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Best XC Mountain Bike Tires – These are the fastest MTB tires

best xc mtb tires
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Choosing the right cross country tires for your XC mountain bike can make you faster, make your bike lighter, and seriously upgrade its performance on race day. If you’re new to the sport, check our complete Mountain Bike Tire Tech explainer here to learn more about casing, construction, and tread patterns first.

When it comes to XC tires, your options tend to be on the racier side, but there are still plenty of tires ready to handle more aggressive trails. You’ll find everything from high-TPI “race ready” tires that trade protection for weight savings and compliance, to “trail rated” tires that simply use a faster rolling tread design and compound.

Either way, the tires below are all designed to minimize rolling resistance and help you go faster. From rigid singlespeeds to hardtails to short travel, full-suspension mountain bikes, these are the best XC MTB tires for different riding conditions and styles…

 BEST OVERALL: Kenda Booster Pro 

kenda booster pro best xc mtb tire

After breaking it in on local trails, we raced the Kenda Booster Pro in Israel’s Samarathon MTB Epic stage race, which covered miles and miles of flat hardpack, sand, rock slabs, and everything in between.

That was 2019, and we’re still riding the same pair of tires on our local trails…they’re that durable. They also roll extremely fast and quiet, even with an aggressive (for XC) tread and grippy single-compound rubber that corners reliably on a wide variety of surfaces.

kenda booster pro mtb tire

They come in TR (Tubeless Race) and SCT (Sealant Compatible Tire). Both are tubeless, and both use a supple 120tpi casing. But the SCT versions add an extra nylon fabric layer from bead to tread cap to improve tubeless performance and add a bit more protection against sidewall cuts. It adds about 70g per tire, but if you’re racing a marathon in a foreign country, that’s peace of mind worth carrying.

Not only are these some of the lightest XC tires on the market, they also come in the widest variety of sizing. From kid-bike-friendly 20-inch options to 29ers, and 2.2″ up to 2.8″ widths, there’s literally something for everyone.

  • Style: All-around racing
  • Tire Widths: 2.2, 2.4, 2.6 and 2.8
  • Front/rear-specific: No
  • Wheel sizes available: 20″, 24″, 26″, 27.5″, and 29″
  • Tire bead: Folding
  • Tubeless Compatible: Yes
  • Weight: 598g (claimed, 29×2.2 TR), 670g (claimed, 29×2.2 SCT)
  • Price: $64.95

PROS: huge size range, lightweight, durable, fast, grippy
CONS: Not great in mud

 BEST DRY CONDITIONS TIRE: Maxxis Aspen 

maxis aspen cross country mountain bike tires is best for dry conditions

The Maxxis Aspen is a favorite amongst Bikerumor editors (and a race favorite of former world champions like Kate Courtney and Nino Schurter) as a solid all-around tire that can withstand tough singletrack…as long as it’s dry.

It has a racy, low-profile design that can handle the ride to the trails just as well as technical terrain. Dual compound rubber and bigger horizontal side knobs offer steady cornering traction. A unique mix of thin paddles and ramped blocks fill in the firmer low-profile center section to help it roll really fast and climb mixed terrain surprisingly well…again, as long as it’s dry.

Best MTB tire Maxxis Aspen

All versions of this tire use a very supple 120tpi casing, yet start at just $50. And they set up tubeless really easily.

If you want the racy benefits of the Aspen tires for burlier terrain where you could use a bit more cushion, the Aspen is also available in a 29×2.4″ Wide Trail XC version that adds their EXO sidewall protection. This one’s designed for 25-30mm internal width rims and adds a ton of extra traction, just make sure it will fit in your frame and fork before you buy.

  • Style: Hardpack, Dry
  • Tire Width: 2.25″ and 2.4″
  • Front/rear specific: No
  • Wheel sizes available: 29″ only
  • Tire bead: Folding
  • Tubeless Compatible: Yes
  • Weight: 585g (claimed, 29×2.25″), 720g (claimed 29×2.4″ EXO)
  • Price: $50-100

PROS: Fast, light, and race-ready; easy to set up as tubeless
CONS: Definitely only for dry conditions

 BEST FOR WET, ROUGH TRAILS: Schwalbe Racing Ray & Racing Ralph 

schwalbe racing ralph racing ray

If course conditions get a little gnarlier, the Schwalbe Racing Ray & Racing Ralph combo are up to the task. It’s a front and rear combo with unique tread designs optimized for either end of the bike. And we’ll explain why below, but first…Schwalbe’s options need a quick explainer:

Schwalbe’s Addix compounds come in four varieties, but their XC tires stick to Speed (red) and SpeedGrip (blue). From there, they offer five different casing constructions. For XC, you’ll find Super Ground (3-layer casing + full puncture protection) and Super Race (2-layer casing + minimal puncture protection under center treads only), both 67tpi. Then choose between Evolution (best, easiest tubeless setup) or Performance models.

schwalbe racing ray mtb tire

The lightest, fastest, and most supple is going to be the Evolution/Speed/Super Race, shown here on the bike, which uses their tan/transparent LiteSkin sidewall to save even more weight.

The Racing Ray is designed specifically for front wheels, with longer knobs in the center and transitional area to hold a line through fast corners. Bigger, taller side knobs manage more technical, rougher courses with mixed terrain and conditions.

schwalbe racing ralph mtb tire

The rear wheel-specific Racing Ralph gets perpendicular “paddles” for maximum traction under acceleration and braking, with small sipes to help them grab the ground despite their low profile.

