20 Best 26 Inch Mountain Bike Tires (Jan 2023 Update)

I’m a huge Maxxis fan, and the Ardents are another great example of why I love Maxxis tires. These are fast rolling but still aggressive tread. I haven’t put a ton of miles on them yet, but they mounted up tubeless easily and ride and look great. Thanks to Cambria Bike for a great deal and fast shipping too, top notch!Josh M.

Before I moved to the wet, muddy, and rooty Pacific Northwest, I spent six years riding out of Fort Collins, CO. Dusty hardpack hicking trails littered with baby heads were my stomping (or cycling) grounds, conditions that require a certain compromise in tread pattern to maintain traction. The Maxxis Ardent became my rear tire of choice for these arid conditions. The knobs are closely spaced enough that it rolls quickly, yet aggressive enough that there is loads of stopping power when you need it. The widely spaced transition knobs offer enough feedback that you can comfortably zoom through those off camber bench cuts that Colorado is known for, and then lay into those steep switchbacks knowing the fairly aggressive cornering knobs may slide for a second on that moondust, but will catch you in time to keep you away from the abyss. One common encounter in these rocky, desert conditions is slashed sidewalls. Although Maxxis doesn't make the lightest tires in the business, they do know how to make a tire that can hold up to abuse. The EXO casing is above par in terms of it's ability to fend off sharp rocks that are doing their best to slice through and send your tire sealant spewing all over the place. If a fast rolling yet aggressive tire for dry, arid conditions is what you need, I'd highly recommend the Ardent. Like I mentioned, I'd typically run this tire in the rear, usually in the form of a 2.25 with the EXO casing. For a front tire in dry conditions, I personally like the ubiquitous DHF, but the Schwalbe Nobby Nic also does a good job if you are looking for something a little less aggressive.Dan P.

I don't normally leave reviews but thought my experience could help others. I've ridden with this as a rear tire for the last 6 months and many, many miles and rides across Arizona, Utah and Colorado. 1) This was the hardest tire ever for me to get on the inside of the rim. No issues seating tubeless after that though. 2) Sidewalls are VERY thin. So thin sealant constantly leaks through them everywhere (see photo). I have to constantly add more sealant than I've added on other tires to keep them from going flat or very low on a regular basis. 3) Grip was noticeably improved over my warn Bontrager XR2s but the tire is narrower. But that's what "race" is going for I guess.Kevin C

The Schwalbe Marathon plus tires are very dependable and perfect for commuting on gravel or asphalt roads. After 3000 km no punctures.Tim

This tyre gives a good compromise between the road and trail. The reflective band is a good safety feature. Being puncture 'proof' is reassuring. Good all around tyre for the keen cyclist.3370james

Love these! I have a Merida Big Nine 5000 and had begun experiencing punctures on every other ride – so, I decided to swap out the stock Maxxis Ikon tyres that came with the bike from new Not knowing much about bike equipment, I did the normal research over a few weeks and these Schwalbe Marathon Plus' seemed to keep cropping up in my puncture-proof tyres search – looking through the normal review sites (Amazon and specialist bike blogs etc) whilst most reviews sang their praises, there were the odd comments about weight/slower/not so quiet etc Having swapped them out myself (which was easy, 30 minutes tops for both tyres), I could not be happier with them – can barely hear them at times, a big improvement in 'rolling' especially on tarmac and no noticeable difference on dirt paths from the Ikons It is still early days re the punctures (none yet), but I look forward to getting out now, with no fear of flats every time Couldn't be happier with them….like REALLY happy!!2015leighc

Great durable tire, and I even ran it tubeless despite being non-TCS. Never had a problem. Just be aware that the 2.3 is considerably larger than a Maxxis HRII of the same indicated size. I was unable to run it in the rear because it simply did not fit without significant rubbing (Kona Process 153). PROS: Durable, Easy To Install CONS: Oversized BEST USES: Mountain Biking, Tacky, LooseDMac

These are great tires. They are a bit large as far as 2.3's go. Traction is excellent. Whether climbing steep slopes or descending . They also mounted very easily for wire beads tires.Daniel

The WTB Vigilante tire is a incredible bike tire. The bite it has in the trails on rocks,hard pack and loose soil is awesome. Tires are very self cleaning and don't get clogged with dirt and mud. They completely changed they way my Specialized FSR rides and handles in the trails. I will definitely purchase these again when I need a new pair.gam_5028

