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Tyres

Michelin Power Competition tyres

Michelin's new Power tyres have impressed across the board - but the super-fast Competitions are the pick of the bunch

Michelin’s Power range covers the three key bases: race, endurance and all-weather. The Competition is the fastest and most lightweight of the three tyres – and we loved it when we reviewed it in late 2016.

It’s therefore made the RCUK100 list because it’s one of the most enjoyable tyres we’ve reviewed of late. Coming in at 215g per 25mm tyre (195g for the 23mm version), responsiveness is superb, as you’d hope from a race-ready tyre. Fast rolling with very low rolling resistance, they’re hard to fault if you want a quick set of tyres.

Michelin made the claim at launch that the Power Competition rubber provided a ten-watt saving over the existing Pro4 tyre when rolling at 35km/h, for a rider and bike package weighing 70g. That’s significant.

But that doesn’t mean they’re fragile – within the construction Michelin have included an ‘Amarid Protek’ puncture resistant layer, which helps add a level of reassurance which we can testify is borne out in our experiences. They’ll get you home quick… by first getting you home.

The low weight has its benefits for ride feel too. There’s no unnecessary bulk to them, so while rolling resistance is kept low, road textures are transferred through to the bike so you have an uncanny feel of how the road surface is beneath you.

This, in tandem with the grippy slick compound, generates a real sense of confidence and reliability – they goad you into pushing the limits.

RCUK 100 2017 - Michelin Power Competition tyres

Michelin Power Competition

And, to be honest, it’s not just any grippy compound. The rubber compound Michelin use derives from the French manufacturer’s work in MotoGP, which relies on superior levels of adhesion when tilted over at aggressive angles.

It’s know-how that’s been applied well to the entire Power range, not just the Competitions, and is one of the standout features of the tyres.

This means sheer responsiveness and grip makes them ideal boots for the mountains too – especially with the low system weight you can achieve with them shod to a lightweight wheelset. Lively and incredibly reactive, accelerations are a doddle. Well, as much of a doddle as they can be when you’re getting stuck into an Alpine ascent.

[monetizer101 search=’Michelin Power Competition’ price=’38’]

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Selected for The RCUK 100 2017

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