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Michelin Wild Enduro Front 2.4 Review

A confident and aggressive front tire that rips corners and charges the nastiest of trails
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Michelin Wild Enduro Front 2.4 Review
Price:  $74 List
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Manufacturer:   Michelin
By Pat Donahue ⋅ Senior Review Editor  ⋅  Jan 13, 2020
78
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#14 of 27
  • Cornering - 25% 9.0
  • Pedaling Traction - 20% 7.0
  • Braking Traction - 20% 9.0
  • Rolling Resistance - 15% 5.0
  • Longevity - 15% 8.0
  • Installation - 5% 7.0

Our Verdict

The Michelin Wild Enduro Front is a mean and aggressive front tire that can hang with the best-of-the-best. As the name suggests, this tire is perfect for the enduro or aggressive trail rider who wants a burly front tire with an outstanding amount of corner bite. No, this isn't the fastest rolling front tire, and the Magi-X2 compound feels a bit harder than some other options. That said, if you want an aggressive front tire to back up high-speeds in a wide variety of conditions, this is the tire. Whether you ride loose, damp, or chunky trails, the Wild Enduro Front is a fantastic option at a reasonable weight of 1002-grams for our 29x2.4-inch tire. Also, it has a reasonable price tag is on-par, or less expensive than some other top options. We love it.
REASONS TO BUY
Amazing cornering abilities
Performs well in all conditions
Stiff and tough casing
REASONS TO AVOID
Slower rolling
Harder rubber compound

Compare to Similar Products

 
Awards   Best Buy Award
Best Bang for the Buck Front Tire
Top Pick Award
Another Great Aggressive Front Tire
Best Buy Award
Best Bang for the Buck Rear Tire
Price $74 List
$68.99 at Amazon
$65 List
$64.95 at Amazon
$70 List
Check Price at Backcountry
Check Price at REI
Compare at 2 sellers
Check Price at Backcountry
Compare at 2 sellers
Overall Score Sort Icon
78
83
82
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78
Star Rating
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Bottom Line A shred-worthy front tire that delivers exceptional performance on all areas of the trailA durable rear tire suited for aggressive trail riding in a range of conditionsSame great value, but improved grip and performance with a new rubber compoundA great front tire for aggressive trail riding in mixed conditionsA versatile semi-aggressive rear tire with well-rounded performance and a reasonable price
Rating Categories Michelin Wild Endur... Continental Kryptot... Specialized Butcher... Continental Kryptot... Specialized Elimina...
Cornering (25%)
9.0
9.0
9.0
10.0
8.0
Pedaling Traction (20%)
7.0
9.0
8.0
8.0
8.0
Braking Traction (20%)
9.0
9.0
9.0
9.0
7.0
Rolling Resistance (15%)
5.0
7.0
6.0
6.0
8.0
Longevity (15%)
8.0
8.0
8.0
8.0
8.0
Installation (5%)
7.0
4.0
8.0
4.0
8.0
Specs Michelin Wild Endur... Continental Kryptot... Specialized Butcher... Continental Kryptot... Specialized Elimina...
Size tested 29" x 2.4" 27.5" x 2.4" 29" x 2.6" 27.5" x 2.4" 29" x 2.3"
Weight as tested 1002g 1046g (27.5) 1123g 1012g (27.5) 945g
Front, Rear, or Both Front Rear Front, Both Front Rear
Casing Tested Gravity Shield Trail GRID Trail Trail GRID Trail
Compound Tested Magi-X Endurance Gripton T9 Endurance Gripton T7
Bead Folding Folding Folding Folding Folding
Tread Count (TPI) 60 60 60 60 60

Our Analysis and Test Results

The Wild Enduro Front is a sick tire that should work for alot of riders. Those who want a tough and aggressive front tire at a reasonable price will love this Michelin. Cornering, braking traction, and longevity were a strong suit while rolling resistance was a little less impressive. Enduro racers, freeriders, and those who just want a meaty and confident front end will love this tire.

Performance Comparison



michelin wild enduro front 2.4 - the wild enduro front in all of its glory.
The Wild Enduro Front in all of its glory.
Credit: Jeremy Benson

Cornering


To say the Wild Enduro Front delivers excellent cornering bite would be an understatement. This tire thrashes it all from loose and dusty corners, to loam, to picture-perfect berms. One look at the shoulder knobs and you can tell this tire means business. It may not be the most pliable and supple tire, but it rails corners with authority.

If you look at the shoulder knobs, you will notice they are very tall and relatively spaced out. This spacing allows each lug to really bite into the ground, its also beneficial for shedding mud. Each lug is set in the same position, they do not alternate like many other tires. Each shoulder knob has a vertical sipe in it that allows the rubber to conform to the trail surface. When you are in the saddle looking down towards your front wheel, the tire's square profile is noticeable. This isn't the most square tire we have ridden, but it is on that end of the spectrum

michelin wild enduro front 2.4 - the shoulder lugs are widely spaced, stiff, and quite pronounced.
The shoulder lugs are widely spaced, stiff, and quite pronounced.
Credit: Jeremy Benson

This tire delivers killer on-trail performance. We rode this tire in every condition from bone-dry, deep dust to hero dirt and it delivered. This was one of those tires that inspired reckless speed and loose riding because you knew it had your back. When leaning into corners you could really feel the shoulder tread bite into the trail surface. Given the square shape of this tire, it is quite easy to feel when you were on the edge of control. Rounder tires can have a little bit of a vague feeling when you are leaning them over. Tires with a more square profile deliver a very precise limit. The transition from the center knobs to the shoulder is smooth, there is no twitchiness or stuttering. If cornering abilities in a variety of conditions are a chief concern, the Wild Enduro Front is a tremendous option.

