The surface tension of a liquid is one of the basic factors determining cavitation and cavitation erosion. The expansion and contraction of cavitation bubble in liquids with different surface tensions are investigated experimentally, which are compared with theoretical analyses based on Rayleigh-Plesset equation. In the experimental study, cavitation bubble is induced by a laser pulse, the spatial evolution and velocity of the bubble wall in liquids with different surface tensions are detected by a fiber-optic diagnostic technique based on optical beam deflection. Experimental results show that the surface-tension forces hinder the bubble growth progress, so increasing surface-tension decreases the maximum bubble radii. On the other hand, the surface-tension forces speed up bubble collapse process. In larger surface tension cases, the bubble velocity is higher, and higher erosive power is produced.