what tyres...

...the perennial question

We can't tell you 'what tyres' here because even if we know where you ride and what you ride, we don't know how you ride and what you expect. We can try and equip you with some information on how to make you choice.

A. It depends on your ability
The least asked question is perhaps the most important, at least in XC racing...how good are you ?!
A good rider can ride most terrain on the lightest of tyres.. are you a skilled rider? There is no point picking the latest 'fastest' tyre only to skip, slip, wash out and crash because your ability doesn't match that of the pros who can ride with no tread, floating over rocks, roots, mud and off-camber sections. Ability should make a difference to your tyre choice! Be realistic.

B. What about dual-ply?
Sure dual-ply will bomb proof your wheel set but realistically how many people are prepared to drag around the extra weight on their tyres? Over a single-ply equivalent tyre it adds 240 - 400g per tyre (thats another tyre to some people). Dual-ply should be reserved for those who can't complete a ride on a single-ply tyre or where gravity assisted means you don't have to ride your ride back to the top and the descent is all.

C. Do I need UST tyres to run tubeless?
Our answer is always no. Especially with the Maxxis range the Single and Dual ply both convert fine to tubeless with some sealant. That said UST/LUST/2Bliss (or whatever it's now called) offers more protection on the sidewall which may be a consideration for certain areas and courses where sharp rocks and flints can decimate tyres. Also the thicker rubber around the bead area means it should inflate on the wheel easier than a non-tubeless tyre and may be possible to run without sealant.

D. What width?
On mountain bike tyres unlike road tyres wider means less rolling resistance as the surface needs to deform to cope with the off-road terrain. The only exception is in muddy conditions where frame clearance becomes an issue and thinner tyres cut through the mud rather than skating over the top. Maybe obvious to say but wider tyres can mean more weight, but can be more fun to ride on with increased grip and cushioning and a compromise is always reached somewhere in the middle.

E. Why wider is better than narrow tyres
A tyre at a given pressure will always have the same contact area, with a narrow tyre this contact area is forced to use the length of the tyre on a wider tyre it can use the width. Testing has proved that deforming across the width is more efficient and causes less rolling resistance.

The other advantage is that wider tyres allow lower pressure to be used because the load (you and the bike) are spread over a greater area.  Lower pressures are good off road because they allow the tyre to deform over rough terrain absorbing bumps without having to lift the weight of the bike and the rider, a bit like suspension on a smaller scale.

The only exception is in muddy conditions where frame clearance becomes and issue and thinner tyres cut through the mud rather than skating over the top. Maybe obvious to say but wider tyres can mean more weight, but can be more fun to ride on with increased grip and cushioning and a compromise is always reached somewhere in the middle.

F. Compounds
The softer compounds are only available in the wider wire tyres so generally there isn't a choice in the XC range. In Maxxis most XC tyres are the 62a rubber which is perfect for most conditions, some are available in 70, a harder rubber which is fine if keeping it for years is your main aim. If you are considering anything above 2.35 you have a choice of the softer compounds, these are great and can enhance the grip no end but this applies to the ups as well as the downs and will be a compromise unless getting down fast is your priority in life.

For further reading MTBR has a good and reasonably balanced review section, check here for the Maxxis section on MTBR

more questions and answers to be come as they are asked ... stay tuned and choose your tyres wisely.

More tyre info
For some tyre weights see our blog article Maxxis tyres under 1kg