High density nylon casing.
Proven tread design: controllable in corners, rolls fast but hooks up quickly.
State-of-the-art Silicium™ tread for enhanced grip.
Molded butyl inner liner and specially shaped lightweight Kevlar® bead for air tight tubeless seal.
Mavic UST certified and Nagesti (Rigida) tubeless compatible.
Sizes/Weights:
26”x2.0” 670g
Submitted by
Orestes
a Racer
from Hollywood, FL USA
Date Reviewed: March 31, 2009
Strengths: Fast, Low rolling resistance, & durable. Had for about 1 1/2 years.
Weaknesses: Poor under hard cornering, and slips on steep climbs. Not good in any wet stuf. Not predictable under any of these conditions.
Bottom Line:
I'm about 180 Lb, and do not see this tire working for me. I had to lower the presure so much that the speed, and lower rolling resistance were more than offset. It was unpredictable during tough climbs, and when cornering they continue to slide until your down. Maybe for a lighter rider this tire will work. Sorry Michelin, but I call it like I see it.
Bike Setup: 95' DBR Vertex.... Mavic Crossland rims .. I run about 27 psi in the soft dirt of ABQ, nm
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Submitted by
wallace
a Cross Country Rider
from calgary, AB, Canada
Date Reviewed: December 20, 2005
Strengths: Rolled fairly well, durable. Good racing tire.
Weaknesses: None apparent
Bottom Line:
Relatively fast rolling tire, very durable the front tire lasted 3yrs including training for and racing in the transrockies challenge, replaced it because the rubber was just plain getting old. Faster than the Maxxis Ignitors but slower than the Schwalbe Racing Ralphs(wore the sidewall out on the first day of the La Ruta Race).
Similar Products Used: Maxxix Ignitors, Schwalbe Racing Ralphs
Bike Setup: Trek Fuel 100, Hope Mini Disk Brakes
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Submitted by
Jim
a Cross Country Rider
from Florida
Date Reviewed: October 17, 2005
Strengths: Fast rolling, awesome cornering, will NOT load up with mud under any circumstances. Relatively light weight.
Weaknesses: None that I can see.
Bottom Line:
Fast tire and awesome for the money. You can find them for 20 bucks or so on sale at Performance and stuff. This is a lightweight cross country tire. I've been riding it in a variety of different terrain, not just here in Florida either. These have seen Tsali, Pisgah National Forest, and a massive amount of other northern rocky trails. I haven't had ANY sidewall problems. Maybe some of the people below should learn how to ride a lightweight XC tire? You can't run low pressure and blast into everything in sight! It's all about finesse. I've flatted two of them by slamming the bead against the edge of my rim when I was running way low pressures and riding up a set of stairs, which isn't Michelins fault, it's mine for riding like a dumbarse. I really love the way these tires corner.. very predictable and fast on sandy hardpack.
Submitted by
Robin Craigen
a Cross Country Rider
from Steamboat, CO, USA
Date Reviewed: April 17, 2005
Strengths: Awesome grip, long lasting. I have always had good luck with these tires. Easy to fit when you figure out UST Rims - when you think that the tire will not go on squeeze the tire all around to make sure it is in the center of your rim - should roll right on. I race and just ride on these and they are awesome.
Weaknesses: None - fitting UST Tires takes a little practice
Bottom Line:
I am still waiting for a better recommendation. Only 1 flat in 2 years is hard to beat. Each set seems to last about 4 months of hard riding before they get too smooth.
Similar Products Used: Hutchinson Pythons - low rolling resistance but scary on downhill corners and useless in any kind of mud.
Bike Setup: Trek Fuel 100, SID SL, Mavic Crossmax UST
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Submitted by
Tony
a Cross Country Rider
from Victoria, Australia
Date Reviewed: January 30, 2005
Strengths: Very fast, perdictable, especially at high speed and on loose surface when they start to slide. Available at most bike stores.
