Best mountain bike tires 2024 – top-rated trail, XC and gravity options for ultimate grip and speed

The best mountain bike tires provide an optimum connection to the trail. Not only do they provide grip, but they also dampen vibrations and impacts. 

Tire choice plays a massive role in the way your mountain bike behaves and can be the difference between staying upright on the trail or bailing spectacularly. 

No different from choosing the best mountain bike wheels, it's vital that your tire choice matches your riding style and what types of trails you find yourself on. Cross-country tires prioritize less rolling resistance, while downhill, enduro and trail tires have bigger knobs and tougher casings. That's why we've split this best mountain bike tires guide into different sections for different riding disciplines. 

Our expert testers have thoroughly tested the best tires for trail, cross-country and gravity riding. For trail, our top pick is the Specialized Butcher T9 Grid Trail with the Michelin Wild and Force AM2 our budget front and rear combo. We've chosen the Specialized Fast Trak as the best tire for cross-country, with the Pirelli Scorpion XC M and H Team best value; and for gravity, best overall is the Schwalbe Magic Mary Super Trail and best value is the Kenda Pinner Pro.

Read on to see the rest of our picks of the best mountain bike tires for cross-country, trail, enduro, and downhill riding. Or read to the bottom to find Bike Perfect's guide on how to choose the best mountain bike tires. And if you fancy even more on MTB tire tech, see our detailed guide on everything you need to know to choose the best tires for your riding.

The quick list

Best mountain bike tires for trail

1. Best trail overall

Specialized has completely reworked its rubber compound on the Butcher for its latest release, and what it has come up with is the T9 Grid Trail. Long story short, the T9 uses a slow rebound damping compound to provide predictable grip and handling in an impressive range of conditions. 

What does all of that mean on the trail? We found them to be extremely grippy and handle damping really well. The slow rebound almost feels as if we had dropped a couple of clicks of rebound/fitted a damper upgrade and gave the ride a heavily damped feel that's well suited to fast riding as it is to slow tech. The damped characteristic could dull the springy or poppy characteristics of a bike but start slamming through rocky or rooty sections and the high levels of grip, control and confidence become clear. 

They aren't too slow-rolling and not overly heavy either so they while they may suck some of the high-energy ride feel from your bike, we didn't find they punished us too much on climbs or flat sections. 

Not only that, but already keen global pricing has been dropped further in the UK recently too, making them a total bargain if you spell tire with a 'y'.

Our reviewer Guy Kesteven summed up: "Complete compound and carcass overhaul makes the T9 Butcher an outstandingly controlled, high-grip trail tire but options and availability are limited."

Read our full review to find out why the Specialized Butcher is the best trail tire on the market. 

2. Best fast-rolling trail

Maxxis is the generally accepted performance benchmark for aggro and trail tires and the Dissector sits very neatly into that crossover point. It’s lighter than a Minion DHF or DHR in a similar size and the ramped tread rolls faster. It's a good choice to add immediate pep to pedaling without having to resort to a lighter weight and more damage prone trail/XC Rekon, Forekaster, or Aggressor Maxxis tires too. 

The tire was designed by Australian Downhill racer Troy Brosnan so it's best suited to dry and dust conditions. The tire has a reassuring damped and stuck feel on the trail. If you have ridden a High Roller you will definitely recognize the jump between the center tread to the shoulders which can be a little unsettling. Make the leap of traction faith though and the cornering grip is decent with the tire gently initiating a drift rather than a dramatic snap out. 

The tire can be used both front and rear. As a rear tire, it adds more grip and control than a semi-slick and still rolls nicely. As a front tire, it's great for downcountry bikes or light trail riding. 

Our reviewer Guy Kesteven said, "Dissector boosts rolling speed and response, but still feels damped and anchored with great ‘grip to slip’ bandwidth for control surfers."

Check out our full thoughts on the Maxxis Dissector or browse the entire Maxxis MTB tires range. 

3. Best trail for grip

Versatile in application, the WTB Vigilante is a great choice for riders looking to graduate to more advanced, feature-laden trails. That’s not to say it isn’t any good in the hands of the highly skilled — in fact, the Vigilante is still one of the most popular tire choices in the trail scene.

