Michelin Comp S Mountain Tires
By Jon Sharp

The Michelin Company was founded on May 28th, 1889. As it turns out, they started making tires in 1891 because a cyclist came into the factory one day with a flat tire. It took Edouard Michelin 3 hours to fix the tire. After that, they had to wait 6 more hours before everything could dry and the cyclist could be on his way. Recognizing that tires could never become more prolific unless they were easier to repair, he began research (which led to a patent) for a "removable tire". Since a cyclist started it all, it should come as no surprise that Michelin is still producing some of the greatest bicycle tires on the planet.

The Michelin Comp S Light is a light-weight XC tire. Although not new this year, there have been some improvements for 2003. The most notable is their split-knobs design. They basically took the same knob pattern as last year, and split the knobs that are closest to the center. This allows the tire greater flexibility over obstacles--and reduces the weight slightly--without affecting the layout or shape of the knobs. As with before, the Comp S tread compound is made from Silicum™. Michelin says this helps to shed mud, grip well, and roll fast. The Standard tire weighs 465g, and the UST tubeless tire (tested) weighs 660g. Both tires are light for their categories.

On the trail, and in dry conditions, these tires actually performed as well as Michelin claims. They are a very fast rolling tire. The knobs are spaced close-enough together to roll smoothly, and yet they grip very well. They have a nice rounded profile for smooth transitions into the corners. Straight-line acceleration and braking was excellent, as was the overall cornering. I found I was able to corner faster, and with greater confidence than with other XC tires. I was especially fond of the tubeless weight. With so many tubeless tires easily topping 750g, these tires felt quick and noticeably lighter.

The Comp S performed better than expected in muddy conditions. Although I wouldn't recommend them specifically for mud, considering how closely-spaced the knobs are, I was impressed with their performance. Especially in wet mud, they seemed to shed pretty easily. Where they suffered was where most tires suffer: in the thick, clay-like mud. They packed up as quickly as most, and even quicker than others. Also, they are a narrow 2.0" tire. This means that in really slick situations, you aren't going to get as much bite as you would with a wider tire. That being said, for XC use, these tires are about the perfect width.

Summary: The Comp S Light and Tubeless Comp S Light sell for around $40 and $50, respectively. Overall, we found the Comp S Light to be a great XC tire for most conditions. It excels in dry hardpack or rocky trails, and can manage pretty well when things get sticky and muddy. I would recommend this tire to someone looking for a fast-rolling tire they can take just about anywhere.

Jon Sharp is a contributing editor for GearReview.com specializing in mountain biking.

For more information, contact:
Michelin
1-800-847-3435
http://cycleus.webmichelin.com/index.cfm