Michelin Wild Grip'r 2 and the Inner tube Reinvented - Interbike 2011

Michelin Wild Grip'r 2: Michelin's Wild Grip'r 2 is a completely new design for 2012 and is aimed squarely at the trail or all-mountain rider who is looking for an all around tire option. Designed to excel in the majority of conditions, the new tread pattern is laid out in a manner that should clear well when riding in wet conditions, but still offer relatively low rolling resistance when the trails are dry. Likely most interesting to Pinkbike readers will be the 26 x 2.35" tubeless ready option that makes use of Michelin's Advanced Reinforced casing. We spent countless hours on their Wild Rock'r, a tire that makes use of the same casing, and had great results. It was, without exaggerating, likely the most reliable tire that we have ever reviewed.


Interestingly, Michelin uses different rubber compounds for different widths in order to find the ideal balance of traction, efficiency and longevity, with wider options making use of a softer durometer rubber. While it is easy to get in the habit of thinking that you need the softest compound available for maximum traction, Michelin wants people to know that the rebound speed of the rubber - how fast it returns to its original shape - is just as important. A harder compound tire with a slower rubber rebound speed will behave very much like a tire that uses a soft compound, but will last much longer. They have been working to tune these two characteristics separately on their latest mountain bike tires, using what feels like a slightly harder compound, but that has rebound properties that they have tuned in specifically for each design - faster on some and slower on others.

Michelin Wild Grip'r 2 details:
• Intended use: all-mountain/trail
• Designed as an all around tire for most conditions
• Uses their Gum-X rubber compound with tuned rebound and durometer
• Different width tires make use of different compounds
• Available in Tubeless ready and UST Tubeless versions
• 30 TPI (reinforced casing), 60 TPI and 110 TPI casing options
• 26" x 2.0, 2.1, 2.25 and 2.35" widths
• 29" x 2.0, 2.1 and 2.25 widths
• Weight: 490 - 680 grams
• MSRP: $49.95 - $64.95 USD


Protek Max tube: Michelin was also showing off a new inner tube design, called Protek Max, that they have put a lot of thought into, and the finished product looks nothing like a standard tube. Yes, it looks very different, but there is some science behind the strange looking design. Michelin claims that their Protek Max tubes have a much greater chance of fending off a puncture over a standard tube thanks to their unique shape - the ridges on the top of the tube work as expansion joints, allowing the tube to expand without getting any thinner. The molded bumps on the tube's sidewall function in much the same way, helping to reduce surface tension and prevent the rubber from becoming too thin to prevent a puncture. That's not all though, because those same ridges actually help to seal holes as well. How? When the tube is inflated the ridges try to compress into each other, hopefully putting a stop to any leaking air.

The interesting looking semi-square shape has also been done for a reason, making the tube fit into the rim well better and easing install. Protek Max tubes also come stock filled with a tire sealant to further limit the chances of a flat. All of the above does come with a weight penalty though, with a Protek Max tube weighing in at roughly a full ounce more than a standard version in the same size. That is a relatively large amount of rotating weight to add to your bike, but we imagine that many riders who suffer from repeated flats, especially those who ride in the presence of thorns, won't mind.

Michelin Protek Max tube details:
• Novel design lessens the chance of flats
• Ridges on the top and bumps on side lower surface tension
• Square shape fits rim well better than a standard tube
• Roughly an ounce heavier than a standard tube of the same size (26x2.1" - 250g)
• Filled with a sealant
• Available in Presta or Schrader
• Available in 700c and 26" sizes
• MSRP: $9.95 USD


Visit the Michelin website to see their entire lineup.

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Reviews and Tech First Looks Michelin Interbike