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Hi, all!
I had an interesting opportunity to review a product from TreadAuto, and I wanted to share my experience with the Michelin TPE Bed Mat with the community.
A Bit About Myself
I drive a 2025 Toyota Tacoma Trailhunter and live in the Southeast, in an area commonly referred to as TAG: Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia. I'm reasonably close to Scottsboro, Alabama, and I'm a caver. The epicenter of Scottsboro has more than 1,500 documented caves in Jackson County alone, with over 5,000 caves within a 100-mile radius. It's an area densely packed with adventure and elevation, both above and below ground.
My hobby often involves slogging through rough terrain and karst landscapes so I can spend the next 10–12 hours underground, sharing the experience with like-minded enthusiasts. Trips often last one to three days, during which I'm packing vertical and horizontal caving gear, tents, shower setups, a trailer, and, in some cases, emergency response equipment. Most of these adventures involve dirty, wet conditions and undulating terrain on the way to base camp, followed by tremendous elevation changes underground. More often than not, I have a truck bed full of gear that I haul to and from the sites I'm exploring.
This hobby frequently takes me down washed-out, seldom-traveled roads where lifted 4x4 vehicles are a requirement. Washouts and logging roads are commonplace in this area. For this hobby, my truck is as much a tool as it is a mode of transportation.
Since purchasing the Trailhunter, I've made a few upgrades: RIGID rear bumper lights, Toyota MOLLE bed panels (self-installed), ARB differential breathers, and a complete suspension overhaul. Everything except the OME shock absorbers has been replaced with Dobinsons-branded products.
During my adventures, I've already bent control arms, high-centered the truck, and pushed the stock rear-end linkage to what I suspect might be its limits. I'm constantly looking for greater capability when loaded, specifically with respect to the gear I carry in the bed. I use the MOLLE panels to secure my caving gear while slogging through trails, and the bed carries my heavy base-camp equipment.
Unboxing and Installation
I've used two different bed mats in previous vehicles (GM trucks): Husky and WeatherTech. In both previous experiences, the products arrived in bed-sized boxes, with the mats neither rolled nor folded to fit into the packaging.
When I received the notification that the mat had arrived, I stepped outside my garage expecting to be greeted by another 5–6-foot-long box of unfriendly proportions. In fact, I missed the package during my first lap around the house because it was small enough to be delivered to my front door without alerting the entire neighborhood to my latest procurement.
My first thought was that I had dealt with rolled and folded interior floor mats from WeatherTech before, and this might present the same issue I'd experienced previously. With WeatherTech, it took direct sunlight in the middle of summer and significant heat to get the product to reform properly.
I unboxed the Michelin mat with similar expectations. Interestingly, this product has engineered sections that allow the mat to be folded in specific places to help it reform once installed. I laid it out in the sun to relax. After approximately 3.5 hours, installation was a breeze.
Fitment and Construction
With the previous products I've used, both companies claimed "laser precision" and unrivaled fitment. My assumption was that this was par for the course with this type of product, so I cared less about whether it was an "exact fit" and focused more on whether the designed lip would fit beneath the Toyota factory MOLLE panels and accommodate the built-in storage cubbies. I was also particularly interested in the grip of the rubber material.
Truthfully, the moment I noticed the height of the lip along the front, road-side, and curb-side edges, I became concerned that I wouldn't be able to use the mat.
I'm happy to report that the Michelin mat fits, quite literally, perfectly beneath the Toyota MOLLE panel system. Perhaps this is exposing a less-than-perfect installation on my part, but there is less than a credit-card-width gap between the top of the lip and the bottom of the panels. From side to side and front to back, the mat touches all the walls and the tailgate. There are no gaps in coverage, and the mat follows the contours of the bed.
The left air compressor panel is slightly overlapped by the height of the lip, but that is of no concern. In the event that I ever need to access the panel, I'm certain that removing the mat will be the least of my worries.
The right panel access is nearly perfect. Perhaps the mat doesn't sit absolutely perfectly, or maybe my panel isn't perfectly parallel with the bed, but there is no obstruction to the access door. Considering how much I use the air compressor during weekend trips, this was a critical consideration in determining whether I would continue using the mat.
Real-World Testing
I received the mat from TreadAuto two months ago and have put some serious mileage and use on the truck since then. Over the last two months, I've driven 8,000 miles, explored 30 unique caves, moved houses, and put the mat through some hellacious scenarios. These included loading lawn mowers into the bed, dealing with heavy rain and mud, and bringing the family along on interregional excursions.
The things that matter most in these scenarios are simple: heavy objects shouldn't tear through the mat, and wet or muddy cargo shouldn't slide around.
The Michelin mat meets all of these requirements.
Through heavy braking with substantial loads in the bed and wet, muddy weekend getaways, the mat has stood up to everything. After a simple low-pressure power wash, it continues to look as good as the day it was delivered, and the grip remains unmarred.
The material is resilient and provides excellent grip with different materials, including metal and rubber. I feel confident that, regardless of what I'm carrying, my cargo will stay where I put it.
