71
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
68/100
4 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated May 2026
Bridgestone Battlax BT 014 vs Michelin City Grip 2 — Compared (May 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.
VS
92
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
93/100
7 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Michelin City Grip 2 — better treadwear, handling and comfort. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Read full
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Category breakdown
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
Score (0–100)
City Grip 2 leads by 11
Why this score
| Source | Battlax BT 014 | City Grip 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 85 | 96 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
City Grip 2 leads by 14
Why this score
| Source | Battlax BT 014 | City Grip 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 80 | 94 |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
City Grip 2 leads by 16
Why this score
| Source | Battlax BT 014 | City Grip 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 70 | 86 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
City Grip 2 leads by 37
Why this score
| Source | Battlax BT 014 | City Grip 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 53 | 90 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
City Grip 2 leads by 20
Why this score
| Source | Battlax BT 014 | City Grip 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 73 | 93 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Bridgestone Battlax BT 014 | Michelin City Grip 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 71 | 92 |
| Dry | 85 | 96 |
| Wet | 80 | 94 |
| Comfort | 70 | 86 |
| Treadwear | 53 | 90 |
| Handling | 73 | 93 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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Wet grip and treadwear start at “Important” — the two things buyers rank highest. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.
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Recomputed
Headline score
71
/ 100
Tire A
92
/ 100
Tire B
From owners
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Bridgestone Battlax BT-014 receives a mixed reception, characterized by a divide between riders who appreciate its predictable handling and those critical of its longevity and performance limits. While some users find it a capable tire for daily commuting and spirited riding, others report significant concerns regarding rapid tread wear and a lack of confidence during aggressive or track-oriented use.
Pros
- Predictable and sure-footed handling characteristics
- Reliable dry grip for daily commuting
- Good performance value relative to older generation standards
Cons
- Alarmingly short tread life, particularly on high-torque motorcycles
- Vague front-end feedback
- Below-average wet weather performance
- Lack of confidence during track-day usage
Observations
- High-displacement, high-torque motorcycles like the ZZR 1400 experience extremely rapid rear tire depletion, with some users reporting as little as 1,500 to 1,600 miles.
- Riders on middleweight sportbikes, such as the Ninja 600, reported more favorable longevity, reaching up to 5,000 miles on a rear tire.
The Michelin City Grip 2 is widely regarded as a superior upgrade over OEM scooter tires, offering significant improvements in cornering confidence and wet-weather performance. Users consistently praise its predictable handling and enhanced grip, though experiences regarding ride comfort and road feedback remain somewhat polarized.
Pros
- Exceptional grip and stability during cornering
- Strong performance in wet weather conditions
- Predictable handling and improved road feedback
- Noticeable performance upgrade over stock scooter tires
Cons
- Requires a short warm-up period to reach optimal stickiness
- Can feel stiff or transmit excessive road imperfections
- Front tire wear can be accelerated on heavier scooter models
Observations
- Users on Vespa models report high satisfaction with cornering confidence and reduced bumpiness on rough roads.
- Owners of heavier scooters, such as the Yamaha Tricity, note that front tire wear is more pronounced due to suspension weight distribution.
- Performance on small-diameter wheels (12-inch) is noted as highly effective, providing braking power that exceeds the limits of standard scooter suspension components.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Bridgestone Battlax BT 014 | B · Michelin City Grip 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer High Performance tires | Summer Premium Touring tires |
| Vehicle type | Motorcycle | Motorcycle |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
71
/ 100
Bridgestone
92
/ 100
Michelin
Winner: Michelin City Grip 2 — better treadwear, handling and comfort. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Michelin City Grip 2 scores 90 vs 53 on treadwear.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Michelin City Grip 2 scores 93 vs 73 on handling.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Michelin City Grip 2 scores 86 vs 70 on comfort.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Michelin City Grip 2 scores 94 vs 80 on wet.
Tire A · Bridgestone Battlax BT 014
Tire B · Michelin City Grip 2
More comparisons
Also compared with
Bridgestone Battlax BT 014 also compared with
Michelin City Grip 2 also compared with
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.