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Michelin has added the Power Adventure gravel tyre to its range to provide large volume setups for those who ride mostly on the road but with the odd deviation onto tracks and trails. For their size they are quite light, and they feel supple for a tubeless tyre designed to be durable for light off-road use. They can be a bit of a struggle to fit on wider rims, but once on there is a lot to like.
Check out our guide to the best gravel tyres for more options suitable for a variety of terrain.
> Buy now: Michelin Power Adventure tyre for £49.59 from Sprockets Cycles
I reviewed Michelin's Power Gravel tyre a couple of years back and overall I was impressed. Its minimal depth of tread meant it was ideal for dry trails and worked okay on the road too.
With the versatility of gravel bikes ever increasing, though, being used regularly as commuters and touring bikes, Michelin has released this Power Adventure model, a tyre that runs better on the road than the Power Gravel but is still wide enough to be usable on gravel trails that don't require a huge amount of grip.
The line-up ranges in size from 30mm up to 48mm (these are 42mm), so there is something for every kind of bike.
The compound has a tacky feel to it and that transfers to decent grip out on the road. As you'd expect it's no race tyre, but they feel secure in the bends and there is plenty of bite against the surface. I felt totally comfortable on fast descents, and they accelerate well for a tyre that weighs 441g.
Not that they're overly heavy – the 36mm WTB Exposure TCS slicks I was reviewing recently weighed 424g, so these wider, slightly treaded Michelins are decent weight-wise.
Overall, they're confidence-inspiring in the dry and I was impressed with their wet weather performance too.
Off-road it's more their width than the tread pattern that makes them perform well. At 42mm wide they won't sink in loose gravel and they fly over hardpacked gravel byways with ease.
For protection and durability, the Michelins use Bead to Bead Shield Technology, with the tyre built up using three layers of differing materials at 100tpi (threads per inch).
They feel relatively supple, so you are getting a good balance of comfort, feel and durability.
I didn't get any visits from the puncture fairy on wet and muddy tracks or roads. They're fully tubeless ready, so set up like that, punctures won't really be an issue anyway.
> Puncture prevention 101: learn how to swerve flats with these 11 top tricks
Overall, I loved the versatility of these tyres. I could tweak my route as and when I felt like it, like being able to jump between the road and the canal path, for instance, on my way to the office.
They are quicker than using a gravel tyre on the road, with better grip, and you don't sacrifice a huge amount of grip on firm trails.
When it comes to fitting, on the whole things were okay, with only a small amount of tyre lever action to pop the final bit of the bead onto the wheel rim.
Setting them up tubeless wasn't an issue either. I used an Airshot inflator, as I do on all tyres these days, but thanks to the flexibility of the sidewalls the Michelins should pop onto the rims with just a high-volume track pump.
After they'd been seated once, they were easy to get on and off, so roadside puncture fixes won't be an issue.
They're not the cheapest tyres, though. You are looking at £61.99 for the 42mm width on test (£54.99 for the two smaller sizes). That makes them a bit pricey – in their bigger sizes – against others we've tested recently.
Panaracer's GravelKing tyres come in a load of tread options, with the most similar to the Michelins being the GravelKing SK. They are £49.99 for the tubeless options, and come in sizes from 32mm to 43mm.
Jamie was impressed with Specialized's S-Works Pathfinder 2Bliss tyres. They're only available in a 42mm size, and cost £50 each.
All these tyres come in much cheaper than Schwalbe's G-One RS, though, which costs a cool £75. But their performance and speed did impress Matt over on our sister site, off.road.cc.
Overall, I like the Power Adventures, particularly for their versatility. They work well on the road and equally so on dry trails. The performance is good on the whole and I didn't feel like there was too much of a compromise over using a slick tyre on the tarmac thanks to good grip and low rolling resistance compared to a 'full' gravel option. You can get similar tyres for less, though.
Good grip and feedback levels on the road, while wide and durable enough to provide confidence away from it
If you're thinking of buying this product using a cashback deal why not use the road.cc Top Cashback page and get some top cashback while helping to support your favourite independent cycling website
road.cc test report
Make and model: Michelin Power Adventure Gravel Tyre
Size tested: 700x42
Tell us what the product is for and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?
Michelin says, "Enjoy freedom beyond the road with the MICHELIN Power Adventure Tyre."
It's a good all-round tyre that works on and off the road.
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
Sizes: 700c x 30, 36, 42 and 48mm
Colours: Black/Black, Black/Tan
Bead: Foldable Bead
Pressure min/max (PSI): 29/73
Bead to Bead Shield Technology
The whole tyre casing is protected by high-density cross-laid reinforcement delivering maximum protection and durability, helping the tyre last long
Rolling Efficiency
Experience fast rolling speed and an efficient ride thanks to the smooth tread pattern center line and MICHELIN Gum-X technology.
This 42mm size is a bit pricier than the competition.
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
Works well on the road and hardpacked trails.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
Good grip levels and suppleness for a tyre of this type.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
A bit of a tight fit to get onto wide rims without a tyre lever at first.
How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?
In smaller sizes they are priced similarly to a lot of this style of tyre, but in the 42 and 48mm widths they're a bit pricier. They are much cheaper than Schwalbe's G-One RS tyres though.
Did you enjoy using the product? Yes
Would you consider buying the product? Yes
Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes
Use this box to explain your overall score
A good all-round tyre that balances performance and reliability, but you can get cheaper.
Overall rating: /10
About the tester
Age: 44
I usually ride: This month's test bike My best bike is: B'Twin Ultra CF draped in the latest bling test components
I've been riding for: Over 20 years I ride: Every day I would class myself as: Expert
I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed,
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With 20 years of road cycling and over 150,000 miles in his legs it's safe to say Stu is happiest when on the bike whatever the weather. Since writing his first review for road.cc back in 2009 he has also had a career in engineering including 3D-CAD design and product development, so has a real passion for all of the latest technology coming through in the industry but is also a sucker for a classic steel frame, skinny tyres, rim brakes and a damn good paintjob.
His fascination with gravel bikes is getting out of control too!
I don't know how a drawing board would help? Unless it's got a motor on it or a list of dodgy doctors with access to a blood bank.
Hmm, I wonder why they're hardly used?
"No true Scotsman" fallacy, IIRC.
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No
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Let's hope it gets past the angry motorists that derailed the last major attempt to improve the area.
Great tyres that are grippy, light and robust, if not quite as supple as some
Very impressive performance blended with durability, but oh so expensive
A bit weighty, but this is a smooth-rolling tyre that delivers confidence-inspiring grip levels
Fast, grippy and quite the looker – the money-no-object tyre to beat in 2023
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