Those expensive rings of black rubber, fabric and Kevlar that wrap around your wheels and get covered in mud (or loam and dust if you’re lucky) aren’t exactly glamorous. But they are the only things connecting you with the terrain when you’re pushing the limits on a mountain bike.
Totally vital for control then, tyres all ride differently and are something of a dark art in terms of construction, compounds and the compromises that can make the difference between speed and staying safely on track, or a sluggish ride and ending up head first in a ditch.
Modern tyres cost big bucks and also literally wear out rolling along, but seeing as the best ones can transform a bike’s handling for the better, few other upgrades have as big an impact for the same cash. Basically, if you’re serious about performance, quality rubber has to be a budgetary priority.
Tyres span a wide range of opposing goals, from the fastest-possible rolling speed and weigh-saving for faster climbing, to ultimate grip, toughness and traction. No one tyre can ‘do-it-all’ without compromise.
Modern designs are cut and snakebite-resistant and also tubeless-ready, so you can use latex-based sealant instead of inner tubes inside, which vastly reduces the risk of punctures and improves tyre conformity and suppleness.
The 12 tyres here span a range of intentions from aggressive trail and XC riding to enduro, and target both wet and dry conditions. The products come from leading brands that have a sometimes-bewildering array of choices, so we’ll help you to navigate the options, taking into account control at speed and in difficult conditions, and pure weight saving and turnover pace (or anywhere in between).
Generally, being stickier, thicker and chunkier means less issues and trail failures in the form of faff-inducing punctures and damage, and also improves rider confidence and stability at speed. A further benefit is that meatier tyres work way better in mixed or damp conditions; something we’re not exactly strangers to in the UK.
You can’t have it both ways though; the major drawback of thicker rubber and deeper treads is you’ll drag more weight up climbs, while softer compounds and spikier patterns roll more slowly than lower-profile, firmer tyres. The latter are often more exciting to ride and way more dynamic too.
Our line-up features big players and some lesser-known brands hoping to elbow into the tyre market with all-new treads and technologies. Weight, prices, rubber compounds and constructions vary quite a bit, so we’ll delve into the details to make sense of it all. There’s plenty of confusing jargon to cut through, but we’ve done the legwork to let you know which of these dozen best will fit your kind of riding.
Conclusion
It’s got to be a tough gig for any brand trying to muscle more market share in the premium mtb tyre game. Maxxis has ruled the roost for so long that unless a rival brand can offer significant improvements in performance or cost, riders will not even consider swapping such a vital piece of kit.
Over the years, Schwalbe, Michelin and (more recently) Continental have emerged as on-trend brands of the moment with products that have managed to impact the dominance of Maxxis. Whether any of these products stick for the long haul and win loyalty from the masses is up for debate though. As the most trusted global brand, we continue to see Maxxis tyres as the default choice wherever we are on our travels.
Specialized rubber has historically surfed the boundary between excellent value and premium performance, and after a few years in the wilderness is firmly back in the game with some stellar new tyres. In fact, its Hillbilly tyre here has to be one of the grippiest tyres we’ve ever used and is arguably better than the equivalent Shorty Gen 2 when the conditions are the most mucky and gunky.
The Conclusion latter is a more versatile option though, and probably a better option for everyday leave-it-on-all-year use.
Brands like Vee here also offer tons of stickiness and grip, but we found wear life to be less than rivals and there’s not much cost saving either. It’s hard to see how they or much-improved Pirelli (although neither can quite match the very best performers) are going to cut deeper into the crowded tyre market without something extra to offer.
Michelin’s latest range is still a popular rider choice, especially at the enduro level, but its offerings are often too slow-rolling and heavy. Michelin’s stickiest, best-damped rubber compound goes to the dogs
