YOUR LONG-DISTANCE TRAVEL PARTNER Bridgestones all-new Sports Touring 133

The all-new Sports Touring T33 builds on the success of the highly acclaimed T32, which already comes as standard on several new models. Designed to perform across a broad spectrum of sports touring machines - from heavyweight bikes like BMW's R 1300 GS with its 19-inch front wheel to lighter, more agile machines like Honda's new Hornet - the T33 promises both longevity and smooth, confidence-inspiring handling for touring riders.

- Adam Child 'Chad'

It's a bold claim, but Bridgestone says the T33 delivers a 47% increase in mileage over the T32 - a significant jump. To put that to the test, we headed to Croatia for two days of spectacular touring on a diverse mix of bikes and roads, with ever-changing surfaces, to find out whether the new T33 really does improve on the already excellent T32.

On a motorcycle, tyres are arguably one of the most important components or accessories you can fit. Yes, a bike needs an engine, suspension, and brakes to be safe and rideable, but if the tyres don't perform, none of that matters. You can have top-spec brakes, cutting-edge suspension, and a powerhouse engine, but if the rubber isn't doing its job, you're fighting a losing battle.

The tyre's contact patch with the road or track is smaller than most riders realise - about the size of a credit card or cigarette packet, depending on pressure and load. That's all you've got to stop a 250kg bike (plus rider), and it's the same tiny patch that keeps you upright when the pegs start skimming the tarmac. Makes you think, doesn't it?

On a race bike, you could argue that producing effective tyres is relatively straightforward. The conditions are controlled: smooth tarmac, consistent laps, lower weight, and tyre changes for every situation - slicks for dry, wets for rain.

But sports touring tyres? They have to handle everything. Heavy or light bikes, smooth or broken roads, high-speed Autobahn blasts, stop-start city commuting, freezing Scandinavian mornings, scorching Spanish summers - and in the wet too. They need to offer longevity, grip, stability, and confidence in almost any situation. It's a near-impossible design brief.