The tread pattern was recently updated to bring the tire up to modern standards, with prominent lugs defining the outer edges for enhanced traction.  A newly developed rubber technology called TriTec, using a combination of multi-density rubber compounds on the tread pattern to further bolster its grip proficiency and stability.

The Vigilante is a great fit and forget tire for those that just want to get out and ride and we found it worked well across a range of weather and trail conditions. There can be the occasional grip dead zone before the shoulders engage as you pitch into flat corners but overall the grip is very dependable. Rolling speed is decent and so are the wear rates so it should give you plenty of trail time before it needs to be replaced. The sidewalls aren't as tough as some other trail tires so if you are riding in particularly rocky terrain it's worth popping in few extra PSI to help avoid any slashes.

Our reviewer Jim Bland concluded: "The Vigilante has always been a strong contender and the new series of improvements make it even easier to recommend."

For full details, check out our full review of the WTB Vigilante.

4. Best value trail

The Wild and Force AM2 pairing is Michelin's latest offering. AM stands for All-Mountain, as opposed to the brand's enduro category, so that means it's meant for rigorous trail riding rather than super aggressive enduro riding. 

The tires are front and rear-specific with the Wild AM2 offering better traction and the Force AM2 rear putting more priority on rolling speed. The downhill evolved tread pattern of the Wild AM2 offers excellent straight-line control in soft or mixed conditions although the shoulder knobs aren't as aggressive as some of the other aggro trail/enduro tires on this list. The Force AM2 features a more condensed tread pattern for better rolling speeds although it still does a good job of holding the ground in a straight line when needed. The shoulders are the same as the Wild AM2 so we found they tended to break free a little more often than other tires we have used.

While grip might not be able to quite match some of the best mountain bike tires, the Michelin's have proven to be a durable and long-lasting tire which only further boosts its super-competitive pricing. With the extra durability does come a little extra weight, it's also on the slimmer side as a 2.4in blows up to a width that's more in line with 2.3-inches in our experience. 

Our reviewer Guy Kesteven said they deliver, "a durable, all-conditions grip double act with a smooth ride feel at a good price."

For more details, we have a full review of the Michelin Force and Wild AM2.

5. Best all-rounder trail

Schwalbe's Nobby Nic tire has had a bit of a shaky past. Previously overshadowed by Schwalbe's other tires, the latest Nobby Nic has had a 'Super Trail' makeover and is finally the performance trail tire it was destined to be.

A new tread maintains the fast-rolling speed of the older tire but boosts grip across a wide range of conditions. The wide-spaced knobs offer useful traction in soft conditions and the spacing means it shakes off mud reasonably quickly too. If you are leaning towards grip, rather than lower rolling resistance, you may be better served by Schwalbe's own Magic Mary. That said the Nobby Nic is plenty grippy enough for the majority of trail work year-round.

Schwalbe does a bunch of different carcass options whether you're looking for something lighter weight or enduro tough too. You're also in luck if you are still rocking 26in wheels as the new Nobby Nic is still available in the smaller wheel size. RRP is on the pricier end although they will likely see some savings by the time it hits your shopping basket.

Our reviewer Guy Kesteven concluded that it's "a proper all conditions all-rounder with a range of carcass and compound options to dial in the grip and protection you want for the most progressive or prehistoric trail bikes."

For more, check out our full Schwalbe Nobby Nic Super Trail review. 

Best mountain bike tires for cross-country

6. Best XC overall

Specialized has an overhauled lineup of cross-country tires, and we're big fans. The Fast Trak is a great all-round option for XC riders, but with different treads and compounds, there's something for everyone from the casual rider to the pro racer. 

The Fast Trak featured here uses an alternating diagonal centerline tread with small center depressions. There are also closely spaced intermediate and lower shoulder tread for cornering support. 

There's a marked difference between the T7 and T5 rubber compounds that the Fast Trak is available in. The T7 compound is stickier so it works well as a front tire, while the fast-rolling attributes of the T5 are great for a rear tire. For the ultimate speed and grip combo, go with the S-Works version which isn't all that more expensive but drops around 100g. It uses a T5 center with a T7 shoulder so you have the best of both worlds.

Specialized UK has recently dropped pricing further, making it a total bargain for British racers.