The Good and the Bad
The Good:
The fitment is excellent for my setup. The Toyota MOLLE panels were my primary concern, and this mat conforms not only to my specific configuration but also accommodates the various Tacoma trims and bed configurations. Storage boxes and trim levels aren't a concern.
The material is excellent, and the texturing adds considerably to the mat's functionality. In my experience, it doesn't matter how muddy or wet the payload is; the mat delivers on performance.
During my testing, the Trailhunter's bed already had a protective coating, so bed protection was less of a priority for me than cargo grip.
My priorities were:
Most people purchasing a bed mat probably fall into one of two categories: those who don't necessarily need one and consider it a nice-to-have accessory, or those who have either extreme protection requirements or a specific need for increased cargo grip.
I fall into the latter category, specifically the low-friction grip category.
The Bad:
The design of the mat seems to rely heavily on the texturing of the material itself. I suspect that if you rarely load the bed or primarily use it for lighter-duty applications, this mat will last a lifetime.
However, if you're consistently using it for high-friction, high-weight applications, I suspect the texture will eventually wear down, potentially making the surface slicker over time.
Other Comments:
My main shrug-worthy observation is that the D-rings near the tailgate are covered by circular cutouts in the mat. They're easy enough to cut out, but doing so exposes portions of the bed to the elements.
Personally, I wish Michelin had stamped out the inner D-ring circles from the factory. I haven't made that modification myself, but it's something worth mentioning.
Final Verdict
Solid product. 9.0/10 overall.
My evaluation weights and scores were as follows:
CategoryWeightScoreFitment and coverage20%10/10Material and construction15%10/10Cargo grip and protection25%8/10Installation and removal10%10/10Cleaning and durability15%7/10Value for money15%8/10
Looking back at my experience with the mat, I ask myself two questions: Does this product meet my needs, and is there another product on the market that would perform better for the price?
I find myself answering, "Yes it meets my needs" and “No, there is no better performing product for the price.”
Are there products that can secure cargo completely and prevent sliding 100% of the time? Absolutely. However, those products are expensive and fall outside the scope of what I'm looking for.
More importantly, would I buy this product knowing what I know about it now?
Yes.
I personally prefer the material over what I've experienced with WeatherTech and Husky. It's less slick thanks to its rubberized composition and textured surface. It conforms well to the bed, and, more importantly, it accommodates beds equipped with passenger-side storage.
For those specifically targeting a bed mat that works with Toyota's MOLLE panel system, this is the one I'd recommend.
Thank you to TreadAuto for the collaboration opportunity and for providing a product that genuinely suits my hobbies and lifestyle!
Link - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GLHC1RN6
I had an interesting opportunity to review a product from TreadAuto, and I wanted to share my experience with the Michelin TPE Bed Mat with the community.
A Bit About Myself
I drive a 2025 Toyota Tacoma Trailhunter and live in the Southeast, in an area commonly referred to as TAG: Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia. I'm reasonably close to Scottsboro, Alabama, and I'm a caver. The epicenter of Scottsboro has more than 1,500 documented caves in Jackson County alone, with over 5,000 caves within a 100-mile radius. It's an area densely packed with adventure and elevation, both above and below ground.
My hobby often involves slogging through rough terrain and karst landscapes so I can spend the next 10–12 hours underground, sharing the experience with like-minded enthusiasts. Trips often last one to three days, during which I'm packing vertical and horizontal caving gear, tents, shower setups, a trailer, and, in some cases, emergency response equipment. Most of these adventures involve dirty, wet conditions and undulating terrain on the way to base camp, followed by tremendous elevation changes underground. More often than not, I have a truck bed full of gear that I haul to and from the sites I'm exploring.
This hobby frequently takes me down washed-out, seldom-traveled roads where lifted 4x4 vehicles are a requirement. Washouts and logging roads are commonplace in this area. For this hobby, my truck is as much a tool as it is a mode of transportation.
Since purchasing the Trailhunter, I've made a few upgrades: RIGID rear bumper lights, Toyota MOLLE bed panels (self-installed), ARB differential breathers, and a complete suspension overhaul. Everything except the OME shock absorbers has been replaced with Dobinsons-branded products.
During my adventures, I've already bent control arms, high-centered the truck, and pushed the stock rear-end linkage to what I suspect might be its limits. I'm constantly looking for greater capability when loaded, specifically with respect to the gear I carry in the bed. I use the MOLLE panels to secure my caving gear while slogging through trails, and the bed carries my heavy base-camp equipment.
Unboxing and Installation
I've used two different bed mats in previous vehicles (GM trucks): Husky and WeatherTech. In both previous experiences, the products arrived in bed-sized boxes, with the mats neither rolled nor folded to fit into the packaging.
When I received the notification that the mat had arrived, I stepped outside my garage expecting to be greeted by another 5–6-foot-long box of unfriendly proportions. In fact, I missed the package during my first lap around the house because it was small enough to be delivered to my front door without alerting the entire neighborhood to my latest procurement.
My first thought was that I had dealt with rolled and folded interior floor mats from WeatherTech before, and this might present the same issue I'd experienced previously. With WeatherTech, it took direct sunlight in the middle of summer and significant heat to get the product to reform properly.
