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Michelin Wild Rock'R 2 Tire - First Look

That’s right, another enduro specific product, but if any component should be designed specifically for enduro style riding, it's tires. As one of the two largest tire manufacturers in the world (remember, they do far more than just bike tires), they have the potential to put some serious development effort into any market they see fit. Recently, we were invited to check out the French brand's recent development work towards the new Wild Rock’R 2. While the "e" word gets bandied about a lot these days, the philosophy behind a bike or component that is well balanced enough to be both efficient and aggressive makes complete sense, especially when talking about tires.

A tire intended for enduro racing should allow a rider to push their limits on virtually any type of trail, but at the same time not feel like a tractor tire on the way back up. With a solid four years of development, the Rock’R 2 has seen hundreds of hours of research and testing, but Michelin is finally confident with what it has to offer.

Wild Rock'R 2 Details

• Intended use: all-mountain/enduro
• Sizes: 26'', 650B, 29”
• Width: 2.35''
• Casing: Advanced Reinforced with Tubeless Ready bead
• Tread compounds: Magi’X (softer dual compound) and Gum’X (harder single compound)
• Weight: 998 grams (650B, claimed)

Details
With the growing trail and enduro market, tires are an obvious piece of the equipment puzzle. A rubber choice that can do everything and do it well is often a difficult request, but many companies are devoting lots of time to this specific niche. With the Rock’R 2, Michelin’s goal was to balance a burly, versatile tread pattern with a compound and casing that would roll well, all while still offering top notch traction and durability in a variety of situations. After sixty three different prototypes, Michelin finally found what they believe is the perfect balance of these characteristics. A low V-shaped knob at the

center of the tire is said to provide ample traction while the tire is flat on the ground while also offering a smooth, resistance free feel on hardpack surfaces. Pairing two distinct compound tires provides the Rock’R 2 with a balanced feel for the specific needs of front and rear tires, while also offering a compound option for riders in a variety of riding zones. Much of the tire's design came as a result of development from with French legends Fabien Barel and Pierre Edouard Ferry.

Fabien Barel spent a considerable amount of time helping to develop Michelin's new Rock'R 2.

Tread Design
Developing a distinctly different tire that offers improvements and design diversity compared to others on the market is obviously a difficult task. The best all around enduro style tires are starting to share many similar design principles: mid-height directional middle tread for efficiency paired with prominent aggressive side knob for ample cornering. Though many of the top tires share these main attributes, they are all distinctly different in compound and overall knob shapes, not to mention hugely different when it comes to casings and construction.

The Michelin Wild Rock’R 2 is designed for use on dry, extreme terrain. From a technical viewpoint, the tread pattern is developed to offer the best combination of rider output and braking ability utilizing a center tread that alternates transversal and longitudinal blocks, and its large lateral lugs are made up of either 50A or 55A rubber depending on the need. Throughout the tread, numerous sipes help increase block mobility and create high-pressure areas while also improving grip on hard, slick terrain.

After years of development, the release of the Wild Rock’R 2 shows Michelin’s commitment to this continually growing segment of the mountain bike market. “We really see this as an important market and want to offer a top notch product that helps move the market forward,” explains Tom Sullivan, Michelin's US PR Manager. “We know we have fallen behind in the trail MTB market, but we didn’t want to prematurely release a product that was nothing but the best, and we feel the Rock’R 2 provides this and we are excited about it.”

We were able to ride the new tire in a variety of conditions and on a variety of terrain during our quick trip to France. This included some seriously slick sections of trail that showed that the Rock'R 2 isn't just a one trick pony.

First Impressions
So, after a couple rowdy days on some of France's most prominent trails, what is our initial feedback to take home from riding this milestone tire for Michelin? A quick glance at the Rock’R 2 and it's obvious how Michelin's development mentality has changed from the past couple years. The tread pattern looks well designed, its casing looks solid and durable, and most importantly, tread compound is much more supple than all recent Michelin offerings. Once mounted up, the tire inflates to a true 2.35'' and the sharp, fresh knobs add an aggressive touch to any trail bike. Though we only spent a total of around eight hours of riding the tires so far, we were able to run them on a wide variety of trails and terrain. Our first trail was filled with wet leaves, wet dirt, and a smattering of slick off camber rocks. After a few pressure adjustments we found the sweet spot. Though the tires did pack up with mud quickly on certain stretches of trail, the cornering knobs remained useable and bit deeply, even on wet and unfamiliar trails. The new Magi’X compound mounted up front was noticeably tackier, and it aided by adding grip on wet rocks and off camber sections. Once we descended out of the trees, the tires took a bit of time to shed the sticky mud due in part to the closeness of the knobs and their siped pattern. Once clean of mud, they were a quite capable. Acceleration and braking was great on dry to loamy soil, while the soft front side knobs made flat gravely corners much less of a panic to reduce speed. After only a few rides, the Rock’R 2 shows some serious promise in the competitive trail tire market. If they hold up like traditional Michelin tires while matching the performance of many fast-wearing competitors, the Rock’R 2 could become a top contender for dry, rough terrain. Stay tuned for a long term review.

www.michelinbicycletire.com