Michelin Pro 3 Race Road Tyre

So I've previously been a big fan of Vittoria tyres with their high pressure capabilities (I'm a bit of a fatty). But a mate recommended these because they roll very well.
No lie, these roll very fast, even if they look really flat when I crush them down. In addition they have a very soft cushiony feel to absorb most of the bumps in the road.

(Posted on 19/02/2012)

I've used both pro2s and Pro3s and found that the old Pro2's wear better than the Pro3s. I tend to push the tyres to the limit as far as durability goes but found that Pro3s may only last 50-60% as long as the Pro2s. I have got 10,000km from a Pro2 but the best out of a Pro3 has been a bit over 5000km - which isn't too bad anyway. I find that Pro3s do get lots of nicks in them but I don't think that should be a reason to change the tyre too soon. I must say I do use protector strips in the tyres which work well and keep the punctures on average to about one every 3000kms or so.

(Posted on 29/12/2011)

The roads were I train aren't well maintained, lots of debris, glass, metal, etc.
I usually change my tires after a few (2-3) flats in order to avoid repetitive problems.
However, I've only had 1 flat with my PR3 this summer, after 2500 km. It got so bad that I finally changed it after I realized I had worn it down to the threads underneath... this never happened to me before.
They are light, fast and corner well.
Good value!

(Posted on 12/10/2011)

I bought these since they were cheaper than other options in my price range. I read that they wear faster and are more susceptible to cuts and flats. So far, I've been commuting and training on these tires with no issues. *knock on wood*

I bought these tires to replace the Bontrager Race Lite tires that came on my Trek 1.2 road bike. The difference is seriously like night and day in terms of speed, acceleration, and cornering!

These tires do have noticeably less rolling resistance than the Bontragers. I used to cruise at ~15mph on the Bontragers (I'm still getting fit) and now I can cruise at ~17-18mph on these tires. I also feel that I can accelerate a little easier due to the lighter weight of these tires.

The cornering is excellent! The Bontragers felt uneasy, like it required a lot of small corrections to hold my line in a corner. With the Pro3s, just point the bike where you want to go and it digs in to the ground, locks on to where you want to go, and GOES THERE!

These tires transformed the feel of my bike to a nice, precision machine. These actually brought back memories of when I used to go car racing and the first time I drove a car on racing tires versus street tires. The Pro3s literally give you that feeling.

I haven't owned these tires for very long, so I can't tell you how durable these are. One word of advice, make sure you have some STRONG tire levers. I ordered some Lezyne levers with these tires and I was worried at a few points during the install that I was going to snap the levers!

The sidewalls are very stiff, but nothing that the average person can handle with tire levers. Forget about mounting these by hand. It's not happening. You need levers.

(Posted on 22/09/2011)

Pro 3 Race $35. Conti 4000S $51. You get what you pay for.

The old Pro 2 Race tyres were excellent. The new Pro 3's are fast, but puncture way too often. They cut cut cut. Not worth the headache, even whilst training. Very disappointing.

Packaging says Made in France. Tyre says otherwise.

(Posted on 06/09/2011)

Nice fast tire with low rolling resistance. If you ride on smooth, clean roads then these will be great and should last a good while. Dirty roads will probably eat these up though as they seem to be susceptible to cuts. Keep these on your race bike, not your commuter.

(Posted on 01/09/2011)

Bought 2 of these on a good PBK sale. 1st one lasted exactly 1Km when I slashed the sidewall on a piece of metal on the road while turning. 2nd one has around 1000Km on it but lots of microcuts and have had about 7 flats. Riding on good roads too!

Also, the bead on these tires are SO stiff you need ironman thumbs to get them over the rim. Changing this tire has become a competitive event amongst my chums. We call the person who can get the tire over the rim "King Arthur" for the day as this feat is roughly on par with the removal of Excalibur from the stone.

(Posted on 26/08/2011)

A great tire for racing, low resistant and it has a long lifetime.
The only problem are the sides of the tire that are more vulnerable to cuts.

(Posted on 15/08/2011)

These tires feel very trustworthy in a race and, having ridden on them in training as well, provide sufficient puncture protection. Cuts are problem, however.

(Posted on 02/08/2011)

Fast, smooth, and durable for a race tire. Not as durable as some, but certainly more durable than Vittoria's Open Corsa!!!!! For my 76kg on below ave roads I easily get more than 2500mi (on rear) claimed by Michelin on its web site. I think PR2's gave slightly better wear, but the 3 version clearly corners better & seems a bit faster too.

