Michelin Starcross MH3's - believe the hype

[yzernie]

I now have 8 motos and 6 pre race moto practice rides on my Michelin MH3's. The guys from the shop told me they were good but I have always had the belief that opinions on moto tires were to subjective. I finally decided to give them a try.

Most of the tracks I have ridden so far are intermediate to hard terrain tracks. There are also the wet sloppy conditions of pre race practices as well as over zealous track hands with the watering hoses. So, for the most part the only track I haven't been on with these tires is a sandy track. Now, keep in mind I'm not a pro and cannot tell if a tire is a half a pound low. My opinion is based on my years of riding and other tire brands I have used.

Without going into HUGE details I'll just hit the highlights.

Straight line stability during acceleration and braking is excellent. No mushy tire feel like I have had with some brands.

Cornering stability under acceleration and braking is also excellent. Coming out of a corner under acceleration results in forward drive with minumal side slide. I also haven't experienced the dreaded front end slide under hard braking.

Wear is absolutely amazing. As said above, I have 8 motos and 6 pre race moto practices on these tires and they hardly show any wear. A 756 would have been shot out by now. The photos below will show you exactly what I am talking about.

I rate these tires as a 9 out of 10...only because I don't know what a 10 would be!!

The first two pics are of the rear tire. The right edge of the knobbies is the leading or driving edge. You can see just a little bit of rounding of the edge.





This is the front tire. The left edge of the knobbies is the braking side. I really don't see any wear.

[Henry]

those look and sound nice!

[char393]

E..

how about your opinion of these as opposed to say some Pirelli's or Maxxis. You've run both those brands in the past, right?

[Dirtbikindad393]

Great tires for sure. I felt a little better at Perris with a lower tire pressure. I think it helped my cornering a bit. Us desert racers are always afraid of low tire pressure but I am coming around.

[yzernie]

Well Char, I have the Pirelli MT32's on my practice wheels and have run the MT450's (int to hard) before they were discontinued and replaced with the current MXMH's. I like the MT32's for the softer and sandy stuff. My opinion on the MT450's is really moot now that they are not available. I have not tried the MXMH's because they have not been available out here.

The Maxxis IT rear is an outstanding tire for not so soft intermediate and hard terrain but the softer it gets the worse the tire performance is. I do like the IT front for int to hard on the 450. I have heard (haven't tried the SI's yet) the Maxxis SI is a brother to the Dunlop 756 but wear better a little bit better than the 756's do. The Maxxis SurCross soft terain tire is good but if the dirt turns to anything but soft they pretty much suck.

[KX02]

Old habbits die hard for some folks. I know a few guys who still run Dunlops. I've tried to convince them to run ANY other tires just to get a feel for the differences or cost savings at the very least. I've seen 756's and 773's that are so smoked after a few rough trail rides I don't know how they can stand to ride with them. IMO Michelin and Pirelli are tops.

[crfjedi393]

I've been preaching Michelin for a long time. Glad to see 'em get some love!

[yzernie]

Originally Posted by crfjedi393

I've been preaching Michelin for a long time. Glad to see 'em get some love!

[DPW]

nice review....I will try the MH3 next...

[MotoMan]

Thanks E....I just found my new tire for Splendora in October.

[yzernie]

Originally Posted by MotoMan

Thanks E....I just found my new tire for Splendora in October.

If it is anything like last years GMB I bet they will be fantastic there.

[MotoMan]

I know the M12 worked great there, so I would assume this one will as well.

[salminez]

Hi all...

Very good tire for hard and dry lands ........ For soft zones S12 ...... They last but that the D756 .........


Shot with [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] at 2007-07-04

[yzrider314]

Hey Pop,

A perfect 10 would be a 756 race replica........

HA!!

[yzernie]

Originally Posted by yzrider314

Hey Pop,

A perfect 10 would be a 756 race replica........

HA!!

Hahahahaha, now THAT is funny. Sorry folks, it's an inside joke.

[Woody_393]

I ran the MH3 on the rear of my CRF for quite a while. I sold it with it on, and it was still in pretty good shape. It did not chunk, and worked really well. I'd buy it again in a heart beat. I still need to buy an IT and give it a shot, but with no bike, it will have to wait.

I have not tried the MH3 up front though, as I for some strange reason when with the MS3. For the dry sometimes sand like corners here, I hated the MS3 -- well, it wasn't that bad, but I'm telling you, and I can't compare to the MH3 up front, it doesn't compare to the M12 up front. The M12 front is the BEST tire I've ran up front period. I won't get into my thoughts on Jim's favorite M12 in the rear

The MS3 did not inspire confidence in the corners at all. Based off the tread pattern of the MH3 (they are very very similar) I wouldn't think it would be that great either, but having not ridden it, I can't say for sure.

Great review.

[Keetoman393]

i've been following this closely and looks like that may be my next tire. The old Perreli needs to go into retirement! Thanks for the input E!

[yzernie]

Originally Posted by Woody_393

Based off the tread pattern of the MH3 (they are very very similar) I wouldn't think it would be that great either, but having not ridden it, I can't say for sure.

Woody, don't let the similar looks fool you. One of the kids at the shop accidently put an MS3 on his bike. He liked it for the softer stuff but didn't like it on the harder pack. He then put an MH3 on and said there were night and day difference. I think if you were to try the MH3 you would more likely than not be pleased with it.

Keeto, the Pirelli's are great tires too. For me, and since Dave Stephens passed away, the Pirelli's are harder to get than the Michelin's. I'm pretty sure I have now found the tire I'll use on the intermediate terrain.

[KKXR400R]

Hey Ernie, with me riding dez (sand,rocks etc etc) I was wondering how they would hold up. What do you think?

-Kevin-

[yzernie]

I don't know Kev. I would guess they would be good. I know moto is different than dez but I don't even have so much as a chunk out of mine. I'll tell ya what, when I no longer want to use it for moto I'll give it to you to try out. Ask Dane, I've given him a few of my old (by my standards) tires (not Michelins) and the tires I won't use anymore for moto are like new tires for the dez.