I unboxed the Michelin mat with similar expectations. Interestingly, this product has engineered sections that allow the mat to be folded in specific places to help it reform once installed. I laid it out in the sun to relax. After approximately 3.5 hours, installation was a breeze.
Fitment and Construction
With the previous products I've used, both companies claimed "laser precision" and unrivaled fitment. My assumption was that this was par for the course with this type of product, so I cared less about whether it was an "exact fit" and focused more on whether the designed lip would fit beneath the Toyota factory MOLLE panels and accommodate the built-in storage cubbies. I was also particularly interested in the grip of the rubber material.
Truthfully, the moment I noticed the height of the lip along the front, road-side, and curb-side edges, I became concerned that I wouldn't be able to use the mat.
I'm happy to report that the Michelin mat fits, quite literally, perfectly beneath the Toyota MOLLE panel system. Perhaps this is exposing a less-than-perfect installation on my part, but there is less than a credit-card-width gap between the top of the lip and the bottom of the panels. From side to side and front to back, the mat touches all the walls and the tailgate. There are no gaps in coverage, and the mat follows the contours of the bed.
The left air compressor panel is slightly overlapped by the height of the lip, but that is of no concern. In the event that I ever need to access the panel, I'm certain that removing the mat will be the least of my worries.
The right panel access is nearly perfect. Perhaps the mat doesn't sit absolutely perfectly, or maybe my panel isn't perfectly parallel with the bed, but there is no obstruction to the access door. Considering how much I use the air compressor during weekend trips, this was a critical consideration in determining whether I would continue using the mat.
Real-World Testing
I received the mat from TreadAuto two months ago and have put some serious mileage and use on the truck since then. Over the last two months, I've driven 8,000 miles, explored 30 unique caves, moved houses, and put the mat through some hellacious scenarios. These included loading lawn mowers into the bed, dealing with heavy rain and mud, and bringing the family along on interregional excursions.
The things that matter most in these scenarios are simple: heavy objects shouldn't tear through the mat, and wet or muddy cargo shouldn't slide around.
The Michelin mat meets all of these requirements.
Through heavy braking with substantial loads in the bed and wet, muddy weekend getaways, the mat has stood up to everything. After a simple low-pressure power wash, it continues to look as good as the day it was delivered, and the grip remains unmarred.
The material is resilient and provides excellent grip with different materials, including metal and rubber. I feel confident that, regardless of what I'm carrying, my cargo will stay where I put it.
The Good and the Bad
The Good:
The fitment is excellent for my setup. The Toyota MOLLE panels were my primary concern, and this mat conforms not only to my specific configuration but also accommodates the various Tacoma trims and bed configurations. Storage boxes and trim levels aren't a concern.
The material is excellent, and the texturing adds considerably to the mat's functionality. In my experience, it doesn't matter how muddy or wet the payload is; the mat delivers on performance.
During my testing, the Trailhunter's bed already had a protective coating, so bed protection was less of a priority for me than cargo grip.
My priorities were:
- Grip
- Conformity to my setup
- Protection
- Coverage
Most people purchasing a bed mat probably fall into one of two categories: those who don't necessarily need one and consider it a nice-to-have accessory, or those who have either extreme protection requirements or a specific need for increased cargo grip.
I fall into the latter category, specifically the low-friction grip category.
The Bad:
The design of the mat seems to rely heavily on the texturing of the material itself. I suspect that if you rarely load the bed or primarily use it for lighter-duty applications, this mat will last a lifetime.
However, if you're consistently using it for high-friction, high-weight applications, I suspect the texture will eventually wear down, potentially making the surface slicker over time.
Other Comments:
My main shrug-worthy observation is that the D-rings near the tailgate are covered by circular cutouts in the mat. They're easy enough to cut out, but doing so exposes portions of the bed to the elements.
Personally, I wish Michelin had stamped out the inner D-ring circles from the factory. I haven't made that modification myself, but it's something worth mentioning.
Final Verdict
Solid product. 9.0/10 overall.
My evaluation weights and scores were as follows:
CategoryWeightScoreFitment and coverage20%10/10Material and construction15%10/10Cargo grip and protection25%8/10Installation and removal10%10/10Cleaning and durability15%7/10Value for money15%8/10
Looking back at my experience with the mat, I ask myself two questions: Does this product meet my needs, and is there another product on the market that would perform better for the price?
I find myself answering, "Yes it meets my needs" and “No, there is no better performing product for the price.”
Are there products that can secure cargo completely and prevent sliding 100% of the time? Absolutely. However, those products are expensive and fall outside the scope of what I'm looking for.
More importantly, would I buy this product knowing what I know about it now?
Yes.
I personally prefer the material over what I've experienced with WeatherTech and Husky. It's less slick thanks to its rubberized composition and textured surface. It conforms well to the bed, and, more importantly, it accommodates beds equipped with passenger-side storage.
For those specifically targeting a bed mat that works with Toyota's MOLLE panel system, this is the one I'd recommend.
Thank you to TreadAuto for the collaboration opportunity and for providing a product that genuinely suits my hobbies and lifestyle!
Link - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GLHC1RN6
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