The 10 Best Mountain Bike Tires of 2022
By: Jon Kennedy: Bike Buyer | May 25, 2022
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.
Vittoria Mazza Trail
The Vittoria Mazza Trail Tires raise the bar in the mixed terrain Enduro tire category. No amount of roots, rocks, climbs, or drops is too much for the Mazza to handle. The Mazza is a rugged jack of all trades, ready for any style of trail. The Mazza is a great front tire in any conditions, and works well on the rear too, when traction is at a premium.
| Original Price | Casing | Discipline |
| $79.95 | Trail | Trail/Enduro |
Vittoria Mota G20
Muddy trails got you down? You need the Vittoria Mota G2.0 Tires, friend. With a progressive sipe pattern and ample spacing, these tires rapidly shed mud and debris for superb grip on the slickest trails. The Mota G20 is great front or rear tires anytime you’re looking for maximum traction in wet conditions. It grips incredibly, and sheds mud well.
| Original Price | Casing | Discipline |
| $79.99 | Trail | Muddy Riding |
Maxxis Aggressor
The Maxxis Aggressor Tire is a modern trail tire for riders that want aggressive traction and corner hold with a durable casing and low rolling resistance. It’s a great dry conditions tire, and works well on the front or rear of trail bikes, and is a great rear tire for Enduro riders looking for faster rolling speeds on dry trails.
| Original Price | Casing | Discipline |
| $77.00 | Exo | Trail |
Maxxis Minion DHF
There's good reason why the Maxxis Minion DHF Tire is one of the most popular rubber rollers in the world. Constructed with a choice of burly 2-ply DH casings and butyl-protected sidewalls or tubeless ready folding options, the Minion DHF can handle a beating and ricochet sharp rocks without rider worry. Engineered with ramped knobs for low rolling resistance and channel-cut side knobs for reliable grip through berms, the Maxxis Minion DHF Tire is the fast and aggressive tire that downhillers and trail riders dream about. If you’re not sure what you’re looking for from a front tire, the Maxxis Minion DHF is a great place to start.
| Original Price | Casing | Discipline |
| $77.00 | Exo+, DD, DH | Trail/Enduro |
Maxxis Assegai Wide Trail
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! The Assegai is one of the all-out grippiest tires on the market, so if you’re looking for maximum traction, this is your top choice.
| Original Price | Casing | Discipline |
| $77.00 | Exo. Exo+, DD | Enduro/DH |
Maxxis Minion DHF (29'')
There's a reason you see so many top riders on the Maxxis Minion DHF Tire (yes, it's technically a front tire, but plenty of people use it on both ends of the bike). The Minion flat out rules, especially in wet and slippery conditions. If you've got a 29'er, this 29" version of the Minion DHF is for you. The DHF is a timeless tire, and a great default if you’re not sure what the trail will throw at you.
| Original Price | Casing | Discipline |
| $77.00 | Exo/DD | Trail/Enduro |
Maxxis Minion DHR II
Strap up with the legendary grip of the Maxxis Minion DHR II 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. The DHR II works well on the front or the back of the bike. It’s a versatile tire that’s quickly becoming a perennial classic.
| Original Price | Casing | Discipline |
| $80.00 | Exo, DD | Enduro/DH/Trail |
Maxxis Aggressor
The Maxxis Aggressor Tire is a modern trail tire for riders that want aggressive traction and corner hold with a durable casing and low rolling resistance. It’s not our top choice for riders in wet, or soft conditions, but if you’re generally riding hardpack or dusty trails, this is a fast, fun tire.
| Original Price | Casing | Discipline |
| $77.00 | Exo/DD | Trail |
Continental Trail King
The monarch of mud, the duke of dust, and the earl of burl: when you're rolling on a Continental Trail King Tire it's all royal family biz. With Black Chili rubber over a puncture-resistant layer, reinforced sidewalls, and too many grippy knobs to count, this tire happily fights on the front lines with the troops. Ultra stable and solid, this is a benevolent king. The Trail King is a versatile all-rounder that won’t ever leave you wanting.
| Original Price | Casing | Discipline |
| $54.95 | Apex, Shieldwall TR | XC/Trail |
Continental Trail King (27.5'')
The Continental Trail King Tire is made to tackle every trail and track on the hill, whether it's your first time or you're taking the racing lines. If your bike has more than 140mm of travel, this is a tire for you that's ready to charge off into the unknown. Its many small grippy knobs help stay the course and it offers excellent puncture resistance. It’s a fast, versatile tire, perfect for anyone dealing with a mix of conditions.
| Original Price | Casing | Discipline |
| $54.95 | Apex/Shieldwall TR | XC/Trail |
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 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
- 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
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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.
Jon Kennedy
Jon is a Bike Buyer and joined evo in 2015 to help launch the category. He has a long tenure in the bike industry bringing over 20 years of experience.
Jon was formerly the Marketing Manager for Diamondback bikes and was the Executive Director for the Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance prior to that. His broad experience in the bike industry from the brand, advocacy and retail side has contributed to a well-rounded understanding of trends, needs and opportunities.
Jon grew up in the Seattle area and currently resides there with his wife Ilana, kids Erez and Lilah, and his Boston Terrier Marley. He is a daily rider packing countless miles in every year, loves all disciplines, and simply considers himself a cyclist… a title he embraces with great passion.