Premium MTB trail tyres feature sidewalls reinforced with a lightweight abrasion resistant layer that protects the sidewalls of the tyres from cuts. With their vastly improved puncture resistance, Tubeless tyres are fast becoming the norm on mountain bikes. When used with tubeless tyre sealant, small punctures will seal themselves without you noticing. See our tubeless repair video to learn how to repair a tubeless MTB tyre. Another advantage of tubeless tyres is that you can reliably run lower tyre pressures.
This gives you more grip without the pinch puncture risk you get with inner tubes. While they take a little more effort to set up initially, this extra work is more than offset when you realise that punctures are almost a thing of the past.
Converting to tubeless tyres is easy. Alongside wheel weight, tyre weight is probably the most important weight consideration on a bicycle. This is because of the rotational effect of the wheel which means that adding weight to the rim will slow you down more than adding weight anywhere else.
You will notice the effect of a heavy tyre most climbing and accelerating, so is the first place to look when you want to make your bike lighter. The easiest way to reduce tyre weight without compromising performance is to choose a tyre with a folding bead.
Folding tyres use a Kevlar bead instead of a traditional steel bead which is just as strong, but much lighter. One of the simplest ways to improve the performance of your mountain bike is to ride with the right tyre pressure. The ideal tyre pressure will vary depending on riding style, rider weight, and trail surface. You want your tyres to be soft enough to conform to the lumps and bumps on the trail, but not so soft that you bang your rims on rocks and roots, or the tyre folds over and squirms about while cornering.
If you are riding cross country trails or a trail centre loop, then you will want your tyre to be hard enough for efficient rolling on the climbs but not so hard that you loose grip on the downhills. For aggressive downhill riding lower pressures are ideal as they will give you more grip.
Downhill tyres tend to have thicker reinforced side walls that help to prevent pinch punctures and give you additional support while cornering. Another consideration is that a higher-volume tyre will require less pressure than a thinner tyre for optimal performance. There are too many variables to give an ideal pressure range here, but most mountain bikers will run between 20psi and 40psi. Lighter riders will benefit from lower tyre pressures, while heavier bikers will need higher pressures to get the right level of support from the tyre.
Mountain bikers tend to run a couple of psi more in the back than the front, as it is the rear tyre that takes the biggest hammering. A digital pressure gauge or digital track pump is the most accurate way to measure tyre pressures, while a hand pump with a pressure gauge is the least accurate, but can be very helpful out on the trail. You will need to check what wheel size you have along with the clearance given by your frame and fork.
The tread of a tyre will depend on the conditions you ride in. Hutchinson Python 2. A squared-off profile helps keep rolling resistance low and speed high. Best for: Dry XC races. The Python 2 has become a legendary cross country tyre with over two decades of racing and victories to its name. With a squared-off profile to boost rolling speed, the Python 2 tyre provides excellent rideability on a wide variety of terrains in dry conditions.
Despite being a favourite amongst XC racers, the Python 2 tyres are highly preferred as a rear tyre choice for all-mountain excursions too. Bontrager SE5. The SE5 delivers enduro-grade durability with downhill-focused traction.
Best for: Lightweight and aggressive enduro riding. In addition to its very capable descending action, the SE5 is light enough to be a competent climber, ensuring a harmonious companionship wherever the route takes you. Continental Der Baron Apex. An 'Apex' lining helps strengthen the tyre's sidewall. Best for: Summer bike park blazing. WTB Vigilante. A variety of sizes, widths and compounds means there's a Vigilante for you.
Best for: Loose trail. Constructed from three rubber compounds to provide different levels of traction, support and durability, the Vigilante by WTB delivers unfaltering traction where you need it most, aided by the additional knobble height so you can really push deep into those corners. Why you should make the switch to 29" MTB tyres What are the best 29er mountain bike tyres? From …. Rounder tyres roll more easily into corners and slide in loose terrain more predictably. Some tyres use different compounds for the centre and edge tread blocks, to balance rolling resistance, grip and durability.
