Skip to content

Bridgestone A41 & T31

Is there any tougher test bed than the harsh Moroccan desert to introduce a new adventure tyre to the market? Bridgestone doesn’t think so

Harsh, windy and unforgiving. An adventure tyre launch in the desert is certainly one way to show confidence in a new product – there is no escaping the punishment the African desert can deliver, and Bridgestone has been developing the new Battlax A41 and T41 range for the purest purpose – to get out and explore the world on two wheels.

The A41 replaces the A40, and Bridgestone says the main focus for improvement was wet grip, better handling in low temperatures, straight-line stability at speed, and simply better feel and feedback – but all without sacrificing wear life. Basically, making an already accomplished adventure tyre even better.

The design brief called for an updated tread pattern to help with water drainage and block deformation, as well as an upgrade to the contact patch size and pressure distribution.

The first thing to bear in mind is that the tyre has its limitations when it comes to suitable terrain. This is not a knobby off-road tyre, it’s for adventure riders hitting gravel roads that don’t turn too gnarly. Think big-capacity bikes such as BMW’s GS range, Honda’s Africa Twin and Yamaha’s big-bore Tènèrè and you’ll get the idea.

The Battlax T31 is the A41’s sport-touring brother, an all-new tyre with the same focus for improvement, but with the added intention to “increase neutrality and lightness with increased camber thrust forces” or, to you and me, pushing harder through corners with more confidence.

Bridgestone started from a solid base with the A40 and T30 Evo predecessors, so given the advances in technology since their release, you’d expect the Japanese manufacturer (though it’s a global effort these days with 40 per cent of its workforce located in Europe) to be true to its claims, but there was only one way to find out…

To Morroco! Where hard-packed shale roads on big adventure bikes made up the opening day’s test on the A41s, followed by open highways with the T31 the following day.

By Matt O’Connell

Read the full Story in the current issue of AMCN (Vol 67 No21) on sale now