Whether it’s enduro, downhill, trail or cross-country cycling – MTB tyres are available for a wide range of applications. They are your main contact point to the trail and are among the most important components on your mountain bike or E-MTB. Tyre characteristics such as tread and rubber compound have an enormous influence on how safe and quickly you bike. Changing MTB tyres is not only worthwhile when they are worn out: a set of new tyres is the easiest way to increase your bike’s reserves and grip when riding demanding routes. Here you will find a huge selection of MTB tyres, available in many designs and for all wheel sizes. Read further and discover more.
MTB Tyre Highlights
bc Insights on MTB tyres
The Best MTB Tyres for All Applications
Our tyre selection reflects the diversity in mountain bike designs. MTB tyres for enduro bikes afford a lot of grip and are very stable. For cross-country bikes, on the other hand, tyres should be as light as possible and roll fast. Tyre requirements for all mountain, downcountry and trail bikes fall somewhere in-between, depending on personal preferences and your riding style. Our range includes tyres from Specialized, Maxxis, Schwalbe, Continental, Kenda, Michelin, Pirelli, Vittoria, Onza and other top brands, so you can find everything you need from maximum grip to tyres designed especially for asphalt or dirt jump.
Grip on the MTB: Tyre Tread and Rubber Compounds
A number of factors determine which bike and which application a MTB tyre is best suited for. The most distinctive feature of a tyre is the tread, i.e. the shape and arrangement of the lugs. A coarser tread pattern with large lugs provides more grip and traction, while smaller and flatter lugs tend to reduce rolling resistance. To achieve a good compromise, many MTB tyres also combine a tread better suited for rolling in the centre with aggressive side lugs for cornering grip. Less obvious, but just as important, is the rubber compound. Softer tyres afford more grip, especially in wet conditions. A harder compound rolls more easily and improves durability. Most manufacturers offer their mountain bike tyres in different versions, which means you often have the choice between different rubber compounds for the same tread.
Other Important Tyre Qualities
The carcass on an MTB tyre is almost as important as the tread and rubber compound. The density of the fabric layer is indicated in TPI (threads per inch). The larger the number, the tighter the mesh and the more suppleness the tyre has. XC tyres with a finer carcass therefore roll particularly easily. Mountain bike tyres with a reinforced carcass and/or sidewall, on the other hand, are more puncture-proof and robust, but also weigh a little more. They are often the better choice for rougher terrain. Tubeless tyres are optimised to fit as precisely as possible on the rim to form an airtight chamber. For E-MTBs, you should opt for special tyres that are approved for E-bikes. Use our filter "E-Bike Ready" to find them.
Mountain Bike Wheel Sizes
Tyre dimensions are particularly important when buying tyres. The dimensions of your bike determine which diameter you should choose: 29 inch and 27.5 inch are the most popular MTB wheel sizes. Usually both wheels have the same diameter, but in the special case of the a "mullet” bike, a smaller wheel is fitted at the rear than at the front. On dirt jump bikes and mountain bikes for kids, you will also find 26-, 24-inch or smaller tyres. The specification in inches refers to the outer diameter of the tyre. The dimensions of the matching rims are given in millimetres. Here is a brief overview of the most important ones:
| Tyre Diameter | Bead Seat Diameter (BSD) |
| 29 inches | 622 millimetres |
| 27.5 inches | 584 millimetres |
| 26 inches | 559 millimetres |
| 24 inches | 507 millimetres |
| 20 inches | 406 millimetres |
Our filter can help you narrow down the selection. If you are unsure of your bike’s wheel size, it is best to check the size of its tyres. The size is usually marked along the sidewall.
Which Tyre Width is Best for MTBs?
The ideal tyre width depends on what you’re using it for along with your individual preferences. On mountain bikes, it is usually given in inches, but is occasionally indicated in millimetres. Narrow tyres around 2.25 inches are lighter and ride with a little more precision. Wide tyres up to about 2.6 inches can be ridden with less pressure, which offers more comfort, grip and smoothness on stony or gnarly root-filled trails. If you want to attempt to ride with slightly wider tyres, then pay attention to the tyre clearance on your frame and your fork. Tyres that are too wide could otherwise drag.
Which MTB Tyre is Best for Front or Rear?
In most cases when mountain biking, having more tread and grip is useful on the front wheel. On the rear wheel, you tend to benefit from low rolling resistance. This is why some manufacturers offer front or rear tyre-specific models. However, you can also put together your own custom combination.
How Many Bars Go Into a Mountain Bike Tyre?
The optimal air pressure in the tyres depends primarily on your body weight. It has a huge influence on how your MTB rides. Low pressure affords you more grip and comfort. On root-filled or rocky trails, a tyre with low pressure can even roll better because it hugs the ground instead of bouncing off of it. A high air pressure, on the other hand, makes your MTB tyres harder and thus provides you with puncture protection – i.e. fewer punctures when you ride without a tyre insert. It also rolls more easily on slippery paths and does not bend as easily in curves. The ideal air pressure is always a matter of personal preference. Our tip: Be sure to experiment! If you have the feeling that your bike rides unsteadily, uncomfortably and tends to slip, then lower the air pressure a little. If the tyres feel imprecise, bend away in corners (feels like the bike is floating a bit) or even flat, then you should inflate them a few tenths of a bar more. Pay attention to the manufacturer's recommendations for maximum and minimum pressure. A digital air pressure gauge helps you to find the ideal air pressure for your MTB tyres and to set it precisely every time.
Are Folding or Wired Tyres Better for MTBs?
For most mountain bikes, folding tyres are the better choice, as they are lighter from the get-go. Wired tyres can be useful for extreme use in the bike park and on downhill bikes, as they are particularly stable. Moreover, they are usually somewhat cheaper.
