Hutchinson Kraken MTB-band

Why choose the right MTB tyre?

On a mountain bike the tyre is your first suspension. A wide tyre at low pressure follows the terrain and keeps contact, so you can brake and steer with confidence. Common sizes run from 2.2 to 2.6 inches for cross-country and trail, and 2.4 to 2.8 inches for enduro and harder riding.

The tread decides how the bike behaves off-road. Low, closely spaced knobs roll fast on hard ground. Tall, widely spaced knobs dig into mud and loose sand. Shoulder knobs give grip when cornering. At the rear you usually want a faster-rolling pattern, at the front more grip.

The rubber compound is a trade-off between grip, speed and wear. Softer rubber sticks better to wet rock but wears quicker and rolls slower. The casing construction (light for racing, reinforced for enduro and e-bikes) decides how well the tyre withstands rim strikes and torn sidewalls.

Practically all MTB tyres are run tubeless. With sealant you can use low pressures without a tube pinching, and small leaks seal themselves. The front tyre usually runs a little softer than the rear.

What each type of MTB tyre is for

The pressure is a tubeless starting point for a rider of about 75 kg. Adjust it to the terrain and feel.

E-bikes and heavier riders need more pressure or a reinforced casing.

How to choose and use an MTB tyre

1. Check the size

   Read the size on your old tyre, for example 29 x 2.4. The rim diameter (27.5 or 29 inch) must match or it will not fit.

2. Choose front and rear separately

   For more grip at the front and more speed at the back, combine two treads. Mind the rotation arrow on the sidewall.

3. Fit the tyre tubeless

   Fit the tyre, add sealant and inflate hard until both beads pop into place. Spin the wheel afterwards to spread the sealant.

4. Set the pressure

   Start from the table values and drop 0.1 bar at a time until the tyre just stops bottoming out. A digital gauge helps because such low pressures are hard to read.