BRIDGESTONE HYPERSPORT BATTL AX S22
PRODUCT REVIEW
P108
F R O N T T I R E
The front of the S22 equation is constructed using Bridgestone's
3LC dual compound, with softer side compounds and a harder
center for better mileage.
"We really worked on new compounds from the center area of
the tire, and this one has been used with optimized resin compo-
nents in the initial mix of the compound, enhancing, in the end, the
grip characteristics," says Bridgestone Field and Product Planning
Engineer, Fabian Francios. What Bridgestone is after in the front is
greater stability under hard braking and better feedback when the
brakes are released, and you lean hard on the overall grip to send
you through the corner, especially in the wet. Even though you
have essentially less tire on the ground than you do with the S21,
the S22 is claimed to have less slippage towards the end of the
contact patch and less deformation under load, which, in turn, gives
you better grip across a broader range of temperatures.
The low-temperature grip is especially increased over the S21,
and it's only when the temps reach racetrack levels that the S21
(which was already an excellent tire in terms of overall grip),
begins to catch up.
R E A R T I R E
The rear S22 is a 5LC three-compound
structure, with extra hard edges to han-
dle extreme lean angle acceleration, a
slightly softer compound in the middle
of each side and a hard center com-
pound for longer wear life. What's inter-
esting is the rear compound has over
25 percent more silicone molecules on
the ground thanks to different resin
components in the tire mold.
"In the S22, we could make sure
that the silicone molecules are
getting much smaller, meaning on
a micro level there are 25 percent
more molecules of silicone on the
ground. So we get much more grip,
in both wet and dry conditions," says
Francois. Bridgestone is claiming
cornering speed is up by 15 percent
on the S22 compared to the S21 and
a five-percent-faster wet lap time,
although the latter is something we
were unable to test at Jerez.
(Right) Front-tire grip on full lean is
massive, as is the feedback you get
through the bars. (Left) More grooves
mean better wet grip, but also give
less slippage under full load as the
tire molds to the tarmac.