Weaknesses: Easy to puncture, side walls tear in more recent models. Much harder to inflate than Hutchinson Python. Poor traction in wet slippery conditions.
Bottom Line:
I have used these tyres for about 18 months both training and racing. The first 6 to 12 months I was happy and wouldn't have used anything else. The last 6 months or so I have seemed to get a lot of punctures, and in my last ride tore the side wall in both front and back tyre. The back tyre was only about 3 to 4 rides old, and didn't hit anything too nasty to make it tear. The more recent model of these tyres seem to be a bit lighter in the side walls. I now have 5 of these tyres with holes/tears that are too big for me to have confidence with patches. I am now going to go back to Hutchinson Pythons and give them a go for 6 months and decide from there whether I stick with them or try something different. I have noticed when regularly swapping these tyres over lately that the Hutchinsons are much easier to put on and pump up. The Michelins take a lot of mucking around to get the beads to set and take air, whereas with the Pythons I just put them on and pump them up, no fluid or manipulating the beads required. While the Michelins last, they are a fantastic performing tyre, I can confidently start to feel the bike slide on a fire road at 60 km/h and know where I am and how much more I can push it, but unfortunately I can't afford to keep replacing them. To the people at Michelin, if you can make these tyres more durable, I will go back to using them, otherwise they are not up to scratch for the price.
Strengths: Hooks up well in dry to wet conditions. Sheds mud well.
Weaknesses: Side walls not protected by edge knobs. If you ride rock gardens, shale or loose rocks, this tire is NOT for you. I ripped the side walls multiple times in the first month. Patched with Duct-tape just to get some use out of them. Eventually, the side walls were toast. Even picking good lines, you eventually drag the side wall across a rock.
Bottom Line:
If you like to test your skills in rock gardens, this tire is not for you. No side wall protection. Good traction. If your trails are groomed or just roots, this tire hooks up well.
Strengths: great cornering, light, low rolling resistance, good grip in almost every kind of terrain
Weaknesses: weak sidewalls, not cheap
Bottom Line:
this is a great tire but you have to watch out because if you don't inflate this tire to 40 psi it will give big problems with the side walls. it has great cornerig, good grip in almost every kind of terrain, and very light weight.
Strengths: Grip well in on various terrain conditions. Sheds mud well. Holds air for extended period of time
Weaknesses: Cornering at speed!!!! Sidewalls deteriorate at an excellerated rate. A royle PITA to mount the first time
Bottom Line:
These tires grip well in a variety of conditions. However they are a nightmare when cornering at speed. They break away suddenly and w/o any warning. I had scars for almost a year from when I first discovered this!
Also, the sidewalls become thread bare in no time. My rear tire had broke threads that were letting air slowly out. My front isn't in much better condition.
Also, mounting these for the first time is a monumental experience, which in my case lead to brused thumbs and a stack of broke tire levers.
Even if I could get these for free I'd be leary of using them.
Strengths: ummm... let me think...oh yeah this tire has NONE!!!
Weaknesses: i bought these tires and within two weeks i had flatted them both... the tire is too weak and to be ridden...these tires are puncture city...at all... michelin really needs to rethink what they are doing if they plan to make any profit in the tubless market
Bottom Line:
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES BUY THESE TIRES !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I had these tires for less than two weeks and flatted them both on a fire road with a little bit of schale on it these tires showed HUGE gashes completely atypical for the conditions i was riding them in !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES BUY THESE TIRES !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Similar Products Used: KENDA KARMAS<---the best tubless yet
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Submitted by
Manolo
a Cross Country Rider
from Trail Capitol
Date Reviewed: July 5, 2004
Strengths: -Lightweight for tubeless -very fast rolling on tarmac and fire roads - good grip - relatively good cornering
Weaknesses: - side walls to weak for offroad use !!!!!! - too many flats !!!!