(Posted on 12/07/2011)

Very nice, smooth and fast with nice cornering.
However, it's quite less resistant to puncture than the Vittoria Open Corsa Evo CX, which is my only complaint with it so far.

(Posted on 30/06/2011)

I'm adding a 3-star to my previous 4-star review, as, after about a year with the tires, I'm disappointed in the wear rate. I wore my rear down to cord within less than one season - I'd estimate 1,500-2,000 miles of lifespan, best-case.
Other comparable tires compromise less in this regard, and this series of Michelins had been longer-wearing in the past.

(Posted on 25/06/2011)

I found these tyres amazing. I noticed the difference pretty much straight away. You cruise along a lot easier than my old ones and also I hardly get any punctures. The only time I get punctures is when the tyre has little nicks in it. But for it to get to that stage takes a lot. I ride everyday to work and have been for about over a year now, which is a 20km round trip and I have only changed my tyres once. The Michelin Pro 3 tyres are fantastic.

(Posted on 24/06/2011)

I like these tyres.

Unlike some of the other people reviewing above, I've not found them to wear rapidly or be really fragile.

I must admit, that used to be my opinion.
Until this last Winter, I simply used them on my 'best bike' , then on my Winter bike I used a pair of cheaper, heavier tyres, reckoning that ProRace3's were too good, and too fragile, for Winter use.

But that was until last Winter : I got a pair of these cheap (dark greys) and stuck them on my Winter bike too, then never got around to swapping for the other tyres, used them all through the Winter.

Yes I got a couple of punctures from thorns, but I've had them in my other tyres too - these turned-out to be no more puncture-prone than heavier training tyres.
They have a number of small nicks and cuts, and the one on the back has squared-off a bit, but there's nothing too concerning and I'll be using them again next Winter.

(Posted on 23/06/2011)

The Michelin Pro Race 3 is hands down the best all-around race tire. It isn't the best in terms of grip, weight, rolling resistance, wear, or puncture resistance, but it is moderately good in every aspect. I have had a hard time finding tires that are pretty good in nearly every area. As far as a racing tire goes, the Pro Race 3 is the best.

And to boot, the price is reasonable too.

(Posted on 16/06/2011)

Replaced a set of Hutchinson Equinox with the Pro3s. Much nicer ride (smoother), and the tyres grip better. Tyres really do make a difference, and these are confidence inspiring. As far as wear goes, it is a bit early to tell, but it seems like they should hold up better than other comparable "race" tyres.

(Posted on 25/05/2011)

These tires are good, smooth, and fast, but they do not last long. They puncture easily in my experience. I had several punctures with these tires(2sets) I think at least one per tire. And I did keep riding them after cementing the tire at home. The lifespan was quick 800miles for the front and a lot less for the front. I used to get 1500 on the rear from conti. Overall I do like the tires, now that I do not expect longevity from them.

(Posted on 18/05/2011)

I, like many of the other reviewers, have ridden the previous versions of this tire. I suspect (although it's hard to prove) that this version does indeed cut more easily that its predecessors.
That said, it does perform well. I find that they exhibit more road sensitivity than did the Vittoria Rubino Pros they replaced; I believe wet traction is improved, as well.
They do not stand up well to glass! After my first series of flats with these a year ago, I have not experienced any unusual puncture rate, however.
I've not had them long enough to comment on long-term durability.

(Posted on 18/05/2011)

I bought a set of the Michelin Pro 3 race tires after reading some of the reviews here at PBK. Before I received them I had decided I was going to use them exclusively for racing and I read they weaken faster than usual.

I rode about 30 miles with them before my race and used them on race day. They felt smooth and were in fact very fast. During this race I fell down while going at 36 mph (57.4 km/hr) and despite the hard fall in which I slid a few yards (not related to the tires), the tires remained inflated. I do have to say that the rubber of the back tired got to the kevlar section because of the fall.

Overall, very good tires, I would recommend them to anyone.

(Posted on 17/05/2011)

I used the Pro3Race for years, and just converted to Vittoria Open Corsa CX.

The Pro3Race is a great everyday tire. I've read many reviews and I for one have not had that many punctures with the Pro3Race and I ride on roads that have a lot of debris. The only negative I found with these tires is that they are definitely not as supple as the 320 TPI tires available out there.

Those of you using a colour other than black, I would like to just say that it's not worthy it as road grit will turn the tire black anyway after a few miles of riding, unless you habitually wash your tires after each ride.

Great everyday tire, great racing tire and puncture resistance is awesome. Sidewalls are very thin, so do avoid rocks as you can easily tear the sides.

