Latest Tire Test: Pavement Strength Forgets Block Patterns! Michelin Anakee Adventure 2 Test Impressions

Since its introduction in 2003, Michelin's Anakee series has undergone solid evolution and diversification. The Anakee Adventure 2, the latest in the series and the king of the road, maintains the same off-road performance as its predecessor, while also surpassing its predecessor's on-road performance. It has all the qualities of an ideal on/off-road tire.

⚫︎ Text: Tomohiko Nakamura ⚫︎ Photos: Hideaki Togashi ⚫︎ Interview supported by SP Tadao Asakusa store / Suzuki Motorcycle [PR] Michelin

Royal road tire during the Anakee series

The Suzuki V-Strom 1050 was used for testing, with tire sizes of 110/80R19 front and 150/70R17 rear, which are a bit narrow by the standards of the latest large-displacement adventure tourers.

Although the neo-classic and under-400cc classes are also well represented, adventure tourers are probably the genre that vehicle manufacturers have been focusing on the most in recent years. In line with the stance of vehicle manufacturers, tire makers also have a large lineup of products that are suitable for adventure tourers. In the case of Michelin, in addition to the Anakee Adventure, which should be considered the king of the road, the company also offers the Anakee Road, which is mainly used on paved roads, and the Anakee Wild, which emphasizes rough terrain performance.

The Michelin Adventure tire lineup, including the completely pavement-oriented Road 6. The void ratio (ratio of grooves to tread) of the Adventure 2 is less than the Wild, but considerably more than the two on-road-oriented models. Incidentally, the difference between the Anakee Road and Road 6 is whether they have reinforced construction or not. The key point is that the Anakee series is designed for off-road driving and can be run even at lower air pressure.

The Anakee Adventure 2, which went on sale in January 2026, is the successor to the Anakee Adventure, as its name suggests, and its virtues over its predecessor include improved quietness, durability, and wet performance. According to the company's tests, noise reaching the inside of the helmet can be reduced by about 30%, durability by 14%, and wet grip by 10%.

Michelin Anakee Adventure 2. the successor to the Anakee Adventure tire, which was introduced in 2019.

The tread pattern has a similar feel both front and rear. A deformed hexagonal central zone, with two blocks on each side (the end faces are chamfered to prevent block skipping).

Is the pitch of the blocks different in each section?

The first thing that caught my attention when I came face to face with the Anarky Adventure 2 was its tread pattern, which is completely different from that of its predecessor. Viewed in the left-right direction, the predecessor's blocks were divided into four sections with a zigzag mizzo in the center, whereas the 2's blocks are divided into five sections, with no mizzo in the center and a deformed hexagonal central zone.

Anakee Adventure 2 on the right and conventional Anakee Adventure on the left. The "2" has an improved tread with groove edges facing in various directions, making it easier to create hooking (i.e., traction) not only vertically but also horizontally and diagonally.

The beauty of the central zone is the reduction of tire noise, but these blocks should also contribute to stability on the highway. The longitudinal angle grooves are designed for stability and grip while turning, while the transverse trans grooves are designed for traction on rough roads.

And the central zone, which uses a supple compound like quake-absorbing rubber to reduce vibration, has three different sizes, although at first glance it seems that all the blocks lined up vertically are the same size (actual measurements in the center of the vertical direction are: front: 3/3.5/4.5 cm, rear: 3/3.5/4.5 cm, and side: 3/4.5 cm). This technology, adapted from four-wheelers, is said to have the effect of canceling out the ground noise generated by each block and the road surface. In addition, a new generation of silica, which warms up and cools down more easily than its predecessor, has been added to the compound, a reinforced structure (REINFORCED RADIAL-X EVO technology) similar to that of Anakee Wilde has been introduced in consideration of large cargo loads and off-road air pressure adjustment, and, with rough road drivability in mind The edges of the Mizo are oriented in various directions, which is also a feature of the Anakee Adventure 2.

The blocks are arranged in varying sizes, every four to five pitches, throughout the entire circumference. The technology used in four-wheel tires has been adapted to two-wheel tires.

