A long-time leading player in the world of road cycling, Michelin has extended its Lithion and TLR ranges which cover many forms of the sport, including ultradistance riding and year-round training.
The new MICHELIN Lithion 4 and MICHELIN Power Protection TLR address the diverse needs expressed by road cyclists, from riding enjoyment, to performance in the wet and long tyre-life thanks to their outstanding resistance to perforation and wear.
The MICHELIN Lithion 4: longer life and even more reassuring
Michelin has built on feedback received from customers of its popular, previous-generation Lithion ranges to develop the MICHELIN Lithion 4 which addresses the board spectrum of demands expressed by these exacting cyclists. Thanks to the new technologies it packs, as well as to the addition of new, wider sizes, the MICHELIN Lithion 4 covers an even wider range of activities while optimising riding efficiency.
The MICHELIN Lithion 4 incorporates Magi-X technology and compounds for longer life and superior grip in all types of conditions, along with a specific, even more efficient tread design that combines a central ‘slick’ portion for enhanced braking stability and v-shaped peripheral grooves for additional cornering grip.
These technologies and the MICHELIN Lithion 4’s new, reinforced 60 TPI casing further improve its resistance to damage and contribute to even longer life1.
In comparison with the MICHELIN Lithion 3, the grip provided by the new tyre in the damp has been increased by almost eight percent, while riding efficiency is up by more than five percent1.
A new finish and additional sizes
To cater for the market’s increasingly versatile bikes, the list of available sizes has been extended. The tube-type MICHELIN Lithion 4 can now be ordered in a choice of sizes extending from 23-622 (700x23C) to 32-622 (700x32C). As a consequence, the catalogue not only covers road and electrically-assisted bikes, but also addresses the needs of bikepackers, fans of fully autonomous ultradistance cycling whose prime focuses are reliability, riding efficiency and ride-comfort.
Meanwhile, the MICHELIN Lithion 4 can be specified with a black tread and brown sidewalls, in addition to the existing, all-black finish.
All these features combine to make the MICHELIN Lithion 4 a particularly versatile tyre and the perfect choice for exacting road cyclists, since it is equally in its element in dry and wet conditions, and ideal for intensive use and training.
The tubeless-ready MICHELIN Power Protection TLR: longer life
To address the increasingly demanding requirements associated with allroad bikes, Michelin has introduced the MICHELIN Power Protection TLR. This new to its tubeless-ready range combines appreciably longer life with higher grip and uprated resistance to punctures, whatever the conditions or type of road.
A new carcass with multiple benefits
The new MICHELIN Power Protection TLR’s resilient, all-new construction combines a reinforced 120 TPI carcass with high-density protection across its entire width. In addition to improved resistance to puncturing, even when riding with low pressures, cyclists benefit from enhanced sidewall protection and more effective maintenance of tyre pressures. These qualities are particularly valued when riding in difficult conditions, heavily laden, on poor-quality roads, or in wet or wintry conditions. Along with these advantages, the MICHELIN Power Protection TLR comes with Magi-X rubber technology for longer life and superior grip compared with the MICHELIN Power Cup TLR, especially in damp conditions2.
Again in comparison with the MICHELIN Power Cup TLR, the MICHELIN Power Protection TLR delivers higher cornering grip, too, thanks to a new tread design which combines a central ‘slick’ zone for smooth, enhanced riding efficiency, plus more stability under braking2.
Together, these innovations have raised the MICHELIN Power Protection TLR’s resistance to perforation by practically 30 percent compared with that of MICHELIN Power Cup TLR. At the same time, grip in the wet is up by almost 17 for more effective braking performance in poor weather, while its life-expectancy is appreciably longer2.
The MICHELIN Power Protection TLR comes in a choice of three sizes (28-622/700x28C, 30-622/700x30C and 32-622/700x32C) to cover a wide range of uses, including racing or touring on Flanders-type roads where surface- and weather-changes are frequent.
Thanks to its improved resilience, longevity and performance in the wet, the MICHELIN Power Protection TLR stands out as the most versatile solution in Michelin’s tubeless-ready catalogue.
1 Test carried out at Wheel Energy on May 26, 2023 (in-house reference: 2303 – ROAD 25-622 Lithion 3 Black vs 25-622 Lithion 4 Black).
2 Test carried out at Wheel Energy on August 15, 2023 (in-house reference: 2305 – ROAD 28-622 Power Protection TLR).
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