We’ve got Mick from The Short Bus drag fame testing a set of Bridgestone’s Battlecruise H50s on his Yamaha XV1900, which are a dedicated cruiser tyre designed specifically for American large capacity cruisers – not that that stopped us fitting a set to the Yamaha cruiser! Stay tuned for the full tyre review!
Bridgestone’s Battlecruise H50 is aimed directly at American V-Twin cruisers, but fits the bill for any cruiser they’ll fit – Here’s how they fit into the Bridgestone range.
Designed with high performance American V-twin machinery in mind, Bridgestone wanted to push the envelope with the Battlecruise H50s, with the brand boasting an incredible boost in mileage, while retaining or improving across a host of other metrics.
Part of this is thanks to the introduction of a new rear compound, while handling and feel is further optimised thanks to a new profile design, all backed up by Bridgestone’s Ultimat Eye development technology.
Bridgestone identified five key areas of improvement for the H50 – mileage and tread wear, grip in all riding conditions, handling, the rear compound and profile design, equating to superior tread life and an ideal combination of handling, performance and grip on wet and dry surfaces.
Bridgestone’s in-house comparison against their main competitor (not including wear properties)
Ultimat Eye (U-EYE) is the innovative new testing facility that is part of the Bridgestone Research and Development group, with the Battlecruise H50 tyre only the second to benefit from this advanced process.
U-EYE allows visualisation of the contact behavior of a tyre under various speeds and conditions and helps to find the best solutions tread design, construction and tyre profile. It also helps provide a test platform to better understand detailed contact patch pressure distribution including slip area at various speeds, loads and slip angles.
The optimised rear profile with a newly developed compound delivers extended mileage, with Bridgestone boasting double the possible mileage of it’s unnamed main competitor.
Where the Battlecruise H50 is promised to shine is in providing great mileage
Meanwhile the Battlecruise H50 front tyre has been developed with a larger contact patch and more uniform contact pressure distribution, aiding cornering thanks to less force being required to handle heavy American V-twin motorcycles, ensuring easy and precise cornering.
To put this into comparative figures, the operating force exercised on the handlebar during Bridgestone testing with the Battlecruise H50 tyre is on average more than 40 percent less compared to the main competitor.
Contact patch comparison also shows how the H50 has significantly more contact, retaining a good footprint
Another aspect of the cruiser segment was also ensuring a good balance of vertical stiffness on the H50 tyre construction, which helps ride comfort on long trips, where the tyre is able to assist in absorbing road inconsistencies, alongside the suspension.
This was achieved by strategic reinforcement on the carcass and envelope, while balancing rigidity and shock absorption, with Bridgestone also claiming improved vibration damping.
Assisting with the contact patch and comfort is the tyre vertical stiffness, which is lower than the competitor to provide better bump absorption, plus plenty of contact, without adversely effecting handling
Stay tuned for Mick’s full impressions on the Bridgestone Battlecruise H50s on his Yamaha XV1900!
Bridgestone Battlecruise H50 – Bias Sizes Front
- 130/90HB16 H50F Tbl (67H) $189.00
- 130/90HB16 H50F Tbl (73H) $199.00
- 100/80H17 H50F Tbl (52H) $129.95
- 130/80HB17 H50F Tbl (65H) $209.95
- 130/70HB18 H50F Tbl (63H) $209.95
- 100/90HB19 H50F Tbl (57H) $179.00
- 130/60HB19 H50F Tbl (61H) $219.95
- 80/90H21 H50F Tbl (54H) $159.00
- 130/60HB21 H50F Tbl (63H) $229.95
Bridgestone Battlecruise H50 – Bias Sizes Rear
- 130/90HB16 H50R Tbl (73H) $219.00
- 140/90HB16 H50R Tbl (77H) $229.00
- 150/80HB16 H50R Tbl (77H) $239.00
- 180/65HB16 H50R Tbl (81H) $299.95
- 180/70HB16 H50R Tbl (77H) $309.95
- 160/70VB17 H50R Tbl (73V) $249.00
- 180/60VB17 H50R Tbl (75V) $319.95
- 180/55HB18 H50R Tbl (80H) $319.95
Bridgestone Battlecruise H50 Tyres
Bridgestone Battlecruise H50 – Radial Sizes Front
- 140/75VR17 H50F Tbl (67V) $249.95
- 120/70ZR18 H50F Tbl (59W) $229.95
- 120/70ZR19 H50F Tbl (60W) $239.95
Bridgestone Battlecruise H50 – Radial Sizes Rear
- 140/75HR15 H50R Tbl (65H) $229.95
- 150/60ZR17 H50R Tbl (66W) $279.95
- 200/55VR17 H50R Tbl (78V) $329.95
- 240/40VR18 H50R Tbl (79V) $339.95
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March 13, 2019
7.200kms is what I got from one of these tyres on the rear of a softail HD…no wet weather riding as I was laid up last winter and NO burn outs or wreckless riding…correct tyre pressure always maintained also…a 7 inch strip in the middle dissapeared and was down to canvas…I am glad my m8 noticed this at the lights for me……apparently good for an extra 40% wear…I got 40% less…I guess I got to 60 years old and still know nothing…but I know I would not buy another bridgestone product
March 13, 2019
Hey Glyn,
That seems an abnormally short life, what pressure were you running and how often were they being checked? You’d have to be doing some mega miles in a short amount of time to not notice the tyre squaring off and wearing well below what’s safe in that manner, especially to get to the point where someone else needed to point that out, while out riding.
