Regardless of its size, the Michelin Pro5 TLR is a road-specific tire and a product of the highest technical standard. It is part of Michelin's Competition Line category , developed for competitions.
Pro5 TLR with 40mm section, the twin of the one used by the Pic Nic-PosteNL team among the professionals, the one tested by us (also in competition). Precisely the enlarged section leads to a wider usage delta, maybe in the white Road context, why not mounted on the latest generation e-road bikes (we used the latter solution). In fact it is included in the E-25 band, therefore compatible with the e-bike.
Michelin Pro5 TLR, how it's made
As mentioned above, the Michelin Pro5 TLR fully adopts the technical characteristics of a tubeless tire used in the WorldTour. It features the Michelin Gum-X compound , redesigned (compared to the older version) to better adapt and be even more effective in the tubeless-ready Road context, considering the high-performance range.
It has a 3x120 TPI casing , which is robust and long-lasting. It's a sort of skeleton with three different layers and 120 nylon threads per square inch. The layers are overlapping and also wrap around the (folding) bead bead. The latter has a design that allows it to be 100% compatible with hookless rims.
The battiRoad tread pattern. It's completely slick in the center and features strategically spaced grooves on the sides , forming a sort of arrowhead shape. The Michelin Pro5 TLR is a directional tire . Five widths are available : 28, 30, 32, and 35 millimeters. The list price is €45, which we think is excellent.
Easy to assemble
The Michelin Pro5 TLR is simple to mount , despite its rugged and consistent structure, which is quite tough. It is easy to fit the bead to the rim, without requiring any special skills or dedicated tools; a quick tap with a compressor and you're done. If necessary, a light coat of soapy water may be needed on the bead or on the tubeless tape of the inner rim channel, but nothing more.
The slightly squared rim (complies with the latest ETRTO standards) also dedicated to hookless technology becomes fundamental for the airtightness of the tyre once combined with the rim.
Fast and safe
The Michelin Pro5 TLR's speed is evident . It confirms its status as a racing tire, super smooth, but also capable of working well when it comes to tackling changes in direction and trajectory. The lateral grooves work well and are not exclusively dedicated to tackling sections of damp/wet asphalt. The lateral ribs (this is the appropriate technical term) are primarily responsible for moving and "warming up" the tire as it rolls, increasing grip in various situations.
The 40 width, combined with the E-25 solution in optics e-bike, does nothing but increase thatsafety effect favorable to the cyclist (with different interpretations and not necessarily competitive). A nice big tire gives certainty when you want to risk a change of terrain, perhaps from asphalt to white road and vice versa, or when you pass over a damaged stretch of road. A thought for the gravel Quick and not too complicated? Absolutely.
In conclusion
Michelin Pro5 TLR with a 40mm section, width aside, this tubeless tire confirms once again that it is a performance tire that aims to be long-lasting . It requires careful management of operating pressures , due to its tough and supportive structure, thanks to a compact, durable, non-pasty compound.
We consider the optimal range, considering the variables at play, to be around 3 atmospheres . And then there's the list price, because 45 euros for a tubeless tire like this is below the average for the category.