(Posted on 15/05/2011)

I REALLY LIKE THE PRO 2'S THESE I REALLY DON'T LIKE. I HAVE ZIPP 303 CARBON CLINCHERS, AND I GOT A FLAT AT LEAST 2 TIMES A WEEK GOING TO OR FROM WORK AND IT ENDED UP BEING A REAL PAIN AND THEY CUT WAY TO EASY. I WOULD LOOK ELSE WHERE.

(Posted on 05/05/2011)

I was expecting great things from the Michelin Pro 3 Race tyres, but found them extremely difficult to take on and off my rims...which I found myself doing often because of their seemingly poor puncture resistance. They also showed excessive wear after 1000kms too.

(Posted on 04/05/2011)

I agree with many others - they are not as durable as the Pro 2s. I dont have a big problem with punctures (mainly because I use Mr Tuffy protection strips under the tyres - which are good) but they get lots of nicks and wear reasonably quickly. I got 8 - 10000 km from pro 2s but only 5000 tops from Pro3s.

(Posted on 01/05/2011)

I had very bad experience years back with some Bontragers that came with a Trek bike, and then switched to Conti 4000 and then 4000s tires. I liked the Contis better than the Bontragers, but I started to have sidewall threads coming off the Contis. I had one pair of 4000 Contis where it was like a pile of strings so much that it was a nest of hair! Needless to say, I started to research alternatives and tried a set of the Pro3Race tires.

The difference in feel and in performance was immediately obvious to me over the 4000s tires. I greatly prefer the Pro3Race tires. I have a much more secure feel to the road when cornering, and they are much much faster shaving noticeable time off my regular loop rides which I use as my base rides.

My only complaint, which is not so much of a complaint as an observation, is that they do get cut up with lots of little cuts pretty fast even on pretty decent roads. These are cosmetic only for the most part. I have had only one actual puncture through the tread itself (I never found what it was, but it made a barely observable hold on the inside of the tread and through the tube - the object itself was not stuck in the tread). Their life is pretty short, but for the performance and traction, I'll easily put up with that.

I do not have wet weather complaints, but when it rains hard, I'll likely be on the indoor trainer anyway, so I have not logged a lot of rain miles.

Overall, I absolutely love these tires. I ride then on a variety of wheels including for many years now Bontrager XXX Lite Carbon wheels and I have never ever had a problem. I am very careful to put them on without any tube pinching, and use Michelin Airstop Butyls now exclusively.

As a final note, although they do get these small cuts from glass etc. easily, I have taken them on pretty heavy roads and never seen any sidewall failures or problems do to rough surfaces or moderate potholes. I haven't hit anything really bad, either, though.

(Posted on 24/04/2011)

I have been a Michelin Pro 2 Race fan/user for many years and very happy with the speed & durability. Unfortunately the Pro 3 Race gets cut to pieces very easily. I thought I was just going through a bad puncture phase, however after a year I have swapped to the Conti GP4000s and much more happy with them. The Conti's give me speed and good wear.

Something has changed over at Michelin. I do not recommend the Michelin Pro 3 Race.

(Posted on 23/04/2011)

I have just clocked over 1400km on the Pro Race 3 and not had any problems with reliability, and that is riding on some pretty rough back county roads, through road works etc, to date have not punctured ( touch wood )! They seem to be wearing ok and fairly durable at this stage. Bugger all rolling resistance, "tight" and grippy whilst affording a surprisingly comfortable ride! Look great, will certainly be replacing these with another pair!

(Posted on 22/04/2011)

I use these as my everyday training tires and get 1000s of kms out of them. I am a 120lb female racer. I like the feel of them. These tires run at relatively low psi (see the specs). It works for a light rider.

I agree with the suggestion that they do cut relatively easily. I have found that the risk of punctures is extremely high on the first few rides when the tire feels new and 'sticky' on the surface. Now I gently sand the surface before I take them out. I find if I can make if through the first couple rides then I can run them for 1000s of kms without punctures. I do have some nicks, but I'll run them until they are bald. There is a lot of gravel on our roads.

I find for the price PBK sells them for they are good value.

(Posted on 21/04/2011)

These are superb race tires, but they are so light and thin that they don't make for the best training tire. I routinely get major slices in them that require replacement. If you can avoid these, they last long enough, even when used on a stationary trainer.

(Posted on 21/04/2011)

Loved Pro Race 1 and 2...not this one. Going for a more pliable rubber means this tyre is not durable, nor fast. Puncture resistance is poor too and turbo trainer will destroy this baby in one session. This is probably a good tyre if you train on aircraft tarmacs...doesn't tick many boxes for me

(Posted on 20/04/2011)

Dont buy, had them on for about 1 week and nothing but flats with small pieces of glass etc. Go for the Conti Gp4000 been on now for almost 12 months not one flat!

