The low-tread Michelin Jet XC and Force XC tyres are all well and good if you like that sort of thing but it’s the Michelin Wild XC that’s triggered us lot over here in the filth of midwinter.
Cast your mind back a few years. Time was you could find a mud tyre that wasn’t a death-by-dual-ply gravity spike, nor a far too skinny rock-hard plasticky-rubber liability. There were tyres with a decent volume to them, with a decent gappy block tread, and made from an acceptable durometer rubber.
Oddly it always mainly seemed to tyres from in-house bike brands like Bontrager or Specialized for some reason. But there were some good mud trail tyres from rubbery bods like Schwalbe and Maxxis. Mud X, Storm, Dirty Dan, Beaver… names to conjure with.
Names that have either been totally done away or else been tweaked into something now only available in flavours that are too extreme (either too skinny or too stiff/draggy).
The revamped Maxxis Shorty Gen 2 looks like it could be a goer as trail tyre in one of the narrower, more supple sidewall guises. But they seemingly don’t exist in the shops to actually buy. Regardless of availability, it’s good to have choice and the new Michelin Wild XC looks like a very good choice.
Am I getting overly excited a bicycle tyre? You bet I am!
What, apart from tantalising photographs of it, do we know about the Michelin Wild XC?
Michelin Wild XC
Well, the tread pattern has been inspired by Michelin’s Wild Enduro tyres (which is a good start). The Gum-X compound is a pretty decent balance of traction and rolling. Michelin’s Cross Shield2 casing, again, is a pretty good balance of protection without being unduly stiff and energy-robbing.
29er specific. Comes in either 2.25in or 2.35in (YES! Sorry…) sizes. Prices are £57.99 and £64.99 respectively. Claimed weights of 730g and 760g respectively, which is getting on for half of the weight of some aggro mud spikes I (briefly) tried.
Oh, those other two tyres. Yeah. Here you go…
Michelin Jet XC2
“The XC race tyre for quick acceleration and maximum momentum.
“Fast – The MICHELIN Jet XC2 tyre provides more speed thanks to its semi slick tread pattern.
“Grip and Efficiency – The MICHELIN Gum-X compound optimises the balance between rolling efficiency and traction.
“Durable – The MICHELIN Cross Shield2 casing provides extra pinch protection designed to prevent tread and sidewall damage.”
Weight: 710g
Size: 29” x 2.25
Casing: 2×150 TPI (with 4×150 TPI bead reinforcement
Price: SRP £57.99
Michelin Force XC2
“The XC tyre for fast and nimble handling, whatever the conditions.
“Versatile – The MICHELIN Force XC2 tyre enhances control in a wide range of riding conditions thanks to the updated tread pattern with taller, wide-spaced knobs.
“Grip and Efficiency – The MICHELIN Gum-X compound optimises the balance between rolling efficiency and traction.
“Durable – The MICHELIN Cross Shield2 casing provides extra pinch protection designed to prevent tread and sidewall damage.”
Weight: 680g (2.10), 710g (2.25)
Sizes: 29” x 2.10 and 29” x 2.25
Casing: 2×150 TPI (with 4×150 TPI bead reinforcement)
Price: SRP £57.99
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