TYRES
Tyres are a vital piece of kit that connect your bike to the trails. They control everything from cornering grip to braking traction, and rolling speed to cushioning and comfort. These side, heavier tyres increase confidence by being more stable and resistant to deflections at speed.
Modern tyres are continually improving too, so compound blends, tread patterns, and construction technologies are better than ever, allowing harder riding with less downtime. In fact, if you set up the right tyre tubeless, and you’re prepared to compromise a little on weight, it can deliver huge levels of grip and virtually eliminate cuts or punctures.
We’re looking at 10 newer models here, including some of the very latest additions to the market. The line-up is deliberately skewed towards trail and enduro tyres, because these are tough enough to handle the kind of high speeds and rough terrain that modern bikes and trails have made possible. Plus, who doesn’t enjoy feeling like a hero thanks to the maximum level of grip offered by a good tyre? Or not wasting precious ride time fixing punctures by running flimsy tyres?
USED & ABUSED
How we test
For back-to-back testing, all tyres here were set up tubeless on modern, wider rims and hammered at various spots, both in the UK and abroad.
The same bike was used for comparison laps on the same hill, giving direct final analysis between brands. Air pressures were set dependant on casing thickness and suppleness for optimum ride feel for each brand and tyre – mostly around 28psi rear, and 25psi front.
Thanks to the recent hot spell, we were in the unusual position of not riding one of the newest tyres in the wet, but rain on the day before deadline meant we were able to carry out some 11th hour testing. multiple factors can totally transform your ride experience, and can actively keep you safer on a variety of trails and help prevent crashes.
The ultimate tyre would roll incredibly fast, deliver huge traction, never puncture and be light enough to carry up climbs without overly impacting efficiency. This tyre doesn’t yet exist though, so all models pack in-built compromises, whether that’s extra weight and stiffness to improve toughness and response, or less stability and durability to increase rolling speed and acceleration.
Higher friction, better-damped rubber and thicker casings result in slower tyres that are less optimised for everyday trail riding and longer distances. This makes them harder to drag uphill for the
