Michelin Wild Enduro 29 x 2.4 Tire: Rider Review

Our "Rider Review" article series features the honest reviews from verified purchasers of Worldwide Cyclery. They contain the photos, thoughts, feedback & overall review you are looking for. 

One of the easiest upgrades but will have a big impact on the way your bike feels is changing out tires. It's obvious since it is the one thing in contact with the ground but it can also enhance grip, feel, and puncture resistance. Our friend Andreas shares his experience with the Michelin Wild Enduro 29 x 2.4 Tubeless Gum-X Tires. Check it out! 

Overview

I decided to try out the Michelin Wild Enduro front tires after reading some very positive reviews online. I’ve had them now for a month and ridden them about 8-10 times. Conditions started out as very dry (loose over hard), then had a day of perfectly tacky after a light rain, then back to dry, then full-on mud. My impression so far has been for the most part very positive.

Reviewer Background

I’m an advanced to expert rider. I ride in the bay area coast (Half Moon Bay, Pacifica, & Santa Cruz). My favorite trails are steep and flowy. Conditions most of the year is dry and dusty over hardpack. Rocks and roots are uncommon. I’m riding a Transition Sentinel with 30mm internal width rims. I like very grippy tires, with knobs in the transition zone from the center to shoulder. I never (knock on wood) flat, so standard “trail” casing weights are sufficient for me.

How Do They Compare?

I switched to the Wild Enduros from an Assegai / DHR II setup. I was happy with that setup all summer but knew from previous experience that the DHR II doesn’t handle mud very well (tends to pack up). The Assegai tread looked like it would fair better in the mud, but it’s a bit of a porker in terms of weight. Last winter I ran Magic Marys front and rear and really liked those as long as the ground remained soft. Once things dried out and got hard, I found the knobs squirmed too much (not to mention wore quickly). The Wild Enduro Front appeared to have a similar tread pattern to the MM, but with taller knobs, and a lighter spec weight than the Assegai.

I chose to run a second Michelin Wild Enduro Front in the rear as well, as it appeared to have taller knobs than the “Rear” model, as well as lighter weight (I don’t need the extra casing reinforcement). My 2 pairs of Wild Enduro Fronts weighed in at 1026 and 1056g. My Assegai (somewhat worn) weighs 1158g. My 2 pairs of Magic Marys weigh 980 and 895g. Shoulder knob heights are: 8.3mm (Assegai), 7.4mm (WEF), 7.5mm (MM). Center knob heights are: 5.8mm (Assegai), 4.6mm (WEF), 4.4mm (MM). The Wild Enduros measure a true 2.4” width on 30mm rims (2.36” at knobs, 2.43” at casing). See photo of a side-by-side comparison of the Wild Enduro Front to an Assegai.

Positives

The tires aired up easily using my Joe Blow Booster pump. Pedaling did not feel any worse than my previous setup and actually felt like it climbed slightly better than the DHR II in loose dirt. On hardpack, the rubber compound felt grippy but not squirmy. It’s probably somewhere in between Maxxis’ 3C MT and 2C, and firmer than Schwalbe’s orange “soft” Addix. Braking felt slightly better than my previous setup. The highlight though is the shoulder knobs. When you get these tires leaned over, they provide a very confidence-inspiring and very solid bite. Once I feel these shoulder knobs engage, I never worry about wash-outs. They seem to shed mud pretty well too.

Negatives

They have a pretty tight bead and required me to use a plastic tire lever to get them mounted on my We Are One Agent rims. They also struggled to hold pressure initially with my usual 2 oz/each of Orange Seal sealant. It wasn’t until I added another oz each and had done a few rides that they would hold pressure overnight. They’ve been fine since then.

Final Thoughts

The Wild Enduro Front turned out to be just what I was hoping it would be: a grippy all-season tire that combines a lot of the positive traits of my other favorite tires (Magic Mary and Assegai). For me, it strikes a great balance of grip, weight, and durability.