With its updated Power range for 2020, French tyre giant Michelin has finally joined the road tubeless bandwagon.
Encompassing tyres for five different types of use, the 2020 Power range includes tubeless ready options for road, gravel and cyclocross. Michelin has also updated its more traditional clincher and tubular tyres for road and cyclocross use.
Having been one of the first brands to test tubeless road technology in the professional peloton, it’s notable that it is only now getting fully on board with tubeless road tyres.
If we were to speculate, we might wonder if it has something to do with the fact that an ETRTO standard for road tubeless technology has only recently been formulated (so recently in fact that this standard is yet to be formally announced).
Like Continental, Michelin has decided to make Tubeless Ready (TLR) tyres, rather than adopt Mavic’s Universal System Tubeless (UST) design. TLR tyres can be used both with or without an inner tube.
Theoretically they are also lighter than UST tyres, which have extra sidewall reinforcement to make the sidewalls less air-permeable. TLR tyres don’t hold air properly without the addition of tubeless sealant however, so you have to factor this into the equation.
It is worth noting, though, that tubeless sealant is also de rigeur in UST systems anyway, simply for its ability to help prevent or seal punctures.
The 2020 Michelin Power Range
Michelin Power Road
- Clincher: 23mm / weight TBC / price TBC
- Clincher: 25mm / weight TBC / price TBC
- Clincher: 28mm / weight TBC / price TBC
- Clincher (blue side walls): 25mm / weight TBC / price TBC
- Clincher (red side walls): 25mm / weight TBC / price TBC
- Tubeless Ready: 25mm / weight TBC / price TBC
- Tubeless Ready: 28mm / weight TBC / price TBC
- Tubeless Ready: 32mm / weight TBC / price TBC
Available in standard clincher or Tubeless Ready format, the Power Road line is Michelin’s all round racing tyre. Looking to combine low rolling resistance with good grip and durability, both versions use Michelin’s latest X-Race compound.
The clincher is constructed from a 3 x 120 TPI casing and has a lightweight Aramind Protek+ puncture belt along the crown of the tyre. It is available now in black, in sizes 23mm, 25mm and 28mm, or with blue or red side walls in a size 25mm.
The Tubeless Ready (TLR) version uses a 4 x 120 TPI casing and has an added Air Proof layer, for better sealing and puncture protection. It will be available from March 2020 in black and in sizes 25mm, 28mm and 32mm.
Pricing is yet to be announced.
Michelin Power Time Trial
- Clincher: 23m / weight TBC / price TBC
- Clincher: 25m / weight TBC / price TBC
The Power Time Trial tyre is the lightest and fastest of Michelin’s premium road tyres, but this naturally comes at the expense of some durability and puncture protection.
Using a 3 x 180 TPI casing construction for increased suppleness, the Power Time Trial has a thinner Race-2 compound and foregoes a puncture protection belt.
Designed, as the name suggests, for time trial and triathlon events, the Power Time Trial is the tyre to choose when speed matters above all else.
It will be available from January 2020 in black and in sizes 23mm and 25mm. Pricing is yet to be announced.
Michelin Power Competition
- Tubular: 23mm / 270g / £69.99
- Tubular: 25mm / 290g / £69.99
- Tubular: 28mm / 310g / £69.99
While clinchers and tubeless tyres have been making inroads into the professional peloton, tubulars are still the dominant choice for most riders and teams.
The 2020 Power Competition tubular has been developed in conjunction with the Cofidis Solutions Crédits professional team, and Michelin claims it’s 10 watts faster than its predecessor.
It features a thin Race Compound, a 2 x 160 TPI casing construction and a latex inner tube for low rolling resistance, and has a Hi-Density Protek puncture protection layer.
Available now in black and in sizes 23mm, 25mm and 28mm.
Michelin Power All Season
- Clincher: 23mm / 235g / £47.99
- Clincher: 25mm / 270g / £47.99
- Clincher: 28mm / 295g / £49.99
The Power All Season is Michelin’s answer to the “What winter training tyre?” question.
Designed specifically for use in cold, wet weather, it has a Hi-Grip Design tread pattern and uses Michelin’s thicker Grip Compound.
Constructed using a 3 x 60 TPI casing for increased durability, the Power All Season also has an Aramid Protek+ puncture protection belt that extends across the full width of the central tread area.
Available now in black and in sizes 23mm, 25mm and 28mm, at an RRP of £49.99.
Michelin Power Gravel
- Tubeless Ready: 33mm / 360g / £42.99
- Tubeless Ready: 35mm / 380g / £42.99
- Tubeless Ready: 40mm / 450g / £42.99
Gravel is one of the hottest segments in cycling right now, so it’s no surprise to see Michelin is on board with this trend as well.
The Power Gravel is a Tubeless Ready tyre, constructed from a 3 x 120 TPI casing and a Michelin’s X-Miles compound.
Its Gravel Design tread features small tread blocks and aims to provide a mixture of high grip and low rolling resistance on varied surfaces.
Furthermore, it features a Bead 2 Bead Protek layer for added puncture protection and better sealing ability.
Michelin Power Cyclocross Jet
- Tubeless Ready: 33mm / 360g / £42.99
- Tubular: 33mm / 380g / £54.99
Designed for use in primarily dry, off-road conditions, the Power Cyclocross Jet range comprises both tubular and Tubeless Ready versions.
The Power Cyclocross Jet tubular is a traditional cotton tubular capable of being run at low pressures without pinch flats, for maximum grip. It features a low profile tread pattern designed specifically for CX racing.
The new Tubeless Ready version has black sidewalls and features a Bead 2 Bead Protek layer for added puncture protection and better sealing ability. The tread pattern has been borrowed from Michelin’s Cross Country MTB tyres, and aims to provide good grip on a range of surfaces.
Both tyres are available now in size 33mm with Michelin’s distinctive green tread.
Michelin Power Cyclocross Mud
- Tubeless Ready: 33mm / 335g / £42.99
- Tubular: 33mm / 380g / £54.99
For use in wet and muddy off-road conditions, the Power Cyclocross Mud range also has both tubular and Tubeless Ready versions.
Constructed from the same traditional cotton casing as the Power Cyclocross Jet tubular, the Mud tyres differ primarily in terms of tread pattern, having taller, more widely spaced tread blocks that aim to provide better traction on soft ground.
The new Tubeless Ready version has the same tread as the tubular version but has black sidewalls. Like the Jet Tubeless Ready tyre it also features Michelin’s Bead 2 Bead Protek layer, encasing the inside of the tyre for added puncture protection and better sealing.
Both tyres are available now in size 33mm and come with Michelin’s distinctive green tread.
