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Highest Rated Mountain Bike Tires

Jan 9, 2011 | By Joshua Duvauchelle

Having a good set of mountain-ready tires on your mountain bike makes all the difference in your ride, reports "Outside" magazine, with the majority of accidents and crashes caused by poor tires. If you're having trouble choosing between tire makes and models, several specific mountain bike tires have been highlighted by bicycling experts as some of the best on the market. Between you and your new pair of mountain-worth tires, the slope stands no chance.

WTB Dissent 29 x 2.5

WTB's mountain bike tires was given a "Gear of the Day" award in 2010 by "Bicycling" magazine. The magazine praised its high-quality rubber, weight-reduced tire casing and well-designed bead. The tire experiences the best performance on extremely rocky surfaces, especially very technical mountain trails, due to its soft rubber knobs. Conversely, this makes the tire slightly less suitable for heavy mud conditions.

Schwalbe Knobby Nic EVO

This Schwalbe tire model was handed a coveted thumbs-up designation in "Bicycling" magazine's 2010 buyer's guide. The magazine also noted that this specific tire was a favorite among the magazine's staff members. Features include medium-firm knobs that help the tire grip both wet, mucky terrain as well as roots and rocks. This led the magazine to conclude that it was one of the best choices for mountain bikers who need a versatile tire that doesn't specialize in any one terrain style.

Schwalbe Dirty Dan

As this tire's name implies, it's crafted to get down and dirty in wet, slimy, mucky mountain conditions. BikeRadar.com handed it a rating of four out of five stars, making it not just one of the highest rated mountain bike tires, but also one of the highest rated tires in all categories. The site concludes that this model may be the manufacturer's best kept secret. Highlights include block treads that are evenly spaced well apart to help give traction and funnel away water in all conditions.

Continental Trail King 2.2

If you're a mountain biker who also enjoys cross-country challenges, and therefore need an extra durable, versatile tire, "Outside" magazine considers Continental's mountain tires as ideal. The magazine specifically loved its stiffer sidewalls, which it says gives you improved durability and stability, as well as enhanced control when you're maneuvering tight trails. Additionally, the manufacturer infuses its rubber with a proprietary compound for a 5 percent increase in mileage and a 30 percent rise in cohesion.

References

Article reviewed by Veronique Von Tufts Last updated on: Jan 9, 2011

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