2018 tyres

New rubber means more grip and more choice for next year

Bridgestone A41

Road-going adventure tyre replacing Bridgestone’s A40. Bridgestone says the A41 has better wet grip than the A40, thanks to a larger contact patch and more water-displacing grooves on the tyres’ shoulders, without any loss in mileage. Available from January 2018 in the usual large-capacity adventure sizes.

Dunlop Trailsmart Max

Dunlop’s Trailsmart is being replaced in the most popular sizes with this Trailsmart Max. Key improvement is not grip but life. Dunlop says the Max’s front lasts 64% longer and the rear 15% longer than the Trailsmart. Construction is new on both, the front has a new profile and the rear uses a harder centre compound.

SPORTS TOURING

Bridgestone T31 The T31 tyre takes over from Bridgestone’s T30 Evo. More flexible rubber compound on the T31’s front claims to give more confidence in the cold and the wet, while mileage isn’t reduced at all. Full line-up of sizes includes 19in fronts for adventure bikes and studier ‘GT’ constructions for heavier tourers. Due in January.

Michelin Road 5 Successor to the Pilot Road 4 (the ‘Pilot’ has been dropped). Claims to not just set a new standard for wet-weather grip, but also to keep that performance over its life. Michelin says even when 50% worn (at 3500 miles) the Road 5’s wet-weather braking performance is still as good as a brand-new Pilot Road 4. Due in January.