Has anyone tried them yet?
Michelin DH-34 tires
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Just ordered a set of DH34 race models front and rear for my main squeeze.
Normally, I run WTB Verdict 2.5 light/high grip and WTB Judge 2.4 tough/fast rolling. 29s. Cush Core Pros on both. But the tire stock has been so **** lately.
Verdict with CC is roughly 1400 grams and the Judge with CC is about 1600 grams.
The DH34 is 1450 grams. So I may actually SAVE weight with the DH34s since I'm not planning on running inserts with them. That's a win in my book.
Not really worried about weight and rolling resistance since I've been running my setup(which is DH levels of weight and rolling resistance already) for nearly 2 years.
Pretty excited about trying the DH34s. Has anyone managed to set the beat with a floor pump? Or is an air compressor necessary?
Normally, I run WTB Verdict 2.5 light/high grip and WTB Judge 2.4 tough/fast rolling. 29s. Cush Core Pros on both. But the tire stock has been so **** lately.
Verdict with CC is roughly 1400 grams and the Judge with CC is about 1600 grams.
The DH34 is 1450 grams. So I may actually SAVE weight with the DH34s since I'm not planning on running inserts with them. That's a win in my book.
Not really worried about weight and rolling resistance since I've been running my setup(which is DH levels of weight and rolling resistance already) for nearly 2 years.
Pretty excited about trying the DH34s. Has anyone managed to set the beat with a floor pump? Or is an air compressor necessary?
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sealing hte bead on my DH34 is cake. The wire bead is so stiff that I generate pressure immediately without effort.
Getting that beat to seat fully is something else. It's so stiff I just does not want to sit up on that rim, and takes so much pressure to snap into place. Oddly (or not), it will hold pressure just fine when not sitting fully in place, and you can go riding. Not that that is a good idea on a lopsided tire, but doesn;t lose air.
Caveat, I'm on 26's with "not ideal" rims. The non TR rim I simply can;t seat the beat right. On the TR rim I can seat it fully but BOY it took pressure to get there.
Unlike a floppy tire like an Ardent Race, it was effortless to get enough contact around the bead to hold pressure to start the process with a floor pump only. I could probably do it with a hand pump.
Getting that beat to seat fully is something else. It's so stiff I just does not want to sit up on that rim, and takes so much pressure to snap into place. Oddly (or not), it will hold pressure just fine when not sitting fully in place, and you can go riding. Not that that is a good idea on a lopsided tire, but doesn;t lose air.
Caveat, I'm on 26's with "not ideal" rims. The non TR rim I simply can;t seat the beat right. On the TR rim I can seat it fully but BOY it took pressure to get there.
Unlike a floppy tire like an Ardent Race, it was effortless to get enough contact around the bead to hold pressure to start the process with a floor pump only. I could probably do it with a hand pump.
Thanks! That's good to know.
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I have had a dh22 F and DH34 R on 29” Santa Cruz reserve 30’s for a week. In that time I have tried everything to get these seated and I mean everything. I being an ex mechanic of 6 years and competent home mechanic I thought it’s time to know your beat and I need help. 2 Independent bike shops and an industrial compressor later still not even one bead seated.
Honestly I’m disappointed, I was really looking forward to trying these but such poor quality control from Michelin explains why so many people go back to maxxis.
These might be the best tires available for their intended use but they are fit for purpose if I’m honest.
Before I send them back has anyone had any luck with seating these on SC reserve rims?
Honestly I’m disappointed, I was really looking forward to trying these but such poor quality control from Michelin explains why so many people go back to maxxis.
These might be the best tires available for their intended use but they are fit for purpose if I’m honest.
Before I send them back has anyone had any luck with seating these on SC reserve rims?
I had no issues setting up my 34. It mounted easy, and the bead popped into place with a quick shot of a low powered compressor. Not sure if you read my post about what a joke it was to break the bead though. No one else has reported the issue I had, no one else has reported the issue you are having. We'll see if more people report bead issues. I really liked everything about my 34 until I had to cut it off the rim to replace it.
The maxxis wobble is a clear issue that's been reported by many. Time will tell if mich is having a bead issue. Both the 22 and 34 sell in tiny numbers compared to comparable maxxis so it may be a while before we see a pattern emerge.
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Well I finally got them seated.
For the record, anyone out there who tries to fit these to Santa Cruz reserve rims what you need to do is double or triple layer your tubeless tape to get them to fit tight enough.
