Road Bike Tire Test: Michelin Power Cup TLR 25
Contents and Test Summary
- Introduction
- Manufacturer Specifications
- Size, Weight, Thickness
- Rolling Resistance: 8.9 Watts
- Puncture Resistance: 42 Points
- Static Wet Grip: 71 Points
- Conclusion: 4.8 / 5 Highly Recommended
- Comments
- Michelin Power Cup TLR 25
(100% is best)
NOTE: From November 1, 2022, the road bike category has been updated to support multi tire sizes. Because the measured width of this tire is wider or narrower than the original values, the rolling resistance test results have been revised.
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The Power Cup is the latest addition to Michelin's road bike tire lineup. With the Power Cup, Michelin goes head-on with the Continental Grand Prix 5000 series that's been the "gold standard" in road bike tires for the past few years. The Power Cup is available in a traditional "clincher" tube-type version, a tubeless-ready (TLR) version, and a tubular version for those that still prefer tubular tires.
A quick look at Michelin's latest road bike tire lineup suggests the Power Cup will replace both the Power Road, Power Road TLR, Power Endurance, and the Power Competition that we've known for a while now. The Power Time Trial is still available as their fastest time-trial tire and the Power All Season also still looks to be available as their highest grip tire.
From a construction standpoint, and although it might be possible more has changed here, the Power Cup TLR comes closest to the Power Road TLR as they both seem to use a 4x120 TPI casing construction. The most significant change appears to be the compound, as the Power Cup comes with Michelin's Gum-X compound, that's supposed to be a step up in performance. Tread thickness has also been reduced slightly to be more in line with other recently introduced tubeless road bike tires.
The Power Cup TLR is available in the 25-622 (700x25c), and 28-622 (700x28c) sizes. Both sizes are available in a full black version and a "classic" version with light-colored sidewalls. As we've found the Power Cup TLR a bit hard to find, this is a test of the 25-622 version with the light-colored sidewalls as it's the only version we've found available for sale.
Manufacturer Specifications
| Manufacturer Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Brand | Michelin |
| Model | Power Cup TLR |
| Year | 2022 |
| Tire Type | Tubeless |
| Supplied By | Bought in store |
| New or Used | New |
| Mileage | 0 km |
| Price Range | High |
| Buy At | Ad Amazon.com |
| Manufacturer part number | 598238 |
| EAN | 3528705982386 |
| TPI | 4x120 |
| Compound | Gum-X |
| Bead | Folding |
| ETRTO | 25-622 |
| Size Inch | 28" |
| Specified Width (mm) | 25 |
| Specified Weight | 270 grams |
| Max Air Pressure (psi) | 116 |
| Made In | Members Only |
| Available Sizes |
25-622 (700x25c) 28-622 (700x28c) 30-622 (700x30c) |
Michelin Power Cup TLR 25 Test Results
Size, Weight, and Thickness Measurements
| Size, Weight and Thickness Measurements | |
|---|---|
| Specified Weight | 270 grams |
| Measured Weight | 259 grams |
| System Adjusted Weight (tire + valve + rim seal) |
279 grams |
| Measured Width | 28 mm (un-round) |
| Measured Height | 25 mm (un-round) |
| Total Tire Thickness Center | 2.4 mm |
| Total Tire Thickness Sidewall | Members Only |
| Unmounted Casing Width | 71 mm |
| Unmounted Tread Width | Members Only |
| Tread Cover (Tread / Casing Ratio) | Members Only |
| All size measurements are taken at an air pressure of 100 psi / 6.9 bars on a 17.8 mm inner width rim. | |
Rolling Resistance Test Results
| Rolling Resistance Test Results | |
|---|---|
| Inner Tube | None (20 ml sealant) |
| Measured Width | 28 mm (un-round) |
| Rolling Resistance Real tire width in mm: 22-24 = 132 psi/9.1 bar 25-27 = 120 psi/8.3 bar 28-29 = 108 psi/7.4 barUltra High Air Pressure (108 psi / 7.4 bar) |
8.9 Watts CRR: 0.00267 |
| Rolling Resistance Real tire width in mm: 22-24 = 110 psi/7.6bar 25-27 = 100 psi/6.9 bar 28-29 = 90 psi/6.2 barExtra High Air Pressure (90 psi / 6.2 bar) |
9.6 Watts CRR: 0.00288 |
| Rolling Resistance Real tire width in mm: 22-24 = 88 psi/6.1 bar 25-27 = 80 psi/5.5 bar 28-29 = 72 psi/5.0 barHigh Air Pressure (72 psi /5.0 bar) |
Members Only |
| Rolling Resistance Real tire width in mm: 22-24 = 66 psi/4.6 bar 25-27 = 60 psi/4.1 bar 28-29 = 54 psi/3.7 barMedium Air Pressure (54 psi / 3.7 bar) |
Members Only |
| The Road Bike section is a multi tire size section, air pressures have been adjusted to the measured casing width. All numbers are for a single tire at a speed of 29 km/h / 18 mph and a load of 42.5 kg / 94 lbs. Use the formula: RR (Watts) = CRR * speed (m/s) * load (N) to calculate rolling resistance at a given speed and load. |
|
Puncture Resistance Test Results
| Puncture Resistance Test Results (higher is better) | |
|---|---|
| Total Puncture Score Tread | 42 Points |
| Total Puncture Score Sidewall | Members Only |
| Tread Puncture Force Sharp Needle | Members Only |
| Tread Puncture Force Blunt Needle | Members Only |
| Tread Total Tire Thickness | 2.4 mm |
| Sidewall Puncture Force Sharp Needle | Members Only |
| Sidewall Puncture Force Blunt Needle | Members Only |
| Sidewall Total Tire Thickness | Members Only |
Static Grip Test Results
| Static Grip Test Results | |
|---|---|
| Wet Grip Average | 71 Points |
| Wet Grip Center | Members Only |
| Wet Grip Edge | Members Only |
| Grip in points = coefficient of friction * 100 Road bike grip test rim width = 19.0 mm |
|
Conclusion
- Michelin Power Cup TLR 25
(100% is best)
The performance of the Michelin Power Cup TLR is incredibly strong in almost all of our tests. When compared to its main target: the Continental Grand Prix 5000 S TR (read our review), the Power Cup TLR is on par in the rolling resistance tests, performs 15% better in the tread puncture test, and also offers an 8% increase in our wet grip tests.
We would have loved to rate the new Power Cup TLR 5 out of 5, but we have to subtract 0.2 points as the casing seems way too big for a 25-622 tire, and (even more important) the tread is far too small. The tread-to-casing ratio (percentage of the casing covered by the tread) comes in at just 35.2% (GP 5000 S TR = 42.2%), the lowest tread cover of all road bike tires that we've had on the test bench.
The small tread makes this tire unsuitable for wider rims, and we recommend sticking to 15 mm and 17 mm rims as you run the risk of riding on the sidewall on wider rims at high lean angles. We're puzzled why Michelin went in this direction as they only had to copy the Power Time Trial tread and casing sizes, and it would have been fine.
If you're still on 15 or 17 mm rims, we definitely recommend the Power Cup TLR over the Grand Prix 5000 S TR.
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RATING:
4.8
/ 5
TEST VERDICT:
Highly Recommended