I think the 24 inch mountain bike tire is great. Simple packaging, easy to install. Make sure you are aware this is only one tire not a set. The tread is great and fits on my teenagers bike. I would recommend, just buy two.Stasha

To be honest this is just your standard mountain bike tire. It works great on my bike and would recommend it to anyone who needs a new tire. The price is fair also. The grooves of the tire are nice and deep to give a nice gripTapgurl15

This replacement tire is great quality and price. The instructions are overall easy to read and follow. The packaging is minimal and recyclable. Overall I am pleased with it and would purchase it again.Tiffanyn

I have a 29-pound Catrike Speed that was prone to tire failure. The 16"x1.35 stock Schwable front tire size was incredibly light weight and fast but the constant flats made me look elsewhere for good rubber. A friend recommended these to me as a reasonable high-pressure alternative and so I gave them a try. They are quite a bit heavier but so far no flats, and that was the goal of this experiment. The bike's total weight is up to 31 pounds [all three tires are now Hookworms] and the ride is great. Plus these things can hold 110psi making the rolling resistance exceptionally low. Is it the right tire for you? Maybe, if you want to ride more than patching tubes. I've been rolling now for about 500 miles and loving it. My wife said I needed to slow down anyway and the top speed is off a smidge [higher wheel mass] so I guess this is a win-win tire for me. Plus the investment in all three of these was about the same as one Schwable. On the PLUS side, the chain is higher off the ground [a big plus] and the ride is good for an exercise bike, which mine is. Tire is rock solid on all surfaces I've tried and wear is incredibly low [I expect these tires will roll for literally thousands of miles]. On the MINUS side, the ride is a bit rougher at 100psi and the clearance at the hand gripsis a little tighter but not unreasonable. Large accessories like my bulb horn clear but can rub if not positioned just right. All in all, the tire is heavier but the life is much, much longer [5 months and zero flats]. If you are looking for a more puncture-resistant tire and are not concerned about adding a little weight to the wheels, this is tire a good option.inline_phil

Probably one of the most popular BMX tires on the Bikelife scene. Easily can handle the abuse and the chaos out there on ride outs. Wether you’re looking to upgrade your BMX cruiser to handle the mean streets or wanting to change your MTB to a more versatile hybrid bike for the road, this tire covers it.Aaron H.

. . . are, from the perspective of an out-of-shape rider in his early antiquity, very positive. These tires turned my stodgy-looking Townie Electra 9 into, by flabby old-person standards, a leg-powered road rocket. Rolling resistance is significantly reduced from the bike's original Schwalbe beach-cruiser skins, at the expected price of a stiffer ride and more attention required to dodge potholes so as not to bend these garden-variety aluminum rims, which I'm pretty sure weren't designed for curb-jumping. I'm only running the Hookworms at 47 of the max. 65 PSI, and still find them a little on the unyielding side, which translates to being able to zip across our small town, over one medium-sized hill, in less than ten minutes. Despite being ostensibly designed for deliberate youthful abuse on topography not normally thought of as bicycle-appropriate (e.g. flying off the front steps of the county courthouse), these things corner on smooth pavement like a Yamaha R-1 sportbike. The enhanced lean angle seems obviously attributable to the wraparound tread. Although I've only logged less than 30 miles thus far, and can't attest to long-term durability, it's notable that the manufacturing mold flash remains intact. That usually goes away much more quickly, if recall serves. The rubber compound, as described elsewhere, appears to be quite tough stuff. GET THE RIGHT TUBES. I blew an extra twelve clams, thinking I could get by with the generic fits-all kit from a famous retailer that's known for being patronized by people in pajama bottoms. Ended up ordering the correct ones online, spec'd at 2.5" – 3" and made of noticeably thicker rubber than the aforementioned substitutes. A little heavier, but they work beautifully, albeit with a little more wrist-wrestling to install. BTW, don't forget to partially inflate your tubes beforehand, to avoid pinch flats. Frame clearance: more than adequate with this kind of bike. Might be a squeaker if you have caliper brakes or narrow forks. "So why," I wondered, "did they name these things after a noxious intestinal parasite?" The answer became apparent upon noticing the pronounced bead "flange" that hooks over the inside of your rim. It makes for a nice secure feel to the mounting process, but you still have to exercise a bit of caution making sure the index line is evenly centered before final inflation. I found that vigorously massaging the tire around its perimeter while 1/4 inflated helps to assure good bead seating. Despite my semi-recumbent bike's long wheelbase, the Maxxis tires make it handle a bit more "squirrely," which is helpful in tight quarters, but requires slightly more attentive steering control while sailing down a long hill. Transitioning from pavement to pea gravel is likewise no longer a completely carefree endeavor, but the reduced traction compared to the old soft cruiser tires has thus far been easy to accommodate, and has been, as previously mentioned, a cheerfully acceptable price for the delightful improvement in road handling. One last thing: since there seems to be no specified rotational orientation, I mounted the tires with the bright-colored company logo on opposite sides at each end, based on the theory that this might make it slightly more visible to cross traffic from both directions. ~eleft coast eddy