Alex Evans is BikeRadar's mountain bike technical editor. He started racing downhill at the tender age of 11 before going on to compete across Europe. Alex moved to Morzine in the French Alps at 19 to pursue a career as a bike bum and clocked up an enormous amount of riding. Riding those famous tracks day in, day out for eight years, he broke more bikes than he can remember. Alex then moved back to the UK and put his vast knowledge of mountain biking to good use by landing a job working for MBUK magazine as features editor.
He's one of BikeRadar's lead testers, knows how to push bikes and products to the limit, and wants to search out the equipment that represents the best value for money. When you buy through links on our site we may earn an affiliate commission, but this never influences our opinion.
Best for… Downhill, enduro and trail riding depending on width, casing type and compound Hardpack, dust, rocks and roots Front tyre. Latest deals. Best for… Downhill, enduro and trail riding depending on tyre casing, width and compound Soft terrain such as deep, gloopy and wet mud, or dust and loam Front or rear tyre.
The Michelin Wild Enduro tyre offers plenty of traction, especially in sloppy conditions. Best for… Downhill and enduro Soft terrain such as deep, gloopy and wet mud, or dust and loam Exceptional grip on rocks, roots and hard surfaces, too Front tyre.
William Poole. Best for… Downhill, enduro and trail riding depending on carcass weight and rubber compound Hardpack, rocks and roots Rear tyre. Andy Lloyd. Best for… Downhill, enduro and trail riding All terrain types from mud through to hardpack, rocks and roots Lighter casing and different compounds are available depending on your preferred discipline Front or rear tyre.
Best for… Downhill, enduro and heavy trail riding Hardpack, rocks and roots Front or rear tyre. Best for… Downhill and enduro All terrain types from mud through to hardpack, rocks and roots Rear tyre. Braking grip is good on rocky ground where it stays settled over bumps. The large casing of this 2. Cons: Loads of versions — look for Orange stripe. Slightly undersized, so size up if you want big volume.
The 2. The new 2. These are a bit of a grip monster, especially in winter in the Ultra Soft Purple version, but the very open tread blocks bobble more and are less assured and drifty on hardpack. Read our full test review of the Schwalbe Magic Mary tyre. Pros: Excellent grip without excess drag. It works really well on the front too! Con: Multiple versions can be confusing get 3C MaxxTerra for rear tyre , Slightly undersized compared to other beefier brands.
With its blocky tread slabs and pronounced shoulder channel, the Minion is a mountain bike classic and regular winner of our group test. Pros: Great in anything not-firm, whether mud or dust. Much more versatile than an all-out mud spike. Cons: A bit on the hefty side. Super slick roots and rocks require softer compound. We fitted it in July, and rode it through our variable summer conditions, learning to live with it washing out slightly on hardpack as the tall knobs folded over.
As a dry tyre it was usable, if far from optimal, with that understeer compounded by its hefty weight and slow rolling. Then, it rode it straight after a downpour, and while everyone around us floundered, we were feet up, railing everything and feeling just a little bit like Danny Hart in Champery As summer has turned to winter, the WTB Verdict has really come into its own. Certainly it feels like the blocks have a faster rebound than Maxxis 3C Maxx Terra. Read our full test review of WTB Verdict tyre.
Pros: Great tread in excellent Black Chili compound. Revised casings are better than ever. Cons: New bead design can be hard to mount without tools. Over a kilogram — but worth the weight. The uniform tread has continuous, wedge-shaped shoulder blocks and a faster rolling centre.
A benefit of the new casing is much improved suppleness, so sidewalls and crown now conform to terrain as well as the best other brands, with a well-damped, slurpy feel that really irons out vibration.
This holds true. Predictable braking, and rails corners consistently with excellent edge hold. This makes it better in the wet too.
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