Michelin Tires

Made in France, the 26 x 1.95" Hi-Lite Hot is one of Michelin's two entrants in the Mountain tire market. The other, the Express hasn't been seen in the US for quite a while. It comes as a Skin sidewall tire only, and only with a weight reducing Kevlar bead. The tread is not labeled as directional and relies on just two tread block shapes. Staggered down the center are multi-sided blocks in an abstraction of a "U" shape, with the base broader than the blocks top to assist in mud release. The second block style, used for the edge tread blocks on both sides of the tire look like the "base" half of a "U" done as a bold block character. The top and base of the edge blocks are the same size. The tread at the base of the blocks is relatively smooth, with vast area between the tread blocks. The tread stock rubber tested to an 67/A hardness.

Hi-Lite Hot 26 x 1.95" $ Price in Catalog

The Select is Michelin's less expensive clincher road racing tire. The select uses a steel wire bead and standard three bias ply construction. It's sold through us in 3 sizes 700 x 25c, 700 x 28c and 700 x 32c, all of which have a Skin sidewall. The Black tread is largely smooth with fine U-shaped sipes moving from the tire edge to the tread middle then back to the edge again. There are also small V-shaped sipes at the tread center. The tread rubber is too thin to measure its hardness, for more specifics, including total tire thickness, please use the 700c tire table.

Michelin Select 700 x 25c $ Price in Catalog
Michelin Select 700 x 28c $ Price in Catalog
Michelin Select 700 x 32c $ Price in Catalog

The Hi-Lite Road II is a 700c clincher road tire with a Kevlar folding bead. Its Skin sidewall is made using "Flesh" colored pigment to rubberize the casing fabric. The Black tread Michelin says has a semi-slick pattern, which means that it's a largely smooth tread that has sipes. The sipes vary in depth, shallow at the edges and somewhat deeper at the center, which shows that the tread at the centerline is thicker than that at the tire edge. The sipes are based on Straight, angled and V-shaped lines molded into the top of the tread. The Hi-Lite Road II is available in 700 x 20c or 700 x 23c. The tread rubber is too thin to measure its hardness, for more specifics, including total tire thickness, please use the 700c tire table.

Michelin Hi-Lite Road II 700 x 20c $ Price in Catalog
Michelin Hi-Lite Road II 700 x 23c $ Price in Catalog

The Hi-Lite Comp is a lightweight clincher tire designed for road racing applications. The Hi-Lite Comp comes only with a Kevlar bead, in either a 700 x 20c or 700 x x23c size. It has a special added ply between the outer casing plies whose fabric has a much finer weave with a higher thread count. This added ply provides greater structure to the tire and adds an element of puncture resistance. The Skin sidewall tire is made using "Flesh" colored pigment to rubberize the casing fabric. The Hi-Lite Comp is a slick tire, meaning it has a smooth tread with no sipes and no patterned edges. Michelin says the Black rubber tread is made of a special soft racing rubber compound, which we wanted to confirm, but the tread is too thin to measure its hardness accurately. For more specifics, including total tire thickness, please use the 700c tire table.

Michelin Hi-Lite Comp 700 x 20c $ Price in Catalog
Michelin Hi-Lite Comp 700 x 23c $ Price in Catalog

The Super Comp HD is a slightly improved version of the Hi-Lite Comp which comes in three sizes 700 x 18c, 700 x 20c and 700 x 23c. The principal difference is it uses a double density fabric weave for its casing fabric. The higher thread count produces a more stable and durable casing with enhanced puncture resistance. Like the Hi-Lite Comp, the Super Comp HD also has the same added high thread count ply between the outer casing plies. This added ply provides greater structure to the tire and adds an element of puncture resistance. The Skin sidewall tire is made using "Flesh" colored pigment to rubberize the casing fabric. The Hi-Lite Comp is a slick tire, meaning it has a smooth tread with no sipes and no patterned edges. Michelin says the Black rubber tread is made of a special soft racing rubber compound, which we wanted to confirm, but the tread is too thin to measure its hardness accurately. For more specifics, including total tire thickness, please use the 700c tire table.

Michelin Hi-Lite S Comp HD 700 x 18c $ Price in Catalog
Michelin Hi-Lite S Comp HD 700 x 20c $ Price in Catalog
Michelin Hi-Lite S Comp HD 700 x 23c $ Price in Catalog

The Hi-Lite Pro, is a good deal like the Hi-Lite Comp but narrower still in its 700 x 19c size. It doesn't have the extra belt of the Comp, which reduces its weight. The Pro has a Kevlar bead with a "Flesh" colored Skin sidewall. One of the features Michelin has included on this tire is what they call an "aerodynamic wing". This "wing" is a lip molded into the tire above the chafing strip that covers the exposed rim edge. While in theory it may make the wheel almost immeasurably more "slippery", it probably is more useful in protecting the tube from "snake bite" failure which occurs when the rider hits an obstruction, pressing the tire into the rim where it makes two small cuts into the interior inner tube. The Hi-Lite Pro has a Black tread that is entirely smooth, with no sipes, and is very thin. Michelin remarks that the Black rubber tread is made of a special soft racing rubber compound, which we wanted to confirm, but the tread is too thin to measure its hardness accurately. For more specifics, including total tire thickness, please use the 700c tire table.

Michelin Hi-Lite Pro 700 x 19c $ Price in Catalog