First spotted at Eurobike last September, the Michelin Pro4 Grip is a, erm, grippier version of the popular Pro 4 Service Course tyre.

The Grip was unveiled along with the Tubular, with the two tyres sitting alongside the existing Service Course, Endurance, Comp Service Course and Comp Service Course Limited models to extend the Pro4 range to six tyres.

Michelin say the Grip, which has a 110 TPI casing, is designed to help riders overcome challenging conditions and that means riding in cold weather on roads that are wet or in poor condition. Sounds just like the UK.

The Service Course is the all-rounder of the range and already offers impressive levels of traction but the Grip boasts a claimed 15 per cent improvement in wet grip.

How so? The tyre uses a new tread compound designed to deliver better grip in cold temperatures and on wet roads, and a new shoulder design which is said to improve lean grip. The tyre also has a new, flatter profile which, according to Michelin, creates a larger contact patch when cornering and makes braking easier on wet roads.

Michelin also claim to have improved puncture resistance by 20 per cent over the Service Course tyre thanks to an aramid reinforcement ply which covers the entire rolling surface.

Michelin’s claims for better grip and improve puncture resistance are impressive considering the Service Course is an already excellent tyre. There is a minor weight penalty, however, at a claimed 220g per tyre compared to 200g for the Service Course and we’ll wait to see how rolling resistance is affected.

But this looks like a wet weather tyre made for the UK and we’ll be testing the Pro4 Grip, which costs £41.99 per tyre, over the rest of winter and the inevitably wet spring to come.