Michelin Enduro tyre setups: which tyre when?
With their Enduro series, Michelin created a tyre set that covers every type of terrain no matter the ground conditions.
With their Enduro series, Michelin created a tyre set that covers every type of terrain, no matter the ground conditions. Though the tyres are heavy, weighing roughly one kilo each, they offer the best possible puncture protection.
They are also easy to mount tubeless, with only a floor pump, which eases the pain of changing tyres. At 2 bars, the tyre beads perfectly to the wheel. Note, that there are two different rubber compounds: MAGI-X for the front tyre and GUM-X for the rear. After riding the Enduro series for two years, torn lugs and quick wear were never a problem.
More to that last point, I have exclusively been riding Michelin tyres for the past two years. I am most impressed by their level of grip and puncture protection. Of course, this isn’t to say that I never had problems with them. A piece of wire as well as a sharp stone have put the brakes on my love for these tyres, but it has never come to a full stop.
The purpose of this blog post is to give you more information on what tyre combinations work best when. However, tyre choice is a personal choice.
Overview: Michelin Enduro tyres and their ideal ground conditions
| Conditions | Front Tyre | Rear Tyre |
|---|---|---|
| Daily, dry to damp ground conditions, not too rocky | Michelin Wild Grip´R MAGI-X | Michelin Wild Race´R GUM-X |
| Loose soil, wet to muddy, no deep mud | Michelin Wild Grip´R MAGI-X | Michelin Wild Grip´R GUM-X |
| Muddy, deep loose soil, not to rocky | Michelin Wild Mud MAGI-X | Michelin Wild Grip´R GUM-X |
| Very muddy, very loose soil | Michelin Wild Mud MAGI-X | Michelin Wild Mud MAGI-X |
| Rocky / hardpack, dry | Michelin Wild Rock´R MAGI-X | Michelin Wild Rock´R Gum-X |
The standard setup: Michelin Wild Grip’R MAGI-X and Race’R GUM-X
For everyday use on my familiar trails, I use the Wild Grip’R MAGI-X in the front and the Race’R GUM-X in the back. When the ground conditions vary between dry and wet without any deep mud or muddy climbs, this is my combination of choice. The Race’R gets up to speed well and thanks to its large and chunky side lugs, it rarely slides out while cornering. Combined with the pliable Grip’R tyre in the front, it makes for a well-rounded tyre set that is great for loose forest soil and alpine terrain.
When it’s more wet than muddy or when it’s loose and dusty: the Michelin Wild Grip’R MAGI-X and the Grip’R GUM-X
For a normal ride, I normally wouldn’t change tyres. However, if I am heading to a race or when the fall wet season begins, I change to a Grip’R with GUM-X. This tyre helps me find traction on muddy climbs and it doesn’t break away unexpectedly in muddy corners.
For when it’s time to go mudding: the Michelin Wild Mud MAGI-X and the Grip’R GUM-X
When it gets real muddy, it’s time to pull out the mud tyres. The Wild Mud’X tyre’s grip is amazing in the mud, but make sure to check the ground conditions before using it. If the terrain is riddled with roots or rocks, the Mud’X has trouble maintaining that grip. For the tyre to shine, the ground has to give way to the side lugs so they can dig deep. I was really impressed by his tyre at an Enduro race in Willingen, Germany. It was one of those rare occasions where I was able to ride higher tyre pressures through some gnarly mud. Because of the high rolling resistance however, the Mud’X performs better as a front tyre.
The tyre combination for the exceptionally muddy or loose and dry conditions: the Michelin Wild Mud MAGI-X and the Wild Mud MAGI-X
Sometimes the mud is manageable, but sometimes it is out of control. When riding downhill in these conditions, it’s always nice to feel your brakes having an effect on your overall speed. For this, the Mud’X as the rear tyre is appropriate. I haven’t had to test this tyre combination yet. Which is probably for the best, because in these conditions flowing trails become muddy slip ‘n’ slides very quickly.
For the rocky trials: the Michelin Wild Rock’R MAGI-X and the Rock’R GUM-X
For those looking for a tyre that can handle rocks, hardpack and gravel, Michelin developed the Rock’R. This tyre offers the perfect amount of grip in varied alpine terrain. You can forget about impact flats because it has plenty of protection. In my experience, however, it cannot handle mud. The lugs are too large to properly drive themselves deep into the ground and the self-cleaning characteristics are not the best.
I have found my perfect standard setup that is easy to mount and is always reliable. While puncture protection and durability play a large roll in my tyre selection, being able to install them easily is very important. These tyres can be mounted tubeless next to the trail head with a floor pump, which can’t necessarily be said about other manufacturers. Even though I would recommend them to just about everyone I see, tyre selection is through and through a matter of personal choice.
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