ith a trophy case full of world and national championships, Michelin has long been at the forefront of off-road tire technology. In 2005 alone, Michelin riders won three AMA off-road titles, including Mike Lafferty’s seventh National Enduro Championship, Juha Salminen’s Grand National Cross-Country Championship, and Chuck Woodford’s National Hare Scrambles title. What’s more, all of these series were won on the exact same Michelin off-road tires that you can buy–not exotic factory-only “development” tires. For 2006, Michelin continues to expand its off-road range, including new sizes in its Starcross Mini range, and the new Starcross Sand 4.

dult racers aren’t the only ones who benefit from the race winning know-how of Michelin. The Starcross Mini range brings world-class Michelin performance to minibike riders as well. In 2006, the Starcross Mini MH3 for medium to hard terrain comes in an expanded selection of sizes, including a 12- and 10-inch front/rear combination to fit larger 50cc bikes, and a new 14-/12-inch pair for bikes like the Kawasaki KX65 and KLX10, and the KTM 65 SX. As always, larger MH3 sizes for 85s and 100s are available as well.
     The MH3 complements the successful Starcross Mini MS2, which is intended for soft to intermediate conditions. The MS2 is available in the full range of mini sizes, so riders now have a choice of Michelin tires for any bike and any track conditions. The “junior” Starcross tires use the same knob patterns as full-size Starcross tires, adapted to the smaller casing sizes that minis require.
As the official knobbies of the KTM Junior Supercross Challenge (run in conjunction with the Amp’d Mobile Supercross Championship) Michelin Starcross Mini tires have proven both fast and extremely durable on the bikes used by some of America’s best mini riders.

he new Starcross Sand 4 is a new rear-only tire designed to excel on sandy tracks like Southwick. Its knob shape and placement are specifically designed for traction in deep sand while keeping sand from packing in between the knobs. The Sand 4’s scoop-like knob pattern helps provide forward drive without bogging down. The Sand 4 rear tire is recommended for use with the Starcross MS3 or S12 front tires.

hampionship-winning Starcross motocross tires have been proven in competition on the toughest outdoor and supercross tracks around the world. The Starcross lineup comprises two tires: the Starcross MS3 for soft to intermediate terrain, and the Starcross MH3 for intermediate to hard conditions. Both feature the innovative M-Block knob design, which maximizes the number of biting edges, for aggressive penetration of the track surface and tenacious forward drive. On top of each knob, a small “M” is molded into the rubber, to act as a treadwear indicator. When the “M” disappears, the rider can reverse the tire on the rim, providing a fresh set of gripping edges.
     Starcross tires employ what Michelin calls a differential rigidity casing: The sidewalls are super-stiff for high-impact shock absorption, while a flexible tread area minimizes rebound on rough tracks, keeping the tire in contact with the ground for better steering, braking and acceleration.
New for 2006 is the Starcross MH3 Red. With a knob pattern identical to the standard Starcross MH3, these bright red tires use patented silica technology that enables Michelin to make colored rubber compounds without compromising durability. These very limited-production tires add a unique look to any bike.

he Michelin S12 and M12 tires have long been favorites of off-road riders for their combination of durability and high performance. When Dirt Bike magazine conducted an intermediate tire shootout, the S12 came away the clear winner. Editors said “its aggressive knob pattern held up well in the deep soil, it proved adept at transitional traction, and its light weight didn’t hamper the [KTM] 450’s power.”
The S12 is for soft to intermediate terrain, while the M12 is for intermediate to hardpack conditions.

he Michelin AC10 is an excellent hard-terrain tire that riders like Lafferty and Salminen often rely on when the terrain is firm and fast. Its specially formulated rubber mix promotes impressive durability, and resists tearing and chunking even under hard use. The AC10’s aggressive bi-directional tread provides excellent traction in a variety of conditions. An added bonus is that it’s DOT-approved, making the AC10 ideal for dual-sport riding that includes occasional paved sections.

ubes should be replaced whenever you mount new tires, so Michelin heavy-duty off-road tubes are a natural complement to Michelin tires, or any other brand for that matter. Michelin reinforced off-road tubes are manufactured to the highest standards in the industry, featuring a wall thickness of 2.2mm. For even greater resistance to punctures, Michelin also offers Ultra Heavy-Duty tubes with a 4mm wall thickness.
     But for the ultimate in flat protection, choose Michelin Bib-Mousse foam inserts. Used in winning events as diverse as outdoor motocross nationals and the Dakar Rally, Bib-Mousse replaces conventional inner tubes, simulating a pressure equivalent to about 13 psi. For motocross or hardcore off-road riding, there’s no more effective protection against flats.