Description
A 120/90-18 rear puts this Battlax BT46R on a wide range of standard and touring bikes from the bias-ply era, and Bridgestone engineered it to feel far more composed than the tires those bikes originally wore.
The BT46R keeps the bias-ply construction that these older frames and suspensions were tuned around, but Bridgestone updated the compound and tread pattern so it grips better in the wet, wears more evenly, and does not feel vague at speed the way a lot of old-school rear tires can. It is a straightforward, no-drama replacement rather than a tire that asks the rider to relearn the bike.
Key specs and features:
- Bias-ply carcass construction matched to the original vintage sport and touring platforms it replaces
- Tubeless design on most sizes for simpler maintenance and easier repairs than older tube-type equivalents
- Successor to the long-running BT45, developed with a modern tread compound and profile
- Tuned tread pattern intended to improve wet and dry grip over the outgoing BT45 design
- Sidewall styling that keeps the classic look expected on a vintage-era machine
- Consistent, predictable steering response suited to relaxed sport and touring riding
- Sized 120/90-18 with a 65V load/speed rating, built as a tubeless rear tire
This 120/90-18 65V tubeless BT46R is rated for higher sustained speeds than most owners in this class will ever see, giving a comfortable margin for touring at highway pace. As with any bias-ply swap, check that your rim width falls within Bridgestone’s approved range for this size.
