The 9 Best Mountain Bike Tires of 2023
By: Colin Edwards: Bike Buyer | July 12, 2023
A mountain bike is a collection of interfaces. Your grips, pedals, and saddle allow your body to interface with the bike, your brakes interface with their rotors, and most importantly, your tires interface with the trail. Ideally, they’re the one thing that’s actually connecting your body to the trail, allowing you to climb, corner, descend, and jump. So having the right mountain bike tires makes a huge difference. It’s hard to overstate how big the difference between the best mountain bike tires and lesser options is. But there’s no one size fits all tire solution, so instead, you need to think about your trails and goals, and look for tires optimized for them
This list of the best mountain bike tires includes options for every type of rider, with a huge variety of tread patterns, casing constructions, and rubber compounds. All of those elements combine to define a tire’s performance. So we’ve included a broad spectrum of tires, everything from XC race ready lightweight rubber, to beefy tires that are bike park ready. Now it’s up to you to get new tires, and get out there and ride!
For more on how to choose the best mountain mountain bike tires for you please see our helpful mountain bike tire guide.
Maxxis Minion
Strap up with the legendary grip of the Maxxis Minion Tire. One of the most trusted trail and enduro tires on the market combined with 3C Maxx Terra hybrid compound, all shaped into a wide casing for reliable performance in a wide range of conditions. Available in the EXO 60tpi for a lighter weight trail option, and DD 120tpi for the enduro rider that needs some extra umph from their tires.
| Discipline | Original Price |
| Enduro/DH/Trail | $82.00 - $112.00 |
Maxxis Dissector
Aussie DH pro Troy Brosnan practically lives on the podium, rarely out of the mix at any race he enters. His new signature tire, the Maxxis Dissector Tire, is as versatile as he is. It has fast rolling center knobs that keep you buzzing down the trail, and large side blocks that hook up in any conditions - especially dry and dusty. With EXO+ protection, these are tough enough for enduro and downhill chunk, but they're not as heavy as a pure DH tire so you can pedal them too.
| Discipline | Original Price |
| Enduro / All-Mountain, Downhill (DH) | $88.00 - $106.00 |
Maxxis Ardent - 29"
With a Maxxis Ardent Tire on your bike, you're set up for success. Whether front or back, trail or XC, slapping one of these babies on a hoop means you'll experience an efficient forward roll without sacrificing too much cornering stability. This is a tire for reasonable folks who pedal their bikes in the mountains.
| Discipline | Original Price |
| Trail | $74.00 |
Maxxis Assegai - 27.5"
Named after the spears of fearsome Zulu warriors, the Maxxis Assegai Wide Trail Tire is a downhill beast ready to attack the mountain. Maxxis' 3C MaxxGrip compound offers excellent grip for the full range of trail conditions you'll encounter from dust to glop, plus confidence inducing traction over wet roots and rocks. Tall side lugs deliver solid and predictable bite while cornering, while an overall more rounded profile makes for smooth transitions from the side to the center portion of the tread. Grab yourself some Maxxis Assegai Wide Trail Tires and fly!
| Discipline | Original Price |
| Downhill (DH) | $82.00 - $112.00 |
Maxxis Rekon - 29"
The XC race tire that's made for trail riding, the Maxxis Rekon Tire is a great choice for summer riding. Designed for hard-packed to loose terrain, the Rekon is known for consistent grip and fast-rolling, and you'll see it on front and rear wheels. For XC and trail bikes, it's hard to be faster than a Rekon: choose the compound and casing that suits your trails and rip!
| Discipline | Original Price |
| Cross Country (XC), Trail | $96.00 |
Continental Xynotal - 29"
Optimized for hardpack and rocky surfaces, the Continental Xynotal Tire has low rolling resistance and extra grip, so you can stay on the trail and feel confident through corners that all your buddies lose grip on.
| Discipline | Original Price |
| Trail, Enduro / All-Mountain, Downhill (DH) | $64.95 - $99.95 |
Continental Argotal - 29"
Ideal for loose terrain and hitting sharp corners, the Continental Argotal Tire provides grippy stability thanks to its signature Black Chili multi-compound and easy to clean open tread pattern.
| Discipline | Original Price |
| Trail, Enduro / All-Mountain, Downhill (DH) | $64.95 - $94.95 |
Continental Kryptotal-F - 27.5"
Designed specifically for your front wheel, the Continental Kryptotal-F Tire has a mix of grip, rolling resistance, and power when you brake. Hit the road on mixed terrain for a great day in the saddle.
