Tyres

MTB Tyre Buying Guide

Tyres are the only contact between your bike and the ground. Tread pattern, rubber compound, casing weight and width all affect grip, rolling speed, puncture resistance and how the bike handles. Tyre choice is the easiest and cheapest way to completely change how a bike rides.

Tread Pattern

Aggressive, widely-spaced knobs (Maxxis Minion DHF, Schwalbe Magic Mary) grip in loose and muddy conditions but roll slowly on hardpack. Tighter, lower-profile tread (Maxxis Ardent, Schwalbe Nobby Nic) rolls faster but washes out sooner in loose corners. Most trail riders run a more aggressive tyre on the front for cornering grip and a faster-rolling tyre on the rear for pedalling efficiency. The classic combo: Minion DHF front, Minion DHR II or Aggressor rear.

Rubber Compound

Softer compounds grip better but wear faster. Harder compounds last longer but offer less traction. Most tyre brands use a dual or triple compound — softer rubber on the side knobs for cornering, harder rubber in the centre for durability and rolling speed. Maxxis labels theirs MaxxTerra (trail), MaxxGrip (wet/enduro/DH) and MaxxSpeed (XC/dry). Schwalbe uses Addix Soft, SpeedGrip and similar. For year-round UK riding, softer compounds are usually worth the faster wear rate because traction matters more than tyre life when it's wet eight months a year.

Casing

Casing weight determines puncture resistance and sidewall support. Lightweight casings (Maxxis EXO, Schwalbe Super Trail) are fine for trail riding on smooth-ish terrain. Reinforced casings (Maxxis EXO+, Schwalbe Super Gravity) add a nylon insert for sidewall protection on rocky trails. DH casings (Maxxis DH, Schwalbe Ultra Soft) use multiple plies and are nearly puncture-proof but heavy. If you're cutting sidewalls regularly, step up one casing level before adding tyre inserts.

Tyre Width

MTB tyres range from 2.0" (XC) to 2.8"+ (plus-size). Trail bikes typically run 2.3–2.5". Enduro bikes suit 2.4–2.6". DH bikes run 2.4–2.5" in heavy casings. Wider tyres provide more air volume (lower pressure, more grip, better bump absorption) but add weight and can feel vague in fast corners. Match the width to your rim internal width — a 2.5" tyre works best on a 30mm+ internal width rim. Too narrow a rim and the tyre profile becomes too round, reducing cornering support.