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 Michelin Pilot Power 2CT — 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
76
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
78/100
17 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Bridgestone Battlax BT 023 — better handling, wet and treadwear. It leads or ties in every category we score.
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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 3
Why this score
| Source | Battlax BT 023 | Pilot Power 2CT |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 92 | 89 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Battlax BT 023 leads by 16
Why this score
| Source | Battlax BT 023 | Pilot Power 2CT |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 85 | 69 |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Battlax BT 023 leads by 6
Why this score
| Source | Battlax BT 023 | Pilot Power 2CT |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 91 | 85 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Battlax BT 023 leads by 11
Why this score
| Source | Battlax BT 023 | Pilot Power 2CT |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 88 | 77 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Battlax BT 023 leads by 24
Why this score
| Source | Battlax BT 023 | Pilot Power 2CT |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 90 | 66 |
| DriverReviews owners | – | 90 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Bridgestone Battlax BT 023 | Michelin Pilot Power 2CT |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 89 | 76 |
| Dry | 92 | 89 |
| Wet | 85 | 69 |
| Comfort | 91 | 85 |
| Treadwear | 88 | 77 |
| Handling | 90 | 66 |
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
76
/ 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 Michelin Pilot Power 2CT is widely regarded as a high-value, versatile sport tire that excels in dry conditions and offers impressive front-end feedback. While it remains a popular choice for street riders and occasional track users due to its quick warm-up and confidence-inspiring handling, some riders note a lack of progressiveness at the limit and inconsistent performance in heavy rain.
Pros
- Excellent dry grip and lean angle capability
- Rapid warm-up time
- Superior front-end feedback and handling precision
- High value-for-money proposition
Cons
- Inconsistent wet weather performance and communication
- Lack of progressiveness when reaching the limit of grip
- Potential for 'on/off' grip characteristics rather than a linear transition
Observations
- Users on middleweight sportbikes like the Yamaha R6 and Suzuki SV650 report high satisfaction with handling, though some note rear-end instability under hard acceleration.
- Riders of naked bikes like the Honda Hornet and Bandit GSF650 praise the tire's ability to transform bike handling compared to OEM alternatives.
Community buzz
What real owners are saying
From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score
Tire A
Bridgestone Battlax BT 023
We haven't collected enough community discussion about this tire yet.
Tire B
Mixed
Michelin Pilot Power 2CT
The Michelin Pilot Power 2CT is a long-standing, budget-friendly sport tire that generates mixed community opinions. While many riders appreciate their affordability, decent wet grip, and historical popularity, others note they are an older design compared to modern alternatives like the Road 5 or Q3, with some users reporting sliding or feeling they are too aggressive for standard street use.
r/motorcycles
·15 upvotes ·2012-04-07
“Less than 200 miles on this brand new pilot power 2ct, and I got a flat. A goddamn staple thing. What do?”
r/MT09
·2 upvotes ·2025-11-01
“Mix setup — Road 6 front / Power 2CT rear on MT-09 SP. What do you guys think? Hey guys, I’d like to hear your opinion. I’ve got an MT-09 SP, bought it in May 2025, and I’ve already worn out the stock Bridgestone S23 tires over the season. Now I’ve got a mix setup — Michelin Road 6 on the front and Michelin Pilot Power 2CT on the rear (got them as a gift). What do you think — is that a decent combo? Any pros/cons I should know about? The weather’s still nice here, so I’m planning to keep riding until the roads get too wet with autumn rain. 🌧️🏍️”
r/xsr900
·1 upvote ·2025-02-16
“I have Pilot Power 2CT. Honestly, wish I had gotten the Road 5’s (at the time). My tires are stickier than I personally need. Unless you’re going full lean angle on the street, I think they’re a bit aggressive IMO.”
r/xsr900
·1 upvote ·2025-02-16
“I've had 2 sets of Pilot Power 2CT. Got about 10k miles off the front (pushing it) and about 5-6k miles off each rear. You might be able to extend that if you have more twisty roads available. I have to slog through miles of straights to get anywhere twisty like that. My experience with them in the damp and cold has been very good though, but if that doesn't apply to you it's not much of a pro. Personally? I'm getting Road 5s/Road 6s for public roads, and another set of tires (Rosso IIIs) specifically for track and summer use. The Roads will last you even longer and handle themselves in a corner very well. I'm expecting the roads to last me 7-8k miles before I have to swap out the rear”
Top themes
#Longevity and Mileage#Price and Affordability#Track Day Performance#Wet and Cold Grip#Alternative Comparisons#Aging Tire Technology
Based on 15 community posts
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Bridgestone Battlax BT 023 | B · Michelin Pilot Power 2CT |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer Premium Touring tires | Summer Ultra High Performance tires |
| Vehicle type | Motorcycle | Motorcycle |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
89
/ 100
Bridgestone
76
/ 100
Michelin
Winner: Bridgestone Battlax BT 023 — better handling, wet and treadwear. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Bridgestone Battlax BT 023 scores 90 vs 66 on handling.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Bridgestone Battlax BT 023 scores 85 vs 69 on wet.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
Bridgestone Battlax BT 023 scores 88 vs 77 on treadwear.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Bridgestone Battlax BT 023 scores 91 vs 85 on comfort.
Tire A · Bridgestone Battlax BT 023
Tire B · Michelin Pilot Power 2CT
More comparisons
Also compared with
Bridgestone Battlax BT 023 also compared with
Michelin Pilot Power 2CT 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.