Test Michelin Starcross 5: The new generation of MX tires
Michelin recently presented their new range of cross and cross-country tires. The French tire manufacturer is confident that with their Starcross 5 range they will be able to make their mark on the already quite competitive tire market. This is mainly due to being able to offer both the most demanding riders and amateurs a tire that is super performing and adapted to all conditions.
Starcross 5 comes in 4 versions (Hard, Medium, Soft & Sand) and in no less than 21 sizes. So it's difficult not to find your band in this wide range. The main feature of the Starcross 5 range is the unique carcass developed by the R&D department of the French brand. Made from higher density materials that are even stronger than previous generations of Starcross, the new carcass is also lighter than before (300g to 700g for the rear tires and 150g - 200g for the front tires) making it possible to with impressive characteristics and performance: better traction plus a more linear response in corners, the ability to drive at higher pressure without losing traction and comfort, easier installation, etc. This is what Michelin guarantees us!
The design of the studs used on the different versions of the Starcross are also the result of in-depth study by the engineers. They are designed to maximize ground contact for optimal traction and agility, even in the most extreme conditions.
The medium and soft models have been developed to offer a wide range of applications and are therefore extremely versatile. How can you better respond to the demands of many drivers by offering a versatile tire that delivers good performance on almost all surfaces. In cross-country, a discipline in which Michelin also invests a lot of energy, this is a must because the surface is constantly different. We switch from rocky trails to sandy circuits or a path in the woods. In a motocross race, the track can of course also transform from a muddy track to a hard surface that eats away at the rubber.
The main goal of the development of the Starcross 5 range was for Michelin to be able to offer a broad base of use while maintaining the durability of the product.
A promising tire on paper, we couldn't wait to test this in reality on the motorcycle. And a cross country race seemed like the ideal opportunity to put the new Michelins through their paces. Specialist in this discipline Thierry Klutz, who, among other things, won this year's 12 hours of La Chinelle, has years of experience in the field of tires and seemed to us to be the perfect person to carry out the test. For the first two tests, Klutz mounted the Michelin Starcross 5 soft 90/100-21 at the front and the 120/90-18 at the rear on his KTM 450EXC. These two 4-hour tests are ridden on varying surfaces. We started on a plowed piece of land, before passing through the forest to a section with flat stones and finally finishing on a super fast section where the surface is described as 'concrete hard'.
“Before I started, I noticed that the flexible rubber made it a lot easier to fit the tires with the foam,” says Klutz. “I was surprised while driving by the grip and traction of the rear tire during both braking and acceleration. Especially in the second test, knowing that I had already driven a test with the tire. The front tire also never surprised me in a negative way. The grip remained surprisingly good and I was never surprised, both on hard and soft surfaces I remained in full control the entire ride. This tire was great in all conditions.”
These are performances promised to us by Michelin, and also confirmed by a high-level pilot like Klutz. But can this performance be maintained or will it lead to faster wear?
“The durability of a tire is something that I attach great importance to,” Klutz continues. “ In a long trial it is usually very important to find the right consensus between durability and attacks. With the new Starcross 5, the least you can say about the tires is that they meet expectations. After about 4 hours of racing, both tires were still in good condition to start the next test, because not a single stud had been torn off. These studs of course showed some wear and were a bit more rounded, but in this condition they are still more than satisfactory for the majority of pilots.”
The durability therefore also applies to these tires, despite the use of the “Soft” tires. “This is really very positive, because I have to admit that I did not expect this when I saw the 'open' design of the studs. After 4 hours the tire still looked really good. The front tire still looked like new and the studs were barely rounded,” concluded an enthusiastic Klutz.
The StarCross5 range is now available from your dealer. So don't hesitate to discover this new generation of cross tires!
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