Can't beat these tires for a mountain bike that's on the road a lot or a bmx cruiser like I put mine on. They bead up easy and look mean, wish they made a 29er tubeless version.taynor_6725

Instant grip compared to the standard ones fitted. Got thorns on tyre but no puncture. Even look good. Quick delivery guys. Love your siteAlby B.

I’ve wanted these for years and finally bought a set to make my 90s MTB look and feel updated. These ride great. Shipping was fast and packed well.James M.

Years ago, I got the 26" X-King, which is a similar tread, for my 125 pound intermediate wife. She tore those tires up within ten miles or so. I decided to give them another try, in the reincarnated Cross King version, 29×2.3 and they have definitely solved the durability problem! 750 grams, 2.28" carcass width at sub 20 psi and knobs slightly wider. If you like the Rocket Ron or the Rekon, you'll like these. They roll fast and hook up well. I've only tried them on the back, but they work well on the mellower XC type trails on the Wasatch Back. I decided I needed a little more traction, so I went to a Mountain King on the back, and wrote a review on those, but if you don't need more rear wheel traction than a Rekon, for example, these are 5 star. BTW, I did not notice the stiff sidewalls described and in fact, found them supple. Similar to a 29×2.35 Nobby Nic, or Rekon, in fact, but grippier than the Rekon.Nawrocki

Ive been using Maxxis HR and HR2 for many years but just got sick of their high prices and figured there must be an alternative. I tried a bog standard Trail King and I now have them fitted front and rear on both my hardtail and full sus bikes. Cant say anything about longevity yet but the grip is good in conditions from mud, snow and dry trails and they roll well on the road too. Ive even managed to set them up ghetto tubeless and they work fine run at about 28psi. They are very very tight to get on initially though. Get a big long strong tyre lever!johnf8175

My previous tires were halfway worn. I changed tires to try a tubeless setup for the first time, and also to improve grip. I ride XC trails most of the time and never do jumps, downhill, or anything crazy. I do enjoy going from 15 to 30 miles distances with climb challenges. So these tires seem a good fit for what I do. I was able to install these tubeless in my cheap non-tubeless-ready rims by adding more layers of tape. These are my first tubeless tires, but I had installed tubeless tires before for other bikes. I could say these were the easiest to install so far. Still you will need a compressor, and also install them first with a tube for several hours to straighten the edges. These have more grip than the tires that came with my bike. With the stock tires I had a few close calls, that is why I wanted to improve grip. But, as expected, with the additional grip came more rolling resistance. So far I am very happy with these tires.ramirezv

The website was easy to navigate. The order arrived on time. The tires I ordered seem to be very good quality and perform well. I do some road and some trails so these are perfect. The night rider lights work very well and appear to be very high quality. I would recommend.William G.

Those tires look great. Installation was easy. First few rides have shown they are doing the job. Very happy with that purchase.Guillaume P.

I got 3 flats with MaXXis in a week, on different tires. I couldn't believe it! I tried Vittoria tires and absolutely love them. I have replaced all my Maxxis (15) with Vittoria. Love the Mazza to replace DHR and DHF, the BARZO for trail, and Mezza for XC and Trail. My stable is covered by Vittoria. Oh, in two years, no flats. What's that worth in fun and money and reputation, and, and, and….Anonymous

aggressive for a drop bar gravel rig but i go through grass and fields and muck pretty routinely. love how well they take me through it all. 700×2.1 had rubber hairs rub the fork so they likely need to go but only if i can find the 27.5×2.2s first. not noticing the higher rolling resistance on pavement b/c i am too busy looking for places to jump onto dirt. set up required LBS to pop them onto rims to set as my little pump could not seat them. once seated they filled nicely an easily though they still leak through side wall prolly b/c they're the race version. but they air up before rides and keep topped off through rides just fine. am refilling with air every 3 days and have also added a bit more sealant which seemed to help. these have transformed how and where i can ride. i am in love, but know they're still a bit long in the tooth for the fork. still, they look brilliant and ride extremely well. may be seeking more Vittoria out for my bikes especially since Panaracer tires seem to have lost their stick over the years.spychica