The Magi-X2 rubber is on the stiffer and firmer side. It can be difficult to test, but it doesn't feel quite as pliable as other compounds from competitors. Some tires feel like they are really folding and flexing into the nooks and crannies of the trail. The Wild Enduro Front isn't that plush. The flipside is that it delivers a nice, sturdy, and stiff feel when you're pushing into corners.

michelin wild enduro front 2.4 - this tire is best suited for duties on the front wheel. it steers...
This tire is best suited for duties on the front wheel. It steers well up sandy and dry surfaces.
Credit: Jeremy Benson

Pedal Traction


Make no mistake, this tire is best suited for front wheel duties. It is quite obvious by looking at the tread pattern that steering and cornering is priority. In fact, the name makes it perfectly clear. Wild Enduro Front pretty much says it all. There is a Wild Enduro Rear tire designed for the back wheel which we tested as well.

If you wanted to get crazy, you could run the Wild Enduro Front on the rear. Again, we wouldn't recommend it as it would be exceptionally slow-rolling. That said, it would offer a generous amount of bite into the trail. The center knobs have a little bit of a ramp to them, but they are primarily square. This means excellent grab into the soil. Loam, loose, sand, hardpack, we expect this tire to produce excellent pedaling traction. Still, we recommend sticking with it on the front wheel.

michelin wild enduro front 2.4 - the spaced-out knobs with minimal ramp provides excellent braking...
The spaced-out knobs with minimal ramp provides excellent braking bite.
Credit: Jeremy Benson

Braking Traction


Braking traction is a metric that is a little more relevant to the rear wheel. That said, the Wild Enduro Front handles well under braking loads. When you're pointed into a funky and gnarly line, this tire shuts down speed effectively.

The tread features mid-sized blocks with a very minor amount of ramping. These relatively square lugs bite well into the soil compared to ramped ones. The center tread uses a staggered design where every other pair has a horizontal cut in it. These sipes help dig into the trail surface under braking loads.

michelin wild enduro front 2.4 - if you find yourself primarily carving down flow trails, there are...
If you find yourself primarily carving down flow trails, there are definitely faster-rolling tires.
Credit: Jeremy Benson

Rolling Resistance


Rolling speed is not a strong suit of the Wild Enduro. If rolling speed is a primary concern, you may be a little disappointed. Given the big aggressive knobs and the mostly square center tread, it clearly wasn't a primary consideration during the design process. The tread only has a little bit of ramp and they are quite spaced out.

On the trail, the Wild Enduro Front doesn't feel particularly draggy or clumsy. After all, this tire weighs a super-reasonable 1002-grams, which is pretty light for such an aggressive option. This weight helps mask the lack of rolling speed. If you find yourself on a lot of technical and janky trails, rolling speed might not be such a big deal. That said, if you are going on a 30-mile ride on flowy, rolling terrain, it could be noticeable. In our humble opinion, we think the slightly slower rolling speed is a totally worthwhile tradeoff for how confidently you can charge through the gnar. We think the intended buyer for this tire would feel the same way.

michelin wild enduro front 2.4 - we expect the wild enduro front to have a long life filled with...
We expect the Wild Enduro Front to have a long life filled with ripping corners and pummeling rocks.
Credit: Jeremy Benson

Longevity


After several long rides on our Wild Enduro Front tire, we observed no significant wear. It should be noted that we tested the Magi-X2 compound which is harder than its Gum-X sibling. This harder compound should last longer than the softer, grippier, rubber.

Examining our tire reveals little, if any, wear. There is a little bit of scuffing on the inside of the shoulder knobs from cornering hard. It isn't cracking or really wearing away, but you can see the scuff marks that signify the very beginning of the wear.

Installation


Installation was about average with the Wild Enduro Front. The most difficult part was getting the tire pulled over the rim and into position to be shot up with air. The carcass is a good bit stiffer and more robust than most of the other tires we tested. Some of our test tires could be pulled onto the rim with our bare hands, it was a two-lever job with the Wild Enduro.

Once the tire was in position and we were ready to inflate it, the remainder of the process was much easier. The bead mostly snapped on in one shot with our ToPeak Joe Blow Booster floor pump. We just needed to finish it off with a few supplementary pumps to seat the stubborn portions of the bead to the rim. The tires held air well even when sitting for a few days.

michelin wild enduro front 2.4 - we measured this tire with a couple different sets of calipers on...
We measured this tire with a couple different sets of calipers on the same 30mm rim. The result varied between 2.36 and 2.41.
Credit: Jeremy Benson

Value


The Wild Enduro Front is a great value. This is a high-performance tire that does its job very well. There are tires on the market that cost significantly more that can't come close to matching the performance of this tire. It will be the best value to the rider who prioritizes a tire that has excellent cornering and braking traction with a sturdy sidewall and casing for smashing rocks and aggressive trails.

michelin wild enduro front 2.4 - if your trails are littered with rocks, this tire is a fantastic...
If your trails are littered with rocks, this tire is a fantastic choice.
Credit: Jeremy Benson

Conclusion


The Michelin Wild Enduro Front is a fantastic entry into the tire market that has been dominated by a couple of major manufacturers over the past decade. This is a ripping front tire that delivers excellent performance when the conditions get gnarly. It corners well, has a stiff and tough carcass, and appears that it should have a long, glorious life span. Best of all, it sells for a competitive price. We highly recommend giving it a shot.

Other Versions


The Wild Enduro Front is available in the 27.5-inch and 29-inch wheel size. It is only available in the 2.4-inch width.

There are two rubber compounds available. The softer Gum-X which delivers more traction and suppleness and the harder Magi-X2 (tested) which should have a longer lifespan.

Pat Donahue