April 14, 2019
While ever you continue having a wavey tread running around the circumference of the front tyre. I won’t be buying your product. Tread in the middle causes the bike to shimme. You need rubber not tread.
October 17, 2019
Got one on the rear, Flhtk, will let you know…
October 27, 2019
I am riding it on a Super Glide in Malaysia. Usually very hot roads. Now about 8000 km and the tread still looks good. However I think it is deteriorating tremendously in the wet grip. To the point where it is dangerous. Tire may spin during acceleration and I hardly ever brake so hard that the ABS kicks in. But cornering during heavy rain is a challenge. I will further observe but try to keep it dry. Roadholding in dry is perfect. But the moment you go through a wet patch in a corner better take care.
June 3, 2020
Have had Battlecruise on my Harley Heritage and think they are a pretty good tyre. 20,000 klms on both and still a lot of tread left. Ridden in all conditions and both short and long runs. Will probably change them at 25k klms and will seriously consider getting them again.
November 26, 2020
I’m still traumatised from the last set of Bridgestone tyres I had on my Harley.
May 12, 2021
I’ve been comparing tires for my 2020 FXBB and my choices have come down to probably either the Michelin Commander III or the Metzeler Cruisetec. A couple of people have told me about these, so I have been looking at them, trying to find reviews, which is how I got here. They mention their main competitor and unnamed competitor, but never who or any pictures of it. But, looking at the heatmap slip graphic, you can clearly see the tread pattern. Their main competitor is the Dunlop D404 Front tire… They’re comparing their rear tire to the D404 front tire… That’s not only sketchy as hell, but that’s a terrible tire.
May 12, 2021
Hi Mate, not too sure to be honest about these but we do have a set in for review on Mick Wither’s XV, however, COVID slowed progress down putting some miles on them… I have done a fair bit on the Cruisetec. The launch – road and track, plus we did a big track test. Here are the links in case you missed them. And yes the D404 are not that good! Jeff. https://bikereview.com.au/tyre-test-metzeler-cruisetec-10-day-track-testing/
https://bikereview.com.au/tyre-review-metzeler-cruisetec-2019-launch-road-and-track/
August 4, 2021
I had the same problem with my Metzeler me888. I only got 7,000 kilometres out of the rear, and I just noticed that im at the wear marks in the centre. A bit shocking as, (seems to have worn out overnight) I consider myself as very observant for all my vehicles (bikes and cars), I never would of thought a tyre could wear out so quickly. No burn outs, no hard riding (sidewalls are perfect), and correct pressure.
February 7, 2023
I’ve never had a tyre come even close to these being so dangerous as the battle cruise h50 in the wet. I ride a sport glide stage 4 and even in top gear these things let go with alitle throttle. Taking them off and throwing away. Strongly recommend not purchasing these unless living in a dry desert. Unbelievable!
March 2, 2023
I fitted the H50’s to my Streetglide about 3000km ago as there wasn’t much choice around and was looking for a change….
What a decision that I have regretted ever since!
Not only are they dangerous in the wet, but they feel “loose” when riding hard through big sweepers and the twisty bits.
I ride all year round and last winter riding with my usual bunch of mates on a well known road through the hills on wet
roads I had a couple of big, unexpected “scares” where the rear AND front tyres slid out like I hit oil on the road!
90km hr, straight road, not accelerating at all.
After the second time I rapidly began to lose all confidence and watched my mates disappear into the distance, only for them to ask at the next stop what was wrong….I was riding like an old man!
Well, they still have a lot of life left but I’m not sure about me if I try another winter with these tyres on. They are definitely coming off ASAP!
May 27, 2023
Like others have already noticed, it is a EXTREMELY dangerous tire in wet conditions. Yeah, it is that bad: it’s like riding on literally ice. Wheelspinning from the start even on the lightest throttle, sliding in turns. Dry grip is fine.
June 8, 2023
I have them fitted to my Chieftain Limited. The bike was second hand when I got it , so not sure if mileage. I have since put 13,000km on it with negligible wear. I have found them to be a good tyre in both wet and dry. Far better than Commander 111’s I had on my previous Indian, particularly in the wet. The ride is smooth with no shimmy at any speed. And they handle very well. I’ll be fitting them when this set eventually wear out.
July 27, 2023
Fitted the H50 to my HD Ultra and was very impressed with its DRY weather handling, I soon changed my mind after riding in the wet, 3 times in 2 weeks the back tyre broke loose and fishtailed without warning, this was on straight roads and little throttle. Needless to say I took it off and replaced it with an Avon .In all my years of riding I’ve never before
experienced this.
Definitely a dangerous tyre in the wet.
January 6, 2024
Hi Bill, thanks for the feedback and info – it will come in handy for other riders. Cheers – Jeff.