Michelin Launches New XC Tire Line

Jan 4, 2022
by Alicia Leggett  
photo
From left to right: Force XC², Jet XC², and Wild XC.

Michelin announced today that it has released its new cross country tire collection consisting of the Jet XC², the Force XC², and the Wild XC.

All of the three new tire models are available with Michelin's Cross Shield² 2x150 TPI casing and Gum-X compound, which Michelin says optimizes both grip and rolling resistance. The tires are designed for a variety of surfaces and purposes, and the Force XC² and Wild XC are also available in wider widths and 3x60 TPI casing, comprising what Michelin calls the Performance Line.

photo
Jet XC².

The fastest-rolling tire in the line is the Jet XC², which has a semi-slick tread pattern for minimal rolling resistance. It weighs 710g and comes in just the 29" x 2.25" width. The Jet XC² is recommended for hard-packed conditions and riders who prioritize efficiency.

photo
Force XC².

The Force XC² is a bit more aggressive than the Jet XC², with taller knobs for a more versatile design. It comes in a narrow 29" x 2.10" width, which weighs in at 680g, as well as 2.25" version that weighs 710g.

photo
The Wild XC in its element.

For harsher weather, Michelin recommends the Wild XC, which has a blocky tread design to suit softer surfaces where grip is a priority. The Wild XC is inspired by the Michelin Wild Enduro tires. It comes in a 29" x 2.25" version at 730g and a 29" x 2.35" version at 760g.

All of the Racing Line and Performance Line tires sell for a £57.99 SRP except the 2.35" Wild XC tire, which retails for £64.99.

Posted In:
Reviews and Tech Press Releases Tires Michelin


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104 Comments
  • 89 0
 Do they intend to square the XC, or just the C? Cuz if it's the former it should be (XC)².
  • 30 0
 Nope, they just created a new discipline... Cross Country Country! Its somewhere between touring and cross country I guess, kind of like bike-packing!
  • 5 0
 Pretty sure the new discipline will be Cross (Country Country)!
  • 11 0
 You mean, XCC ? Like the name choosed by the UCI for the short track (never understood the second C though) ? Kind of conflict here...
  • 3 1
 Comment of the year so far!
  • 3 0
 @schulte1400: next week the down down country country country taking you to the third dimension, how does one get to name things in the bike industry I think it’s a job I’d like
  • 8 0
 @schulte1400: so X=C therefore we have C x C x C = C³. Problem solved the tire should be called Force C³.

Another tire naming convention fixed.
  • 4 0
 Is Cross Country Country just Marathon racing?
  • 6 0
 @oxentiel: XCC = Cross Country Criterium, or technically its Xross Country Criterium
  • 18 0
 @schulte1400: Cross Country Country is like regular cross country except you have to ride in cowboy boots.
  • 4 0
 @schulte1400: If you put them on backwards, it's Criss Cross Country. Not racing? Down Cross Country.
  • 1 0
 @joehandlebar: showing your age there
  • 3 0
 guess we're gonna need a new sort of bike
  • 1 1
 I think its a play on E = mc^2
  • 1 0
 You’re supposed to pronounce it “cross COUNTRY!”
  • 2 0
 @oxentiel: funny — I always assumed it was “court” from French.
  • 1 0
 @pmhobson: Same, but it didn't make sense : "cross country" in english then "court" in french ? I know the UCI is (often) weird but even for them, that's a lot of weirdness.
  • 2 0
 @andybloomer: agreed! Like the shorter stem movement tricked us into believing we needed longer reach frames. cha-ching
  • 2 0
 @oxentiel: agree completely,
But I wasn’t putting it past the UCI/IOC.