I normally run the excellent Vittoria Mezcals for XC racing……a super quick tyre thats fast rolling, progressive in grip and excellent in dry conditions. But I needed something that could cope better with damp conditions and slippery off camber sections that seem to becoming the norm in British XC racing these days, so tried the Barzo. It looks more agressive and has deeper side tread, spaced out slightly taller knobs but still retains a fast rolling off set centre tread. Quite honestly it doesn't feel any slower than the Mezcal in a mixture of conditions – even on the road, but off road, its definitely more grippy and can be leaned on loads more – turns in much better etc. Perhaps slightly heavier due to the extra tread so I went for 2.25 versus 2.35 that i ran on the Mezcals to compensate. They set up easy tubeless and they also look super cool with the grey side walls……(if the looks are important to you). Not cheap but you pay for what you get. So a great all rounder and highly recommended.Lawson

Product processing and shipping was super efficient. It arrived promptly. Excellent service. Good pricing! Will buy again.Aslinda

Not the lightest tyre on the market but superb for the price, excellent grip in all weathers, great puncture protection, all in all a great tyre and a real bargain.fowel.micha

The grip of the DHF is undisputed, so I'm not even going to address that here. If you're ordering the 29 x 2.5 dual compound tire, know that while the tire is foldable, the casing is the DH casing, which means it is HEAVY. Two 60 TPI plies. That fact is not clear on EVO's webpage at all, but that is not unique to EVO. I've seen other sellers doing the same. I have it mounted on a 29mm inner width rim and at it's widest, it measures out as a 2.5 from knob to knob. The carcass measures around 58mm at a normal riding pressure. You can get the carcass to measure 63mm by pumping it up to the max pressure of 50 psi. It might stretch out a bit if you leave it there for 48 hours. Based on my (somewhat limited) experience with Maxxis, narrower than advertised is fairly typical for them. At any rate, being dual compound with a DH casing, this is a tire that I'll be living with for quite a while. One of the pros is that it is nearly indestructible, so I can feel free to slam into most anything. The DHF is one of those tires that comes in so many configurations that most anyone can find one that will put them in their happy place. Just know what you're ordering.Oldern'slower

Recently purchased a new bike and it came with 2.4's. The bike I'm replacing it with has a 2.8 in the front and 2.6 rear. Definitely not a fan of the narrower tires the new bike has so went up to 2.6 in the front. It does make a difference and just don't understand this trend back to the 90's with narrow tires. I ride mostly technical, rocky, rooty New England trails and the 2.4's just don't track like wider tires. At least I found this and it's working well.Jeremy S.

Did a lot of research on these Minion DHF vs DHR's and it came down to basically ones personal preference. I chose these tires for the durability, gripping capability especial for downhill sharp turns and technical trails. Great rollover on rocks and great tractions on those steep climbs. Plus I love the overall look of the tan wall…put them on my Cannondale Habit (29r) and have just been having a blast on the trails with confidence. Maxxis has not let me down! Thanks EVO for your help in choosing the right tires for my liking. -RogerRoger

First trail ride on these tires and I have to say I'm impressed with the traction. I was riding up steep ice with no problems, leaning the bike into turns at speed – all the while, I felt in control. They are amazing tires. However, like other reviewers, I checked after the ride and had several studs missing. For the price of these tires, 45nrth should really consider including extra studs for their customers. This would go a long way to make us feel like we are getting value. It's a serious disappointment to have to pay more money to fix a brand new, expensive tire.CoMTB

I got a pair of 27.5×3 Wrathchilds for mtb riding on packed snow and ice trails. Setting them up tubless was a bit of pain even with a compressor. I needed to use a tube to seat the bead on one side first. As for riding, they feel great on packed snow and ice. Its like riding on velcro. Even in upto 3" of unpacked snow they do ok as long as you pay attention to weighting them. I used to have some Scwalbe Ice Spiker Pro 29er tires and feel much more confident on the Wrathchilds. Maybe its the 27.5×3 vs 29, im not sure. The downside to these is expect to lose 10% of the studs. Maybe I didnt bed them in long enough on pavement. For what they cost its a bit disappointing. That said they are still probably some of the best studded tires out there.mtbrdan

