Tyre choice on any bike is
important, but arguably none more so than on mountain bikes. With ever varying
terrain, conditions and high-consequences; MTB tyre
choice is vital in order to have confidence in your bike. Any bike – and any
ride – can be ruined by poor tyre choice, so while you may think fancy
components make a difference to your ride, it’s actually those black rubber circles
that make the biggest difference of all.
As your one contact
between the bike and the ground, tyres have a pretty crucial role in keeping
you upright on the bike. You want to ensure you invest not only in quality
tyres, but the right tyres for your bike, riding style and the terrain you
ride. Cheap, plasticky feeling tyres may last an eternity and roll reasonably
quickly but will offer next to no grip when you venture out on to proper
off-road trails. More expensive, softer compound tyres will grip far better but
roll slower and wear quicker.
There’s a compromise to be
made, so it pays to do your research; asking local riders who you see out on
the trails on their own choices is a great way to learn what works in the area,
(and pick up a few tips at the same time). You may find one brand in particular
is recommended by a whole host of riders who frequent your riding spots.
Michelin having been making MTB tyres for years and have
produced some real classics in that time; the Comp 22 DH tyre is still fondly
remembered by DH riders from the late 90’s and early 00’s, while the classic Wild
Grip-R (which has had a recent upgrade) was the XC tyre of choice
for many riders. Their latest range of tyres features some all-new designs, so
we’ve put together a quick guide to get the best out of their range for Enduro,
Trail and Cross-Country riding.
Enduro tyres
With the rise in
popularity of Enduro racing and with bikes becoming more and more capable, it’s
been a scramble to get tyres that are up to the task. The Michelin Wild Enduro MTB
tyre comes in front
and rear
specific versions to suit the needs of the modern Enduro rider and
racer.
The Wild Enduro Front is
designed with a soft Gum-X compound and aggressive, blocky tread to deliver
maximum grip on a range of surfaces, while the Wild Enduro Rear uses the same
rubber compound teamed with a shallower, faster-rolling tread pattern to give a
great compromise between speed and grip. Michelin even go one step further by
giving the rear tyre extra reinforcement to cope better with the harder hits
your rear wheel will take!
Of course, there’s nothing
stopping you from two of either tyre front and rear if the conditions call for
it.
Trail tyres
Trail riding (or what we
like to call “mountain biking”) is what the vast majority of riders actually
do, so this is arguably where the most attention is paid, too.
We don’t all need tacky,
1kg-plus tyres for our riding. The Michelin
Wild AM is one such tyre that meets the demands of riders who will
be best served by a lighter, faster rolling tyre that still offers plenty of
grip in a range of conditions. It has an intermediate tread pattern that gives
plenty of grip when cornering but still rolls well on climbs and flat sections,
ticking all boxes, really. Using a harder Gum-X3D rubber compound and lighter
Trail Shield casing, the Wild AM is a great all-rounder. Those looking for a
little extra speed should check out the faster-rolling Michelin
Force AM as the combination of grippy front tyre and fast-rolling
rear makes for a great summer tyre setup.
Cross-country tyres
Cross-country is all about
speed and efficiency, so tyres are generally lightweight and fast-rolling with
just enough grip to not be absolutely terrifying on descents. Michelin
Force XC tyres have been designed to be a super fast-rolling cross
country tyre that flies up climbs but doesn’t flinch on descents. The
lightweight Cross Shield casing is supple enough to provide excellent traction
yet tough enough to see you through the course of a race without issues. If
your cross-country bike also sees double duty as a trail bike away from the
races, the Force XC can be teamed with the grippier Force AM up front to better
deal with technical trails.