Product Spotlight: Michelin Starcross 6 Tyres

It’s been the best part of five years since Michelin has made a significant upgrade to their off-road motorcycle tyres, but the recently released Starcross 6 range sure steps up the French tyre brand’s offering – in terms of range, technology and performance!

Unlike its Starcross 5 predecessors (which used a lighter and more pliable sidewall construction that required higher pressures – like 17psi), the all-new Starcross 6 hoops revert to a more conventional carcass construction and recommended pressures (13psi). But that’s the only conventional thing about this all-new Starcross 6 range, which includes five models (Sand, Mud, Medium/Soft, Medium/Hard, and Hard) and are the first dirt bike tyres to include silica technology rubber. And compared with the Starcross 5s, they’re claimed to offer significantly more traction – both when new and worn – and much better durability.

But what are the key benefits of this ‘silica technology’ rubber? What other design elements do these groundbreaking Starcross 6 hoops feature? And how do the 6s improve on their Starcross 5 counterparts? We’ve just got our hands on a few pairs of Starcross 6 tyres to test, so stay tuned for our feedback in the coming weeks.

But in the meantime, here’s what Michelin is claiming about their all-new Starcross 6 range…

FEATURES…

Michelin Adaptive Design: Specific positioning of the tread blocks on the three zones: central, intermediate and lateral associated with a specific shift of these zones. A single goal: To offer an exceptional grip/behavior compromise for the front and exceptional grip/traction and longevity for the rear.

Double-ply carcass: Two layers crossed at 90 degrees provides a better resistance to soil aggression.

Reinforced beads: Protects lower part of the tyre during mounting/dismounting and from the damage from the rim during riding. Plus, there’s a new layer of special protective rubber in the sidewall for reinforced puncture resistance.

Identification System: Between the centre knobs, there are lines to assist with visual identification of the tyre – 4 lines = Sand; 3 lines = Mud; 2 lines = Medium Soft; 1 line = Medium Hard; 0 lines = Hard.

CLAIMED BENEFITS…

Up to 16% more traction when new: The adaptive design of the Michelin StarCross 6 tyre provides up to 16% more traction compared to the previous generation.

Up to 19% more traction when worn: The introduction of Michelin Silica Technology provides up to 19% more traction compared to the previous generation when worn.