Then they go up without needing a compressor or airshot.
Im going to call victory and have a whiskey to celebrate
For the record, anyone out there who tries to fit these to Santa Cruz reserve rims what you need to do is double or triple layer your tubeless tape to get them to fit tight enough.
Then they go up without needing a compressor or airshot.
Im going to call victory and have a whiskey to celebrate
Got mine installed and some first impressions. These were easy to install and set. I've been so used to the horror that are WTB tires and Cush Core that these are a walk in the park since no inserts ill be going in these. The bead is solid. I pumped it with a floor pump to 60 psi and no air escaped. I can't ask for more. Getting it off in the future with dried sealant isn't something I'm looking forward to.
The rubber is the stickiest I've ever felt on an MTB tire. It's slow rebounding too. The rubber is so sticky that it flings sand and tiny pebbles all over me when riding on tarmac. With the sticky rubber comes the horrendous rolling resistance. Not gonna lie. I thought my previous Verdict/Judge with Cush Core setup was bad. The DH34s make them feel like fast rolling XC tires. Climbing sucks. BUT on techy sections, the rubber grips so well that I can clear sections I have trouble with. So there's that. Braking is pretty good too. I don't think the rear brakes as well as the Judge does, but it definitely brakes better than the Verdict up front.
With my old setup, I ran 16f/20r. I read some reviews and watched videos about the DH34 and some people claim that you can run Cush Core levels of pressure. I didn't wanna do that yet so I set these to 19f/23r. The trail today was damp and slow rolling so I didn't get a chance to really push these. But from feel alone, I can say that these rail berms and flat and off-camber corners like they're on rails. I would lose the front or rear and they'd just hook back up in an instant. The steering is so precise and there's no dead zone when leaning over. With the same tire front and rear, there's a better balance of grip too.
I can't wait to really ride these when trail conditions are more favorable.
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The rubber is the stickiest I've ever felt on an MTB tire. It's slow rebounding too. The rubber is so sticky that it flings sand and tiny pebbles all over me when riding on tarmac. With the sticky rubber comes the horrendous rolling resistance. Not gonna lie. I thought my previous Verdict/Judge with Cush Core setup was bad. The DH34s make them feel like fast rolling XC tires. Climbing sucks. BUT on techy sections, the rubber grips so well that I can clear sections I have trouble with. So there's that. Braking is pretty good too. I don't think the rear brakes as well as the Judge does, but it definitely brakes better than the Verdict up front.
With my old setup, I ran 16f/20r. I read some reviews and watched videos about the DH34 and some people claim that you can run Cush Core levels of pressure. I didn't wanna do that yet so I set these to 19f/23r. The trail today was damp and slow rolling so I didn't get a chance to really push these. But from feel alone, I can say that these rail berms and flat and off-camber corners like they're on rails. I would lose the front or rear and they'd just hook back up in an instant. The steering is so precise and there's no dead zone when leaning over. With the same tire front and rear, there's a better balance of grip too.
I can't wait to really ride these when trail conditions are more favorable.
They are very tight on the bead, absolutely no problem with just a pump, at least on my Zipp wheels.
Hell, they might even be a bit too tight, I'm still traumatized after mounting them up last year, and dread putting them back on this weekend, as I know there will be blood and swearing.
Yeah, it's almost absurd how much grip they generate.
I remember riding behind a buddy in Ylläs bike park last year, and he was struggling bad in some of the off camber rooty sections, with Magic Mary f/r, and they aren't exactly known for low grip.
It felt like I was stuck in traffic behind him, as I just had so much grip left in reserve.
So I have about 300 or so miles on my initial set. The wear is pretty good for something so sticky. Disclaimer though, I'm not a huge sender nor do I take unnecessary risks for the sake of 'getting stoked'. I ride(or try to) ride smooth and utilize grip. I don't skid and roost around for the sake of style points.
The rear is wearing nearly twice as fast as the front. There is noticeable wear on the inside of the edge knobs. A few look like they might tear off at some point. The center knobs are wearing, but are in much better condition than the edge knobs. Though the rubber was worn almost all the way through the siping. The braking edge surprisingly hasn't worn out too bad. And braking performance is still amazing. The knob edges aren't rounded yet which is nice. Even with this level of wear, the rear still sticks like glue. And while they might not offer the same level of grip when new, they're still sticker than new MaxxTerra compounds. Best of all, a worn rear means less rolling resistance! It's so noticeable compared to a new tire. Or maybe it's just my fitness getting better? [emoji2371]
The fronts don't have the same level of wear as the rear. The edges are still sharp and it still sticks and performs as if it were new. Siping is still prominent and visible. Very impressed with how the front is wearing.
