How to choose your bike tire?

We recommend that you stick close to the size of the tires already fitted to your bike. Even if it is possible to choose larger or smaller tires, be aware that this can involve risks. Fitting bike tires that are too big could cause interference with your bike's frame, and tires that are too small may be more prone to damage and harder to control.

How do you identify the size of your bike tires?

The size of your bike tires is shown on their sidewall. And if your bike is less than 5 years old, it's also likely that you can find the technical specifications simply by searching your bike's reference number online. You can also consult your dealer or the technical data sheet for your bike, where the tire specifications are described.

The important thing is to make sure you stay within the dimensions specified for your bike to ensure safety and maintain the original handling characteristics.

Once you know your tire size, you need to choose a bike tire that is suited to your use.

Are you more of a ROAD, CITY or MTB (mountain bike) rider?

Each of these broad categories has a range of uses, and it's important to identify yours in order to choose wisely.

ROAD

This is your category if you use your bike mainly on the road for racing or training, cyclocross or gravel. If you use your bike for commuting, please refer to our CITY section.

Racing

Is your goal to be the first to cross the finish line? Road racing is a demanding discipline, focused on speed and endurance, requiring a lightweight, aerodynamic bike and high-performance tires.

For this discipline, we recommend the Michelin Power Cup tire, which will satisfy you in every way.

We discuss this in more detail in our article on "How to choose the best road bike tires."

Training

If your main focus is training to improve fitness, endurance, speed, and technique, then consider the Michelin Lithion tire range (available in tube-type only), which offers a great balance between rolling efficiency and durability. You may also consider the Michelin Power All Season tire.

To find out more, read our article on "How to Choose the Best Road Bike Tires".

Cyclocross

If you're a Cyclocross enthusiast, you're looking for good grip on dry and wet terrain to perform on difficult and technical courses. Our bike tires specifically designed for this use are the Michelin Power Cyclocross JET tire for dry terrain and the Michelin Power Cyclocross MUD tire for soft and muddy terrain.

Find out more in our article on "How to choose your cyclocross tire?"

Gravel

If you ride on the road but also on gravel or trails, you need a tire that balances durability and performance while reducing the risk of punctures. Consider the Michelin Power Gravel or the Michelin Power Adventure tires, depending on your riding style and the terrain you'll be encountering.

To find out more, read our article on "How to Choose the Best Gravel Tires for Your Bike?"

CITY

This category is for you if you use your bike mainly for urban commuting, touring, or bikepacking, sometimes venturing onto paths or roads in poor condition. We'll also look at all-weather use and advise you on bike tires for children.

Commuting

If you use your bike mainly in an urban environment, such as commuting to work, it's essential to opt for tires that are suitable for asphalt terrain, offering good grip and ensuring optimum comfort during everyday journeys in town.

For this purpose, you can opt for the Michelin Protek or the Michelin Protek Max tires. The main difference is that the latter is more resistant to punctures.

Touring

Our Touring bike tires are designed for cyclists who like to venture slightly off the beaten track. If this sounds like you, you may want to consider the Michelin Protek, Michelin Protek Max, Michelin Protek Cross or Michelin Protek Cross Max tire, depending on the ratio of paths you use. These tires generally have a little more tread, allowing better control and grip when venturing slightly off-road.

Trekking

If you plan to use your bike more frequently on cycle paths in poor condition or on small off-road tracks, trekking bike tires are for you. In this case, opt for the Michelin Protek Cross or the Michelin Protek Cross Max tire. The tread pattern of the Protek Cross Max tire has more studs for more versatile off-road use.

Please note that these tires are suitable for urban/commuting use with a little off-road. For full off-road use, please see the MTB section.

All-season

All-season bike tires are ideal for winter. They offer optimum grip and performance in a variety of weather conditions, including the typically wet and slippery winter roads. So if you are the kind of person who hits the road even in these conditions, we recommend the Michelin Power All Season and the Michelin StarGrip tire ranges.

Kids

For younger cyclists, we offer tires specially designed for children's bikes up to 24 inches. These bike tires are designed to offer a safe and comfortable ride, adapted to small wheels.

The Michelin City J tire is designed for use mainly on asphalt. The Michelin Country J tire, with its more indented tread pattern, is ideal for greater off-road use.

