chirping from the front again. I'm wondering if it is the style/weighting of the bike which means the front locks rather than lifting the back. I'm going to try dropping the pressure in the front tyre a tad to see if it helps with grip as it feels very hard after a long ride.

For those who have already fitted the T30 the tyre is still gripping when it is chirping, just, from my previous locking the wheel experience if you apply the brakes any harder at this stage the front will slide.
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[Shinigami]

Just this minute had a pair of t30s fitted. Will report back. Fazer did have 020s fitted before this
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Current: Honda City Fly CLR125 2003 Honda CB600F Hornet 2008 Yamaha FZ6 S2 + 1991 Kawasaki GPZ500
"Once you realize what a joke everything is, being the Comedian is the only thing that makes sense.

[c_dug]

I grew to like them, though my crash and resulting broken arm was due to a front wheel lock up, who knows if the same thing would have happened on a different tyre.
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[esullivan]

I've had T30s for about 3,000 miles now. I like them, but at first I thought they were too hard. I wouldn't call them brilliant compared with BT023s -- I don't notice a huge difference -- but they are definitely more than adequate in the wet and dry and seem to heat up quick enough for me (i.e., I don't fall down turning at the corner at the end of my street).
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Current: '14 VFR800X Test passed 31/10/12.
Previous: '12 NC700S, '11 CBF 125, '04 SH 125.

[chris-red]

I like the BT01*'s I've had on my S4, loads of grip there. But I've every got on with the BT02* series, every time I've ridden on one, I never have faith in them and they don't seem to have much grip. I really liked Diablo Strada's as a long life tyre, however these were replaced by Angel ST's which just had fuck all life on my TDM, I did 2 rears in about 5k miles! This was commuting through winter! However the Front has been on about 7-8k and still looks good. I have a Roadsmart on the back which I like, seems to have decent life too. I still think I prefer the Strada's They'd give me 7-9k out of a rear AND good grip.
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[Rogerborg]

[garth]

[crm250]

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

[evoboy]

[Shinigami]

well so far,

No chirping from front at all, seem pretty grippy on the wet slightly icy conditions this morning too,

handling on the fazer is massively improved but this is just likely that new tyre feel as i've only ever ridden it on heavily worn tyres
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Current: Honda City Fly CLR125 2003 Honda CB600F Hornet 2008 Yamaha FZ6 S2 + 1991 Kawasaki GPZ500
"Once you realize what a joke everything is, being the Comedian is the only thing that makes sense.

[Shinigami]

figured i'd post an update on these, still going really well, zero squaring so far and they still look new, very grippy and seemingly hard wearing, probably done around 2000 miles or so on them so far
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Current: Honda City Fly CLR125 2003 Honda CB600F Hornet 2008 Yamaha FZ6 S2 + 1991 Kawasaki GPZ500
"Once you realize what a joke everything is, being the Comedian is the only thing that makes sense.

[esullivan]

I might as well update here as well: Mine have 7,000 miles on them and the rear is beginning to square a bit -- so it looks like they are heading toward the same mileage as the 023s, which I changed after 10,000 miles. The front is fine, better than the 023s were at the same mileage.

I've liked them, too. No issues in the wet, and none of the chirping mentioned above that I've noticed. I'm doing a 2,000-mile trip in May, around Scotland, so I will probably change them just before that trip. I still want to try the Michelin Pilot Road 3s.
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Current: '14 VFR800X Test passed 31/10/12.
Previous: '12 NC700S, '11 CBF 125, '04 SH 125.

[Jefr0]

[R1stu]

Looking at these for the ST1100, any good? or would the GT versions be better?
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Current bike 1991 Honda ST1100 Pan European, 1986 Honda cb350sg (Finished)

[Enduro Numpty]

I fitted T30 GT's to my Fireblade in a quest for more mileage. Prior to this I'd been running the S20's which are incredibly grippy but don't last. Have got absolutely no complaints - they offer plenty of grip under all conditions on the Honda including hard braking.

I recently fitted them to my FJR1300 and they've barely been scrubbed in yet so I can't really rate them completely but I did notice the ABS cutting in for the first few miles. It is improving but the FJR is a lot heavier than the Fireblade so it's difficult to make direct comparisons. Going to Europe in the next few weeks with a pillion and luggage so that will be the real test. If they're anything other than excellent, be assured I will report back