From torrential rain and muddy green lanes to sweeping coastal roads and mountain passes, we put Michelin’s new Anakee Adventure 2 tyres through their paces while riding the Lap of Wales Challenge. Here’s what we learned, and why now might be the perfect time to fit a set.
There are few better ways to test a set of tyres in the UK than circumnavigating an entire country in a weekend. Especially when that country is Wales, the roads are flooded, and the route includes everything from motorway miles to mountain passes and muddy trails.
That was exactly the challenge ABR staff writer Billy Johnson and I faced while attempting the Lap of Wales Challenge, a 650-mile circumnavigation of the country designed to prove that you only need a spare weekend to have an epic adventure on two wheels.
The mission was simple: cross the Welsh border on our BMW R 1300 GS bikes, ride the full loop, and return within 48 hours. What wasn’t simple was the weather. Cold, dark, and relentlessly wet, with debris-strewn roads a constant feature, the conditions provided the perfect proving ground for Michelin’s new Anakee Adventure 2 tyres.
And as it turned out, if a tyre can handle the best and worst of Wales in winter, it can handle pretty much anything.
Before we dive deeper into the ride, it’s worth mentioning that Michelin is currently offering £35 cashback when you buy a pair of Anakee Adventure 2 tyres before 30 April. If you’re thinking about fitting a fresh set of rubber ahead of the riding season, it’s a tempting incentive, particularly when you consider how well these tyres performed during our trip around Wales.
You can find the cashback offer HERE.
A proper test for an adventure tyre
Adventure bikes are designed to do it all: fast road miles, twisty mountain passes and the occasional trail when curiosity gets the better of us. But for a tyre, delivering that balance is no easy task.
The Lap of Wales route offered the full spectrum, and it was impressive how well the Anakee Adventure 2 coped with everything we threw at it.
From the border crossing at Bigsweir Bridge, Billy and I headed west, covering quick miles on a biblically wet motorway before diving into Wales’ spectacular coastline and mountain scenery. The ride included iconic stretches such as the A487 along Cardigan Bay, the climb over Pen-y-Pass in Snowdonia, and the dramatic coastal roads of North Wales.
Then there was Bomber Lane, a green lane threading through wild Welsh countryside. In summer, it’s a cracking trail ride. In winter, it’s something else entirely. Mud, standing water, ruts and general slop meant it was a serious test of traction.
And while the Anakee Adventure 2 is primarily designed for road riding, we were genuinely impressed by how much grip this 80/20 road-to-trail tyre managed to generate. The bike wriggled beneath us at times, but we stayed upright and in control, which is exactly what you want when tackling a muddy Welsh trail in January.
Dual compound technology
Back on the tarmac, the Anakee Adventure 2 tyres provided the type of reassuring grip that made us forget we were meant to be testing them at times. And given the filthy roads we were riding at times, that is one hell of a compliment.
In fact, the tyres delivered reassuring grip mile after mile. Michelin attributes this to the use of new silica-based compounds combined with Michelin’s dual-compound technology. In simple terms, the centre of the tyre uses a harder rubber for durability and stability during long road miles, while the shoulders use a softer compound to maximise grip when cornering.
Out on the road, the result is predictable handling and confidence, particularly when leaning into wet bends or riding unfamiliar roads in poor conditions.
And when the sun shone and the roads finally dried out on day two of our adventure, the Anakee Adventure 2 tyres stuck like chewing gum to the tarmac, letting us make full use of the sublime handling and power of the big BMWs along the twisting Welsh coastal roads.
Built for the way adventure bikes are really used
The Lap of Wales Challenge wasn’t just about riding technical roads, although there were plenty of them. It also involved covering distance on fast A-road and motorways in a short amount of time. By the time Billy and I rolled back across the border into England, we’d spent long hours in the saddle.
One of the lesser-known benefits of the Anakee Adventure 2 is its optimised tread design, which helps reduce perceived road noise and improves long-distance comfort. Over hundreds of miles, that quieter ride can make a noticeable difference.
Michelin had machines designed to cover big distances, like the BMW R 1300 GS and the Honda Africa Twin Adventure Sports, in mind when it designed its new tyre. Sure, these are capable motorcycles off-road, but in reality, they spend the majority of their lives covering road miles, often over big distances.
With this in mind, Michelin has improved the longevity of its new tyre compared to the previous generation of Anakee Adventure, meaning riders can expect more miles before it’s time for a replacement. After 650 miles, I can’t make a call as to how long the tyres will last, but after some intense use, they were still looking fresh, if rather dirty.
Ready for the riding season
The Lap of Wales Challenge may have taken place in the depths of winter, but the lessons from that ride feel particularly relevant now. With spring arriving and the riding season stretching out ahead, many of us are planning weekend escapes and longer summer tours.
And if a tyre can handle everything we threw at it in Wales over the winter, it will feel perfectly at home during the brighter days of spring and summer, at home and abroad.
To be honest, some of the roads and conditions Billy and I rode were treacherous, and there were times we probably should have stopped to let the weather pass, but we were determined to keep on schedule.
So, I was genuinely grateful to have been riding a bike as composed as the R 1300 GS sporting a tyre as capable and confidence inspiring as the Anakee Adventure 2. Both helped keep me safe while I had a lot of fun. After all, isn’t that what adventure biking is all about?
Get cashback on your set of Michelin Anakee Adventure 2 tyres
If you’re thinking about fitting a new set of tyres ahead of the riding season, Michelin is currently offering cashback on selected motorcycle tyres, including the Anakee Adventure 2.
Riders who purchase eligible Michelin tyres during the promotion period can claim:
• £10 cashback for one front tyre
• £15 cashback for one rear tyre
• £35 cashback for a pair (front and rear)
Better still, every cashback claim is automatically entered into a draw to win back the full cost of the tyre set, with the winner announced on 8 June 2026.
Key dates
Purchase period: 1 March to 30 April 2026
Claim deadline: 31 May 2026
So, if you’re preparing your bike for riding season, now is the perfect time to upgrade your tyres, and get a little money back in the process.
