Michelin Downhill Tyres
In this post I am going to go through the Michelin Downhill Tyres. But first I will talk you through my experiences with mountain bike tyres.
I have been riding my Nukeproof Mega with Michelin Wild Enduro tyres for a while now. I love the feel of them, the grip they give in the corners and their stopping power. However, they do have a bad habit of puncturing. I ride in the french alps where the terrain is pretty varied. We get smooth (ish) downhill trails, muddy forest trails and pointy rocks. This type of terrain is what the Wild Enduro was made for, but they don’t seem to be as tough as the Maxxis tyres I had on my old bike. I thought that I had been unlucky, with sidewall slices and large cuts (although Tyre Yogurt did do a great job of sealing them eventually), but it turns out that I am not the only one to have had this problem.
(The image below shows a 6mm slice, but the Tyre Yogurt sealed it after a couple of rides)
I considered going back to Maxxis; however, the build quality of the 2019 Maxxis tyres was horrendous.
The Nukeproof Enduro team have been using Michelin Wild Enduro tyres for a while now, but the versions you will find on Sam Hill’s bike are the downhill versions. These are much tougher, but they were not available to the public. After a year of testing by pro mountain bikers, Michelin is ready to allow you and me to buy them.
There are four different options to suit different types of surface. They also use Michelin’s new compound known as Magi-X DH, which is said to give better grip in both wet and dry.
Michelin Downhill Tyre Range
DH34
The DH34 is designed for riders that spend a lot of time in areas with rocky terrain or in bike parks. It uses the Magi-X DH Shield casing. Michelin says that this provides maximum grip and high stability on hard terrain.
Details
Type: Wire Bead – Tubeless Ready
– Sizes: 27.5in/ 29in
– Casing: 2x55tpi
– Width: 2.4in
– Weight: 1200g (27.5in)
– Estimated Price: £59.99/$78USD
DH22
The DH22 is designed to be more versatile and to work best on soft and varied surfaces. It will also work well on hard surfaces. This tyre also has the Magi-X compound and the DH shield. This is so the knobs on the tread pattern pokes into soft dirt, while giving stability on hard surfaces.
Details
– Type: Wire Bead – Tubeless Ready
– Sizes: 26in/27.5in/29in
– Casing: 2x55tpi
– Width: 2.4in
– Weight: 1200g (26in)
– Estimated Price: £59.99/$78USD
DH Mud
The DH Mud may come as no surprise to you is designed for muddy terrain. The tread pattern is spaced out wide to prevent mud from building up, which reduces grip. The “Cuttable Blocks Technology” is designed to give you the best performance in the wet. These tyres also have the Magi-X DH rubber compound and Down Hill Shield casing.
Details
– Type: Wire Bead – Tubeless Ready
– Sizes: 27.5in/29in
– Casing: 2x55tpi
– Width: 2.4in
– Weight: 1250g (27.5in)
– Estimated Price: £64.99/$85USD
DH34 Bike Park
These are for riders that spend all their time in the bike park. These are basically a more durable version of the DH34 with a longer lifespan. Therefore they are ideal for smashing out bike park laps.
Details
– Type: Wire Bead – Tubeless Ready
– Sizes: 27.5in/29in
– Casing: 2x33tpi
– Width: 2.4in
– Weight: 1180g (27.5in)
– Estimated Price: £29.99/$39USD
Michelin Downhill Tyres
I really hope that these are going to be good tyres. As I said earlier, I am a big fan of the Wild Enduro’s feel and capability, but their durability has been a bit of a let down (no pun intended). I tried them with Rockstop tyre inserts too. I was not impressed with them either, as they had multiple cuts in them after a couple of weeks of riding.