MTB

This is the right category for you if you're looking for a taste of adventure when you get on your bike. Away from the roads, you like irregular or difficult courses, for leisure or competition. Which discipline suits you best - Cross-Country, Trail, Enduro, Downhill or the simple pleasure of riding your mountain bike off-road?

All-season

All-season bike tires are ideal for winter. They offer optimum grip and performance in a variety of weather conditions, including the typically wet and slippery winter roads. So if you are the kind of person who hits the road even in these conditions, we recommend the Michelin Power All Season and the Michelin StarGrip tire ranges.

Cross-Country

Our Racing Line range includes three effective bike tires for cross-country use: Michelin Jet, Michelin Force and Michelin Wild.

Michelin Jet, designed for hard packed terrain, offers maximum speed without compromising grip and robustness.

Michelin Force, our most versatile option, perfectly balances performance and grip on a wide variety of terrains.

Michelin Wild is our most extreme tire for Cross-Country. It's specially designed for soft terrain and offers maximum grip.

There is a difference of 2 watts between the Jet and the Force tire lines (in favor of the Jet), as well as between the Force and the Wild lines (in favour of the Force).

If you're looking to optimize your performance and improve your times, opt for the Michelin Jet tire.

If you're looking for a balance between performance and more sensible use, the Michelin Force or the Michelin Wild tire would be more appropriate.

Trail / Mountain

In the Trail Mountain segment, our range is called Michelin All Mountain 2. It is available in two options: Michelin Force AM2 competition line and Michelin Wild AM2 competition line.

The "Force" is faster than the "Wild" on hard to mixed terrain.

The "Wild" will give you more grip than the "Force" on mixed to soft surfaces.

If you want to optimize speed, put 2 "Force" tires on your bike.

If you want to optimize grip, fit 2 "Wild" tires.

By combining these two bike tires, a Wild tire at the front and a Force tire at the rear, you get the preferred choice of high-level riders. This will give you a more playful and responsive bike for your All Mountain use.

Note that some All Mountain 1 ranges are still available in Performance line for the time being, so you can find older sizes.

How do you choose between the Racing Line and the Competition Line?

If you're looking for better time performance and a trouble-free tire, opt for the Racing Line.

If you're looking to slightly optimize your skills with a full-performance tire, the Competition Line is for you.

Globally, the entire competition line is available in 27.5 x 2.40 and 29 x 2.40.

Downhill

Our Downhill ranges are available in two levels: Racing line and Performance line. They feature the same DNA as our cross-country ranges.

The Racing Line is specifically designed for people looking for maximum performance in terms of grip and solidity. You can tackle World Cup tracks without any worries, with excellent grip and no fear of punctures.

The Performance Line is designed to give you a good performance compromise for more moderate Downhill use.

Let's take a closer look at these ranges:

Performance Line Downhill

This range is only available in DH 34 with the Michelin DH 34 Bike Park because its objective is to offer you the best performance for Bike Park use.

Its tread pattern, inspired by the DH 34 Racing Line, allows you to optimise your grip on the hard terrain you'll find in Bike Parks. However, the carcass is a little lighter and the rubber a little smoother, so you can optimise your speed between big jumps.

Because Bike Park use causes tires to wear more quickly, the rubber of the Michelin DH 34 Bike Park tire is specifically designed to last longer in this use.

Down Country

For Down Country bike tires, we suggest you look at our Cross-country Racing Line ranges in their 29 x 2.35 versions.

The Michelin Wild XC Racing Line offers maximum grip and outstanding responsiveness in corners, inspired by the Michelin Wild Enduro ranges.

The Michelin Wild XC Performance Line gives you maximum grip on soft and mixed terrain and puncture protection thanks to the high-density fibre layer under the tread.

Everyday

If you use your mountain bike occasionally, for example for weekend rides in the forest, Michelin recommends that you consult the Access Line page to equip your bike with suitable tires.

For 26", 27.5" and 29" sizes, you'll appreciate our Country range, which was designed several years ago for this type of use.

Choose the tread look that suits you. Remember, the more aggressive the bike tire looks, the more effective it will be off-road!

If you use your mountain bike for a more sporty purpose, even if only occasionally, and are looking for a 27.5" or 29" size, Michelin would recommend our Force Access Line and Wild Access Line ranges, whose treads are inspired by our Performance Line and Racing Line ranges.

These ranges are specifically designed to give you the durability you need. Only the carcass and rubber technologies differ in order to meet your needs in terms of compromise, lightness, strength, grip and performance.