Behind the scenes at the Bridgestone T33 Global Press Launch in Croatia
This year, Bridgestone unveiled its new T33 sport touring tyre — and that called for a global press launch. Gripping Stories went behind the scenes at the event, which took place in one of the world’s most stunning motorcycling destinations: the scenic stretch between Split and Zadar, Croatia.
Bridgestone has built a solid reputation for its press launches, which always go far beyond just sharing product specs. For the T33 launch, no fewer than 40 journalists from 17 different countries were invited to put the new sport touring tyre through its paces. The focus? Riding. A simple concept — but even a straightforward plan often demands major effort. Here are some impressive numbers from the Croatian launch to illustrate that:
- 40 journalists
- 17 countries represented
- 7 days of journalist riding
- 2 days of pre-shoot photography and video
- 27 motorcycles
- Just 27 sets of tyres — no replacements, no punctures (including pre-shoots)
- 1 day for bike setup
- 2 photographers
- 3 videographers
- 1 editor
- 1 drone operator
- 3 mechanics
- 2 lead riders
- 2 sweep riders
- Around 2,000 km ridden on each bike during the event
But Bridgestone did more in Croatia than simply let the press test tyres or write reviews. They showed and proved what the new tyre is capable of — offering not just two round black things to evaluate, but a full experience to spark inspiration. Many brands talk about “experience” as a buzzword. For Bridgestone, it was the real deal.
Versatility
You’d be hard-pressed to find a better testing ground than the stretch between Split and Zadar. These two Croatian cities are connected by a network of truly spectacular roads. Just off the coast lies Pag Island — a popular shooting location for car and motorcycle commercials thanks to its stark, rugged landscape and flowing curves. The T33 had to prove its versatility here, including a key feature: durability. While that couldn’t be fully tested in just a few days, a separate four-part story on this website details how the tyre’s lifespan was put to the test on a 13,000 km ride across Europe’s four corners.
A step further
In Croatia, the T33 earned high praise for its grip and handling. The T32 was already one of the best-handling front tyres on the market, known for its excellent grip, outstanding feedback, and progressive steering behavior — even under braking. The T33 builds on that legacy and takes it a step further. With a stiffer rear tyre offering surprisingly strong grip for a Sport/Touring setup, riders could forget about their tyres entirely and simply enjoy the ride — as if upgrading their entire motorcycle.
Unanimous praise
Over three days, journalists tested the tyre on around 10 different motorcycles in varied conditions — and had a blast doing it. The goal of this impressive event was clear: give everyone the opportunity to independently test the new T33’s capabilities. The fact that the tyre received unanimous praise showed that all the preparation, crew effort, logistics, photography, and route planning were well worth it.
In the end, the T33 launch was about more than just promoting a product — it was about giving riders real insight into a top-tier tyre. And that’s what truly matters.
