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 September 2026
Bridgestone Battlax BT 023 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.
VS
90
/ 100
Objective (60%)
74/100
1 professional test
User signal (40%)
89/100
16 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictToo close to call: Bridgestone Battlax BT 023 and Dunlop RoadSmart III are within 2 points overall. Bridgestone Battlax BT 023 is stronger on comfort. Dunlop RoadSmart III is stronger on wet and dry.
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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)
RoadSmart III leads by 3
Why this score
| Source | Battlax BT 023 | RoadSmart III |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 97 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 92 | 91 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
RoadSmart III leads by 4
Why this score
| Source | Battlax BT 023 | RoadSmart III |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 85 | 89 |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Battlax BT 023 leads by 3
Why this score
| Source | Battlax BT 023 | RoadSmart III |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 91 | 88 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
RoadSmart III leads by 1
Why this score
| Source | Battlax BT 023 | RoadSmart III |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 88 | 89 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Battlax BT 023 leads by 1
Why this score
| Source | Battlax BT 023 | RoadSmart III |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 90 | 89 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Bridgestone Battlax BT 023 | Dunlop RoadSmart III |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 89 | 90 |
| Dry | 92 | 95 |
| Wet | 85 | 89 |
| Comfort | 91 | 88 |
| Treadwear | 88 | 89 |
| Handling | 90 | 89 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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Recomputed
Headline score
89
/ 100
Tire A
90
/ 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 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.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Bridgestone Battlax BT 023 | B · Dunlop RoadSmart III |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer Premium Touring tires | Summer Premium Touring tires |
| Vehicle type | Motorcycle | Motorcycle |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
89
/ 100
Bridgestone
90
/ 100
Dunlop
Too close to call: Bridgestone Battlax BT 023 and Dunlop RoadSmart III are within 2 points overall. Bridgestone Battlax BT 023 is stronger on comfort. Dunlop RoadSmart III is stronger on wet and dry.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Dunlop RoadSmart III scores 89 vs 85 on wet.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Bridgestone Battlax BT 023 scores 91 vs 88 on comfort.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Dunlop RoadSmart III scores 95 vs 92 on dry.
Tire A · Bridgestone Battlax BT 023
Tire B · Dunlop RoadSmart III
More comparisons
Also compared with
Bridgestone Battlax BT 023 also compared with
Dunlop RoadSmart III 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.