It is virtually unknown to meet someone who is not familiar with the Michelin brand. We see it everywhere, from television to all kinds of on- and off-road vehicles. For most of us, Michelin is best known for its car tires as well as its big white mascot (the Michelin man). However, many off-road motorcycle riders will know that Michelin also makes high-quality motocross tires! In this article, we will talk about Michelin off-road motorcycle tires and which ones you should choose depending on the conditions in which you ride. Launched in 2016, the StarCross 5 represents the largest upgrade to Michelin`s off-road tire lineup in many years. The biggest departure from their predecessors (StarCross 3 and 4) is an all-new 15% lighter two-layer case, coupled with the use of more durable and dense materials. The StarCross 5s are available in soft, medium and hard terrain options and in a variety of sizes for trail/enduro and motocross bikes. We mainly tested the soft and medium front and rear wheels, so our reviews focus on these particular tires. The Michelin StarCross 5 Medium rear tyres replaced the S12 tyres as the preferred non-FIM/Road approved enduro tyres. New enduro media share some of the Michelin Starcross 5`s technologies, and MX riders like the more stable and larger 90/100/21 front tire size that enduro riders with Comp Medium have appreciated. In reality, however, the two tires are completely different in tread models, the Enduro tire has a much lower tread depth to work better in forest conditions and comply with FIM regulations, making it legal for road traffic. Would the Michelin Starcross 5 be suitable for non-FIM/road-legal enduro? These are still Michelin off-road motorcycle tires, but they are more for leisure than for racing. Instead of offering many different types of terrain, there is only one.

The beauty of these tires is that they are homologated for road traffic. They also work well on a variety of terrains. I`m not going to go into too much detail about them here, but if you need a motorcycle tire all around for fun and don`t worry about high performance, these tires are still pretty good! They also have excellent longevity. Front Options: It`s cool that the StarCross 5 fronts are available in a few size options, as they each offer noticeably different rides and are suitable for different conditions. The more conventional 80/100-21 is probably still the most versatile front tire. Compared to 90/100-21, it is more predictable on rocks and roots; it better maintains traction in larger inclined positions; and gives you a more accurate feel when you get in and out of deep ruts. On the other hand, the higher 90/100-21 profile offers a significantly softer ride (as it is more forgiving on angular bumps), better flat pinch resistance and a higher level of grip for general cornering and braking. In highly furrowed conditions, this wider footprint makes them want to climb more on the walls of deep ruts, but on all other surfaces, we`ve found that the 90/100 size offers superior steering accuracy, bump absorption, and predictability.

The Michelin Starcross range can be purchased via Enduro Tyres. We are transporting the latest Michelin Starcross 5, check out the tyres here. While these may not be the tires you`ll use most often, it`s a great idea for many riders to have a set ready! Especially when the weather seems unpredictable. If you look at the rear tire, you`ll see a few rubber lines between the lugs that look almost like side M`s. Michelin calls these phobic bars mud, which naturally help tires get rid of sand and mud while increasing traction. The main buttons also have rubber tread lines to help with traction even more. It is clear that Michelin has put its years of tyre knowledge to the test with these sand tyres. There`s not much more you can ask for! They are even relatively light (especially compared to previous generations)! You can pick up Michelin tyres at one of the Australian importer`s stores, Gas Imports, for the following EIAs; Front tires $80/$100 $109.95, front tires $114.95 $19/100, soft and medium rear tires at $139.95. Click here to find your nearest dealer. 90/100-14 49M TT NHS 90/100-16 51M TT NHS 100/100-18 59M TT NHS – (use M18 foam) 110/100-18 64M TT NHS – (use M18 foam) 120/90-18 65M TT NHS – (use M14 foam) 100/90-19 57M TT NHS – (use M22 foam) 110/90-19 62M TT NHS – (use M199 foam) 120/80-19 63M TT NHS – (use M199) Michelin StarCross 5 Medium rear tyres have the following advantages: With so many special tires, you need to make sure you have the right tire for the event. For example, a full sand shovel tire that stays on a hard track for the following weekend would be terrible, so make sure you and your mechanic choose the right model. „The tyres have been massively overhauled and I`m happy to say that the benefits are welcome and very noticeable.“ – Dave Willett, MOTO Magazine Top Tip: If your M14 foam is worn out and feels too soft to come back in a new FIM 140 Enduro tyre, give it some non-FIM events/training in a 120/90/18 StarCross.

There are many things that go into tire development, but for the benefit of readers, we will only highlight the important points and things that we think are most important to you. A matter of pressure: If you want your StarCross tires to stick and hold, it`s important that you follow Michelin`s recommendation to drive slightly higher than normal. What for? Because conventional pressures compromise traction and durability (and because Starcross 5s feel like they`re running on 8-10psi at conventional pressures of 12-14psi). Using the recommended 14.5-17.5 psi is to „compensate“ for the extra bending built into the sidewalls of these tires (the thinner two-layer carcass is specifically designed to improve „don“ and traction). The higher pressures also ensure that the tires don`t roll on their rims, which speeds up wear and/or throws side buttons or gives you punctures. Soft or medium rear?: Starcross 5 Soft and Medium rear tires are equally versatile, providing excellent grip, feel and predictability on a variety of terrains. The „Mud-Phobic Bars“ (which first appeared on Michelin`s Enduro Comp 6 a few years ago) used on the soft back prevent the accumulation of dirt between the buttons. It offers excellent propulsion on soft and medium terrain, but wears out noticeably faster than the soft front (and rear middle) on harder rocky terrain. We first tested Michelin StarCross 5 tyres when they arrived a few years ago and quickly became fans – albeit after accepting their thinner carcass construction and the corresponding need to drive higher air pressures. And now that we`ve once again become familiar with the StarCross 5 tires we use on our 2019 Yamaha WR450F project bike, we`ve had the opportunity to further test the soft and medium terrain options, as well as the 80/100 and 90/100 sizes at the 21-inch front. Here`s what we found.. StarCross MH3 Junior – This is a tire designed for medium to hard terrain.

I could talk about technology and rubber compounds for a very long time, but it probably won`t help anyone. Instead, I chose what I consider to be the two most outstanding features of Michelin`s StarCross range. A high-performance motocross tire for mixed and hard terrain.