The BT-003RS is offered in...
The BT-003RS is offered in a range of sizes to accommodate sport bikes from 250cc up to 1200cc. Smaller 140, 150, and 160 rears will feature a 3LC five-compound tread similar to the BT-016 to further improve cornering grip and resist uneven wear.
As with all of Bridegestone's Battlax sport tires, the new 003RS features a specialized carcass construction and dual-compound tread for even wear and optimum corning grip. The front tires feature a four-ply design that includes Bridgestone's Mono-Spiral Belt (MSB), a single-strand steel winding that eliminates internal seams and joints. This makes the tire lighter and offers more consistent handling and stability while braking as well as providing shock absorption. The rear tire is constructed using three plies including the MSB, which is supposed to improve line-holding and increase slide control. Rear tread compounds are high in silica to enhance grip in wet, cold conditions and prolong tire life.
The tread pattern is similar...
The tread pattern is similar to the BT-003 racing version, but with longer shoulder grooves tuned for better bump absorption and wet-weather traction. S-shaped grooves across the center of the tire are said to improve contact feel and braking grip (front tire) and traction (rear tire).
The BT-003RS's riding debut was held at the Almeria Circuit in Spain. With a full day or riding and a variety of machinery to test on, I was able to get a good feel for the tires' capabilities. Turn-in feel was smooth and linear, and the front tire's wide center compound and advanced carcass design was impressively stable while braking at the end of the 140-mph back straight, easily bringing the back wheel off the ground without any sensation of squirm or loss of traction. They also behaved well while trail braking, although post turn-in deceleration was intentionally kept to a minimum out of respect for the tire's dual-natured design.
While the front tire behaved impeccably all day, the same cannot be said for the rear, which had a hard time coming to grips (literally) with Almeria's numerous high-speed, full-throttle sweepers.