Michelin Lithion 4 Performance Line tyre

The Michelin Lithion 4 Performance Line is the latest generation of the tyre giant’s training, do-a-bit-of-everything road tyre – and it still punches above its price point. It continues to strike a good balance of performance and reliability without emptying your wallet and, it’s now available in a wide range of sizes.

> Buy now: Michelin Lithion 4 Performance Line tyre for £22.99 from Tweeks Cycles

Check out our best road bike tyres buyer’s guide for more options.

For years Michelin’s Lithion was my go-to tyre for my winter and commuting bike – and it probably still would be if I ever had time to ride my own bikes. This is because not only did it offer a great balance of pretty much everything I wanted from a tyre, but it could also work in all temperatures and conditions and was inexpensive to replace. That’s a win-win in anyone’s book.

Even now with this fourth iteration coming along those things haven’t changed. It’s been a long time since I’ve written a tyre review quoting a price of sub-thirty quid, but here I get the chance. True it’s just by a penny, but still.

In fact, since I reviewed the Lithion 3 back in 2020 it has gone up by just three quid!

The biggest improvement over its predecessor is that while that one was limited to just two sizes – 23mm and 25mm – this new version also comes in 28mm, 30mm and 32mm sizes with a choice of black or tan sidewalls, or ‘Classic’ as Michelin call it.

With the 23mm and 25mm still in the line-up it’s great to see that those on rim-braked bikes are still catered for somewhere.

For this sort of money it’s no surprise that the Lithion 4 is clincher only, as the reinforcing required for tubeless running would add to the price.

That might bother you – but it doesn’t bother me. I’m not fussed about tubeless on the road, purely because I rarely puncture and don’t need the faff of keeping an eye on sealant life or levels.

Michelin uses a new compound for this model, using what it calls Magi-X, which is said to provide grip for extreme usages. These have quite a tacky feel to them, and I was surprised just how well they gripped – and they have a very impressive road feel too. The carcass is made up of four layers of plies at 60 threads per inch.

They aren’t going to compare to high-end tyres costing at least twice as much – but these are seriously good for the money.

On cold, wet roads through the winter these have given me plenty of confidence and in the dry I’ve been able to push them hard through the corners. Michelin has left the central section smooth with some ‘tread’ on the shoulders for added grip, which is more of a marketing matter than for real-world performance. They are going to do nothing on a hard surface like asphalt and actually remove rubber form the surface when you are cornering. Thankfully, not by enough to make a difference.

Rolling resistance is decent too. Michelin claims a 6% improvement over the Lithion 3s, so not the type of benefits you’re going to notice in the real world, but they certainly don’t feel sluggish. As a training tyre I’d recommend them highly for their performance, but their durability looks good as well.

Wear rates are looking minimal, and they’ve resisted attacks from the hedge-cutting season and plenty of grit being washed into the road after a wet winter.

Weight-wise the two test tyres averaged at 259g each which is a decent weight regardless of price.

I’ve no complaints when it comes to fitting them either. Our 28mm test tyres fitted easily on wheels with a 19mm internal rim width, and while the 25mm tyres were a bit of a tighter fit, they still popped on with the help of a tyre lever. All size options use folding beads.

Being clincher only it’s worth mentioning that you can only use these on wheels with a hooked rim.

So, comparison time.

Value

In 2022 I reviewed the Hutchinson Challengers in a 28mm size and was very impressed. There are a lot of similarities here with the latest Lithion, in that they both feel like much more expensive tyres. The Lithion just wins, though, being a couple of quid cheaper and about 50g lighter. It’s available in 25mm, 28mm and 30mm options.

Specialized’s Roubaix Pro tyre also impressed us with its grip and performance in all conditions, though its ride quality wasn’t the most supple. The 25mm option weighs the same as the Lithion 4, and at £35 it’s a little pricier.

The Continental Ultra Sport III is a similar tyre to the Lithion 4. We haven’t done an individual review of it, but as it’s often specced as original equipment. It has a similar ride feel to the Michelin and offers good all-round grip and performance.

It’s available in either wired or folding option between 23mm and 32mm with prices ranging from £24.95 (wired) and £29.95 for the folding.

Conclusion

For me the Lithion still maintains its place as one of the best ‘cheap’ tyres you can buy, hitting well above its price point for performance, grip and durability. There aren’t many tyres out there that are still available in sizes to suit dual-pivot rim-brake callipers either.

Verdict

Impressive all-rounder with a performance and durability that belie its lowly price tag – and in a wide range of sizes

> Buy now: Michelin Lithion 4 Performance Line tyre for £22.99 from Tweeks Cycles

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