Find out more about the Specialized Fast Trak as well as the Ground Control and Renegade cross-country/downcountry tires in our review. After testing all three tires our reviewer Guy Kesteven summed up: "With XC riders pushing harder on more technical terrain both on and off the track, it’s great to get a full range of enhanced toughness and traction options for Specialized’s proven rapid rubber trio."

7. Best value XC

Pirelli's XC tire range comes in either a minimal Lite version or a reinforced sidewall version we tested called ProWALL. The XC M has a relatively larger tread compared to the XC H, which is the fastest rolling cross-country tire the brand offers. 

While the XC M doesn't offer as much support as a downcountry or trail tire, it still offers plenty of grip for classic fast-paced cross-country rides, especially if your terrain is rock-based man-made trails or summer singletrack. It seems to be tough as well, shrugging off plenty of rock scuffs and blunt edges.

The XC H is fast-rolling but unless you ride on a baked hard trail network it's best left off the front and instead used as a speed booster on the rear. The tread may be very shallow but it grips far better than you would expect when pedaling. 

The M and H are a good front-rear combination for summer riding in the UK/northern Europe so long as you don't lean into the corners too hard as the shoulders are fairly slimline. Good levels of toughness and durability also increase the value if you're covering a lot of miles day in and out, too. 

Our reviewer Guy Kesteven reported: "they’re definitely quick and light enough to noticeably boost responsiveness. The extra element of damping and low-pressure stability actually makes them a lot more versatile for fast trail use outside the tapes." 

Read more of our thoughts on these solid all-around XC tires in our full review of the Pirelli Scorpion XC M and H Team tires. 

8. Best downcountry

The Syerra is one of Vittoria's latest tires and the brand's entry into the downcountry market. They have even labeled it as a downcountry tire on the sidewall. And with downcountry's unique considerations compared to regular cross-country riding, Vittoria has developed a new construction, casing, and tread pattern for the Syerra. 

A 60tpi nylon casing is combined with an Anti-Pinch flat insert, which also helps support the sidewall. The brand's Graphene compound rubber is used, combining a fast-rolling XC compound in the center with a more grippy and supportive trail compound on the sides. The open tread uses a fast-rolling center section with more aggressive shoulders to give a good balance of grip and speed.

The tire rolls fast on flat sections compared to trail orientated options as well as on climbs and rolling terrain. A wider profile and more aggressive tread help with grip and cornering support compared to a standard cross-country tire too. The Syerra is best in dry, intermediate or loamy conditions; maybe choose something different if you regularly ride wet rocks and roots. They are certainly lean more to cross-country but despite being much lighter than the trail tires around they don't seem to sacrifice rock and pinch-flat protection.

Our reviewer Guy Kesteven concluded: "They’ve got an efficient and predictable feel across a wide range of surfaces, particularly if you’re blessed with a drier, warmer climate."

Check out our full Vittoria Syerra review for more info.

9. Best versatile XC

The Ikon is a grippy, fast-rolling, and comfortable cross-country tire. The tread pattern is pretty shallow and heavily chamfered to help rolling speed however the grip is still impressive considering such unassuming knobbles. In fact, when riding them in fast dry conditions it was very easy to get carried away and begin barreling down trails with trail bike exuberance. 

Luckily they are also fairly tough and despite some pinballing and loose rock we rolled out the other side relatively unscathed. As with any cross-country tire, they are going to start to struggle when things become wet or greasy but the predictable tread pattern and good-sized footprint in the larger 2.35-inch size helps with trail adhesion.

Weight is on par rather than spectacular but this is often a trade-off for cross-country tires and they are on the pricier end, especially when compared to Specialized's range.

Best mountain bike tires for enduro and downhill

10. Best gravity overall

Schwalbe’s Magic Mary has changed very little since being introduced to the market. While the tread pattern remains the same, the compound received an update in 2018 in the form of Addix — a mixture Schwalbe claims has increased rolling speed and durability over its TrailStar predecessor.

In 2021 Schwalbe introduced a new class of carcasses for its tires called Super Trail. Super Trail is basically intended for enduro use, which admittedly is a little confusing especially as the older Magic Mary had a lighter trail carcass. 

This Super Trail model gets increased protection, which also means that the weight has increased by about 300g. This tire is a good option for aggressive enduro riders who don't mind carrying a little extra weight uphill. 

