Alexandra Ramirez
1. Kenda Nevegal
Best Overall Mountain Bike Tires
5/5 Product Rating
The Dual treat gives the rider much faster acceleration off the center line and cornering grip us better too.
These tires have won the MTN Bike Magazine Tire of the Year award two times.
The side wall shield provides a protective tape that adheres to the sidewall of the tire.
This protective tape is thin and offers the most puncture resistance protection but doesn’t increase the weight of the tire.
The aggressive knob is deep and keeps good grip to loose ground as well regardless of the condition.
When looking for good tires you want to find quality that will last, that stands up under many different riding conditions, that is puncture resistant and also that is worth the money that you have spent. Give these tires a try if you’re looking for award winning tires that will last you a long time.
– Jonathan Maxwell
2. Maxxis Ardent
Best Overall Mountain Bike Tires – Runner Up
4.7/5 Product Rating
Maxxis Ardent Mountain Bike Tires are enjoyed by both amateur and professional riders.
They have been tested and found to be exceptionally durable and are designed to provide the rider with plenty of traction in most types of terrain.
The tread of these tires are made for the accelerating and braking traction that prevent it from getting out from under you. The knobs have been upgraded to minimize the amount of rolling distance.
There is a large variety of sizes that you can choose from when it comes to these tires.
They are a very good choice when you want to replace the tires on your bike with good quality mountain bike tires.
– Jonathan Maxwell
3. Kenda K816
Best Budget Mountain Bike Tires
4.5/5 Product Rating
This mountain bike tire measures 26 x 2.1”. These mountain bike tires can be used on pretty much any surface and provides plenty of stability even if you have been riding for a few hours.
These great tires can last you longer than 5 years with proper care and you will find them very durable as well.
If your tires get dirt or mud in between the treads they can be easily rinsed clean.
The Kenda K816 weighs about 1.4 pounds. Whether you’re riding in mud, crushed gravel, pavement, off road trails or dirt, you will find the ride is stable and enjoyable.
The thick sidewalls do well on up and downhill riding and can even handle a cactus trail with ease.
If you know you’ll be traveling on some rough terrain, you can get liners for the tires so nothing can get a hold of the tube and damage it. The grip is good, allowing the rider to go as fast as they desire and the grip will remain constant. If you’re looking for an exceptional replacement for a standard 26” tire, this is it.
– Jonathan Maxwell
Mountain Bike Tires Buying Guide
Features to Consider
There are many different features that you want to look for in the tire you choose. We’ve put together a list of the most important features to look for in the style tire you choose.
- Traction in the mud – The tread on a tire that has good traction in mud will have knobs that are spaced well and are pointed slightly. This design penetrates the mud to get to the firmer ground underneath and also helps to release the mud rather than have it get packed into the tread.
- Loose over packed/Loose rocky traction – The tread on this type of tire is very chunky, especially on the shoulder and is very aggressive. There are a lot of bars that run horizontally and knobs that are good for climbing, braking and cornering. It is the traditional “knobby tire” design.
- Hard packed and smooth traction – This will provides a lot of low profile and smaller knobs on the tread.
- Traction and speed in sand – The type of tire is wider and has low profile small knobs on it. You want to avoid digging down into the sand and the wider tires and smaller knobs allow the tire to have a floating effect on top of the sand rather than getting bogged down into the sand.
- Accelerates faster – These lighter weight tires change direction, climb, accelerate and stop much quicker than other styles.
- Climbs Faster – lightweight tires also accelerate uphill and allow the rider to climb faster
- Tough and more Durable – a tire that has 2 ply construction or heavier are resistant to pinch flats, punctures and can better handle the rocky or rough terrain that mountain biking often has. Another benefit to a tougher and therefore heavier tire is that when you are riding on the trails, you will notice that it feels a lot more grounded.
- Packing capability – There are tires that “fold” which make traveling with your bike much easier. These folding tires are almost always made from Aramid bead fibers and popular and flexible Kevlar.
- Comfortable Rides – A wider tire will provide the rider with a much more comfortable ride.
Types of Beads
Choosing the right type of bead for your specific needs is the first thing you should do when beginning the search for the right tire. In case the term is unfamiliar to you, Bead refers to how the tire is held on the wheel. When you look at a bicycle wheel, you will notice a groove that runs around the rim of the tire. The tire’s bead will slide into this groove. There are two different types of beads that you can choose from:
- Wire Bead – A wire bead tire is built to be strong and durable. There is a strip of wire in the bead of this type of tire that will keep it in place and sturdy as well. They are very popular with mountain bike enthusiasts that do downhill riding because they stand up to rough, rocky terrain well. Wire bead tires are a lot heavier than the other type because of the wire inside and how stiff it is. Because of this, they can sometimes be hard to fit.
- Folding Bead – There is no wire in the bead of a folding tire. This type can actually fold up because of the fact that there is no wire. The bead of a folding tire has been made from Kevlar, a very popular and super strong fiber that is often seen in racing tires and even armor for the body. A folding bead tire will be much easier for the rider to fit but one drawback that has been noted is that they can stretch after a bit of time.
Types of Tread
The tread of a tire used for mountain biking will have an effect on its performance. There are four types of tread that a tire can have. We’ve outlined the four different kinds and the pros and cons of each.
- Knobbed – This versatile tire has good traction on the road or off road as well. A disadvantage to this type of tread is that it can be bogged down with mud.
- Combination – This type of tread will handle going fast on the harder ground while gripping well on softer ground. It is created to do well on multiple types of surfaces. It is heavier than a lot of other tire styles and can lack acceleration.
- Inverted – Inverted tread tires will do well on roads and sidewalks. You will be able to get good speed as well. The inverted tread provides smooth rides even on uneven surface. On loose ground the inverted tread tire doesn’t do as well due to less traction and it tends to produce bad performance as well.
- Treadless/Slick – On pavement and roads it doesn’t get much better speed wise than when using a treadles tire. It is a good tread style for those who use their bikes strictly for commuting. Treadles tires have no grip in wet conditions. It is completely useless for any kind of off-road riding.
Conclusion
When it comes to choosing the right tires for your bike, you will need the right knowledge and will have to research the different elements and factors that make up a great tire. Different tires will suit different styles of riding better than others.
By taking the time to research the different styles and familiarize yourself with the different tread types, features and bead types, you have given yourself an advantage. This advantage will make it much easier to sort through the large number of mountain bike tires that are available on the market.
The right knowledge can help you search with confidence and make a decision that you will be happy with when you are riding your mountain bike. One important factor to remember is to know exactly how you will be using your mountain bike for and on what types of terrain and conditions. This information will steer you towards the best tires for you.
Resources
- Kenda – http://www.kendatire.com/en-us
- Maxxis – http://www.maxxis.com/