I plan to keep using DH34s as long as I can get my hands on them. However, instead of replacing both tires at the same time, I'll just move the current used front tire to the rear and put a brand new one on the front. Pedaling with the rear sucks when the tire is new. A little bit of wear on the rear will decrease rolling resistance to some degree.
Overall, I'm happy with how these tires perform. I got some of the new Michelin AM2 Wilds and Forces coming in which I'll be installing on my downcountry bike. They won't be as grippy as the DH34s but I'm sure they'll do just fine for what they are.
I'm all in with Michelin tires.
The rear is wearing nearly twice as fast as the front. There is noticeable wear on the inside of the edge knobs. A few look like they might tear off at some point. The center knobs are wearing, but are in much better condition than the edge knobs. Though the rubber was worn almost all the way through the siping. The braking edge surprisingly hasn't worn out too bad. And braking performance is still amazing. The knob edges aren't rounded yet which is nice. Even with this level of wear, the rear still sticks like glue. And while they might not offer the same level of grip when new, they're still sticker than new MaxxTerra compounds. Best of all, a worn rear means less rolling resistance! It's so noticeable compared to a new tire. Or maybe it's just my fitness getting better? [emoji2371]
The fronts don't have the same level of wear as the rear. The edges are still sharp and it still sticks and performs as if it were new. Siping is still prominent and visible. Very impressed with how the front is wearing.
I plan to keep using DH34s as long as I can get my hands on them. However, instead of replacing both tires at the same time, I'll just move the current used front tire to the rear and put a brand new one on the front. Pedaling with the rear sucks when the tire is new. A little bit of wear on the rear will decrease rolling resistance to some degree.
Overall, I'm happy with how these tires perform. I got some of the new Michelin AM2 Wilds and Forces coming in which I'll be installing on my downcountry bike. They won't be as grippy as the DH34s but I'm sure they'll do just fine for what they are.
I'm all in with Michelin tires.
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all in.
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I'm overall meh on the michelin dh tires. They are good enough, nothing special really. I get about 4 park days out of each tire before they are garbage which is decent, but not great wear... that's about on par with a 3c maxx grip tire from maxxis and the grip is a smidge less overall then the 3c. Casing wise, I do like them, but I don't find any truth to these being any better or worse then any other tire. I typically run about 24F/27R on my DH casing tires for the bike park and these were no exception to that norm for me.
From my experience there is nothing special with mounting these... other then mounting them with a cushcore is exceptionally difficult. It definitely seems more difficult then getting a folding bead maxxis dh tire mounted with cushcore. Overall, I don't typically run CC in my DH tires.
From my experience there is nothing special with mounting these... other then mounting them with a cushcore is exceptionally difficult. It definitely seems more difficult then getting a folding bead maxxis dh tire mounted with cushcore. Overall, I don't typically run CC in my DH tires.
Out of curiosity, what do you feel are better tires than the DH34?
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and clarify why. If we factor in weight, there are lots of superior tires since the DH34's weigh 1400 grams! but if you feel there are tires with better grip regardless of weight, that would be some interesting discussion too.
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1,526 Posts
About to slap a set of DH34 Bike Park's on my ride this weekend. Hope to give them a thorough test on Monday at my local gravity trails.
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Got the DH34 Bike Park’s mounted and first ride in. I’m running them on my Megatower. Pedaling up climb trails to hammer the downs. Weights were 1310g and 1290. Coming from my Kenda Hellkat/AEC and Nevegal2/EMC I was expecting to notice a drastic difference due to an extra 500 grams of weight. I did 4600 feet of climbing today over 18 miles and my times and perceived effort were the same. The Michelin’s definitely feel like they are glued to pavement, but didn’t feel all that different on the fire roads and single track I climb on.
Going down, they felt like Velcro to me. I rode Larch Mountain and specifically Trail 7 to Thrillium. 7 is flowy berms. I noticed these tires just dig in and want you to lean the bike over. They are also really damped. I could still feel what was going on, it was just dialed back to a lower intensity. Felt comfortable almost immediately. This carried through to the jumps, rocks and roots on Thrillium. Tons of grip, nice damped feel and good communication. My riding weight is 205 and I ran 24 PSI. I would say I’m only upper intermediate for skills though. I clear most everything on Thrillium, but I have friends that are still way faster than me.
