Group test: All-round mountain bike tyres
If you’ve tried buying mountain bike tyres recently you’ll have been confronted with a bewildering range of off-road rubber options. You’ll probably have noticed that a lot of old favourite ‘trail all-rounders’ have got a lot bigger, heavier and stickier, too.
This is great if you’re bombing down bike park trails after being driven up in a van. It’s not so great if you ride bridleways, woods and moorland under your own steam.
For this test I’ve also avoided super-light XC race tyres that are little more than inner tubes with treads, because you’d probably prefer to spend more time riding than fixing punctures. Instead I’ve worked through all the major tyre brands – and some more obscure ones – to narrow down a ‘best buy’ selection for more traditional mountain biking.
By that I mean rubber that mixes reasonable weight and easy rolling with trustworthy traction in all conditions and enough strength to keep you safe if it’s rocky or you’re carrying bikepacking gear. And while I’ve mostly concentrated on tyres suitable for self-propelled adventures I’ve included recommendations for e-MTB use where applicable.
1. Specialized Ground Control Grid T7
Price: £18.50
Sizes: 60-584 (27.5×2.35), 60-622 (29×2.35, tested)
Actual width: 59mm
Weight: 855g
Available from: Specialized
Specialized has been making a Ground Control tyre for over 30 years, but its latest is the best yet and fantastic value. Nominally £37.50, it’s currently half that.
The mixed tread grips consistently on most trails from wet and sloppy to dry and loose so it steers, drives and brakes with predictable results year round. Despite decent gaps for fast clearing it doesn’t growl too much on the road.
S-Works and Control carcass options are super-light (around 700g) and fragile as a result but the Grid XC version is tough enough to ride rocks without regrets.
Verdict: Reliable grip and reasonable rolling speed at a bargain price.
2. Maxxis Forekaster MaxTerra Exo
Price: £64.99
Sizes: 60-622 (29×2.4, tested), 65-622 (29×2.6)
Actual width: 56mm
Weight: 920g
Available from: Maxxis
The latest Maxxis Forekaster is heavier and a little slower than the previous generation but pays that back with excellent all-round control. More substantial shoulder tread makes it a tyre you can take braking and cornering liberties with in all conditions, from muddy woods to hard-baked fire roads or rocky trails.
It rolls and accelerates noticeably better than Maxxis trail tyres like the DHF and DHR. The Exo carcass is an excellent blend of supple compliance, decent strength and bearable weight for most purposes. Note that it blows up quite narrow.
Verdict: An all-rounder tyre that more technical trail riders will enjoy.
3. Schwalbe Nobby Nic Super Trail Addix SpeedGrip
Price: £64.99
Sizes: 57-559, 62-559, 57-584, 62-584, 65-584, 70-584, 57-622, 62-622 (tested), 65-622.
Actual width: 61mm
Weight: 1,094g
Available from: Schwalbe
Schwalbe’s Nobby Nic has long been a grippy-looking but surprisingly fast – if slippery – allrounder. The latest update looks less ‘Nobby’ but actually grips a lot more reassuringly off road. It still rolls faster than it looks, too, especially if you choose the aptly named Addix SpeedGrip version.
You will lose some wet weather grip as a result though. Super Trail refers to the carcass, which has extra reinforcement and support that loaded riders and e-bikers will appreciate.
Verdict: Fast-rolling, do-it-all tyre with improved off-road traction.
4. Vittoria Mezcal XC Race Formulation
Price: £64.99
Sizes: 60-622 (29×2.4, tested)
Actual width: 59mm
Weight: 760g
Available from: Vittoria
Vittoria’s Mezcal was already a firm favourite with high-speed bikepackers and distance record setters, and now there’s a new Race Formulation version made from a fresh silica and graphene compound. The carcass is also a new 60tpi weave in a bigger ‘2.4in’ size.
The new carcass is still slippery, especially in wet woodland or rock conditions, and the round shape means less shoulder bite. If you can tame it on technical terrain, however, the Mezcal flies in terms of rolling speed. The tread lasts well, although puncture and damage resistance isn’t prioritised.
Verdict: Quick-rolling XC tyre for those wanting to travel light and fast.
Overall verdict
Choosing a mountain bike tyre will always involve compromises between grip, toughness, rolling speed and low weight.
In terms of compliant, confident grip with a lively feel and decent roll, the Forekaster is a tyre you can really have fun with. While it’s gained weight and lost some speed, the Nobby Nic is still an efficient yet trustworthy, fit-and-forget all-rounder.
Vittoria’s Mezcal is the lightest and most fragile here, but even in XC terms it’s hyper fast, not just physically but psychologically due to its bright, high-energy feel. As soon as you throw price into the equation, Specialized’s tyres are in a different league, without suffering from obviously downgraded performance either.
First published in Cycle magazine, August/September 2024 issue. All information correct at time of publishing.
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What to look for when choosing all-round mountain bike tyres
Width
Few mountain bike tyres measure up as wide as the size printed on the sidewall. I’ve listed the actual widths at 20psi on a 30mm internal rim. Note that while MTB tyre manufacturers prefer inches for sizing, Cycle uses ISO designations (see cyclinguk.org/tyre-sizes).
Tread
I’ve picked tyres with intermediate tread that will work cleanly and consistently in most conditions but roll quietly and smoothly on harder surfaces. If there’s one thing you learn testing hundreds of tyres, though, it’s that tread is only a small part of the performance equation.
Compound
Harder rubber rolls faster and lasts longer but doesn’t grip as well as soft and sticky mixes. The tyres here cover a range of compounds but some of these tyres have different options available in the same design; see the manufacturer websites for details.
Casing
How the fabric body of the tyre is woven, overlapped and reinforced for wear or puncture proofing makes a far bigger difference than most people realise. Not just in terms of weight and survivability, but also in how the tyre rolls and how it feels.
Price
To keep all pockets happy our tyre selection spans a wide range of retail prices. It’s worth shopping around as, like most of the bike world right now, there are some great deals out there.