| Discipline | Original Price |
| Trail, Enduro / All-Mountain, Downhill (DH) | $64.95 - $84.95 |
Learn More With Our Other Bike Guides:
- Mountain Bikes - How to Choose
- Mountain Bikes - Size and Fit Guide
- Mountain Bikes - How to Get Started Mountain Biking
- Mountain Bikes - How to Choose a Wheel Size
- Mountain Bikes - Suspension Basics
- Mountain Bikes - How to Choose a Mountian Bike Dropper Post
- Mountain Bikes - How to Choose MTB Handlebars
- Mountain Bikes - How to Choose MTB Pedals
- Mountain Bikes - How to Change Bike Pedals
- Mountain Bikes - How to Clean
- Mountain Bikes - How to Bleed SRAM Brakes
- Mountain Bikes - How to Bleed Shimano Brakes
- Mountain Bikes - How to Convert to Tubeless Tires
- Mountain Bikes - How to Replace Internal Cable Housing
- Mountain Bikes - How to Adjust Your Rear Derailleur
- Mountain Bikes - How to Bleed a RockShox Reverb Seatpost
- Mountain Bikes - How to Service Fox and RockShox Fork Lowers
- Mountain Biking - What to Bring Mountain Biking
- Mountain Biking - What to Wear Mountain Biking
- Mountain Biking - How to Choose Knee Pads
- Bikes - Size and Fit Guide
- Gravel Bikes - How To Get Started Gravel Biking
- eBikes - Classes, Features & More
- eBikes - Where to Ride eBikes
- Bike Accessories - Helmet Size & Fit Guide
- Bike Accessories - How to Choose Bike Shoes
- Bikes - How to Choose Bike Tires
- Bikes - How to Change Bike Pedals
- Bikes - How to Repair & Replace a Bike Chain
- Bikes - How to Choose Accessories
- Bikes - Urban Riding Tips
- Travel & Destination Guides - Where to Mountain Bike
Learn About our Favorite Bike Gear:
The Best Women's Mountain Bikes
The Best Electric Mountain Bikes
The Best Mountain Bikes for Beginners
The Best Mountain Bikes Under $3,000
The Best Trail Bikes
The Best Enduro Bikes
The Best Gravel Bikes
The Best Mountain Bike Helmets
The Best Full Face MTB Helmets
The Best Mountain Bike Knee Pads
The Best Mountain Bike Elbow Pads
The Best Mountain Bike Shorts
The Best Women's Bike Shorts
The Best Mountain Bike Pants
The Best Mountain Bike Jerseys
The Best Mountain Bike Accessories
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The Best Dropper Posts
The Best Mountain Bike Forks
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The Best Padded Mountain Bike Shorts
The Best Mountain Bikes Handlebars
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The Best Mountain Bike Socks
The Best MTB Fanny Packs
The Best Mountain Bike Backpacks
The Best Clipless Mountain Bike Shoes
The Best Flat Pedal MTB Bike Shoes
The Best Mountain Bike Tires
The Best Mountain Bike Flat Pedals
The Best Bike Racks
The Best Bike Glasses
The Best Bike Goggles
The Best Women's Mountain Bike Jerseys
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The Best Bike Trainers
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The Best Clipless MTB Pedals
The Best Mountain Bikes Handlebar Bags
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The Selection Process:
Our bike buyer has an endless amount of knowledge on all things bike stemming from years of experience in the bike industry in tandem with their countless hours out on the dirt, gravel, and tarmac. evo's buyers assess all products coming to market, lean into this knowledge, and put together this selection of the best products. They have a unique perspective as they truly see everything offered across the category.
Colin Edwards
Meet Colin Edwards, evo's in-house Bike Buyer and mountain biking aficionado. With 15+ years of e-commerce buying experience under his belt, Colin is the go-to guy for all things related to "Riding Dirt." He's worked across various categories, including bike, snowboard, travel, climbing, and surfing, giving him the know-how to recognize and select top-notch mountain biking products for evo's customers.
Colin's been shredding trails since he was a kid, starting on his trusty hardtail Trek 800 Sport. Born and raised in Utah, he recently made the move to Bellingham, WA with his partner, Kenz. Colin's real-world biking experience, combined with his background in product trends, relationship building, and sales analysis, makes him an invaluable asset to the evo team.
When he's not busy handpicking the raddest gear, you'll find Colin ripping through PNW trails or hunting for the world's best dirt. And when the snow falls, he's all about snowboarding. Colin also loves trail running and exploring the PNW's stunning landscape with his two dogs and Kenz.
With Colin's expertise and passion fueling evo's mountain biking selection, you can trust that his recommendations are spot-on and tailored to the evo community's adventurous spirit.