So I will start out with the negative, this tire does not roll the best and a set costs more than an entry level hardtail.. Now that that's out of the way, the reason it rolls poorly is because of the SHEER AMOUNT OF GRIP that it has. Once I got the pressure dialed in for my bike. My goodness, I am biking on ice/snow at 80% or more of what I can do on dirt. I feel comfortable hitting jumps on snowy single track with this tire. I did not think this would be possible. If you ride somewhere you get a lot of freeze thaw/ice/snow this is the tire. I took extra care and manually seated each stud, and so far after 200 miles of use I have lost 2, and that was on a bare rock step up which I didn't take too well. the roll better than snowshoe 2xls, but worse then ground control 4.0s and Dillinger's (the other tires I have used for reference) but blow them all away for grip in all conditions other than 1st tracks of the day (the 2xls win on that). The only downside is you have to pedal more than some other tires, but I'd rather have to pedal a little harder and KNOW I have grip when descending, then have an easier time going up and be uneasy the whole way down.Bike_Bike

Tubeless just wasn’t working for me so I switched back to tubes and went with these tires from a more expensive Nano 2.1 tire. I love them. I have these on a gravel bike that sees a lot of pavement and in spite of the highly lugged nature, they ride smooth and quiet on pavement. They seem sturdy and can take a higher volume of air for less rolling resistance. I use liners for extra protection. I would not hesitate to buy these again. Outstanding for the price.Rocky Mountain Hiker

I regularly ride a mix of pavement and dirt roads. The semi slicks that came on my hybrid simply didn't grip in loose dirt and snow, and when they died from road debris I picked these up. On pavement these roll surprisingly well at 55psi, very quiet and grippy even when leaning over in corners. It was also more supple and gave a softer ride than my previous tires. Installing them was a piece of cake. On the dirt these tires inspired confidence that I lacked with the semi slicks. I also used these tires in the winter on snowy roads, and I didn't feel the need for studded tires. The rubber compound is a bit soft so it may not be long wearing. The upside is in cold temperatures the rubber is still soft enough to provide good traction. Overall I highly recommend these tires to anyone who rides a MTB or hybrid in mixed conditions and want a tire that can handle pretty much everything.By Freddy

These made a big difference compared to the really old tires I had on the bike. I don't know why they called them women's tires however.Bruce

By far the best trail tire I've ridden. You may want something a bit chunkier if you're riding park/gravity/downhill (Check out Der Kaiser/Der Baron from them) The Trail King never lets me down! Excellent climbing traction, as in I've never spun out. Top notch cornering, I always feel confident when the berm turns out to not be a berm… As good on the roots as they are on the rocks. Pretty darn good in the wet and slick as well. Maybe not a mud tire, but who rides those days anyhow? A bit of a tight fit on most rims but they set up tubeless no problem with a standard floor pump. I'm no expert, but I'd say you won't be disappointed with this tire!Eric T

Got a new pair of these to start the season. Had some trouble with the tubeless setup — took several tries to get it mounted and sealed, although I did get this worked out. >Note: Stan's is not recommended< On my first ride I lost huge chunks of rubber from the nobs and even some nobs altogether. I contacted Conti, sent them photos etc. They were extremely helpful and sent me a new tire and a bottle of sealant. GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE!! Tires have been good performers since then. I like the traction and predicability, however, I still have durability issues. The nobs are coming apart in chunks. Granted I ride a lot of sharp rocky terrain, and could chalk it up to this given the smallish nobs. The other effect of the small nobs is that they regularly pick up small rocks and fling them against the down tube. (pling pling pling) Had similar experience with WTB Wolverines. These are great tires for loamy soils. Rocky, not so much. I would recommend them for that type of conditions. As to sealant — don't mix Stan's and Conti. Stan's can be used effectively, but you may get a fair bit of weeping before the tire completely seals. PROS: Customer Service, Good Grip CONS: Difficult To InstallmtbikerNV

Continental MTB tires are horrible. I’m a heavier rider coming in at 245 and ride rocky terrain here in NE. These are on my pivot Mach 6 and three months of riding the sidewalk has come detached from the bead. I had two mountain Kong’s do the same that I bought back in 16 so I thought it was a bad batch. They warrantied one and the other let go about a year later. I did have a set of kendas on when these were out of commission. I replaced the other mtn king with this trail king and this one also did the same thing. I run them tubeless on a 30mm internal width rim and run them around 27-29 psi. Never again and back to Maxxis which actually last. Even the Schwalbe noby nics didn’t do this .Paul c

