First ride review of the new Michelin Power Road tires

Michelin unveils its new Power tire range, including the new Power Road. Developed in Tube Type or Tubeless Ready versions, the new Power Road aims to offer an optimal balance of characteristics, to meet the maximum number of expectations and practices… 3bikes.fr was on the slopes of Mont Ventoux to discover the first sensations with the new product from the French manufacturer.

By Sébastien Jacquet – Photos: @Michelin

Three years after the launch of its Power road range, available in Competition / Endurance / All Season versions, Michelin gathered the international press this week in L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue (84) to unveil the latest tires from the Clermont-Ferrand firm’s design and engineering offices. Two new tires with the code name Power Road, available in classic Tube Type (with inner tube) or Tubeless Ready, completely redesigned compared to the first generation, and which ultimately only share the name, and also a new Power Time Trial developed for time trials. These products are part of the French manufacturer’s new Premium road range, the Michelin Power offering, with the Power Competition Tubular model (unveiled last March) intended for competition use, while the robust Power All Season is retained from the first generation for training rides on dirty and wet roads.

New compound, new tread pattern, new reinforcements

The new Michelin Power Road model aims to offer a tire with the most advanced compromise in terms of low rolling resistance, robustness, and comfort to satisfy the average user in their daily rides and guarantee the safety sought by a maximum number of riders. The Power Road relies on a latest-generation X-Race Compound based on silica, designed to best support the mix of durability and grip on dry and wet surfaces, while maintaining good performance.

The Power Road Tube Type version integrates, under the tread and casing, an enlarged Aramid Protek + component, which is to say a very high-density aramid cross reinforcement to provide strength and limit the risk of punctures. It also features new aramid reinforcements at the tire beads, which are supposed to offer increased flexibility and facilitate mounting.

To align with current market trends and demands, Michelin has also developed a Tubeless Ready version of the Power Road, which adopts the tread pattern and X-Race Compound of the classic tubed model, but with specific features for this type of tire.

Built with a 4×120 tpi casing, the Tubeless Ready version of the new Power Road relies internally on an additional Air Proof layer, touted as very light by the brand, to ensure optimal airtightness without compromising robustness, weight, and rolling resistance (with edges designed for full compatibility with Tubeless rims on the market). It should be noted that Michelin also observed that the market already had high-performance sealant liquids, and that consumers had the free choice for mounting and combining with the Power Road Tubeless Ready.

A Power Time Trial tire for time trials

Also new to the 2020 catalog, the new Power Time Trial tire aims to satisfy enthusiasts of solo efforts in races or triathlons. It is announced as the lightest of all Michelin road ranges.

The Power Time Trial features a 3×180 TPI casing combined with the new Race-2 Compound. A combination designed to provide excellent performance. It also features new Aramid Bead tire beads, and will be available in 23C or 25C sections.

Sizes, weights and availability

Both versions of the new Power Road will be available for sale starting January 2020 for the Tube Type tire, and March 2020 for the Tubeless Ready. The Power Time Trial time trial tire will be available on the market starting January 2020 as well. Weights range from 223 g to 255 g for the Tube Type (in 23, 25 and 28 sections), and from 230 to 320 g for the Tubeless Ready (in 25, 28 and 32 mm sections). Both Power Road models in 25Cx700 weigh around 230 g. Prices have not yet been revealed, but Michelin has assured us of a product positioned among the lowest in this sector and at this level of range, to align with the initial desire to offer a tire intended for a maximum number of cyclist types.

A Power road and Off-Road range

With the introduction of the two new Power Road Tube Type and Tubeless Ready, the Clermont-Ferrand firm now offers an expanded and complete Power road range to cover as many profiles as possible depending on individual needs and practices. The Power range now also includes the Michelin Power Competition Tubular and the Power Time Trial, developed with the support and feedback of riders from the Cofidis Solutions Crédits professional team, of which Michelin has been a technical partner since 2018, and whose partnership has been renewed for two additional seasons at the time of the presentation. The brand retains the Power All Season from the first generation in its catalog, for its appreciated qualities of durability, wet grip, and high safety.

For trails or muddy conditions, Michelin also offers a complete Power range for Off-Road use with the Michelin Power Gravel tires, and the Michelin Power CycloCross Mud or Jet, available in Tubeless Ready or tubular versions for competition.

Mont Ventoux for first rides

Michelin chose the slopes of Mont Ventoux to allow us to discover the product, the same place where Jesús Herrada (Cofidis) triumphed on Michelin Power Competition tubulars during the first edition of the Mont Ventoux Dénivelé Challenges last June. This was an opportunity for a quick first test, which was very conclusive in terms of feel.

On the thirty kilometers that led us to the foot of the Giant of Provence, and on roads and shoulders ravaged by the torrential rains of the day before, we made sure to ride all the way to the right, looking for all the debris that cyclists can encounter on this strip of road that we often prefer to avoid. And we were quite impressed by the behavior and the impression of great resistance of the Power Road Tube Type (inflated to more than 7.5 bar, above current usage recommendations). And also a very pleasant sensation of feedback and comfort despite all these small asperities encountered. A puncture is often due to a driving error, wear, or especially bad luck, but it must be noted that we did not observe the slightest damage or micro-cut on the structure when getting off the bike.

The quality of the performance seemed to us to be on the same level, with very good tire handling, whether riding at a steady pace or during more incisive actions out of the saddle, and that always appreciated sense of continuity and fluidity on the asphalt. An interesting parameter, the choice of a 25C tire section seemed very effective in supporting the power, forces, and stresses of disc braking. And thus providing us with a very reassuring sense of security on the descent of Ventoux on the Sault side, as proof, above all, of very good grip and adhesion that instills confidence in the cyclist.

Not very keen on this technology due to experiences that often disappointed us, the Power Road in its Tubeless Ready version largely reassured us about the use of this type of tire. Inflated to 6.5 bar, we perceived a royal comfort, a form of lightness and a rolling quality that had nothing to envy to the Tube Type version. During sharp accelerations out of the saddle, the tire proved to be an excellent support, without giving way, combining robustness and reliability. Enough to make us want to try it for a longer period to validate the qualities observed in this first test, and tell you more in a few riding sessions about the behavior and evolutions of these new Michelin Power Road tires depending on the conditions.

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