Michelin Launches New Force AM2 and Wild AM2 All-Mountain Tires
PRESS RELEASE: Michelin
Michelin has launched two new products in their range of All-Mountain mountain bike tires, the Force AM2 and the Wild AM2. These tires are designed to meet the demands of the most aggressive mountain bike trails with a stronger casing, compounds optimized for better grip, and a tread pattern with new technology for efficient braking, increased speed, and reduced damage, according to Richard Kornacki, director of two-wheel for Michelin North America.
The tires will be available in both 27.5" and 29" diameters and 2.4" and 2.6" widths with all mountain, trail, and longer travel XC bikes in mind.
The Force AM2 is a fast-rolling tire optimized for hard-pack and mixed trails. It has a directional tread pattern designed for excellent rolling efficiency and it also offers high grip under braking and cornering. The tread features elongated center blocks for reduced rolling resistance with numerous block edges for braking, grip, and traction.
The shoulder knobs on the tire are inspired by Michelin's DH22 tire for grip and stability in corners, along with progressive and predictable handling. Michelin believes their ratio between tread blocks and grooves helps optimize efficiency and maintain momentum on trails.
The Wild AM2 is designed for mixed to soft terrain. The aggressive tread pattern ensures higher levels of grip with reduced rolling efficiency. Tall center blocks are inspired by the DH34 tire and provide maximum traction for stability and braking on softer trails.
Both tires feature rubber compounds and casings previously tested by Michelins top-level Enduro racers. Michelin believes the tires offer an optimal balance between grip, rolling efficiency, longevity, weight, and puncture protection. There is flexible rubber on the shoulders for cornering grip and the dual-compound GUM-X Technology Michelin uses gives a stiffer center area for increased speed and tire longevity.
Michelin's Gravity Shield Technology casing uses a bead-to-bead high-density fiber for protection from punctures and sidewall cuts. The two tires can be mixed and fitted to the front or rear to accommodate rider preference and style.
Michelin Force AM2
Michelin Wild AM2
Both tires will be available in April 2021. For more information, visit www.michelin.com
Author Info:
Member since Jan 18, 2007
Must Read This Week
Sign Up for the Pinkbike Newsletter - All the Biggest, Most Interesting Stories in your Inbox
PB Newsletter Signup
My eyes were hurtimg after staring at it for too long.
What does "The sixth sense " and "Titanic" have in common?
.........Icey Dead People
In other news, Michelin announced that as part of its long-term strategic plan, by 2025 they will have a website that can be nagivated and shows their current products.
Or it is like French cheeses/food/car illegal or not available.
Just wish the shoulder knobs were a bit beefier, as they squirm a bit when cornering on hardpack.
The casing and bead feels the same as an e-wild, or dh34(with bike park casing). Its sturdy but not as solid in the corners as the dh34 with the full dh casing. No squirm in the berms with the full dh casing. I switched between the rockr2, dh 34(bike park) and dh34(full dh casing) last year and the full dh casing is confidence inspiring pushing in the berms
Might be my new favorite allround tires.
Though they are a pain in the ass to pedal uphill.
I also really liked the Rock'r2 tires, only negative was for soft terrain, as they pack up quite fast and don't clear mud well, and that they squirm quite a bit when pushed hard in bike parks.
We have mostly rocks and roots here, and Rock'r2 really manage to find grip where there should be none in these conditions, and are among a very small group of tires that I haven't punctured before wearing them out.
Actually, Michelin's beefier tires have all held up very well for me, unlike Maxxis, Schwalbe and Continental.
Maybe they are discontinuing the Gum-X front?
Or just buy a 2.3in tire.
Dhr2 and DHF are still in the 800’s if you don’t go so wide.
I’ve been really happy with a 2.4 dhr2 for my trail bike. Plenty of compound and casing options, sub 1k g.
The e13 TRS trail 2.4 is also a really nice tire in this category.
Everything is a trade-off. Bikes are more capable and we ride them faster than ever.
Living in a place with lots of sharp rock, I’ve been afraid to try the lighter 2.6in tires... but for some regions and bikes, I bet they’re excellent.
After that i lost interest as all knobby tires were/ are a variation on the same theme . Yes the compounds got better and the sidewalls got stronger , but the tread design is just an almost infinite rearrangement of those first knobs .
They really, really grip and seem to be more versatile than Michelin advertises.
In terms of drag, I was fearing the worst, but in reality they're not that bad. Coming from a set of Wild Enduros with Rimpact inserts, the DH34 without inserts feel only marginally worse on the climbs and are in fact even better on tech climbs. The only place they really really drag in on the road, but I couldn't care less
The single negative point is the 1400 gramm weight for the 29er version.
won't be long for the close out deal on these...
The new 29x2.4 tires are the same weight as Wild Enduro fronts which I run on both ends. I wonder what these have to offer? Maybe a little faster? Compounds different?
I think you're correct. The weight of the 29 Wild Enduro front at ~1050g is on the light side for it's intended purpose. I do have to run a bit more pressure in them to prevent squirm. Makes sense that they'll be made a bit more stout in the next iteration and these latest tires will take their place.
The hot patch on the DH tires is pretty f'n loud for sure..lol.
No, I agree with @brianpark.
Whose job is it to proofread these press releases?
Yup, more aggressive tread with taller knobs won't roll as well = increased rolling resistance.
Steve? STEVE?? You there, Steve?
If you're busy phucking I have to give you a pass..