CX/Gravel Tire Test: Michelin Power Gravel (v2) 40

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  • Michelin Power Gravel (v2) 40
Performance compared to all other CX/Gravel tires
(100% is best)
Pro Members get 11-point radar charts



Michelin Power Gravel (v2) 40 road bike tire on a rolling resistance test machine

We already tested the 35 mm version of the Michelin Power Gravel back in 2020 and found it to be quite a strong performer in our tests. Michelin recently released a "v2" version of the Power Gravel that comes with some undisclosed changes that we're hoping to make more apparent. We've tested the 40 mm version of the Power Gravel, making it harder to compare it to the 35 mm "v1" Power Gravel.


Ad Buy Michelin Power Gravel (v2) at Amazon.com


We've taken a long look at the (limited) specifications of the current Power Gravel (v2) lineup, and one of the few changes we noticed is that the specified weight of the 35-622 version (read our review) has gone up from 380 grams for the "v1" version to 405 grams for the current version. Even though our 2020 sample of the Power Gravel 35-622 already came in at 412 grams, it might indicate the tire has been made a bit beefier somewhere.


Wehen mounting the tire, we also noticed that the bead circumference has increased as the 35-622 "v1" version we have here fits extremely tight around the rim (we heard this from some others as well). The 40-622 went over the rim edge much easier, and it might indicate that the "v2" version has been modified in this area.


The Power Gravel is available in the 33-622, 35-622, 40-622, and 47-622 sizes. On top of that, the 47-622 is also available in a version with light colored sidewalls.


Let's look at our test results of the 40-622 "v2" version and compare it to the 2020 35-622 "v1" Power Gravel to see if we can spot some other changes.


Manufacturer Specifications


Manufacturer Specs
Brand Michelin
Model Power Gravel (v2)
Year 2022
Supplied By Bought in store
New or Used New
Mileage 0 km
Price Range High
Buy At Ad Amazon.com
Manufacturer part number 263789
EAN3528702637890
TPI 3x120
Compound X-Miles compound
Bead Folding
ETRTO 40-622
Specified Weight 490 grams
Max Air Pressure (psi) 73
Made In Members Only
Available Sizes 33-622 (700x33c)
35-622 (700x35c)
40-622 (700x40c)
47-622 (700x47c)

Michelin Power Gravel (v2) 40 Test Results

Michelin Power Gravel (v2) 40  mountain bike tire on a rolling resistance test machine

Size, Weight, and Thickness Measurements


Size, Weight, and Thickness Measurements
Specified Weight 490 grams
Measured Weight 495 grams
Measured Width Casing 39 mm (un-round)
Measured Width Tread 40 mm
Measured Height 38 mm (un-round)
Measured Knob Height Center 1.5 mm
Measured Knob Height Edge 2.5 mm
Measured Total Thickness Center (excluding knobs) 2.50 mm
Measured Total Thickness Sidewall Members Only
All size measurements are taken at low air pressure on a 17.8 mm inner width rim.

Rolling Resistance Test Results


Rolling Resistance Test Results
Inner Tube None (30 ml sealant)

(current protocol)
Conti Cross28 (160 gr)

(test protocol)
Measured Width 39 mm 39 mm
Rolling Resistance
Real tire width in mm:
30-32 = 66 psi/4.6 bar
33-35 = 60 psi/4.1 bar
36-38 = 54 psi/3.7 bar
39-42 = 50 psi/3.4 bar
43-46 = 46 psi/3.2 bar
47-50 = 42 psi/2.9 bar
High Air Pressure

(50 psi / 3.4 bar)
Members OnlyMembers Only
Rolling Resistance
Real tire width in mm:
30-32 = 55 psi/3.8 bar
33-35 = 50 psi/3.4 bar
36-38 = 45 psi/3.1 bar
39-42 = 42 psi/2.9 bar
43-46 = 38 psi/2.6 bar
47-50 = 35 psi/2.4 bar
Medium Air Pressure

(42 psi / 2.9 bar)
Members OnlyMembers Only
Rolling Resistance
Real tire width in mm:
30-32 = 44 psi/3.0 bar
33-35 = 40 psi/2.8 bar
36-38 = 36 psi/2.6 bar
39-42 = 33 psi/2.3 bar
43-46 = 31 psi/2.1 bar
47-50 = 28 psi/1.9 bar
Low Air Pressure

(33 psi / 2.3 bar)
21.9 Watts
CRR: 0.00656
25.7 Watts
CRR: 0.00770
Rolling Resistance
Real tire width in mm:
30-32 = 33 psi/2.3 bar
33-35 = 30 psi/2.1 bar
36-38 = 27 psi/1.9 bar
39-42 = 25 psi/1.7 bar
43-46 = 23 psi/1.6 bar
47-50 = 21 psi/1.4 bar
Extra Low Air Pressure

(25 psi / 1.7 bar)
25.0 Watts
CRR: 0.00749
30.0 Watts
CRR: 0.00899
The CX/Gravel section is a multi tire size section, air pressures have been adjusted to the measured casing width.

All numbers are for a single tire at a speed of 29 km/h / 18 mph and a load of 42.5 kg / 94 lbs.

Use the formula: RR (Watts) = CRR * speed (m/s) * load (N) to calculate rolling resistance at a given speed and load.

Puncture Resistance Test Results

Michelin Power Gravel (v2) 40  mountain bike tire on a rolling resistance test machine
Puncture Resistance Test Results (higher is better)
Total Puncture Score Tread 50 Points
Total Puncture Score Sidewall Members Only
Tread Puncture Force Sharp Needle Members Only
Tread Puncture Force Blunt Needle Members Only
Tread Total Tire Thickness 2.50 mm
Sidewall Puncture Force Sharp Needle Members Only
Sidewall Puncture Force Blunt Needle Members Only
Sidewall Total Tire Thickness Members Only

Hard Surface Static Grip Test Results

Michelin Power Gravel (v2) road bike tire on a grip test machine
Static Grip Test Results
Wet Grip Average 61 Points
Wet Grip Center Members Only
Wet Grip Edge Members Only
Measured Knob Height Center 1.5 mm
Measured Knob Height Edge 2.5 mm
Grip in points = coefficient of friction * 100
CX/Gravel grip test rim width = 23.0 mm
Wet Grip Test and Off-Road Tires (info)

Conclusion


  • Michelin Power Gravel (v2) 40
Performance compared to all other CX/Gravel tires
(100% is fastest - lightest - highest - strongest)

Pro Members get 11-point radar charts

When we compare the "v2" Power Gravel 40-622 to the "v1" Power Gravel 35-622, our test results show that the 40-622 version performs better in the puncture tests, but rolling resistance has gone up. There is also a slight difference in the knob height in the center of the tire, where we see knob height has gone up to 1.5 mm from 1.2 mm.


Unfortunately, we didn't compare the "v1", and "v2" versions of the Power Gravel in the same size. It might be possible these differences must be attributed to the change in tire size instead of the specific tire version.


When we compare the latest 40-622 version of the Power Gravel to the competition, we're a little less excited about the Power Gravel. We've tested a lot of other CX/Gravel bike tires since the test of the original Power Gravel back in 2020 and have found some other tires to perform a bit stronger.


Ad Buy Michelin Power Gravel (v2) at Amazon.com


RATING: 4.0 / 5
TEST VERDICT:
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