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Bridgestone Battlax Adventure A40 vs Dunlop RoadSmart III — Compared (September 2026)
Our Relative Score blends 60% objective test data with 40% owner-review signal — so any two tires can be compared even if they were never tested on the same day.
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5 categories, side by side
Each bar is the Relative Score for that category. Expand a tile to see the test results and owner ratings behind it.
Dry
Why this score
| Source | Battlax Adventure A40 | RoadSmart III |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 97 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 90 | 91 |
Wet
Why this score
| Source | Battlax Adventure A40 | RoadSmart III |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 73 | 89 |
Comfort
Why this score
| Source | Battlax Adventure A40 | RoadSmart III |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 83 | 88 |
Treadwear
Why this score
| Source | Battlax Adventure A40 | RoadSmart III |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 80 | 89 |
Handling
Why this score
| Source | Battlax Adventure A40 | RoadSmart III |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 68 | 89 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Bridgestone Battlax Adventure A40 | Dunlop RoadSmart III |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 78 | 90 |
| Dry | 90 | 95 |
| Wet | 73 | 89 |
| Comfort | 83 | 88 |
| Treadwear | 80 | 89 |
| Handling | 68 | 89 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
Weight the categories that matter to you
Wet grip and treadwear start at “Important” — the two things buyers rank highest. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.
Tire A
Tire B
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Bridgestone Battlax Adventure A40 receives a mixed reception, characterized by a divide between users praising its longevity and dry-weather performance and those expressing significant concerns regarding wet-weather confidence. While some riders report exceptional tread life exceeding 30,000 km, others find the tire's performance lacking in challenging conditions, leading to inconsistent user satisfaction.
Pros
- Impressive tread longevity for long-distance touring
- Strong grip performance on dry road surfaces
- High levels of ride comfort and low noise output
Cons
- Inconsistent wet-weather traction and confidence
- Rapid tread wear reported by some high-performance motorcycle users
- Perceived lack of safety compared to dedicated road-biased alternatives
Observations
- Riders of heavy adventure bikes like the R 1200 GS report significantly faster tread wear compared to general touring users.
- Users seeking a dual-purpose tire for commuting find the A40's wet-weather performance insufficient for daily reliability.
The Dunlop RoadSmart III is highly regarded as a durable, high-performance sport-touring tire that excels in longevity without sacrificing significant grip. Users consistently praise its stability and confidence-inspiring handling across a variety of motorcycles, particularly heavy touring bikes and sportbikes used for long-distance travel.
Pros
- Exceptional tread life and mileage compared to dedicated sport tires.
- Sharp, responsive steering and handling characteristics.
- Consistent and reliable grip in both dry and wet road conditions.
- Stable performance under heavy loads, including luggage and pillion passengers.
Cons
- Occasional reports of rear-end slippage during aggressive cornering with power input.
- Front tire wear can be uneven or faster than expected depending on suspension setup.
- Some users noted a firm ride quality due to the stiff carcass construction.
Observations
- BMW K1600GTL owners report the tire is an excellent match for the bike's weight and touring demands.
- Sportbike riders (e.g., GSXR1000) appreciate the tire as a long-lasting alternative to pure sport rubber without losing agility.
- The stiff carcass design is noted to sharpen steering response, which is particularly beneficial for heavier touring motorcycles.
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Bridgestone Battlax Adventure A40 | B · Dunlop RoadSmart III |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer Premium Touring tires | Summer Premium Touring tires |
| Vehicle type | Motorcycle | Motorcycle |
Which one should you actually buy?
Bridgestone
Dunlop
Winner: Dunlop RoadSmart III — better handling, wet and treadwear. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Dunlop RoadSmart III scores 89 vs 68 on handling.
Dunlop RoadSmart III scores 89 vs 73 on wet.
Dunlop RoadSmart III scores 89 vs 80 on treadwear.
Dunlop RoadSmart III scores 95 vs 90 on dry.
How do we compare tires?
Every category score blends two independent signals. 60% comes from professional tire tests (braking distances, lap times, noise measurements) normalized against the best tire in each test and weighted toward recent tests. 40% comes from thousands of owner reviews collected from retailers and review sites. When a tire has only one of the two, we use what exists and say so.
Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score.