Criterium makes so much sense now.
  • 2 0
 @Compositepro: Damn straight.
  • 1 0
 In few months Mike Levy himself will come up with an idea to change XC^2 name with Cross Duro or Free Country. Both I would enjoy
  • 22 0
 Currently in a relationship with Maxxis Rekon Races....Bring back the Red and Green rubber (from the WildGripper Sprint and Hot S...late 90's early 00's)....then we can talk.
  • 6 0
 I had a green set of maxxis...they were uuuuuuuuuuggggggglllllyyyyy but nobody else rolled with them.
  • 7 0
 @preach: sooooooo ugly but a great standout, I'm all for it. Tires don't last (unlike other colored components on the bike) so its never a decision you have to live with for too long. Like a temporary tattoo
  • 5 0
 Rekon Race are the best XC tires I've ever used. Super grippy and predictable but also surprisingly fast rolling. I just wish the 170tpi ones were regularly available.
  • 6 0
 If they brought these Michelins back in the WildGripper compound I would be morally obligated to build an xc hardtail with 80mm of travel, no dropper, bar ends, and slap them on that bike. Or just get them, realize I like my old tires still, and then sell them on ebay 15 years later for 10X the original price.
  • 1 0
 @SATN-XC: could you mean haircut?
  • 4 0
 I'm a Maxxis guy, but also Michelin curious. Wild Enduro Rear and DH34 are absolute favorites. Jet XCR and Force XC actually kinda suck, unfortunately. Will not buy Michelin XC tyres again.
  • 1 0
 @atestisthis: I am pretty happy with mine, but i have had several crashes because the front has slipped out
  • 1 0
 my new giant 29er came with Recon wire bead and they became tubeless with no problems and this is the 1st wire beaded tyre I have not tossed into the garbage within a few rides. They feel great and so surprising
  • 1 0
 @SATN-XC: honestly I think there was some mail in coupon in the back of BIKE magazine back in the day for one free tire when you bought one (I'm talking like 1994 I think...)
  • 21 1
 Everyone: Hey Maxxis, your ugly yellow logo needs to stop.

Michelin: So yellow AND blue then? Okay we'll add checkers too.
  • 10 4
 fun fact (though it could be common knowledge, I don't know)....the Maxxis logo is WHITE if the tires were put on by the bike manufacturer when the bike was sold new, YELLOW if purchased as tires alone.
  • 7 0
 And Vittoria's giant red graphics on the Syerra. It's a gauche contest. I blame riders for tolerating Maxxis.
  • 3 0
 @agraber I believe the term is "hold my beer" Smile
  • 2 0
 @SATN-XC: Very common knowledge....but still fun!
  • 2 0
 @SATN-XC: There's a different in the compounds offered too.
  • 4 0
 Maxxis markets its company using orange, surely that would be better than yellow...
  • 1 0
 @whilgenb: I have heard of that, do you know more specific?
  • 1 2
 I read on the internet that tyres on bike showrooms have harder compounds. So they feel fast in carpark test.so it must be true?? @laupe:
  • 3 0
 @calcrossland26: Fox will spend millions over the next 6 years suing them for colorway infringement
  • 2 0
 @laupe: they're not. The sidewall logos of OE and aftermarket Maxxis are the same. If it has fancy rubber, you'll see the 3C logo. If you don't see it, it's like single or dual compound. Same with the TR logos as a lot of the OE tires are wire bead, tube type, single compound cheap Minions for cheap bikes.
  • 1 0
 @GTscoob: The color of the Maxxis logo can be different
  • 19 1
 Perhaps a call to a few distributers to inquire about recent sub-2.2 width tire sales would have been a good idea before releasing a 2.1 tire.
  • 8 0
 Correct. I've been racing XC for decades and am now on 2.4s - I will not be going back to 2.2s!
  • 5 0
 There are other markets than the US market.

Additionnally for mud wider is not necessarily always better, which I believe is that particular Force XC² in this width made for.
  • 2 0
 @opignonlibre: You don't se anyone using 2.1
  • 10 0
 I'm going to get these as a compliment to my bibendum appearance while riding.
  • 7 0
 I just want the old Comp 16 DH tires in 2.2. They were amazing tires. The Comp 32 was great in the summer.
  • 2 0
 Don’t forget the dh24 ,amazing one as well ,but to put them in and then take them out was a f*cking battle,the last one I took off it was with a saw ,cause that little thin wire around the tires always drive me crazy ,but yes they wore indestructible,and heavy for that period of time (for trail riding)
  • 2 0
 game changer
  • 5 0
 Oh great! Tires with a hot patch that will look awesome with my bike...

...said the one person still riding the 2000 GT I-Drive Team.

