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OK....... so I'm going to dig this thread back up for a couple reasons. One, I told @702 that I'd report back, albeit a little late. And two, I'm getting ready for new tires and wanna grab a set on Black Friday.
So, as some of you know already, the bike that I left CA on in June, the one with the fresh set CIII's on it, was NOT the bike I returned home on in Sept. The 14 SGS died in VA two weeks into the 2 month trip, and I bought a 22 SGS to get home. It has OEM Dunlop's on it and are the one's that I need to change out soon.
Honestly, I wasn't all that impressed with the CIII's for the 5,000 miles that I road them to VA. Not like the CII's that I loved before. I had already decided before then that they were going to get changed out upon arrival back here in CA. The bike/tire swap DID give me a chance to really test out the OEM Dunlop's that came on the new(?) bike. They were fresh when I rolled out of the dealers. I have to say, they weren't as bad as I thought they might have been. Even in the worst 3-4 hour rain storm in MI that Mrs. MJ and I have ever had to power through. WORST!! The Dunlop's held their own, but.......... the RDRS on the 22 MAY have had something to do with that?? Again, Better than I thought they would be, but, probably not on my Black Friday wish list. I wish I had the old bike with the CIII's during that storm to give that hydroplaning looking tread a real test!
So, I'm looking for anyone that has racked up the miles on a set of the new AE2's and would like your feedback ESPCIALLY if you were previously riding the AE's prior to them.
I'll be doing a little more research on the Metzler Cruise Tec's as well before I make a decision to buy anything.
Last edited by MotoJockey; Nov 15, 2025 at 10:06 PM.
I just put AE2’s on my bike now. Haven’t ridden them in a downpour yet but took them on a 200 mile ride on Friday through some twisty mountain roads. The grip is great, they track the line where you want them and seem to be an improvement over the OEM Dunlops and AE tires I’ve had in the past. I had a chance to chat with the Dunlop factory rep at Bikeweek in march and he said the carcass is now made with aramid, the rubber on the shoulders has better compound for traction in both dry and wet conditions when leaned over and the center tread rubber is designed for longer wear than before.
I don’t initially like change, especially when they closed the USA plant. Subscribed. I’ve had a great trust with my 5 pair of AEs. We tour, often two up so we are prepared to ride in all weather short of ice or snow that sticks on the road. I’ll need tires next spring and was already wondering about the compound changes to the AE2 due to the move. In short, it is not an AE2, it’s a new tire named an AE, so I’ll research it here with real riders and make my decision in April or May.
In our late 70’s, my wife is done riding, so this past summer it was solo. Going forward, it will be solo. Rain performance living in the great northwet and upper Rockies thunderstorms, wet roads, water running off roads and temporary puddles from hell during storms means wet riding performance is an important consideration.
I loved the OPs photos as it told me what has changed. Now, to get reviews on how that change affects our riding as a community. I appreciate the heads up, but going forward, I know my choices are going to be limited and I might have to be happy just getting decent tires, not great ones.
Even tho the Michelin Cruisetec's tout the "Alternated Diverging Grooves" of the front tire for wet weather, they are absent in the rear tire........ just like the AE2's and CIII's.
Even tho the Michelin Cruisetec's tout the "Alternated Diverging Grooves" of the front tire for wet weather, they are absent in the rear tire........ just like the AE2's and CIII's.
It probably has something to due with the front tire is designed to dispense water away from the tire when braking.
EDIT: What I did notice based upon the picture posted is that the grooves on the rear Cruistec tire seem to be in the opposite direction of the AE2 tire. This to me would indicate the Cruistec tire would be better under braking in wet conditions, while the AE2 rear tire would be better under acceleration in wet conditions.
Last edited by LQQK_OUT; Nov 16, 2025 at 12:31 PM.
And maybe if the front tire has already squeegeed the asphalt from water with it's grooves, the rear tire clear??
I don't know. Maybe that's the thinking with the Dunlop tires.
I edited my post above. If you look at the Cruistec and AE2 tires, the direction of the grooves on the front tire seem to be in the same direction. But the rear tires are different.
One needs to think of the water as made up of water molecules. During braking the water molecules will be traveling faster then the tire, and follow the grooves. During acceleration, the water molecules will be traveling slower then the tire, and follow the grooves.
I'll post my riding impressions in a month or so. By that time, I'll have ridden in wet and icy conditions, lol.
Originally Posted by LQQK_OUT
I don't know. Maybe that's the thinking with the Dunlop tires.
I edited my post above. If you look at the Cruistec and AE2 tires, the direction of the grooves on the front tire seem to be in the same direction. But the rear tires are different.
One needs to think of the water as made up of water molecules. During braking the water molecules will be traveling faster then the tire, and follow the grooves. During acceleration, the water molecules will be traveling slower then the tire, and follow the grooves.
I have 10k miles on my Michelin Commander III's now with some serious wet rain for distance. Almost all the way to Daytona this year and from home to half way to Nashville a few weeks back.
They are head and shoulders above the HD Dunlops I ran on every bike for so many years.
The ride is okay, they are so confidence inspiring and make me have to think and slow down in the wet stuff. The best tire I have ever had.
I say this because they look more like a sport bike tire but rain is a non- issue.
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And two, I'm getting ready for new tires and wanna grab a set on Black Friday.
