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LucienLeFranc, I'm with Karidis: you won't notice the difference if you install a 160 rear. I've run a number of set of Angel-GTs and Michelin PR3s and have no problems and will happily use a 160/60 if there aren't better 140/70 options. I like the Pirelli Sport Demons, but they don't last as long as the Angels.
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I like the BT 54s, but BT46s might work best for me in particular, because I will sometimes be riding two-up with my wife and with top and side cases.
In my case, the bias ply are possibly better than radials, at least from the advice I've gotten.
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Generally speaking, radial tires are more expensive to manufacture than bias-ply tires.
In my opinion, Honda made the right decision by equipping the CB1100 with radial tires rather than bias-ply ones.
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Anyone catch this Fortnine video about the V65 Sabre?
If I heard right, they claim that radial tires were developed to handle the power of the Honda V4.
https://youtu.be/OixsALBvqqM?is=tvN9di0oHMGkhUfQ
I may have been distracted or inebriated where I saw it, so forgive me if I misinterpreted it. Still a cool video.
You know what? I actually would like a pickle.
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I'm not the biggest fan of AI and usually try to avoid it at all costs, but I struggled comparing the Bridgestone BT54 with the Bridgestone T32 on my own and stumbled onto an AI answer.
I'm also not the biggest fan of the Chrome/Google, but resort to it sometimes when Firefox/DuckDuckGo is problematic.
Anyway, I struck out trying to compare on my own using Firefox, so entered "compare BT54 to T32" in Chrome to see if I had better luck--it turned out that Google AI loaded by default without my request, saying:
I then went back to Firefox, asked the same question in DuckAI, and received:
- Given your priorities (damp/wet confidence for twisties + heavy touring with passenger/luggage), choose Battlax Sport Touring T32, and specifically the T32GT line if it’s available in your exact sizes—it’s Bridgestone’s “middleweight and heavy” construction, with the same Pulse Groove wet tech and an extra wear-life emphasis.
- Why T32 over BT-54 for your use:
- Wet safety: T32 is designed for improved wet grip and has a reported shorter wet braking distance vs the prior generation, plus more rear contact patch.
- Loaded touring confidence: T32GT is built for heavier touring bikes, aiming to keep grip/wear appropriate under load.
- BT-54: it’s more of an older sport-touring direction; if your goal is “safest on wet/twisty surfaces,” you’ll generally be better served by the newer T32 generation.
As I say, I avoid AI and I definitely do not knee jerk trust it, but in this case I think maybe I'm becoming sold on T32 over BT54 for my bike given the riding I do.
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07-09-2026, 12:19 AM
(This post was last modified: 07-09-2026, 12:27 AM by Wisedrum.)
As far as tires are concerned I only ride and rode Bridgestone until now in more than 12 years and over 83.000km with my CB. The BT54 as a rear tire seems to be an 'everlasting' one and can or could be used for round about 28.000km. Maybe due to my riding style, which is mostly smooth. The BT54 as a front tire wears out too quickly with lasting around 13.000km. The motor is really heavy and it seems, that he put a lot of weight on the front tire. I don't brake hard and always as a combination of both brakes, often letting the rear brake do most of the work. I had now changed to a BT023 for the front with a different and thicker profile. Maybe it will last longer until it is worn out. Experienced no negative aspects of this tire. When streets are wet or I have to ride in rain I pay attention to this weather condition and ride even smoother. But If you want to push your CB hard and harder in a kind of a sportive way no matter in what topography, conditons and weather you are in, I whish you good luck with any tire doing so.
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(07-09-2026, 12:19 AM)Wisedrum Wrote: As far as tires are concerned I only ride and rode Bridgestone until now in more than 12 years and over 83.000km with my CB. The BT54 as a rear tire seems to be an 'everlasting' one and can or could be used for round about 28.000km. Maybe due to my riding style, which is mostly smooth. The BT54 as a front tire wears out too quickly with lasting around 13.000km. The motor is really heavy and it seems, that he put a lot of weight on the front tire. I don't brake hard and always as a combination of both brakes, often letting the rear brake do most of the work. I had now changed to a BT023 for the front with a different and thicker profile. Maybe it will last longer until it is worn out. Experienced no negative aspects of this tire. When streets are wet or I have to ride in rain I pay attention to this weather condition and ride even smoother. But If you want to push your CB hard and harder in a kind of a sportive way no matter in what topography, conditons and weather you are in, I whish you good luck with any tire doing so.
The issue with the BT54 front tire isn't the weight of the engine, it's the absolute lack of starting tread depth at only 4/32". The rear starts out with double that.
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Bridgestone T32 front looks like the grooves may be more defined and maybe deeper?
I've read that a) the T32's predecessor, the BT31 front tire had 10% more tread life than the BT54 front, and b) that Bridgestone claims another 10% longer tread wear for the T32 front compared to the T31, so--if those two pieces of information are correct--then the T32 front would have over 20% more tread life than the BT54 front.
I'm close to pulling the trigger on T32s front and rear for my next tires for my CB, so I may have actual testimony to give at a future date.
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07-15-2026, 08:36 AM
(This post was last modified: 07-15-2026, 08:48 AM by Pete in PA.)
Better shop around.
$130 or $257 for same exact rear 160/60-18 tire.
What's going on with Motorcycle tires all of the sudden?
I REALLY want to get a 14 CB1100 but this tire thing is stopping me. Why didnt they just give it 17 in. tires?
T32 Front 5/32nds rear 8/32nds Bstone site.
Front and rear REALLY could start with more.
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