mbaction.com/gt-i-drive-team

Seriously, ugh.
  • 3 1
 No 26" though Frown
  • 1 0
 I had that bike and loved it for the 350km till the bottom bracket bearing seat failed Smile
  • 4 0
 Just when you think tire design in mountain biking was getting ahead, then Michelin releases these. Those weirdly shaped knobs on the Jet XC² and the massive centre gap on the Wild XC, I'd like to know the reasoning behind those two designs. The Force XC² looks like a solid design though.
  • 49 1
 The massive center gap on the Wild XC is for mud clearance, and the knobs on the Jet XC mimic the high performance properties of cat food, giving your bike cat-like handling. Also, my cat's breath smells like cat food.
  • 7 1
 @VtVolk: would you say you would ..."choo-choo choose" the Jet XC?
  • 3 2
 I would try those wilds out but no 27.5.
  • 2 0
 @fabwizard: Was thinking the jet xc^2 would make a good dirt jumper tire, then saw the available sizes. And price.
  • 1 0
 @VtVolk: I get mud clearance, but this is a bit much. The massive centre gaps add nothing to the mud shedding advantages. They could tighten the spacing up or add a rectangular centre block which would add climbing & braking traction, while not taking away from the good characteristics of the current design.
  • 1 0
 These do look like a step backward from the very well thought out tread design of the Wild Enduro series.
  • 4 0
 Find it funny that a new XC tire roll out in 2022 and 2 of the 3 max out at 2.25. Did they pull and old deign file from the past?
  • 4 0
 This is not competitive with Schwalbe Racing Ray / Ralph @ 2.35" as they weigh 710g each and retail for 50€.
  • 2 2
 Don't bother with the schwalbe performance line though, lasted me 3 miles before an inch long slash killed it. Don't believe the tpi count, I can't see 1 tpi.
  • 2 0
 I love the Wild Enduro tires, and would love to try the new race line versions but can't find them anywhere. So much grip and reasonable rolling resistance too.
  • 2 1
 I've been running the Wild XC with CushCore XC on my trail bike for a while. Great tyres, grip in all conditions, good tough casing, prefect trail combination for all day rides...
  • 2 0
 Jist checked there website and yep theyre not there and they STILL use (tiny) renders for their product photos. Get it together michelin. Youre a joke in the usa.
  • 2 0
 What's the point if you can't buy them. I have been looking for a DH22 for a while.
  • 2 0
 Came here to say the same thing. It sounds like it's months before anywhere will have any stock
  • 1 0
 @TimMog: winstanleys has the racing line eild enduros, DH22 and DH34 in stock in 27 and 29. Or did last week anyway… I stocked up!
  • 2 0
 ForceXC2 looks like a Specialized Ground Control. Should be fast and grippy!
  • 2 0
 Anyone else think that looks like the Hutchinson Pythons? Which were good for… not much.
  • 1 0
 I don't know but some of these new tread patterns are very similar to the old Klein Deathgrip tire from 1995 and back then those were pretty good tires even in the 1.95 size
  • 1 0
 I'll take Rekon 2.6 for the rear, Forekaster 2.5 for the frot, for a ton more drop, and only ~200g more total. I'm not racing though.
  • 1 0
 The OG Force XC was an absolutely amazing tire for about a week, then they wore quickly and lost a ton of grip Frown
  • 1 0
 I'm just glad Schwalbe didn't decide on R^2.

Racing Ralph, Rocket Rick, Randy Roller
  • 1 0
 Wild Enduro front
Wild XC rear with insert

yay or nay?
  • 3 0
 Wild AM front / Force AM rear
  • 3 2
 Michelins are slow
  • 2 1
 Wild XC Front, Conti Mt King or Cross King rear... for my DC bike. Wink
  • 3 0
 New tire front, old front tire to rear.. I’m cheap like that
  • 1 1
 Looks like a big FAIL www.bikeperfect.com/reviews/michelin-racing-line-xc-tire-review
  • 4 0
 Not sure how you came to that conclusion from that article? Unless a few dollars and a few grams is a benchmark for pass or fail??

As a user of the first Jet XC tyres I will admit that they are a niche conditions tyre, but then tyres should be that way so that you use the correct tyre for the job at hand, just like you do in motorsport.

For the lightness of the original Jet XC and the distinct lack of knob depth, I've never had any issues with keeping upright on them or (touch wood) getting punctures. Faster rolling that any Maxxis or Vittoria combo I may use in similar conditions and I'm more than happy on them up to (very) wet or frosty trails, but then you pick your lines, and also get used to the predictable drift...but still a better summer tyre than a winter one!
  • 1 0
 lol, did this guy even ride them?
  • 1 0
 @JohanG: it’s Guy, of course he used them.
  • 1 0
 @handynzl: 10-15 percent heavier is not a few grams, unless you are considering these for a trail bike. Single compound is lame, and they are more expensive than other XC tires.

You go on to speak about the original Jet XC. Glad it was a nice tire for you, but clearly these aren't those.
  • 1 0
 Tioga Psycho, living in the 90's
  • 1 0
 That XC2 is not a semi-slick?
  • 3 2
 Gripping news
  • 1 1
 The Force XC looks like a maxxis aspen
  • 1 0
 The force is a rekon
  • 1 0
 Snakeskins FTW
  • 1 1
 Dick tire.
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