Michelin has released the latest addition to its heavy adventure range, rubber. The Michelin Anakee Road is an evolution of the popular Anakee III tire. As the name implies, this is a purely road-focused tire aimed at ADV riders who don’t plan on hitting the trail, allowing the Anakee family to cover all aspects of riding. While the Road is designed exclusively for the street, the 80-street/20-dirt Anakee Adventure and 50/50 Anakee Wild tires are positioned to care for off-road-oriented goals.
The Anakee Road uses the Anakee III as a stepping stone, expanding on proven Michelin technologies coupled with redesigned compounds. Updates include new 100 percent silica rubber compounds and tweaks to its 2CT+ technology—Michelin-speak for the dual compounds used on the front and rear. Together, these updates net a 10 percent increase in wet weather traction and mileage over its predecessor.
Unlike Michelin’s original dual-compound 2CT (Two Compound Technology), 2CT+ uses a harder rubber compound on the center of the tire (48 percent of coverage) for better tire life when riding more upright. Meanwhile, a softer compound on the shoulders (28 percent of coverage per shoulder) provides better grip at lean. The updated 2CT+ improves upon the original two-compound design by layering the softer shoulder compound over the harder center compound, designed to provide better stability when cornering, even under hard braking or heavy acceleration.
Most adventure-touring bikes aren’t considered lightweights—they routinely exceed 500 pounds—so to construct a tire that would provide a stable ride, Michelin uses a rigid tire casing called Aramid Shield Technology. The dense and rigid casing is claimed to deliver excellent feedback and stability. Our road test confirmed that the Michelin Anakee Road tire lives up to those claims.
The main focus of this tire is to meet the demands of adventure-touring enthusiasts who want excellent longevity without compromising grip during real-world road riding conditions. Our tests included a wet, gymkhana-type course and a lengthy ride through the radically varied rural roads surrounding the legendary Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain. It proved to be an ideal setting to become familiar with how these tires would perform in the real world.
With the more rigid tire construction in mind, I wanted to see how the Michelin Anakee Road tires would feel on one of the lighter middleweight adventure bikes, so I chose the 449-pound Aprilia Tuareg 660 for the first portion of our tests. I should note that none of the bikes were set up expressly for me and were in the showroom trim.
The temperature was roughly 60 degrees, and the Anakee Road tires were stone cold to start my test. The gymkhana course appeared to simulate the conditions you’d find riding in the city during wet weather. It consisted of a waterlogged course to simulate sudden lane changes, avoiding obstacles, riding on uneven surfaces, and maximum braking. The tire provided excellent grip when leaning and braking hard. The rigid tire construction provided plenty of feedback and inspired confidence when performing the wet tests. Its performance was limited only by the motorcycle’s safety features, such as traction control and ABS.
The Michelin Anakee Road tires are responsive when applying steering inputs, and I felt confident leaning the bike over on the wet asphalt as much as was needed to perform any given portion of the course. The test that impressed me the most was the maximum braking zone. I set a speed of 70 kph (43.5 mph) and applied maximum front brake pressure once passing through a set of cones. Unlike the rest of the course, which was wet asphalt, this section was covered in a strip of slick epoxy-covered concrete that reduced grip even further.
I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have reservations about performing this test. However, after watching the instructor demonstrate it, I did what any self-respecting motorcyclist would do and sent it. As with the other tests, results were limited more by electronic interference than traction, thanks to 100 percent silica compound. I was thoroughly impressed by how quickly I could stop while completely controlling the Tuareg.
As for the road portion of the test, it was still a sunny 60 degrees. I rode through tight, nearly single-lane roads, fast sweepers, cobblestone streets, and highway stretches. The condition of the roads varied quite a bit, which gave me a more precise understanding of how the tires react to bumps, road seams, dust, water, and smooth pavement. One constant in all of the conditions is the responsiveness when steering and the amount of traction available the Michelin Anakee Road rubber provided. These traits stood out while riding the comparatively light and naturally nimble Tuareg.
However, given that the Tuareg is a light-middleweight adventure bike, the Anakee Road was more reactive over bumps or hard-edged hits. I attribute that to the hard carcass design or, perhaps, the 90/90 x 21 front tire. These aspects may be tuned out with suspension or psi settings.
To confirm or contrast these opinions, I switched to a 2023 Triumph Tiger 1200 Rally Pro, which is about 100 pounds heavier and had a 120/70 x 19 front tire. To the big Tiger, the ride quality felt a bit smoother and less reactive while equally responsive to steering inputs. Again, that could be because the Tiger is heavier and has a wider front tire, with the bike’s weight masking road feel to a certain degree.
When used on either of the test bikes I sampled, the tires provided plenty of feedback, stability, and grip. They provided a consistent feeling, whether at lean, under hard braking, or during heavy acceleration, contributing to many miles of fun. Although it’s impossible to gauge tire wear before putting thousands of miles on them, Michelin claims the Anakee Road will last longer than the already slow-wearing Anakee III.
If you prefer to stick to the road during your adventures, the Anakee Road is a dependable option. It is the final addition to the Anakee series, providing exceptional grip in wet and dry conditions, a steady and predictable ride, and is built to endure.
Michelin Anakee Road Tire Sizes
Rear
- 150/70 x 17
- 1760/16 x 17
- 150/70 x 18
Front
- 110/80 x 19
- 120/70 x 19
- 90/90 x 12
Michelin Anakee Road Review Photo Gallery
