Perhaps better known for its performance-orientated cyclocross tubes and tyres, the Power Gravel is Michelin’s first gravel-specific tyre offering.
With a much shallower and less aggressive tread pattern, these excel in drier conditions, across mixed terrain from tarmac to hardpack and gravel.
Designed with drier conditions in mind, the Michelin Power Gravel tyres are available from cyclocross width at 33mm up to a chunky 47mm for 700c wheels, with the 40mm width on test here.
The low profile, regular arrow-patterned tread with oblong shoulder knobs has been formulated to deliver grip and speed over a mixture of tarmac and dirt trails, and features a protective layer from bead to bead to aid puncture protection.
Michelin Power Gravel performance
Setup was a doddle, easily inflating and retaining air overnight and for the duration of the test. On wider 23mm internal rims, they measure 41.5mm at the widest point with a rounded profile.
The puncture resistance here is really impressive, especially given the tough testing period included Grinduro in North Wales, with copious slate singletrack trails that really push the limits of gravel riding. I’ve experienced no loss of air or sealant at all, both there or on my home testing loop.
On dry hardpack and loose gravel trails, grip is plentiful, encouraging you to lean into the corners a little bit more and carry more speed through twisting fireroad descents.
Riding out of the city and linking up off-road segments, the performance of the Power Gravel tyres is impressive on the road.
The shallow profile of the tread doesn’t compromise the feeling of speed over this smoother terrain, which can sometimes detract from the overall enjoyment if a lot of your riding involves tarmac.
When it comes to sloppier, wet mud, for an option that’s marketed as a hardpack tyre there’s a positively surprising amount of grip on the straight. I only lost grip here when turning sharply and at greater speeds.
If your riding involves a good deal of hefty mud, then the Michelin Power Cyclocross Mud is likely to be a more suitable option.
Aesthetically, I rather like the motorsport-style loud white branding, although tan wall fans will be disappointed to hear that only the 47mm option is available in the ‘classic’ colourway.
Michelin Power Gravel bottom line
The relatively new Michelin Power Gravel tyres give a confident ride in drier conditions, matched with excellent puncture protection.
These also offer great value as one of the more reasonably priced gravel tyres available.
How we tested
Tyre choice has a fundamental impact on how your gravel bike rides, so we put seven of the latest and best-selling gravel tyres to the test to find out which offers the best grip, speed and puncture protection over the rough stuff.
Keeping things consistent, all of the testing was done on the same bike – a steel, custom-built Mercredi – and on the same wheelset, WTB’s new carbon CZR i23 gravel wheelset featuring 23mm internal rim widths.
The criteria for selecting the tyres to test was a wheel size of 700c and a tyre width between 38mm and 45mm.
Tyres were set up using a track pump and Schwalbe Tire Booster, before heading out onto a local testing loop as well as various gravel races and events.
The local testing loop around Bristol included a real mix of terrain, from gravel tracks to hardpack dirt, grassy banks, rooty singletrack and tarmac, and each set of tyres was tested in wet and dry conditions.
For more tyre recommendations, check out our list of the best gravel bike tyres tried and tested by the BikeRadar team.
Also on test
Product
| Brand | michelin |
| Price | 75.00 AUD,55.00 EUR,49.00 GBP,67.00 USD |
| Weight | 480.0000, GRAM (40mm width) - actual, 480g claimed |
Features
| br_TPI | 120 |
| br_bead | Bead to bead |
| br_punctureProtection | Bead2bead Protek |
| br_tyreSizes | Available sizes: 700c x 33, 35, 40, 47mm Colour: Black, Classic colour in 47mm only Tyre: Tubeless compatible |
