Michelin Wild AM2 Tire Review – Is This the Ultimate Trail Tire?

Words by: Liam Woods

Fast, Grippy, and Built to Rip – Does the Michelin Wild AM2 Do It All?

After five months of thrashing the Michelin Wild AM2 through the dry, loose corners of Southern California and the rugged rock slabs of Grand Junction, I came away seriously impressed. This tire somehow manages to roll faster than it looks, grip harder than you expect, and take a beating without complaining. It’s positioned as Michelin’s all-mountain option for aggressive riders who want serious grip without sacrificing too much speed. The Wild AM2 & Force AM2 retail for $65 USD, making them some of the best bang fo your buck tire in the category.

"Michelin says the Wild AM2 is made for aggressive trail riding, and honestly, that checks out. It rips."

The Wild AM2 slots in under Michelin’s enduro-focused Wild Enduro line but offers more support and durability than a pure XC or trail tire. It’s built with a Gravity Shield casing for added sidewall support and the Gum-X3D triple compound for a solid balance of rolling speed, grip, and durability. It’s meant for riders who are charging trail laps, not racing DH—but still want a tire that can handle technical terrain. 

I ran the 29 x 2.4" version front and rear on my Yeti SB120, and also tested the Force AM2 as a rear tire for a few weeks to see how it compares. Spoiler: both have a place, and it depends on what you’re looking for.

What’s New with the Wild AM2?

The Wild AM2 is part of Michelin’s updated all-mountain lineup, designed to deliver enduro-worthy traction with trail-friendly speed. Compared to its predecessor, the tread pattern has been revised with better shoulder support and more consistent knob spacing. The result is improved braking, cornering, and rolling performance.

It uses Michelin’s Gum-X compound, a triple rubber blend that balances rolling speed, grip, and longevity. The Gravity Shield casing brings extra sidewall support and protection, making it a reliable option for rocky and loose terrain without the harshness of a full downhill tire.

This isn’t a superlight XC tire—but it’s also not a boat anchor. It sits right in the sweet spot for trail and all-mountain riders who want dependable grip and confident handling across a variety of surfaces.

Specs & Construction

Here’s a quick spec breakdown for the Wild AM2 (and how it felt out on the trail):

• Size Tested: 29 x 2.4”

• Casing: Gravity Shield (trail/enduro protection)

• Compound: Gum-X3D (triple compound)

• Weight: ~1040g (actual may vary)

• Tubeless Ready: Yes

• Tread Design: Tall, aggressive lugs with ramped center knobs

The Gravity Shield casing strikes a good balance between support and comfort. It can take sharp hits without folding under pressure, but still offers just enough compliance to keep traction consistent in sketchy corners. The tread design features staggered center knobs for better straight-line speed, and squared-off side knobs that dig in during cornering without squirming.

On-Trail Performance

This tire lives up to its name. On Southern California’s dry, dusty terrain, the Wild AM2 felt fast and planted. It holds a line through loose-over-hard conditions and gives you the confidence to push into turns without second-guessing. Braking traction was predictable and reliable, even on steep descents with blown-out corners. There is a bit of the center to side knob transition that starts to drift, similar to many tires with the large two block center knobs, take a Maxxis Minon DHF and DHR II for reference. The Wild AM2 feels more in line with the DHR II with its drift and predictability, where the DHF to me feels much more drifty. Once you can trust the Wild AM2, you can really lean it over hard, and I think similar to their Wild Enduro lineup, the rubber almost breaks in and feels best after 3-5 rides and not right away. Something to note when you try these. 

In Grand Junction, where terrain shifts to rocky ledges, slabs, and punchy climbs, the tire really showed its durability. No cuts. No flats. Just a stable, grippy ride with excellent control. The casing held strong even when running lower pressures, and the tread pattern helped keep momentum without sacrificing grip.

Overall, the Wild AM2 is a killer front and rear combo for aggressive trail riders, especially if you're tackling variable terrain. The rubber compound felt grippy enough and compatible to Maxxis Maxx Terra. Given our location and conditions I felt great running these tires on my light trail bikes. Michelin tires always seem to have a long life as well, the Wild AM2 and Force AM2 held up to that. The tires wear but not as fast as some, normally I am fine with a tire wearing as it means its working, but of course you want that balance. 

What About the Force AM2?

To round out the review, I also spent time running the Michelin Force AM2 as a rear tire. This tire is built with speed in mind. The center tread is tighter and lower than the Wild, which makes it noticeably faster on hardpack and smoother trails. If you're riding flowy singletrack or doing big rides where pedaling efficiency matters, the Force AM2 delivers.

While it doesn’t offer the same locked-in feel on loose corners as the Wild AM2, it’s not unpredictable—it just drifts a little more before biting, which can actually feel fun once you get used to it. On firm, fast terrain, it rips. As a rear tire paired with the Wild AM2 up front, it's a solid setup that gives you extra rolling speed without giving up too much in terms of grip.

If you ride mostly dry, hardpack terrain or want a faster rolling rear, the Force AM2 is worth a look. Just know it trades a bit of traction for speed—but in the right conditions, that trade pays off.

Setup & Ride Feel

I ran both tires in 29 x 2.4” on my Yeti SB120, mounted to 30mm internal rims, set up tubeless with no inserts. Pressures hovered around 20–23 psi up front and 23–26 psi in the rear depending on terrain. I felt like the casing provides enough support and flat protection that I found myself dropping the pressure a bit more getting the tire to conform more, the support feels even to Maxxis EXO+ yet I found the entire tire to be protective vs the EXO+ adds protection only to the sidewalls.

Installation was easy. The bead seated quickly with a standard floor pump, and I didn’t have any issues with burping or wobble. Out on the trail, the tires felt supportive and composed. The Gravity Shield casing kept the tire from folding under hard cornering, but it didn’t beat me up on long rides either.

The Wild AM2 especially felt like a “set it and forget it” tire. Once dialed in, I never had to mess with pressure or setup again. It felt reliable no matter what terrain I was riding.

What’s Worldwide’s Takeaway?

The Michelin Wild AM2 is a standout option in the all-mountain trail category. It rolls fast, grips hard, and holds up under pressure—whether you’re riding dusty singletrack, rocky descents, or something in between.

If you’re looking for a rear tire that adds speed and efficiency without giving up too much traction, the Force AM2 is a smart pairing. It’s especially good on hardpack or mixed terrain, where that extra rolling speed can make a noticeable difference. But for most trail riders, especially those who prioritize cornering confidence and braking control, running the Wild AM2 front and rear is the move. It’s predictable, durable, and ready for whatever you throw at it.

So—is this the best all-mountain tire you haven’t tried yet? If you’re looking for something that balances grip, speed, and reliability, the Wild AM2 should be on your shortlist. It’s earned a spot in mine.

This article was written / authored by Liam Woods. Liam has been in the bicycle industry for over 10 years as a racer, professional mechanic, service manager and as of late, media and content creator. Liam has ridden thousands of different bikes, ridden countless components, tested endless MTB apparel of all kinds and written reviews on it all. He's a key piece to the Worldwide Cyclery "All Things MTB" content creation puzzle. He also makes consistent appearances on the Worldwide Cyclery YouTube channel and Instagram.