Put these tires on a frankenbike built for the city, heavier than I imagined but they roll light and very quite. Appear to be directional but did not find marking on tire case. So far thats a win win.james5111

i installed these tires on my giant bicycle. they rode great, nice an smooth on the road, in the dirt they handle well. i aired them to 65 psi and they held up great . no wobbly tire syndrome as with some tires . they stick to the rim great as i removed the front tire to replace a tube with a slime filled tube, noticed that they stuck to the rim edge quite well. these are a great smooth rolling tire .scaste.wn0rxhf

mounted these tires on a comfort bike , trialed them this past weekend , was so happy with results , very comfortable riding tire , used them on a rails to trails path , handled the hard pack quite well , even the cornering , very stable , and no punctures . on roads the tire performs smoothly , less friction as compared to mtb knobby designed tires ! great productwaltdwma610

Got the 120tpi in 26×2.3 for use on my Motiv Sherpa e-assist cargo bike. Replaced a worn set of Kenda SB8s, difference is night and day. The DTH is very fast, has great traction, and unrivaled comfort. The way they corner reminds me of a motorcycle street race tire, and yet they still perform well on fire roads and jeep trails. I couldn't be happier with the gumwall DTH tires, they are magnificent. Or should I say, "Maxxnificent"!Nelson

These tires are excellent for what they are: a BMX tire scaled up for mountain bike use. I picked up a pair of these in 26×2.1 for my custom Y-Bike, for the summer. I bash and ride all over San Diego. They are grippy, very smooth rolling, and fast… boy, are they fast! They are amazing on the street, and not that bad on hard pack trails. The tread isn't very deep, so soft sandy patches require a steady hand. I initially ran these tubeless on Stan's style rims (Sun Ringle Charger Pros), and was uncomfortable with the sidewall flex when leaned over too far. I switched to using inner tubes, and found that the extra material from the tubes provided the support these tires needed to exceed all of my expectations. I don't mind running them with tubes, either, since they are the same weight with them as last year's Nevegals tubeless.HCS01

This is a great tire. I meant to order the larger ones, but these were so light that I decided to keep them. This tire reminds me somewhat of an old "Snakebelly" BMX tire, or a park/street tire, which of course is exactly what it is. I weighed both at 554 grams on a triple beam scale. Supple casing, smooth rolling. More expensive tires are lighter and the casing is higher quality so the tire is more supple. A more supple tire rolls over bumps more smoothly as opposed to a cheaper casing having more tendency to bounce off the object it impacts. I'm running these at 40 psi because rolling resistance can be somewhat counterintuitive. High pressure may not deliver a hugely higher speed, but will give a bumpier ride for sure.blai.raymo

Bought a few weeks ago to replace a back wheel on hybrid all weather bike. Slightly wider than the original as I could not find the same tyres anywhere in stock. Went on fairly easily and so far so good regards riding quality feels the same. Use bike to commute couple of times a week. Good price.Bernie1967

Hi. Regarding my order for bicycle tires, almost everything was fine. And I say almost everything because I asked for two 27.5 x 2.00 tires, which are the measurements that I wanted to mount, and you sent me 2.25. In the end, in order not to complicate my life with returns, I have put them, but it is not what I wanted. It would not hurt if you were a little more careful with this measurement.Rafael

5 stars, for the price they are awesome! Quite lightweight and really good puncture resistance. The knobs on the side really help climbing the curb on an angle, steep climbs, etc.Samduf

Fire xc pros have amazing grip on the slabs of rock that are common on our trails here. The outer rubber is super soft and sticky and the tread pattern evacuates mud fairly well. These may be considered a classic, but they are tubeless, low weight and grip better than any of the other popular "modern" tires I've tried. Cornering is progressive and reliable. These are my go to MTB tire so I was really glad to see they are back in stock. The ones that arrived were made in Japan (ie Jenson stocks the good ones – not sure if knockoffs are an issue anymore though).James

After trying several different brands and styles of tires I purchased a set of Panaracer Fire XC pro tires and I don't regret it. After about half a season of riding I can find nothing negative to say about these tires. I'm on the bigger side and also on the reckless side of mountain bikers but have had no issues with punctures on these tires, even after countless times of accidentally leaving the trail. These tires far outperform my capabilities; I've never been for a loss of traction while riding these tires at my favorite tracks. PROS: Rugged, Good Traction BEST USES: Casual Trails, Single Track, Cross Countryrdmatulich

Bought these because they were in my price range and had pretty good reviews but it seems like it won’t have be most cost effective to buy a different set for more. After consistent riding for about 2 months the bead has started separating from the sidewalk and the sidewalls are dry roting.Michael