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Bridgestone Battlax BT 023 vs Dunlop Roadsmart — 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.
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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 BT 023 | Roadsmart |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 92 | 88 |
Wet
Why this score
| Source | Battlax BT 023 | Roadsmart |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 85 | 85 |
Comfort
Why this score
| Source | Battlax BT 023 | Roadsmart |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 91 | 88 |
Treadwear
Why this score
| Source | Battlax BT 023 | Roadsmart |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 88 | 82 |
Handling
Why this score
| Source | Battlax BT 023 | Roadsmart |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 90 | 85 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Bridgestone Battlax BT 023 | Dunlop Roadsmart |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 89 | 85 |
| Dry | 92 | 88 |
| Wet | 85 | 85 |
| Comfort | 91 | 88 |
| Treadwear | 88 | 82 |
| Handling | 90 | 85 |
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 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 is highly regarded as a reliable, confidence-inspiring sport-touring tire that balances neutral handling with impressive wet and dry grip. While some users report uneven wear patterns or squaring off over time, the consensus highlights its significant performance improvements over older tire generations and its ability to maintain stability across varied riding conditions.
Pros
- Excellent grip in both wet and dry conditions
- Neutral and predictable steering characteristics
- High level of rider confidence during cornering
- Strong performance even when tires are cold
- Good longevity for a sport-touring compound
Cons
- Tendency for the rear tire to square off with mileage
- Soft shoulder rubber may wear faster than the center
- Occasional reports of rear wheel slippage in wet conditions for some riders
- Less dry-grip feedback compared to dedicated sport-focused tires
Observations
- High-torque bikes like the Aprilia Tuono 1000 and Suzuki Hayabusa demonstrate that the tire holds up well under aggressive, high-performance riding.
- Users transitioning from older sport-touring models (e.g., BT-020) report a transformative improvement in handling and confidence.
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Bridgestone Battlax BT 023 | B · Dunlop Roadsmart |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer Premium Touring tires | Summer Premium Touring tires |
| Vehicle type | Motorcycle | Motorcycle |
Which one should you actually buy?
Bridgestone
Dunlop
Winner: Bridgestone Battlax BT 023 — better treadwear, handling and dry. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Bridgestone Battlax BT 023 scores 88 vs 82 on treadwear.
Bridgestone Battlax BT 023 scores 90 vs 85 on handling.
Bridgestone Battlax BT 023 scores 92 vs 88 on dry.
Bridgestone Battlax BT 023 scores 91 vs 88 on comfort.
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.