Anyhow, coming from a DHF/DHR2 combo, to the Kendas and now the Michelin’s. The main takeaway is each set of tires got a little more damped as I moved along. The Nevegal doesn’t have the grip or braking force of either the Michelin’s or the DHR2’s. But feels totally predictable to me. The ease that the Michelin’s doled out grip though is incredible. I can’t imagine what the actual DH compounds feel like. For the winch and plummet crowd, I think they are a great choice. The weight would probably show up for those doing regular trail
Riding though.
Alas, I got too confident and went into a corner far faster than I had ever attempted and went down. Separating my shoulder in the process. So further opinions will be a while.
Going down, they felt like Velcro to me. I rode Larch Mountain and specifically Trail 7 to Thrillium. 7 is flowy berms. I noticed these tires just dig in and want you to lean the bike over. They are also really damped. I could still feel what was going on, it was just dialed back to a lower intensity. Felt comfortable almost immediately. This carried through to the jumps, rocks and roots on Thrillium. Tons of grip, nice damped feel and good communication. My riding weight is 205 and I ran 24 PSI. I would say I’m only upper intermediate for skills though. I clear most everything on Thrillium, but I have friends that are still way faster than me.
Anyhow, coming from a DHF/DHR2 combo, to the Kendas and now the Michelin’s. The main takeaway is each set of tires got a little more damped as I moved along. The Nevegal doesn’t have the grip or braking force of either the Michelin’s or the DHR2’s. But feels totally predictable to me. The ease that the Michelin’s doled out grip though is incredible. I can’t imagine what the actual DH compounds feel like. For the winch and plummet crowd, I think they are a great choice. The weight would probably show up for those doing regular trail
Riding though.
Alas, I got too confident and went into a corner far faster than I had ever attempted and went down. Separating my shoulder in the process. So further opinions will be a while.
I've done about 200kms of riding on a DH22 front and a DH34 rear (29er) and gripwise one is definitely better than the other. Th DH22 grips for days at any lean angle and can handle itself when really loaded. The DH34 is good and I guess unremarkable, it just gets on with it and lets go at predictable levels of pressure (the 22 is laugh out loud ridiculous how much it hangs on). The rear is wearing pretty quickly, probably a touch more wear than a MaxxGrip Maxxis in the same timeframe. I have found the DH34 to roll quite slowly and a decent trail is needed to keep up the speed.
My first outing on another bike with a new DH34 rear I smacked a rock, dented a rim badly enough that the bead wouldn't seal and that was the end of the days riding so even with 26psi in there the uber heavy sidewalls aren't gonna save you like a tyre with an insert.
I'll keep with the DH22 front, it is a beast but I'll probably look elsewhere for a rear...something with similar grip, better rolling, possibly lighter and run an insert. FYI the 22 was easier to fit than the 34....both times with the 34 I had to fit a tube first to seat the bead then remove the tube and even had to put a strap around the circumference on the tyre to squeeze it to help seal enough to get a good shot of air to seat the remaining bead.
My first outing on another bike with a new DH34 rear I smacked a rock, dented a rim badly enough that the bead wouldn't seal and that was the end of the days riding so even with 26psi in there the uber heavy sidewalls aren't gonna save you like a tyre with an insert.
I'll keep with the DH22 front, it is a beast but I'll probably look elsewhere for a rear...something with similar grip, better rolling, possibly lighter and run an insert. FYI the 22 was easier to fit than the 34....both times with the 34 I had to fit a tube first to seat the bead then remove the tube and even had to put a strap around the circumference on the tyre to squeeze it to help seal enough to get a good shot of air to seat the remaining bead.
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Since you like the DH22, why not using another one on the back?
And if you're looking for something else with similar grip and better rolling but lighter weight, Magic Mary SuperGravity Soft would be good option.
That's kind of an odd mix of tires. You're mixing a loam tire with a dry rocky tire. Comparing the 22 to the 34 is like comparing the magic mary to the DHR. If you have good soil that allows for lug penetration double up on the 22. If you have hard rocky conditions double up on the 34. It's hard for me to see a reason to mix these two patterns.
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