Products 12 Feb 2016

Review: Michelin StarCross 5 tyres

MotoOnline.com.au reviews the all-new StarCross offering.

Michelin’s all-new StarCross 5 tyre was designed based on feedback from riders of all levels, from amateurs to world champions who shared their experiences in the field with Michelin Motorsports and Michelin’s research and development team.

The StarCross 5 range breaks new ground for Michelin in the world of off-road/motocross tyres. Compared to its predecessors, the StarCross 5 line is based on a new casing design that delivers several significant performance improvements.

The new casing design incorporates stronger, higher density materials that reduce weight by up to 15 percent without compromising strength or durability. The casing construction also features Michelin’s all-new Comfort Casing Technology (CCT), which provides exceptional shock absorption to reduce rider fatigue.

Image: Alex Gobert (Foremost Media).

Image: Alex Gobert (Foremost Media).

The new casing design has also been engineered to optimise the size of the tyre’s contact patch. Combined with aggressive front and rear tread patterns, specially designed for each tyre in the range, this construction offers maximum levels of grip for precise steering and traction.

The StarCross 5 provides a very positive feel on track, the amount of rider feedback the tyre provides creates is confidence-inspiring. Michelin’s tread designs for the StarCross 5 range have been designed to improve performance across all applications, cornering, accelerating and braking – something they achieved quite well.

Our long-term Yamaha YZ450F fitted with the medium compound StarCross 5 tyres instantly felt more responsive and planted to the track. The tyre performs well in all areas, flat turns, ruts, sloppy over-watered sections, we’ve ridden with the StarCross 5 in every condition except for sand and it has impressed at all times.

The most noticeable feature of the Michelin StarCross 5 tyre is its predictable nature, after spending some time on the tyre you know almost exactly what it will do in certain situations. This is vital in a tyre as you are able to gain confidence with that predictable feel and begin to push your own boundaries that little bit more with each lap.

Image: Alex Gobert (Foremost Media).

Image: Alex Gobert (Foremost Media).

The Michelin StarCross 5 tread has also been designed with self-cleaning in mind to help release soil from the tyre. The design includes revolutionary fine horizontal tread lines to release soil and enhance traction in a range of different soil conditions.

Overall the all-new Michelin StarCross 5 is a winning tyre in our eyes, there’s nothing to complain about at all from us at MotoOnline.com.au. If you’re searching for a tyre that provides optimum performance, a predictable feel and confidence-inspiring ride, you should definitely check out Michelin’s latest and greatest offering.

The StarCross 5 is also available in sand, soft and hard compounds to suit all conditions, front tyres start at a recommended retail price of $114.95 and rears from $129.95. Click here for more details and stockist listings.

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