How To Choose MTB Tires: The Complete Guide

Selecting the right mountain bike tires has a huge impact on how your bike handles on the trails. With so many options to pick from, trying to find the right set can be a headache, so we’ve put together this comprehensive guide that breaks down the steps of how to choose mountain bike tires. 

We’ll dive into important details such as tread pattern, tire width, and tubeless design to bring you up to speed with the latest MTB trends. So whether you’re replacing worn tires or trying something new, this mountain bike tire buying guide has got you covered.

What to know before you start your search for a new MTB tire

To make your search for new rubber easier, confirm the size of the tires and wheels that are already on your bike. Also, think about the kind of trails you normally ride and what the riding surface looks like. Reflect on what you want your new tires to excel at or if you are hoping to avoid a past issue with your previous tires.

Step 1: Get the right wheel size

Mountain bike tires come in 29”, 27.5” or 26” sizes. If you’re unsure what wheel size you have, look along the sidewall of the existing tires to find the labeled size. Tire sizes are embossed or marked on the side of the tire with the diameter listed first followed by the tire width— for example, 29 x 2.4”. Be sure your new tire matches the right size of your wheel.

Step 2: Choose your tire width

Getting tire width right is key to getting the most out of your mountain bike. Bike frames and rims have a limited amount of tire clearance, so it’s important to check the maximum tire width your frame and rims will allow. Between the margins, you can select the mountain bike tire width that provides the right characteristics for where and how you ride.

Make sure you look up your bike’s maximum tire clearance

Take a look at the manufacturer’s specifications for the bike which are typically listed on their website. To get a rough idea, you can see what size your current tires are and how much space there is between the tires and frame. If your rear tire is already very close to the seat tube or chainstays, you may not have much room for wider rubber. Ask your local bike shop to help get a more accurate measurement if you can’t find your frame’s max tire clearance.

Check your rim’s recommended tire width

When getting new tires, it’s always a safe bet to go with the same width as your old ones. If you want to change the width by +/- 0.2” or more, you’ll want to confirm that your rim can accommodate the new size. Rims typically have the make and model written on them which you can look up to see how wide of a tire they’re designed for. The mechanics at your local bike shop can help you out with this if you can’t find that info.

Mountain bike tire sizes by style

Tire width varies across mountain bike disciplines, typically ranging from 1.9” all the way up to a whopping 5” on oversized fat tire bikes! Tire width  affects factors like speed, weight, and traction  that influence how a bike performs. Check out the most common tire sizes for MTB categories below.

XC mtb tire sizes

Cross-country tires usually measure between 1.9”-2.2” wide which is the narrowest among mountain bike tires. They’re designed to provide maximum speed on trails with lots of pedaling and less technical descents. The lightweight casing and low rolling resistance are geared toward those marginal gains while racing.

Trail/All mountain mtb tire sizes

Trail and all-mountain tire width generally falls between 2.3”-2.6”, giving riders plenty of choices. If you’re a casual trail rider or someone who wants a well balanced tire for all kinds of riding, trail tires in this range will work great.

Enduro and downhill mtb tire sizes

These heavy-duty tires measure around 2.4”-2.6” wide with durable casings and an aggressive tread pattern. The tire compound has to be more protective and a bit stiffer to withstand the higher speeds and bigger hits of technical downhill riding. That durability makes them heavier, making them less ideal for fast pedaling speed on lower angle terrain.

Plus mtb tire sizes

Also referred to as “mid-fat”, plus tires measure between 2.8”-3.5” wide to provide a larger contact patch and better traction and floatation on the trail. These tires are so big that their effective diameter is closer to the next wheel size up— for example, a 27.5x3.0” tire has a similar diameter to that of a 29x2.25”. If you’re not already running plus tires, be sure to check that your frame and rims can accept this width.

Fat bike tire sizes

These big tires get their name because of their behemoth size that’s anything 3.5” or larger. The tires’ large contact patch makes it easier to get grip in soft terrain such as sand, mud, and snow. The extra width also means larger air volume that can be run at lower pressures for more traction and floatation. Fat tire bikes have specific frame and rim designs, so you’re almost never going to be able to fit these on a normal MTB.

Step 3: Decide between tubeless tires or tires that use inner tubes

Mountain bikers have two options for tire types: tires that are meant to be pumped up with an inner tube and tubeless tires that use liquid sealant. For most trail riders, only tubeless tires are worth riding.

Are tubeless mountain bike tires better?

We say yes! Going tubeless means you’ll have fewer flats out on the trail which is a huge plus. The sealant automatically patches small punctures as you roll so you often won’t need to interrupt your ride just because you ran over something small and pointy. Tubeless tires also allow you to run lower tire pressure which makes for a more comfortable, grippier ride. Even with sealant inside, there is normally still some weight savings too.

