Long-Term Test of the New Michelin Power Cup Tires

With the Power Cup, Michelin offers top-level tires that deliver efficiency, grip and endurance, as we were able to confirm during this long-term test covering nearly 4000 km. Tires sold at a relatively affordable price compared with the competition, and they should quickly find great success.

By Guillaume Judas – Photos: ©3bikes.fr

The new Michelin Power Cup comes in three versions: a tubular, a tubeless tire, and a classic tube-type tire with an inner tube, which is the subject of this long-term test, and with which we covered 3800 km in a few weeks. The French company says this new range is directly derived from its MotoGP products and is aimed at professional competitors or amateurs who want to give their best while still offering a certain versatility. In the tube-type category, it is indeed hard to find on the market the right balance between efficiency and durability, which is also an essential criterion for many riders, especially when you consider the prices of high-end tires. The Power Cup was therefore developed in collaboration with the Cofidis team, whose sponsor, the Clermont-based brand, is a partner on the WorldTour circuit. And the good news is that prices for this model (tube-type version) are fairly competitive here and there, since you can find it for around 40 €, nearly 50% less than some of the products it competes with as a challenger.

Available in 700×23, 700×25 and 700×28, and in two colors (black and classic for the 25 and 28 versions), the Michelin Power Cup features a 3×120 TPI carcass for responsiveness and efficiency (as well as good sidewall robustness), a technology called Aramid Shield for puncture protection, and a rubber called Gum-X with a compound designed to optimize rolling efficiency, cornering grip and tire life. Michelin has dropped the tread grooves seen on the previous Power Road model and returned to a smooth look, like the Power Competition launched in 2016. But here, as the kilometers add up, you quickly notice the difference between the two rubber compounds: the center of the tread is there to limit rolling resistance, while the edges are there to optimize grip when the tire leans into a corner.

In the black version in the 25 mm width, we weighed our two samples at 217 g, a particularly good weight. Note that on Shimano rims with a 21 mm internal width, the two tires actually measure 27 mm wide with calipers. Once again, a very good compromise for sporty riding, since the tire sidewalls ideally extend those of the Shimano rim, which avoids aerodynamic disturbances. Mounting is relatively easy, even on rims normally designed for tubeless. For inflation, we chose 7 bar, as with all tires of this size, even though the usual recommendations would have us go a bit lower given our weight. But it is efficiency we are after more than comfort, and we wanted to see what these new Power Cups can deliver compared with current benchmarks such as the Continental GP 5000, Pirelli P Zero Race or Vittoria Corsa.

=> SEE ALSO: Long-Term Test of the Continental GP 5000 Tires

Efficiency and Responsiveness

The first few hundred meters set the tone. After riding the same road hundreds of times, the same sequence of corners, the same string of false flats, the same series of accelerations before heading off into the countryside with the wind, you quickly notice even the slightest change in how the bike behaves. And here, you realize very quickly that the Michelin Power Cups deliver top-tier efficiency, which first shows up as liveliness. They feel responsive, sharp with the slightest change in weight distribution, and you can hear them whistling on the road like the best tubulars of old. That feeling comes from their relatively light weight, but also from the responsiveness of the carcass and, of course, the quality of the rubber. They do not just offer a road feel similar to tires with cotton sidewalls, either. In terms of rolling resistance, they are clearly among the best, as you can tell on long straight stretches taken at a good pace, although that impression remains subjective without a laboratory comparison test.

=> SEE ALSO: Long-Term Test of the Specialized Turbo Cotton Tires

Grip and Confidence

Beyond very high efficiency, the Michelin Power Cups also inspire a lot of confidence in corners, whether the road is dry or wet. Lean angles feel reassuring, and you never feel the tire slide or begin to lose grip, provided you keep to your usual cornering speeds, of course. On dry roads, whether leaning the bike through 90° turns or crossing the many roundabouts that dot our roads, you can feel the bite of the tire, and you can ease off to try to save a bit of energy over the whole ride. On wet roads, conditions naturally call for a bit more caution, but you quickly get a sense that these tires are at least on par with the usual market references. That said, the test took place in spring, on roads at a relatively high temperature, and grip may not be as good on a wet road with cold ground, as is usually the case with this type of all-round tire.

=> SEE ALSO: Long-Term Test of the Pirelli P Zero Race Tires

Comfort and Durability

With the pressure lowered to about 6 bar, the Michelin Power Cups offer a bit more comfort than at 7 bar, reducing the vibrations you feel and giving a slightly softer contact with the asphalt. However, on hard accelerations and when standing on the pedals, the bike is also a little less lively in these conditions, and logically, lower pressure also means a bit more rolling resistance, at least on smooth asphalt. With their 25 mm width (27 mm in reality with 21 mm internal rims), the Michelin Power Cups do not transmit excessive harshness thanks to the flexibility of the carcass, but they are clearly less comfortable than any model in a 28 or 30 mm width. That is not really the goal anyway for a competition-oriented product.

In terms of durability, on the other hand, these tires are quite impressive and will give the Continental GP 5000, known for its longevity, a serious run for its money. Over nearly 4000 km, we experienced no punctures, and while the tread is slightly worn when you look very closely, we only spotted two tiny cuts on the rear tire. We estimate their lifespan at around 6000 km, and perhaps a bit more if you take care to swap the rear and front tires. A real performance for a model that proves, in use, light, very efficient, extremely reassuring and very good value for money. In short, with the Power Cup, Michelin sets the bar very high.

=> SEE ALSO: All our Equipment articles