89
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
89/100
47 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated May 2026
Bridgestone Battlax BT 023 vs Dunlop RoadSmart II — 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
68
/ 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.
VerdictWinner: Bridgestone Battlax BT 023 — better wet, dry 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)
Battlax BT 023 leads by 24
Why this score
| Source | Battlax BT 023 | RoadSmart II |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 92 | 68 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Battlax BT 023 leads by 32
Why this score
| Source | Battlax BT 023 | RoadSmart II |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 85 | 53 |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Battlax BT 023 leads by 23
Why this score
| Source | Battlax BT 023 | RoadSmart II |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 91 | 68 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Battlax BT 023 leads by 10
Why this score
| Source | Battlax BT 023 | RoadSmart II |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 88 | 78 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Battlax BT 023 leads by 15
Why this score
| Source | Battlax BT 023 | RoadSmart II |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 90 | 75 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Bridgestone Battlax BT 023 | Dunlop RoadSmart II |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 89 | 68 |
| Dry | 92 | 68 |
| Wet | 85 | 53 |
| Comfort | 91 | 68 |
| Treadwear | 88 | 78 |
| Handling | 90 | 75 |
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
89
/ 100
Tire A
68
/ 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-023 is widely regarded as a highly capable and durable sport-touring tire that offers a significant performance upgrade over its predecessors. Users consistently praise its exceptional wet-weather confidence, longevity, and stability, making it a favorite for commuters and long-distance tourers alike.
Pros
- Exceptional wet-weather grip and water dispersal
- Impressive tread life and durability even on heavy motorcycles
- High levels of stability and predictable handling
- Quick warm-up times
- Strong value proposition for high-mileage riders
Cons
- Slower steering response compared to sportier alternatives
- Tendency for the rear tire to square off under heavy touring loads
- Occasional reports of instability or 'wobble' late in the tire's life cycle
- Some users noted a lack of grip on specific road surfaces like painted lines
Observations
- Heavy sport-touring bikes (e.g., K1300GT, FJR1300, ZZR1200) benefit significantly from the tire's stability and longevity.
- Users noted that the tire can feel 'slower' or heavier in steering transitions when fitted to lighter, more agile sport bikes.
- Heavily loaded bikes may experience uneven 'stepping' wear on the sides of the tire.
The Dunlop RoadSmart II receives highly polarized feedback from riders, with experiences ranging from exceptional confidence to significant safety concerns. While some users praise its precision and grip in both dry and wet conditions, others report severe traction issues, particularly with the rear tire during spirited riding.
Pros
- High levels of dry and wet grip for sport-touring applications
- Excellent steering precision and rider feedback
- Inspires confidence in varied riding conditions for satisfied users
Cons
- Reported lack of rear tire traction during aggressive cornering
- Inconsistent performance leading to safety concerns in wet weather
- Perceived inferiority compared to competing sport-touring brands
Observations
- Positive performance noted on the Yamaha FZ1-S, suggesting suitability for certain naked sport-touring setups.
- Riders of heavier sport-touring motorcycles, such as the BMW R1100RT, reported significant instability and rear-end slippage.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Bridgestone Battlax BT 023 | B · Dunlop RoadSmart II |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer Premium Touring tires | Summer Premium Touring tires |
| Vehicle type | Motorcycle | Motorcycle |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
89
/ 100
Bridgestone
68
/ 100
Dunlop
Winner: Bridgestone Battlax BT 023 — better wet, dry and comfort. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Bridgestone Battlax BT 023 scores 85 vs 53 on wet.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Bridgestone Battlax BT 023 scores 92 vs 68 on dry.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Bridgestone Battlax BT 023 scores 91 vs 68 on comfort.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Bridgestone Battlax BT 023 scores 90 vs 75 on handling.
Tire A · Bridgestone Battlax BT 023
Tire B · Dunlop RoadSmart II
More comparisons
Also compared with
Bridgestone Battlax BT 023 also compared with
Dunlop RoadSmart II 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.