While the Magic Mary is carrying a little more heft now, it still has the same great ride feel and tread pattern for grip in a wide range of trail conditions. That means it's still a firm favorite of ours, albeit the ones which work with gravity rather than against it.

Our reviewer Guy Kesteven summed up: "The same sensationally trustworthy grip and control in the toughest conditions. Much heavier weight and extra protection mean calling it ‘Super Enduro’ not ‘Super Trail’ would make a lot more sense though."

Find out why we rated it 4.5/5 stars by reading the Schwalbe Magic Mary Super Trail review. On a budget? We've found the best Schwalbe Magic Mary deals currently available on the internet. 

11. Best value gravity

Kenda's Pinners carry a bit of weight but after back-to-back runs, the Pinner Pro does seem to roll faster than other aggro tires on the market; it might not be a lightweight trail tire sort of speed but the Pinner certainly holds an impressive on-trail pace. The additional weight is noticeable when climbing but it also doesn’t feel as much a chore as some other tough DH-focused options. 

If you’re regularly finding the limits of your current tire’s tread pattern or carcass, the Pinner tire from Kenda is a fantastic, solid, durable, and grippy hard-charging option. The Pinner Pro offers predictable levels of grip with a tenacious cornering hold. It may skip or slip before the shoulder knobs engage as you initiate a turn but this is well communicated. 

The grip is good but the sublime damped trail feel of the Pinner Pro is its best characteristic. The calming feeling means it feels very sure-footed and controlled by filtering out trail chatter whilst still without dulling communication between rider and traction. Our reviewer Jim Bland said: "It’s actually so good that it made some other brands of tires almost feel harsh when carrying out back-to-back test sessions."

Find out our full thoughts on the Kenda Pinner Pro in our review.

12. Best gravity for cornering

Since its inception decades ago, the Minion DHF has been the go-to for ultimate cornering performance. The Minion was originally designed as a DHF front and DHR rear specific tires and while they worked well as a pairing, many riders began experimenting with the setup. As a rear tire, the DHR brings great braking and steep terrain performance and has its own loyal following, however it was the DHF front and rear combo which quickly gained massive popularity.

The cornering confidence of the DHF is clear straight away too and it's hard to not describe it as feeling like you are 'on rails'. Confidence and predictability is excellent as well and backed up by the Minion DHF's uncanny ability to grip in a huge range of trail conditions. This is lucky as the cornering focused tread isn't the greatest at slowing you down when the brakes are applied, it still does a decent job although you're best opting for a DHR rear if braking is an important consideration for your trails.

The Minion DHF rolls remarkably quickly too so you can take full advantage of that cornering speed. Maxxis also offers a wide range of casings for the Minion DHF, so while it's aimed at gravity riding there are lighter options to bolster trail bike grip without too much extra weight.

Our reviewer Guy Kesteven concluded: "Faster rolling than a DHR, but no less grippy in turns, the Maxxis Minion DHF is still my favorite hardcore all-rounder on either end of the bike."

Check out our full review of the Maxxis Minion DHF tire for more.

13. Best gravity for stability

Designed in partnership with the Atherton Racing Team, Continental has completely redesigned its gravity tire range. At the forefront of this range is the Kryptotal, a mixed-terrain tire that comes in front and rear specific designs.

The two tires are focused on specific tasks, namely turning upfront and braking and acceleration traction at the rear. They can of course be used separately, however, when we rode them the front-rear pairing felt very complementary to each other. In terms of handling, the front is very predictable and can be pushed into corners without too much worry that it's going to unexpectedly snap free. The corresponding rear digs in deep too, giving sharp braking and precise speed checks. Despite dropping down to low pressures the Kryptotal remained stable with very little awkward squirming and no hint of burping.

They can start to feel a little overwhelmed when conditions become soft due to the tight tread pattern however if you are predominantly riding in these conditions you will be better served by the Continental's Argotal which is targeted at loamy conditions.

For more information, check out our first look at Continental's new gravity tire range.

14. Best gravity front tire

The Maxxis Assegai was developed by downhill racer Greg Minnaar, so naturally, it’s available with a reinforced Double Down casing but there are lighter Exo and Exo+ versions available for trail riding. The plus tire gets an extra layer of lightweight reinforced nylon called Silkshield. It adds weight but the nylon has a sort of lattice work construction that adds casing stability (you can run lower pressure without the tire folding), thorn-type puncture protection and pinchflat resistance, which is really handy if you’re riding in the desert or rocky terrain. 