The use of 2CT with different compounds in the center and on the left and right sides, as well as the use of aramid fiber material for reinforcement, is similar to the previous generation Anakee Adventure. However, whereas the previous generation's casing was basic RADIAL-X EVO, the 2, which is designed for large cargo loads and off-road air pressure adjustment, uses reinforced REINFORCED RADIAL-X EVO.

The ANAKEE logo is in shadow letters that give the impression of three-dimensionality. This playfulness is unique to Michelin.

No matter what the situation, you won't be put off.

First of all, my first impression after driving on the city streets was quite normal. Well, I don't know if "normal" is the right word to use at the beginning of an impression, but there was no sense of discomfort in the response to throttle operation, braking, or rolling over, and there was no need to pay any attention to the tire's characteristics. This impression remained unchanged even on the highway. Compared to the previous generation, road noise is noticeably lower, and straight-line stability is also improved, making cruising at a constant speed quite comfortable. However, when we consider it in terms of an on-road tire, this tire is still ordinary.

The total distance traveled during the test was about 300 km, consisting of 150 km on highways, 70 km on winding roads, 20 km off-road, and 60 km in urban areas.

On the winding roads, I was impressed by the smoothness of the banking. While the previous generation of this tire had a tendency to feel the boundary of the blocks when the vehicle was in the process of rolling over, this tire has a very natural movement when shifting from a straight line to a turning posture. After I had grasped this fact, I opened the throttle as much as I could, braked as much as I could, laid the car down as much as I could, and immersed myself in sport riding. ...... As I was riding on a road with many curves, I suddenly thought to myself, "These tires must have a block pattern! I thought to myself, "These tires have a block pattern! I thought to myself, "These tires are block-patterned! On the contrary, it is not unusual for block pattern tires, including the previous generation, to have some sort of negative impact on-road, but the Anakee Adventure 2 is a tire that makes you forget that it is a block pattern, not only in the city and on the highway, but also on winding roads. Of course, for on-road ride quality, the Anakee Road is probably superior. However, this tire is more adaptable to unpaved roads and bad weather. At first, I thought that the aforementioned central zone might have some adverse effect on these qualities, but in fact the Anakee Adventure 2 showed a capability of adapting to the environment that was distinctly different from on-road oriented tires. First of all, on rough terrain, it was difficult to go hard on the rough terrain, but on flat dirt, the Anakee Adventure 2 could go with ease, and it was even possible to play with the rear tire by letting it drift with the throttle. On the other hand, as for bad weather conditions, when we took the bike for a test ride in wet conditions on a different day (it was sunny all day on the day of the photo shoot), we could not recognize any difference from the previous generation, but we could feel that the feeling of driving in dry conditions was not much different. In any case, we would not be bothered by the environmental changes if we went touring on a bike with these tires.

The on/off ratio is the same as its predecessor...

Michelin's publicity material states that the on:off ratio of the Anakee Adventure 2 is 80:20, the same as its predecessor. But after my test drive, I felt that number was misleading. After all, this tire maintains the same off-road performance as its predecessor while completely surpassing its predecessor's on-road performance. Thus, my personal image is 100:20, but that would not work as a ratio and would eliminate the position of the 90:10 Anakee Road, so it is a very delicate matter. Incidentally, as mentioned at the beginning of this article, the Anakee series is mainly targeted at adventure tourers, but like its predecessor, this tire is also available in sizes to fit crossover models and scramblers. And for my part, I feel that riders who like rough roads and travel can also use these tires on sport naked and neo-classic models. In order to provide riders with more choices, Michelin plans to sell the previous generation Anarky Adventure at a lower price than before 2025. Having experienced the appeal of the 2 on this test ride, I would not recommend the previous generation, but given the recent recession and rising prices, many riders may welcome the company's stance.

Size Lineup

The 17-inch and 18-inch sizes for the front are designed with crossover models and scramblers in mind. They can also be installed on sport naked and neo-classic models (the rear 150/70R18 size is currently being postponed).

Tester: Tomohiko Nakamura

A freelancelance inthe 2-wheel media industry for 30 years who is an expert on the tire situation in Japan and abroad.His favoriteMichelin tires in recent years arethe Sport Touring Radial Road 6 and the All Roughand BiasRoad Classic.