Michelin Wild AM2 Competition Line review

Michelin’s brand new Wild AM2 tyre is part of its latest, totally refined, mountain bike range.

The brand has built a loyal following for its full-on downhill tyres and Wild Enduro models ridden to EWS victory by Sam Hill, but this tyre plugs a gap for a more versatile, heavy duty do-it-all trail tyre.

Michelin Wild AM2 Competition Line specifications and details

With a lower profile, more squared-off blocky tread borrowed more from Michelin’s DH than enduro tyre tread patterns, it uses the same 3x60tpi Trail Shield casing as the popular Wild Enduro.

Michelin’s descriptions are confusing, but this seems more of a single ply, with extra high-density protective nylon layers to resist damage and punctures, than true triple ply. That means its 1,095g weight is similar to the competition.

It’s electric bike approved and tubeless ready.

Central lugs are similar to the DH34 tyre, whereas the pointy shoulders use three staggered knobs, more like the more aggressive DH22 with the blocks pointing up rather than out sideways as much as some others on test.

Michelin’s Gum X3D compound (which is not as sticky and slow rebounding as its Magi X downhill blend) has three separate rubber layers, including a firm base, a firmer/faster central strip and softer/slower-rebounding shoulders.

Michelin Wild AM2 Competition Line performance

Fully inflated, it has a squared-off profile, which means the Wild AM lays down plenty of stabilising rubber on the trails.

Grip is predictable with no sudden pinging off roots and wet rocks or weird unsettling behaviour, but definitely nothing close to the crazy levels of friction and damping of Michelin’s DH tyres.

The more uniform shoulder tread feels like it has more sustained mechanical cornering grip in dirt and loam, however, compared to its Wild Enduro sibling with bigger gaps along the edge.

It’s always harder to gauge rolling speed on the front, but rolling speed and acceleration are mid-pack; climbing up smoother fireroads and tarmac there’s clearly less drag than the stickiest tyres here, but the AM2 is also noticeably slower than a tyre like the Teravail Kessel.

The Wild AM casing gives good support (even at lower pressures that boost comfort and grip) and while not super-damped or glued to the floor, it’s not too springy or harsh against loads generated when my weight pitched forward when braking or down steeps.

Puncture and rip resistance and tread durability appear good, and it’s a similar price to other premium tough trail tyres.

The 1.1kg weight arguably puts the Wild AMs more in the ‘enduro’ than ‘trail’ realm though, while the tread and grip levels lean more to what we’d expect from a trail tyre like the Nobby Nic.

Michelin Wild AM2 Competition Line bottom line

The Wild AM2 works well in all conditions with decent grip and damping at a similar level to Maxxis’s MaxxTerra or Schwalbe’s Addix Soft compounds, but it’s on the heavy side and other trail rivals roll faster and grip better.

There’s nothing amiss here then, but there isn’t a compelling reason to choose this model over its competition.