Bridgestone S20 tyre review

[BigAl]

Just another nail in the coffin, of the most horrible superbike I've ever ridden I guess.

Many would beg to differ.

[Drew]

Many would beg to differ.

I don't doubt that, I question. "Why"?

[roogazza]

I was using two rears on my R1 to Adrian's one on his GSXR on track...and I was often 1 compound level harder on the rear than him too. My lap times were quicker but not by more than a second so pretty close. The crossplane R1 linkage seems to be pretty abrupt and hard on tyres...maybe the weight bias contributed to that but I had it high in the front and not much higher than stock in the rear.

Just another nail in the coffin, of the most horrible superbike I've ever ridden I guess.

You two blokes seem to have experience with S20s, so getting back to them for a bit. Slightly higher pressures( reading between the lines ), 36, 38 would be a good place to start ?
I get a pair fitted today (if I can dodge the raindrops and get to town). Pilots Powers , the older type, give me around 6 ks a set so if S20s can get close to that I'm happy.

[slofox]

You two blokes seem to have experience with S20s, so getting back to them for a bit. Slightly higher pressures( reading between the lines ), 36, 38 would be a good place to start ?
I get a pair fitted today (if I can dodge the raindrops and get to town). Pilots Powers , the older type, give me around 6 ks a set so if S20s can get close to that I'm happy.

I've done a tick over 4000km on my set on the six. All looks good so far.

[Drew]

You two blokes seem to have experience with S20s, so getting back to them for a bit. Slightly higher pressures( reading between the lines ), 36, 38 would be a good place to start ?
I get a pair fitted today (if I can dodge the raindrops and get to town). Pilots Powers , the older type, give me around 6 ks a set so if S20s can get close to that I'm happy.

You're onto it Gaz. Those pressures are what I ran, and the pair on the RF still look near new after 4 or 5 thousand k's.

[Owl]

Got a set of S20's in the shed and looking forward to trying them out. Just gotta kill these blasted PR2's that won't die.

[JayRacer37]

You two blokes seem to have experience with S20s, so getting back to them for a bit. Slightly higher pressures( reading between the lines ), 36, 38 would be a good place to start ?
I get a pair fitted today (if I can dodge the raindrops and get to town). Pilots Powers , the older type, give me around 6 ks a set so if S20s can get close to that I'm happy.

You're onto it Gaz. Those pressures are what I ran, and the pair on the RF still look near new after 4 or 5 thousand k's.

Would go with Drew on this one, he's the man with experience on the S20. Certainly in a tyre of that type there is little (if any) advantage to running much lower than those numbers, and some significant potential downsides (Life, carcass structure, stability, potential to overheat)

[roogazza]

Would go with Drew on this one, he's the man with experience on the S20. Certainly in a tyre of that type there is little (if any) advantage to running much lower than those numbers, and some significant potential downsides (Life, carcass structure, stability, potential to overheat)

Thanks to both. I've been running 36/38 for some time with PPs with the result of better mileage and feel. (street).
Keen to see how these last on the thou ?

[slofox]

6300km so far. Still looking OK. Some shape change happening, so who knows?

I trust these tyres more than any I have used. But then I probably didn't try any of them to the limit anyway, so... I just reckon it'd be damn hard for me to fall off these.

EDIT: Oh and by the by, I run 36 - 38 rear and 34 - 36 front.

[kiwi cowboy]

Would go with Drew on this one, he's the man with experience on the S20. Certainly in a tyre of that type there is little (if any) advantage to running much lower than those numbers, and some significant potential downsides (Life, carcass structure, stability, potential to overheat)

is there any news about these coming out in a 160 60 18 for the older bikes ( I remember at being bandied about on a thread here just cant find it) my old fizzer needs a new tire on the rear for rally season and the best tire it looks like is only a t30 (new bt106 on front).

[Drew]

is there any news about these coming out in a 160 60 18 for the older bikes ( I remember at being bandied about on a thread here just cant find it) my old fizzer needs a new tire on the rear for rally season and the best tire it looks like is only a t30 (new bt106 on front).

I could never get anything decent for the back of my FZR when I raced it. Prick of a size.

You will save money in the long run getting a 17X5 rim and running a 180/55 I should think, if you want sticky hoops.

[JayRacer37]

is there any news about these coming out in a 160 60 18 for the older bikes ( I remember at being bandied about on a thread here just cant find it) my old fizzer needs a new tire on the rear for rally season and the best tire it looks like is only a t30 (new bt106 on front).

We haven't had any word at this point about an 18" version, and I would find it pretty surprising if there was one as the call for an 18" Hypersports tyre is very low. We do have a 150/60-18 Race tyre (BT090 SS) for VFR400 etc, but that will be too light in the carcass and too soft in the compound for your bike, I would suspect (along with being a little smaller). I think the best possible tyre for the bike would be a T30, this has been designed for slightly higher mileage use on sports bikes, and also on slightly heavier bikes like the FZR. Bridgestone worked hard on making it feel like a sports tyre, and it will match the BT-016 you have on the front well (in a lot of respects it will be a better tyre). It's been made specifically for bikes like yours (they are about the only things that use an 18" radial rear!)

I could never get anything decent for the back of my FZR when I raced it. Prick of a size.

You will save money in the long run getting a 17X5 rim and running a 180/55 I should think, if you want sticky hoops.

Yeah big time, if you can find a 17x5 or 17x5.5 rim, the choice is much better, although I don't think T30 is a compromise on that bike - it will be more than enough to start stressing the swingarm out.

[Drew]

We haven't had any word at this point about an 18" version, and I would find it pretty surprising if there was one as the call for an 18" Hypersports tyre is very low. We do have a 150/60-18 Race tyre (BT090 SS) for VFR400 etc, but that will be too light in the carcass and too soft in the compound for your bike, I would suspect (along with being a little smaller). I think the best possible tyre for the bike would be a T30, this has been designed for slightly higher mileage use on sports bikes, and also on slightly heavier bikes like the FZR. Bridgestone worked hard on making it feel like a sports tyre, and it will match the BT-016 you have on the front well (in a lot of respects it will be a better tyre). It's been made specifically for bikes like yours (they are about the only things that use an 18" radial rear!)



Yeah big time, if you can find a 17x5 or 17x5.5 rim, the choice is much better, although I don't think T30 is a compromise on that bike - it will be more than enough to start stressing the swingarm out.

Now you and I both know, that swingarm flex is only an indication that your getting inside the 'window' of pace on a given machine.

[JayRacer37]

Now you and I both know, that swingarm flex is only an indication that your getting inside the 'window' of pace on a given machine.

Yes true...not the best feeling ever though! I think the T30 is a really good option for that bike - perfectly matched to the weight and chassis style it has.

[Drew]

Yes true...not the best feeling ever though! I think the T30 is a really good option for that bike - perfectly matched to the weight and chassis style it has.

You've ridden 60s/70s jap bikes in anger, the FZR is positively MotoGP spec by comparison!

I'll take your word for the T30 being the right hoop for the job though, I raced with a Diablo 'Strada' on the back of my FZR. We'll call that...interesting...if nothing else.