Can any mountain bike tire be tubeless?

While you can definitely run an inner tube inside tubeless tires and rims, trying to turn non-tubeless tires and rims into a tubeless setup can be an arduous process that we don’t recommend.  Save yourself some time and headaches and use tires and rims that are designed to be tubeless compatible.

Situations when you might choose tubes over tubeless

Tubeless tires are increasingly popular and are the best bet for most mountain bikers, but they may not be the right choice for every situation. The initial installation process can be a challenge without access to an air compressor or a floor pump at the very least, as it’s difficult for mini pumps to provide enough inflation force to seat tubeless tire beads quickly on the rim. Tubes are also a lot less messy.If you ride on light terrain or go touring far away from bike shops with tubeless supplies, traditional inner tubes can still be a solid choice.

Step 4: Step 4: Pick a tread pattern (aka a tire model)

Besides tire width, tread pattern has the next largest impact on how a tire performs. To help you select the right tire model, we’ll describe the different tread patterns available and explain what to look for based on your preferred riding style.

Common tread patterns by riding style

Tread patterns are optimized for specific riding disciplines to maximum speed and grip. Riders will notice a difference in traction as well as cornering confidence and efficiency. To get the best mountain bike tire, choose a model with tread that’s designed for the terrain you’ll be riding.

How tire tread affects your riding (how you ride)

Speed: You don’t have to be a racer to care about speed and efficiency. As a general rule, the smoother and tighter the tread pattern, the faster you can ride on hard pack surfaces. Tires with small, tightly packed knobs have a lower rolling resistance that’s great for XC racing or gravel riding.

Grip: Another critical part of tire choice is the traction that keeps you on the trail and riding in control. Tire grip comes from the interaction between the tread and trail surface. Each individual knob catches a piece of the trail and the raised edges of each lug allows for better traction. The types of trails you ride should determine how much grip you’re looking for.

Braking: Slowing down a mountain bike puts a lot of force into the tires, so the tread needs to be aggressive enough to push back against the trail. Braking suddenly with slick tires would lead to skidding down the mountain, but a knobby tread provides safe and predictable braking.

How tire tread is influenced by trail surface (where you ride)

The magic of tire tread is how it matches up to certain terrain, allowing riders to optimize their performance according to where they ride. Tire tread gives you clues to which specific trail surfaces it’s designed for.

Hard pack trail surfaces: Hardpack dirt or slick rock means high speeds and lighter tread patterns. Hard pack tires typically have a smoother center tread for low rolling resistance in a straight line and slightly chunkier tread along the sides for better control while cornering.

Soft trail surfaces: The appropriate tread pattern for softer trail surfaces is one with deeper and more widely-spaced knobs. The tire can dig into the soft ground and ample spacing helps shed any mud that would get stuck in between the lugs.

Loose trail surfaces: Tire tread for riding over loose rocks and roots is more aggressive and has taller side knobs. There is plenty of surface area on the big lugs to grab onto the unpredictable trail surface and propel the bike forward.

Muddy trail surfaces: There are tall, widely-spaced lugs that penetrate the sticky trail surface and easily shed mud. This setup provides solid traction and the deep grooves avoid debris build-up between the knobs.

Step 5: Select your tire construction

The material and construction of a mountain bike tire are important indicators of a tire’s quality. Premium tires made from performance focused compounds are more supple, durable, and provide a more responsive ride feel on the trail. The three factors to pay attention to are tire casing, the bead type, and puncture protection.

Tire casing

Casing is the main body of the tire that gives it its structure. It’s made from layers of tightly woven threads to create a kind of cloth which is then covered in rubber. The standard measurement of casing quality is TPI—threads per inch— and indicates the number of threads contained in one inch of the tire casing. The higher the TPI, the more responsive and high-quality the tire.

Tire bead

The bead is the edge of the tire that hooks onto the rim. The two types of tire beads are wire and folding beads. A wire bead is a thin steel wire running along the inside edge of the tire. They are typically heavier and less expensive than folding bead tires. Folding beads are made from lightweight aramid (aka Kevlar) and are found on performance-oriented tires. Foldable tires can be collapsed down for easy storage whereas less flexible wire bead tires are always expanded to their full size.

Puncture protection

Some tires come with a built-in layer of puncture protection. This additional layer of puncture-resistant polymer is more durable than the surrounding rubber compound and designed to break debris like thorns or burrs that get lodged into the tire. Other tires include an extra layer that’s thick enough to prevent unwanted spiky items from getting through.