Michelin Mud 2 Clincher Cyclocross Tire Review

Mud, Mud, Glorious Mud—There's Nothing Quite Like It for Cyclocross Racing

Tires are one of the most important aspects of a cyclocross bike when the weather creates race courses that a rider wouldn't envisage riding in anything but a CX race.

Tire choice is important when courses become muddy. A tried and tested favourite tire amongst weekend CX warriors for rough winter racing is the Michelin Mud 2 clincher tire.

Mud 2 Tire: Specifications

Tire type: Clincher (for hooked rims only)
Tire size: 700 c x 30 mm
Bead: Folding kevlar bead
Casing: 60 TPI
Manufacturer claimed weight: 340 g
Minimum recommended PSI range: 36-73 PSI (according to Michelin Tires USA)
Recommended usage: Cyclocross racing and off-road riding

Cyclocross Racing Performance

The Mud 2 tire is primarily a cyclocross racing tire which as its name suggests is targeted towards racing in the muddy conditions which are the very essence of winter cyclocross racing. When thinking about purchasing such an item that has to be the key consideration. If you're looking for a tire that's going to perform well on the pavement you're really looking at the wrong tires and need to consider cyclocross tires specifically for dry conditions.

The Mud 2 as a racing tire comes into its own early into a British winter when conditions underfoot have started to deteriorate. Its tread pattern is designed to provide traction when the going is soft as well as offering a mud-clearing action to stop traction from being limited on the next wheel revolution and a covering of glutinous mud clogging up your frame.

All-Around Performance

Although more of a winter-targeted cyclocross clincher tire, the Mud 2 is a capable performer in all-around conditions although it's under soft ground that it really excels.

Performance on dry grassy fields feels fine, although unlike other riders you might be hoping for rain mid-race to really give yourself an advantage. Performance on grass is predictable and relatively quick for such an aggressive tread pattern.

The tread is not suited for low rolling resistance on hard-pack and tarmac courses where you'll feel the evidence of squirm from the tires. This is further evidence of their preference for winter racing conditions.

But They Only Come in 30mm Width! Isn’t That a Bit Narrow for CX Racing?

One of the reasons many riders cite for not buying a set of Mud 2’s is their width. Having ridden some exceptionally narrow-feeling 30mm width Schwalbe CX Pros in the past, and being one of those people who initially had such worries, I was apprehensive. With local courses often involving rooted woodland single-track, I felt justified in my width worries.

The good news is that when you compare the Mud2 to other tires in a bigger 32mm size is that there’s no real difference. In fact, many riders note that these feel significantly wider than their stated 30mm casing size. They’re certainly nothing like my old Schwalbe CX Pro which felt extremely skinny in comparison. Ridingagainstthegrain.com measured the Mud 2's width and they came out as a reassuring 33mm wide.

When it comes to cutting through the mud, slimmer tires have the edge, so in cyclocross tire terms, size matters!

Great Tires for the Second Half of the Cyclocross Season

When it comes to cyclocross tires it's exceptionally hard to pick a tire that will take you all the way from the fast, criterium-style grass-track racing of many early season races until the end of a cold wet January. I certainly don't think I've yet to find a CX tire that can do it all relatively well.

I definitely would not recommend the Mud 2 for those early season races, or for the training rides which connect bridleways interspersed with mile-long sections on the road, as the soft, pliable tread will simply wear away quickly whilst the tread pattern will simply squirm without offering the performance you're craving. I've read many a review of the Michelin Mud 2 cyclocross tire that considers them as asphalt and hard-pack mile-eaters, and these tires simply aren't designed for those conditions.

The ideal time in the UK for fitting a set of Mud 2's seems to be mid-to-late October. We often tend to have a warm and seemingly dry period up to that point prior to a wetter winter weather pattern. After late October the Mud 2's seem to perform in a league of their own by slicing through muddy courses and helping you forge past those riders who just weeks before were beating you in races. You find your 'cross legs and start beating some of the roadies who have transitioned into the racing season for some winter fitness.

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The Holy Grail of Cyclocross Tires: The Original Michelin Cyclocross Mud

As bike manufacturers push cyclocross (and cycling) performance aspects onwards and upwards there's often something that gets left behind as a result. As cyclocross tires have developed over time there is one tire that many riders would switch back to if they ever got the chance to do so.

The original green tread Michelin Cyclocross Mud is that tire. Old bicycle tires are usually found in the bargain bins of bike shops as newer designs have superseded them. Yet the Cyclocross Mud has gained such a cult following that if you ever see one on eBay you're likely going to need to pay out for a single tire. Some riders who still have some locked away may even be able to pay for their children's education in years to come as a result.

The green Cyclocross Mud was a tire that could handle the muddy demands of racing like no other. The Mud 2, whilst being a fantastic tire is actually seen as inferior in comparison.

UK Cyclocross god Dave Haygarth is quoted as having done a comparison run with a bike equipped with Muds and one with the renowned Dugast Rhino mud-specific tires as used by the legendary Sven Nys. The bike equipped with the green Muds simply didn't clog with mud as the tread just shed the mud. They're certainly the envy of many a cx racer.

There are even riders who are searching out old treads from the green Muds and having them converted to tubular tires for even better performance.

What’s Your Experience of Michelin Mud 2 Tires?

We're always looking for your feedback.

Have you used Michelin Mud 2 clincher cyclocross tires? What's your experience of them?

More Reviews for Cyclocross Tires

• Vittoria Cross XL Pro CX Tire Review (Perfect for Muddy Rides)
  A review of the characteristics of the Vittoria Cross XL Pro clincher cyclocross tire from a muddy Sherwood Forest.
• Maxxis Mud Wrestler Cyclocross Tire Review
  A review of the Maxxis Mud Wrestler Cyclocross tire after a year of use in dry and muddy conditions racing.
• A Review of the Challenge Grifo Pro Clincher Cyclocross Tire
  A detailed review of the Challenge Grifo Pro Clincher cyclocross tire and its performance for mud and all-condition riding.

Comments

Tony Capon from Upminster, Essex, United Kingdom on May 20, 2013:

Hello Liam, the Mus 2's are about the widest tyre that I can fit in my fixed. It is a road bike after all.

My limited experience is that on fresh snow the tyres bite-in nicely. On semi-compacted snow they still grip. I would not like to use them on heavily compacted snow! tony

Liam Hallam (author) from Nottingham UK on May 19, 2013:

Thanks Tony- have to admit I've not used mine in the snow as yet- how did they feel in the snow? I tend to use a set of Specialized Houffalize CX tires for snowy conditions personally as they seem to have a slightly wider profile than my Mud 2's for more of a floating feeling.

Thanks for your feedback. Liam

Tony Capon from Upminster, Essex, United Kingdom on May 18, 2013:

Hello Liam. I bought my Mud 2's for riding to work in the snow on my fixed. My route would be down the, rarely used, A127/12 cycle track. They seem OK! Tony