Michelin Power Adventure Gravel Tyre review

With very little tread, the Michelin Power Adventure Gravel is a fast-rolling tyre. Despite its slick appearance, it can handle rougher terrain and drier trails and it comes in a variety of sizes to accommodate different terrain. It is quite lightweight for its size and has a full-width puncture protection layer, although this may also be partly the reason why it isn’t particularly supple or comfortable to ride. How does it stack up against the best gravel tyres? Read on to find out.

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Michelin Power Adventure Gravel tyre – Technical details

This type of tyre might have been found on a hybrid bike a few years ago but it is now categorised as a gravel option. Only two “gravel” tyres are offered by Michelin with the other being the Power Gravel Competition, which features a very lighter more aggressive and open tread pattern.

The Power Adventure is offered in widths ranging from 30mm up to 48mm, with 36mm and 42mm options in between. The lightest 30mm has a stated weight of 330g. To put these weights in context, the Maxxis Receptor 40mm gravel tyre is the lightest gravel tyre we have previously tested at 432g.

The range Power Adventure features the Gum-X compound, which is also used in the cross-country Force XC2 and Jet XC2 tyres, a full-width puncture protection layer, and a 3 x 100tpi casing construction.

Each size is available in Black or Classic tanwall colour.

Michelin_Power_Adventure_Sidewall.jpg, by Matthew Page

Michelin Power Adventure Gravel tyre – Performance

The Power Adventure was easy to install. The tyres were mounted to a set of DT Swiss GR1500 wheels and inflated tubeless without the need for frenetic pumping.

On the trail, Aalthough the hum is louder than many tyres, even several with a more aggressive tread pattern on road surfaces, however, the smooth tread provides an efficient ride.

For all rides, I chose the lowest pressure within the recommended range, which is between 29 and 73psi. Off-road, they offered more traction than I had anticipated, hanging on through sharper turns when riding on drier, firmer surfaces. Despite using lower pressures, they don’t provide a comfortable or supple ride compared to other similar-sized tyres and, because of this, there is little feel and feedback.

Expectations were exceeded over harsher terrain and despite the fact that this tyre is definitely not one to use in winter or in regular muddy or rainy conditions, it did well across dry, grassy moorland tracks and rocky dirt byways.

Michelin_Power_Adventure_Tread.jpg, by Matthew Page

I am confident that the tread will hold up well as the firmer compound is showing no signs of wear and I was fortunate enough not to get any punctures despite many rough and fast descents. I may have just been lucky because even with a full puncture layer, this is still a lightweight tyre with a thin casing.

Michelin Power Adventure Gravel tyre – Value and verdict

Prices for the Power Adventure sizes range from £55 for the smaller 30mm and 36mm sizes to £62 for the wider 42mm version that Stu tested. There are several other similar, lightly treaded gravel tyres to choose from at this price point. The Vittoria Terreno Dry Gravel, which was impressive, is now offered in a larger range of sizes and is less expensive at £50. Suvi reviewed the Hutchinson Override, praising both its performance and cost of £43.

The Power Adventure is the most road-focused option of the two gravel tyres offered by Michelin and it is available in a range of widths to accommodate various riding styles. Despite having a complete edge-to-edge puncture protection belt, the weight is low in all sizes. Although it can’t quite compete with some other options, the Michelin Power Adventure is still a good option if you mostly ride on road, lanes or firmer tracks with the occasional off-road expedition.

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• The reader’s guide to Off-Road.cc’s review scoring systee

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