Test new Michelin Pro 5 tubeless tires

Michelin unveiled its latest innovation last January with the Michelin Pro 5 TLR tires, designed to meet the expectations of cyclists on route who are looking for a versatile model that's built to last. Available in four widths – 28mm, 30mm, 32mm, and 35mm – they offer a choice suited to different bike types and riding preferences. However, we weren't entirely convinced, particularly when it came to puncture resistance.

By Guillaume Judas – Photos: ©3bikes.fr

Designed to combine durability and performance in racing or training, the Michelin Pro5 TLR is aimed at cyclists seeking a balance between efficiency and reliability.. Compatible with hook or hookless systems, it adapts to a wide range of rims, reinforcing its accessibility. With this new reference, Michelin continues to innovate in the field of bicycle tires. route, relying on advanced technologies and expertise reconnaked.

The Pro5 TLR does not replace the Power Cup, which remains the model for pure competition. It rather completes the range route endurance of the Clermont brand.

It is important to point out that the Michelin Pro5 TLR is one of the cheapest Tubeless tires on the market, since it can be found from 45,99 €.

A tread dedicated to endurance

The Michelin Pro 5 is positioned as a significant evolution compared to its predecessor, the Pro 4 Endurance, with a 35% reduction in rolling resistance according to the brand, obtained through the use of Gum-X technology for gum mixing.

This design aims to improve comfort, grip and durability, whether on dry or wet ground. The tread, combined with an internal structure allowing inflation at lower pressure, provides better grip and increased safety, particularly when braking on route humid.

TestExperienced over 100 km by amateur and professional cyclists, these tires promise remarkable longevity and optimized air tightness, guaranteeing stable pressure over time.

In addition to the four sections offered (700×28, 30, 32, 35), two color options are available : black or classic (brown) side, allowing aesthetic customization in line with current trends.

Respected section

I have testé these Michelin Pro5 TLR tires in 700×30, mounted on rims with an internal width of 25 mm and an external width of 29 mm. Unlike many other models on the market, the actual section corresponds well to the section indicated on the tire sidewalls. On the Fulcrum wheels used for the occasion, the Pro5 sidewalls are exactly in line with those of the rim, which is theoretically an advantagetagand on the aerodynamic level.

Views from the pilot's seattage, The Pro5s are quite large, and their round profile is reassuring.. With a lower inflation pressure allowed by the 30 mm section (max 4,5 bar according to the manufacturer's data), the cornering is clear and never tricky, whether on dry or wet. I also imagine that the tread compound also has something to do with it. In short, These are tires that grip the pavement and which are never sharp to pilot.

A tread that does a decent job when riding at a steady speed. The resistance does not seem excessive and the tire's performance in these conditions approaches that of many leading models in the field.. Combined with good wheels, the Michelin Pro5 TLRs allow you to rack up the miles at 40 km/h without the slightest problem.

High weight

Things get worse on the climbs and accelerations, with a noticeable lack of responsiveness compared to high-end tires. The reason: weight. At 325g in 700×30, the Michelin Pro5 TLR are no lightweights, especially if you add the sealant (about 40g). The whole thing remains higher than a good tire with a light inner tube, and the bike's reactions are affected.

I found my bike a little more clumsy than usual on the frequent accelerations in town and on the succession of false flats. While on paper, the Fulcrum wheels are of a weight equivalent to the Mavic Cosmic SLR used before. Same thing in the bumps, where everything goes pretty well when climbing the train, but where It seemed more difficult to change pace, following the wheels of a group of angry cyclists.

But there is nothing very surprising about this either, if we consider that The Pro5 TLR are not pure racing tires, but rather so-called “endurance” tires. A tread longevity that seems to be confirmed after approximately 1000 km of test. Although I didn't receive these Michelin Pro5 TLRs new (they had been driven a bit before), I didn't notice any particular signs of wear on the tread, and almost no cuts.

Not so tough

Despite the sand, I suffered no less than three punctures in ten days, even though I hadn't had a puncture all winter, and especially over the last two months, riding exclusively with tube tires, which perform quite well. And every time on route dry. None of these three punctures posed any real problem for me to finish my ride, since each time the sealant did its job. However, it came at the cost of a significant drop in pressure, with less than 2 bar, causing a noticeable decrease in performance and control of the bike.

And as is often the case with this type of puncture, the preventative fluid that leaks from the tire spreads onto the frame and clothing. A liquid that is not always easy to clean. And yet, I did not have to repair on the edge of the route, trying to unclip the tire from the rim and putting my hands in the product to slide in an inner tube that I had to take with me anyway in case a hole that was too big could not be plugged with the liquid.

Tubeless, yes, but for racing

In short, This sensitivity to punctures seems incompatible with a tire intended for endurance.. But more than the Pro5 TLR tire itself, it is the tubeless technology that once again shows its fragility. Over the last 12 months, I have only had a puncture with tubeless tires, while riding with bikes or wheels of test. For my personal use, I continue to ride with tubed tires, and I very rarely get punctures, even when using TPU tubes.

A coincidence? I don't know. But almost all the cyclists around me who ride a lot prefer inner tubes. Almost all of them have encountered at least once a logistical problem related to tubeless. When everything goes well, it's great, but there always comes a time when repairing with sealant is impossible, and the hassle begins.

The testRolling resistance tests show this: tubeless has now dethroned tubulars and tires in terms of performance. It's undeniable. Pros ride tubeless today, except in cyclocross, where the tubular holds the lead. But for everyday use, the inner tube remains the preferred system for those who really ride.

A Pro5 with an inner tube soon?

I have always appreciated Michelin tires. I have testall generations, from the first BIBs at the end of the 80s to the Power Cup, including the famous Bi-Synergic of the mid-90s which were the first in my opinion to really compete with tubulars.

The Pro5 TLR has many strengths, in terms of rolling resistance, grip and comfort, and perhaps even casing durability.. Its price is even very reasonable compared to the competition. But please, gentlemen engineers at Michelin, bring it out for us in Tube Type, so we can finally truly appreciate the endurance you claim.

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