MTB Tire Test: Michelin Jet XCR

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  • Michelin Jet XCR
Performance compared to all other MTB tires
(100% is best)
Pro Members get 11-point radar charts

Michelin Jet XCR road bike tire on a rolling resistance test machine

The Michelin Jet XCR is the fastest mountain bike tire from Michelin. On their site, they describe the Jet XCR as "The fastest: Maximum performance to make your stopwatch crazy". This is something that we like to hear at Bicycle Rolling Resistance as fast tires are what we're always looking for.


We already tested the Michelin Force XC (read our review) and Force AM (read our review) a while back and found these tires to be very strong but not all that fast rolling. The Jet XCR is built from a lighter and thinner 3x150 TPI casing + an extra protection ply that runs from bead to bead. The compound is a GUM-X2D dual compound that supposedly is more optimized towards a low rolling resistance.


As usual, we've tested the rolling resistance and puncture resistance of the Michelin Jet XCR to see if it's as fast as Michelin promised.


Manufacturer Specifications


Manufacturer Specs
Brand Michelin
Model Jet XCR
Year 2020
Supplied By Bought in store
New or Used New
Mileage 0 km
Price Range High
Buy At
Manufacturer part number 492256
EAN3528704922567
TPI 3x150
Compound Gum-X2D
Bead Folding
ETRTO 57-622
Size Inch 29"
Width Inch 2.25
Specified Weight 600 grams
Max Air Pressure (psi) 58
Made In Pro Data
Available Sizes 27.5x2.25
29x2.10
29x2.25

Michelin Jet XCR Test Results

Michelin Jet XCR  mountain bike tire on a rolling resistance test machine

Size, Weight, and Thickness Measurements


Size, Weight, and Thickness Measurements
Specified Weight 600 grams
Measured Weight 627 grams
Measured Width Carcass 56 mm (un-round)
Measured Width Tread 57 mm
Measured Height 54 mm (un-round)
Measured Knob Height Center 1.8 mm
Measured Knob Height Edge 4.0 mm
Measured Total Thickness Center (excluding knobs) 1.8 mm
Measured Total Thickness Sidewall Pro Data
All size measurements are taken at an air pressure of 35 psi / 2.4 bars on a 17.8 mm inner width rim.

Rolling Resistance Test Results


Rolling Resistance Test Results
Inner Tube None (40 ml sealant)
Measured Width 56 mm
Rolling Resistance
Real tire width in mm:
47-50 = 42 psi/2.9 bar
51-55 = 38 psi/2.6 bar
56-60 = 34 psi/2.3 bar
High Air Pressure

(34 psi / 2.3 bar)
Pro Data
Rolling Resistance
Real tire width in mm:
47-50 = 35 psi/2.4 bar
51-55 = 32 psi/2.2 bar
56-60 = 29 psi/2.0 bar
Medium Air Pressure

(29 psi / 2.0 bar)
Pro Data
Rolling Resistance
Real tire width in mm:
47-50 = 28 psi/1.9 bar
51-55 = 25 psi/1.7 bar
56-60 = 23 psi/1.6 bar
Low Air Pressure

(23 psi / 1.6 bar)
29.6 Watts
CRR: 0.00887
Rolling Resistance
Real tire width in mm:
47-50 = 21 psi/1.4 bar
51-55 = 19 psi/1.3 bar
56-60 = 17 psi/1.2 bar
Extra Low Air Pressure

(17 psi / 1.2 bar)
Pro Data
Rolling Resistance
55 psi / 3.8 bar
Pro Data
Rolling Resistance
45 psi / 3.1 bar
Pro Data
Rolling Resistance
35 psi / 2.4 bar
Pro Data
Rolling Resistance
25 psi / 1.7 bar
Pro Data
The MTB 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 Jet XCR  mountain bike tire on a rolling resistance test machine
Puncture Resistance Test Results (higher is better)
Total Puncture Score Tread 32 Points
Total Puncture Score Sidewall Pro Data
Tread Puncture Force Sharp Needle 8 Points
Tread Puncture Force Blunt Needle Pro Data
Tread Total Tire Thickness 1.8 mm
Sidewall Puncture Force Sharp Needle Pro Data
Sidewall Puncture Force Blunt Needle Pro Data
Sidewall Total Tire Thickness Pro Data

Hard Surface Static Grip Test Results


Static Grip Test Results
Wet Grip Average 59 Points
Wet Grip Center Pro Data
Wet Grip Edge Pro Data
Measured Knob Height Center 1.8 mm
Measured Knob Height Edge 4.0 mm
Grip in points = coefficient of friction * 100
MTB grip test rim width = 30.0 mm
Wet Grip Test and Off-Road Tires (info)

Conclusion


  • Michelin Jet XCR
Performance compared to all other MTB tires
(100% is fastest - lightest - highest - strongest)

Pro Members get 11-point radar charts

Unfortunately, the Michelin Jet XCR isn't the fast-rolling tire we hoped it would be. With a rolling resistance of 33.2 watts at an air pressure of 25 psi / 1.7 bars, it comes in near the bottom of all mountain bike tires that have been tested. It looks like the compound isn't all that different than what's used on the Force XC and Force AM.


As much as we like most of Michelin's road bike tires, we just can't recommend the Jet XCR if you're looking for a fast mountain bike tire. We think the main use of this tire will be for the rear wheel on a fast XC bike, and we feel there are better choices out there for that usage scenario.


RATING: 2.0 / 5
TEST VERDICT:
Not Recommended


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