Bottom Line:
Great tires for use on tarmac and fire roads. Not appropriate for any trail with rocks and rough gravel on it. This tire is too weak for serious offroad use on singletrack with rocks an roots on it.
Believe me. I was a fan of this tire at first. But 4 flats in 5 rides is way to expensive (each ride 20 bucks ?????). Cost me a good place in the most important reason of the whole season.
Bottom line: Michelin (manufacturer of great tires!) heard too much on what the weight weenies were saying !
Perfect would be a little bit more beefy Comp S with some Kevlar or similar stuff in the sidewall and tread to prevent flats.
Bike Setup: GT Zaskar LE, XTR (old) Crossmax USt, SID Worldcup, Easton Carbon
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Submitted by
Manolo
a Cross Country Rider
from Trail Capitol
Date Reviewed: July 5, 2004
Strengths: -Lightweight for tubeless -very fast rolling on tarmac and fire roads - good grip - relatively good cornering
Weaknesses: - side walls to weak for offroad use !!!!!! - too many flats !!!!
Bottom Line:
Great tires for use on tarmac and fire roads. Not appropriate for any trail with rocks and rough gravel on it. This tire is too weak for serious offroad use on singletrack with rocks an roots on it.
Believe me. I was a fan of this tire at first. But 4 flats in 5 rides is way to expensive (each ride 20 bucks ?????). Cost me a good place in the most important reason of the whole season.
Bottom line: Michelin (manufacturer of great tires!) heard too much on what the weight weenies were saying !
Perfect would be a little bit more beefy Comp S with some Kevlar or similar stuff in the sidewall and tread to prevent flats.
Bike Setup: GT Zaskar LE, XTR (old) Crossmax USt, SID Worldcup, Easton Carbon
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Submitted by
Wayne
a Cross Country Rider
from Front Range, Co
Date Reviewed: May 12, 2004
Strengths: Excellent grip, very predictable, minimal air loss (at least on Mavic XM819 rims)
Weaknesses: Green tread takes a little time to get used to.
Bottom Line:
Ok, they are just as hard to mount as most other UST tires. Once stretched, no problems. They do grip nicely on dirt and even asphalt. Rolls fast and yet handles dirt inclines without slipping. Similar to the Pythons, but seems to have better edge grip and cornering. As for tread wear, the green ones seem to be holding up (can't comment about the black - don't have a pair of those). Grips much better than their looks suggest in sand and loose surfaces, not up to a full knobby, but adequate. Have not experienced any flats yet, but have Stan's as a backup if I ever feel the need. Perhaps some of the issues others have had are not related to the tire, rather their rims. I strongly urge those who are looking at UST rims to take a look at the XM819 - only 60 grams more than the XC717, but much stronger, no spoke holes, and designed specifically for tubeless. Otherwise, I think you should get the Stan's UST solution - their rim strip system seems to be much better than the others out their. In short, a great tire for cross country riding and very fast on the street too. Not a DH tire, but with 35 to 40 psi, makes a great XC tire (save the Comp S lights for racing - they are much thinner in the sidewall).
This review is for the Comp S Light UST version. Overall it performs better than I expected. It compares favorably to a Python, but weighs less. Durability is in the same neighborhood as well. It holds an advantage over the Python in cornering, but only by a slight margin. I have pinch flatted one, but managed to patch it back together. This tire is truly a cross-country race tire. So it trades strength and low traction performance for speed. However, it still surprises me from time to time how well it actually does when the mud gets deep. And when I do have to ride on the pavement, I take a perverse pleasure in passing the occasional road bike.
Has anyone had luck mounting these tires (tubed versions) on an UST rim with Stans, also without any rim strips. The bead fit is a bit looser than with say a Python Air Light so I Read More »
I just got two of these from Performance and they both weighed 750 grams (748, 753). WeightWeenies lists them at around 670-680 grams. What's going on?? Mine are 2.0s (I think t Read More »