Like most of the Maxxis flagship tires, the Assegai comes with either MaxxTerra (medium) or MaxxGrip (soft) triple rubber compounds. What you’re looking at here is a hard stable rubber base, a quick-rolling center section, and then a soft rubber on the edge for grip. MaxxGrip tires don’t keep their sharp edge for long but a good call is to run a MaxxGrip up front with the hardwearing MaxxTerra on the rear. 

For trail use, the Assegai is one of the best all-rounders. It can handle hardpack and loose conditions as well as wet rocks and, with its open spacing, even deep mud. You can easily ride this tire throughout the year, and it works just as well on the front as on the rear.

Our reviewer Paul Burwell concluded: "The Assegai is a fantastic tire for use all year round in pretty much any condition you care to name. The only real fly in the ointment is the relatively high price, but then you are buying one of the most controlled and confidence-inspiring tires on the market."

For more, see our full Maxxis Assagai review.

15. Best gravity for winter

If you're after a tire that will give you grip in the worst of wet muds, then look no further than the Specialized Hillbilly. The tire uses the same excellent Gripton T9 60TPI compound as the Specialized Butcher.

The center/shoulder tread pattern is very different though, following the classic ‘square studs with plenty of space around them’ format of most good soft condition tires. The Hillbilly runs alternating pairs of knobs close together for a slight paddle effect and the knob tops are siped (slotted) to help them to reshape and spread under load.

Weight is average for a modern 2.4in ‘trail tire’ at 1,074g, but at 59mm across, they’re actually closer to 2.3 than 2.4in wide. There’s also a Gravity Grid version but that takes weight beyond 1,300g, which is a hefty pedaling punishment for bombproof survival.

Prices for the Hillbilly and the rest of Specialized's tire range are extremely competitive, which makes the Hillbilly an even better choice.

Our reviewer Guy Kesteven found them, "a great choice if you want significant extra grip in the slop and soft conditions."

For more info, check out our full Specialized Hillbilly tire review.

How to choose the best mountain bike tires

Not all mountain bike tires are created equal and there are a number of different factors that will determine the way they perform. These include such specifics as rubber compound, durability, puncture protection, tread pattern, tire width, and tubeless compatibility. As such you’ll find that a cross-country-specific tire is lighter, narrower, and less aggressive than a trail or enduro equivalent, owing to differences in bike geometry, terrain, and riding discipline.

Generally, more cross-country-focused tires will have smaller knobs with less rolling resistance. They're also lightweight, which comes at the expense of puncture and sidewall protection. Tires meant for more aggressive trail and enduro riding will have bigger knobs, with the biggest chunks of rubber being on the shoulder of the tire. This allows riders to dig into loose terrain and maintain the maximum amount of grip. 

Each manufacturer has its own rubber formulations and technologies. The most popular brands will offer their models in a broad array of widths, wheel sizes, and even carcass or casing technologies. This is good news, as riders can choose what works best for them and their local trails. 

How we test mountain bike tires

All the tires we've tested here have been thoroughly tested in many different weather conditions, from dusty dry to the wettest, filthiest mud, and on a wide range of trails. We test them out over several months, assessing their performance for grip, stability, mud clogging, damping, rolling speed, weight, ease of setup, and durability.

Meet the testers

Guy Kesteven

Guy's been testing and writing about mountain bikes since the '90s, he’s written several million words about several thousand test bikes and a ridiculous amount of riding gear. We are willing to bet that there aren't many tires Guy hasn't ridden over the last decade.

Paul Burwell

Paul has been testing bikes and products since before suspension, disc brakes, or dropper posts. He raced elite-level Cross-Country back in the 1990s but now spends most of his time roosting trails instead. 

Jim Bland

Jim Bland is a product tester and World Cup downhill mechanic. His chosen riding genre is hard to pinpoint and regularly varies from e-bike-assisted shuttle runs to cutting downcountry laps, so has a wide experience of tires.

Graham Cottingham

Graham is all about riding bikes off-road. He has some of the best mountain biking in the UK right on his doorstep. With almost 20 years of riding experience, he has dabbled in downhill and enduro MTB racing.