Best Mountain Bike Tires: Our Recommendations and Reviews
If you’re a mountain biker in the market for new bike tires, you’ve likely already determined there are several different options—including tread patterns and front and rear tires. It can help to read reviews to narrow down your choices. This way you’re able to comparison shop and determine which tires will be best for you purposes.
Determining which tires you need comes down to a few important factors: size, width, and TPI or threads-per-inch rating.
Size-wise, slimmer tires tend to be faster, but the trade-off is stability. You won’t feel as stable riding on rough terrain when you’re on slim tires. Most mountain bike and trail bike tires are 26 inches or 29 inches, and typically have a width of more than 2 inches. 2.6 is the highest and strongest width available in standard mountain bike tires to tackle rough terrain.
As far as tread goes, you’ll want something with a lot of grip. Smoother tires are designed for smoother surfaces and you need something that can stand up to muddy, rocky trails and not make your rides any bumpier than they already are.
Once you know what size and other specs you’ll need, you can begin comparing the various bicycle tires on the market. Here are some that we think are the best options:
Schwalbe Hans Dampf
These tires are ideal for those who ride on a variety of different terrains. They are available in 27.5 inches and are tubeless. Riders love the great grip these tires provide on harder terrain, making them some of the safest tires you can buy. Unfortunately, they aren’t as durable as some of the other options and they are not appropriate for on-road rides. In general, they’re a great all-around tire that works when on several different surfaces. It’s also possible to inflate the tires more if you’re riding on harder, rockier terrain. The tires come with sidewall protection that reduces the risk for tearing even if you’re riding around sharper rocks. These tires are slow, but we like them because they give a great off-road performance that’s reliable and safe.
Maxxis Mammoth
These bicycle tires are a great option for hard-packed terrain and colder weather riding. They are 26 inches and tubeless. You’ll pay up for these tires, but we think it’s worth it. This tire tends to be faster, relative to off-road tires, due to the smaller profile center tread. We love this tire’s performance on harder-packed terrain, but it’s not the right tire for everyone, especially if you aren’t doing the majority of your riding on harder surfaces.
Michelin Wild Race’R
This tire is a great option for those riding on rockier terrain. It’s 29 inches and gives rear tire traction that helps with cornering. It’s also a durable tire, but you’ll pay up for quality. There are cheaper options available, but if it’s in your budget, you won’t regret investing in this tire.
We love that this Michelin tire is fast rolling that is ideal for dry conditions on all surfaces. It features a shallow, hard center that keep rolling resistance down, which means you’ll get fast acceleration and be able to dig into corners even when the terrain is loose. We also think it’s a good option for long distance riders. The only downside about this tire is how it handles the mud—if you’re riding in wet areas on a regular basis, you’ll want to opt for another tire.
Schwalbe Racing Ralph
This is a great tire if you’re tired of sacrificing speed and you’re willing to give up some durability for it. It’s available in a variety of sizes and offers great cornering. This tire has a cult following for riders who love speed and because it offers so much flexibility size-wise. Among the tires that offer speed for mountain biking, these offer the best support for riding through patches of looser dirt and mud—most of the faster tires available aren’t going to offer this. If you want faster race times and you’re OK with tires that wear out fast but help you get the time you want, these are a decent option.
Continental Trail King
These tires are ideal for those who spend a lot of their time on rocky terrain. They are 29 inches and handle well on just about any type of terrain. They aren’t the best mud option, but if you spend the majority of your rides on hard-pack rocks and loam, you’re going to love this tire. The tire has a soft, conforming feel that is still fast and durable. Most riders report they are surprised by their ability to corner and brake with this tire—they were expecting less based on the cost and look of the tire. You’ll find you slip on mud, so stick to dry trails when riding otherwise, this is a solid choice in mountain bike tires.
Schwalbe Rock Razor
If you’re looking for a tire that works well on rocky trails and you’re OK with slower riding, this is a great option. It comes in 26-inch and 27.5-inch sizes. It works great on rocky terrain but tends to slip when you break quickly. We love this tire for downhill use because it allows for fast acceleration and can continue to hold speed on a rocky terrain and corners well. Keep in mind it’s designed to be used only as a back tire. This tire isn’t going to work for you in loose or wet soil, so keep it away from muddy terrain.
WTB Wolverine
This tire is a great, versatile option that works well for simple mountain biking. It’s our top pick for beginners and for those who just want a simple choice and don’t need a lot of specialization. It comes in 26 inches or 27.5 inches. It works well on loose surfaces (as long as they aren’t too deep) and gives a decent amount of traction, especially for riders who aren’t pushing too hard. It’s great for general riding, but not “racing fast” and not durable enough to stand up to seriously hard riding.
