There’s a lot to be said about the research and expertise that goes into Michelin’s rubber compounds.
Their know-how is second to none. Designing and developing progressive tire technologies that change the way we move. And things are no different when it comes to Michelin technical soles for outdoor sports footwear.
We recently explored the story behind this bold move from one of the biggest tire brands in the world, their passion for traction and thirst to create and innovate. With more and more premium sports brands adopting the Michelin sole, upping the game and bringing optimum stability and durability to the wearer – we tied up our laces and went on a mission to unearth the inspiration behind each sole.
From tire compounds to features and seasonality – we’ve put each sole under the spotlight, to find it’s origins and discover why people are converting to footwear with Michelin treads.
MICHELIN Wild Rock’R
Featured on: Mizuno Hayate 3
Developed for: Going beyond your limits
Derived from the MICHELIN Wild Rock’R mountain bike tires, this sole takes all the elements it needs to gift runners with the confidence to take on all manner of challenges. The Michelin Wild Rock’R uses a special rubber compound, which is incredibly effective in promoting the resilience and elasticity required to provide traction, grip and protection on every surface.
The design lends itself to those looking for a lightweight shoe allowing greater speed and energy efficiency. Coming from a Japanese term, the name Hayate refers to speed. It perfectly describes the Hayate 3, Mizuno’s premium shoe for fast runs up and down hill – where a good running technique is essential.
It adapts to your surroundings and works in perfect harmony with your body.
MICHELIN Wild Grip’R
Featured on: Under Armour Fat Tire Ascent
Developed for: Mixed terrains
The Fat Tire Ascent’s sole takes design inspiration from the iconic MICHELIN Wild Gripper mountain bike tires. Built for the versatile rider, the Gripper is suited to multiple, mixed terrains that can range from woodland to rocky mountainsides.
The innovative tread design showcases an excellent compromise between grip and performance, making it one of the most reliable tires out there. It’s no surprise then that Michelin felt compelled to take things one step further and apply this proven blueprint, to create an extremely lightweight and durable technical sole thanks to the innovative Michelin Fiber lite technology.
The sole itself compliments Under Armour’s shoe design and, just like it’s tire counterpart, it brings unrivalled traction and stability – even under the force that comes with leaning and weaving on uneven terrain.
MICHELIN Country Rock and Country Trail
Featured on: Garmont Mystic Surround GTX and Mystic Mid Surround GTX
Developed for: Hiking
The Country Trail tire is characterised by its adaptability to rough, rugged regions and is known for its longevity and adaptability to a diverse mix of mountain biking terrains. In contrast, the Country Rock tire is purpose built to deliver the goods on hard terrain and asphalt – perfect for city riding and road training!
So, what’s the result?
By combining two different designs Michelin have developed a cross-terrain sole which keeps hikers stable and mobile in a wide range of environments. Designed for the Garmont Mystic Surround range – footwear for active people who aren’t afraid to go off road in search of their next adventure!
MICHELIN Wild Race’R
Featured on: Northwave Extreme XC
Developed for: Cross Country
The sole for the Northwave Extreme XC, co-developed between Northwave and Michelin, was born out of a demand for lightweight mountain biking footwear that still has the clout to get the job done.
Looking to tires for inspiration, the MICHELIN Wild Race’R immediately came to mind. It boasts a featherweight design and only made possible with the inclusion of flexible tire beads, developed with Aramid fiber – translating into a lighter tire.
But don’t be fooled by the Wild Race’R’s lighter than life feel. They still offer superb traction and versatility, with rubber knobs and tread blocks distributed across the entire tread for maximum performance. Put all this into practice with the dual layer compound technology channeled into a mountain bike shoe sole and you’ve got something pretty special!
A new breed
The direct translation between tire and sole is what sets Michelin technical soles apart from the rest. Over a hundred years of dedication and innovation has brought us some of the biggest leaps in traction technology and there seems to be no sign of slowing.
With compound and tread research leading to new discoveries at every turn, one thing’s for sure – the future is bright for outdoor sports footwear.
The passion for traction is unrelenting. Premium performance is the purpose.