(Posted on 18/04/2011)

J'aime vraiment ces pneus, facile a changé lors de crevaison et leur performance est excellente. Bon rapport qualité prix.

(Posted on 18/04/2011)

I've used a few earlier versions of the Pro Race and they were my favourite tire - great all around for performance and durability. Pro Race 3 seem to have kept the performance (excellent cornering in particular) but have lost a bit of durability. The tires seem to cut easily and are wearing faster than I would have expected (though don't yet have enough miles on them to know what the lifetime will be).

Michelin may have gone a little more towards making this a race tire and less a training/group ride tire.

(Posted on 14/04/2011)

One of the better light-"ish" race tires that I have used. Good rolling resistance, relatively light, around 200g, and pretty sticky. Unfortunately, they do tend to wear out relatively quickly, I can only get about 1500 miles on the rear before I start getting frequent flats. But, they are lighter than the Conti 4000s (220g), not as durable, but seem to roll better and corner better. The Schwalbe Ultremo R1's were lighter (180G) but not as durable and didn't seem to roll as well or corner as well as the Pro 3's.

All in all they are a pretty decent race tire, just don't expect a lot of mileage out of them.

(Posted on 13/04/2011)

I have had a couple of pairs of these and they are a good but not a great tyre. Well priced , grippy and they roll nicely however they seem to cut quite easily and the white sidewall ones I had became filthy very quickly and did not come clean after washing. Another issue I had with these is that they are very hard to mount - on a couple of different wheels. If I have not tried Conti GP4000s or Schwalbe Ultremos I would probably rate these a 4/5 but now I have tried the competitors I would not buy again.

(Posted on 11/04/2011)

First off let me say that I have been riding these tires through a number of years, the Pro Race, then the 2, now the Pro Race 3.
I have ridden other tires in the interim as well, Vittoria and Contis. These are my favourite riding tire, without doubt. These Pro 3's seem to cut a bit more easily, especially when they have worn a bit flat in the centre. Rotation prolongs their life some of course, but expect significant wear even at 1000 miles. If you store these (don't ride much) they seem to last well. Bottom line, the best riding qualities I have found, especially when new. Durability suffers--not unexpected--but the ride is what we're about, right?

(Posted on 10/04/2011)

I've been riding Pro 3 race tires for years and they are a great racing tire. They might not last as long as some other tires, but these are not made for training.

(Posted on 10/04/2011)

I ride 12 miles and the first stone I role over the side tears up a quarter of inch long.

(Posted on 10/04/2011)

Have gone through several sets of these, love the low rolling resistance thin wall. The profile great traction and feel very fast on the bike.

They do wear quickly, and are susceptible small cuts to but are perfect as a race only tire.

(Posted on 08/04/2011)

Loved these tires when I first got them, they feel like the absolute best tires. They rolling resistance is very low, cornering is great. But I just don't get that much life out of them, they wear relatively quickly, and where I ride there is a lot of glass and road debris, and these tires cut easily.

(Posted on 06/04/2011)

When compared to the Pro2Race tire, these tires are faster and have greater rolling efficiency. They look great too!
Yet, rolling efficiency seems to be compensating for decreased tire longevity. These tires don't last as long as their predecessor and seem to puncture easily after clocking around 1000kms on them.
The tires are very light and provide great control in dry and wet conditions, as well as when cornering. They are also a great price!
All in all, these are one of the best race tires you will get, but you may need to think of something slightly more durable, such as a pair of continentals, when training.

(Posted on 05/04/2011)

These tires should only be used for racing if you want them to last more than 1000 miles. I'm 145 pounds and used the white and the digital blue tires, as well. I am told that lighter colored tires are softer in compound and will flex more and won't last as long as dark or black tires. I've used them during training and in races, and think that they should probably only be used for racing only unless you ride on the cleanest streets. At 110 psi in the front and rear, they're great during climbs, but they flex a lot during sprints. That flex doesn't give me any sort of confidence, but I have never lost traction or crashed because of it. For my clincher/tubeless wheelset, I'd buy these again. I prefer these tires over my Hutchinson Atom Tubeless tires because they're about $15 cheaper, feel like they roll and corner better, and look a lot cooler than just the black colored Atoms.

Pros:
-roll ridiculously well when coupled with latex tubes
-light
-come in great colors
-affordable for racing tires

Cons:
-microcuts develop easily
-punctures very easily

(Posted on 04/04/2011)