Michelin Unveils New Tire for Dual Sport Motorcycles

More than half of the new BMW R 1200 GSs that roll off the assembly line in 2013 will be fitted with Michelin’s new big trail tire, the Anakee III. BMW and Michelin worked together to co-develop the dual-sport tire, which is designed to deliver all the safety and off road capability big trail motorcycle users demand. The Anakee III will also be available as a replacement option for other leading dual sport bikes, like the Suzuki V-Strom, Kawasaki KLR, Triumph Tiger and Yamaha Super Tenere.

The new Michelin Anakee III boasts a distinctive tread pattern that provides improved lateral grip, lively response and consistent behavior thanks to bevel-cut central sipes. In internal company tests, the Anakee III rear tire lasted 20 percent longer than the popular Anakee 2, thanks to new silica-based components. In addition, silica helps to improve wet grip. The new Michelin Anakee III tire is iavailable in 14 versions (five bias and nine radials).

Thanks to its rigid casing, the Anakee III delivers an agile yet stable ride even with a passenger and luggage, precision cornering even at high speed and excellent braking and cornering response. When cornering at a 30 degree angle, the contact patch is 10 degrees wider than with the Anakee 2.

This begins a strong 2013 for Michelin, which will introduce three new motorcycle tires in North America.

By Jon Langston