The choice of tires for your mountain bike is critical. It is an important factor in your overall biking performance. Tires can determine how well you can ride on dirt roads, sand, mud, or rocky trails. Using the right tires can let you successfully negotiate different trail surfaces, rip corners, and avoid sliding out.

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How to Select the Right Mountain Bike Tires

Having the right tire for your mountain bike is about finding the right combination of traction, durability, weight, riding comfort, and price.

First, ask yourself where you will be riding. Will the trail surfaces be mainly mud, deep dust, lots of rocks, slippery roots, hard pack, or gravel/dirt road? The terrain conditions are an important factor in the type of tire you’ll want to use. Next, consider what your goal is in riding. Do you want a recreational, safe ride or a cross-country race riding the same trail?

Here are useful guides in choosing the tires that best suit the way you ride.

Wheel Size: Wheels are available in sizes of 26, 27.5, and 29 inches. Research shows that 29˝ wheels are the most efficient choice for most bikes and riders. Each bike frame size is normally paired with the wheel that best fits the driver and allows for optimal efficiency and power transfer.

Tire Width: Generally, wider tires provide more traction and control on the trail. They also allow lower pressure, which results in a smoother, more comfortable ride. Narrower tires roll faster on smooth trails.

Tire Tread: Tires with bigger knobs can let you bike for more traction on fresh, loamy trails, mud, and loose dirt using the trail, enduro, and downhill mountain bikes. However, these types of tires could be a nightmare when riding on rocky trails. Tires with shorter knobs that are spaced close together are ideal for trails that are hard-packed and fast.

Type of Tire: Tubeless-ready tires, tires that will hold air when paired with a tubeless rim and sealant are now used in most mountain bikes. Ideal for mountain biking, they can run at lower tire pressure for better traction and without the risk of pinch flats.

Bead is the cord at the base of the sidewall that locks into the rim lip keeping the tire in place. Folding tires refer to tires that use Kevlar beads, a lightweight and highly durable material. They are more expensive. Wired tires, which cannot be folded, have a bead that is made of metal and could be more durable.

Compound: Bike tire compounds used in mountain bikes range from hard to ultra-soft. The choice of compounds involves a tradeoff. Harder compounds can roll faster and are more durable. They, however, sacrifice traction control. Softer compounds, while able to provide more grip, wear out quicker.

The Best Mountain Bike Tires

Selecting the best mountain bike tire for your specific needs, riding style, and budget can be tedious and confusing. It is reassuring that a few independent groups that champion the sport have reviewed and rated the best mountain bike tires from leading manufacturers to the test.

In an effort to help you find the tires that best meet your needs, they conducted rigorous field testing riding each tire as much as possible and focusing on the important performance metrics. They made a detailed comparative analysis to guide riders and mountain biking enthusiasts to find the right tires. Take advantage of the results of these independent reviews and recommendations.

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Some of the best mountain bike tires you should consider include the following:

• Maxxis Minion DHF Wide Trail 3C TR EXO
• Maxxis Shorty 3C Max Terra EXO
• Schwalbe Hans Dampf SuperGravity ADDIX Soft
• Schwalbe Magic Mary SuperGravity ADDIX Soft
• Michelin Wild Enduro Rear Gum-X
• Michelin Wild Enduro Front Gum-X / Magi-X
• Specialized Eliminator BLCK DMND
• Specialized Hillbilly BLCK DMND
• WTB Verdict 2.5 TCS Tough High Grip
• Vee Tire Co SNAP WCE Top 40

Getting the best mountain bike tires for the type of riding you do, the conditions you typically encounter, and what you are willing to spend can be a real challenge. Search out the tire that meets most if not all of your riding needs and represents the best value for money.

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