Few XC tires are truly ‘all-weather,’ but this combo’s ability to fight through a little slop is impressive for the category.

  • Style: Varied conditions
  • Tire Width: 2.10, 2.25, 2.35 options
  • Front/rear specific: Racing Ray – Front  / Racing Ralph – Rear
  • Wheel sizes available: 26″, 27.5″, and 29″
  • Tire bead: Folding
  • Tubeless Compatible: Yes
  • Weight – Racing Ray: 640g – 750g (claimed, 29ers, depending on size)
  • Weight – Racing Ralph: 675g – 750g (claimed, 29ers, depending on size)
  • Price: $65-95

PROS: Easy tubeless setup, handles aggressive and wet terrain well
CONS: Expensive

 BEST BUDGET: Vittoria Mezcal XC 

vittoria mezcal

It’s nearly impossible to find a folding XC mountain bike tire for under $40, but luckily, brands like Vittoria are making budget-friendly wire-bead versions of some of their top tire models. At $30 per tire, the non-folding wire-bead version of the Vittoria Mezcal XC tire is a great choice for riders on a budget.

A unique center line tread pattern helps it roll fast and smooth on pavement, with siped directional lugs and blocky side knobs taking control when you hit the dirt. It even clears lite mud surprisingly well. This combo makes the Mezcal a great all-arounder for new riders and a perfect upgrade from stock tires on entry level bikes.

2016 Vittoria Mezcal 3 xc mountain bike tireThe wire bead version gets a more durable rubber compound, too, so you’ll likely get years of use out of it, making it even better for riders on a serious budget.

If you want to upgrade, opt for the folding-bead Tubeless TNT version for pro-level suppleness, grippier Graphene rubber compound, and lighter weight…but it comes with a much higher price tag of $70 per tire.

  • Style: All-around
  • Tire Width: 2.1, 2.25, 2.6
  • Front/rear specific: No
  • Wheel sizes available: 26″, 27.5″ and 29″
  • Tire bead: Rigid
  • Tubeless Compatible: No
  • Weight: 755g to 1070g, depending on size (folding bead versions are lighter)
  • Price: $30

PROS: Inexpensive, capable & versatile tread pattern is great for newbies
CONS: Not tubeless compatible, heavy

 MOST IMPROVED: Specialized S-Works Renegade 2Bliss 

specialized renegade 2bliss

The Specialized S-Works Renegade was already a Bikerumor staff favorite, but the recent tread pattern makeover has given it a bit more bite. Former World Champion Annika Langvad raced the Renegade on her rear wheel for years, though it technically is optimized for both front and rear.

This latest iteration uses a motocross-inspired block-in-block construction on the side knobs, which help it dig into softer, looser terrain and improve cornering grip. The center knobs are ramped, flat, and lower profile to roll faster in the straights.

The original Specialized Renegade (directly above) tread was a favorite amongst Bikerumor staffers—and XCO pro Sam Gaze. The new ones (shown at top) are even better. Updated photo coming soon…

We like the tighter tread pattern of this new version, they feel like they have more of “get up and go” attitude that we can push harder in the corners thanks to a more predictable limit. The downside is they wear a little more quickly, and once the edges have rounded off a bit, the handling gets noticeably less sharp.

Despite its updates, it sticks with a 60tpi casing, but does include a light layer of puncture protection…which has definitely improved flat protection. You get a choice of S-Works (dual compound) and Control (single compound) models. However, you have your choice of the firmer T5 or grippier T7 compound for your Control tire, plus a slight bit more puncture protection.

  • Style: Hardpack
  • Tire Width: 2.2″ and 2.35″
  • Front/rear specific: No
  • Wheel sizes available: 29
  • Tire bead: Folding
  • Tubeless Compatible: Yes
  • Weight: 615g-645g (claimed, Control T5 model, depending on size)
  • Weight: 570g-590g (claimed, S-Works model, depending on size)
  • Price: $70 (Control) – $70 (S-Works)

PROS: Really fast tire on hard dirt and technical pedaling sections
CONS: Wears a little faster than others, not ideal for mud

How to choose the best cross-country MTB tire

The biggest issue with XC MTB tire choice boils down to choosing the right size. You want to find a tire that fits your wheel—and of course, your riding style. MTB tires are labeled with wheel size and tire width (so will be listed as “29 x 2.25” or “27.5 x 2.4,” et cetera).

Know your wheel size: This is the first number on the tire. Does your MTB have 26-inch, 27.5-inch, or 29-inch wheels? Simply put, you have to stick to this number, a 27.5-inch tire can’t squeeze onto 29-inch wheels no matter how strong your hands are. Pretty much every modern cross country mountain bike is using 29er wheels because they just roll faster, but older bikes might be using something else.

Maxxis aspen xc mtb
Look at the side of the tire for the diameter and width…this one is 29×2.4 and comes stock on the new Santa Cruz Blur.

Know how wide you can go: This is the second number on the tire. Mountain bikes will have a maximum tire width that they can fit. It might be tempting to try some “all trail” or “all mountain” tires that are wider than the standard 2.1-to-2.25-inches that cross-country mountain bike tires typically come in, but most cross-country mountain bikes and forks are only equipped to safely handle tires up to 2.25 inches wide.

More than that, and the tires may not fit in your frame. The general rule (and current safety standard) is 6mm of clearance between tire and frame/fork at all points. Wedging something in there that reduces that number increases the likelihood that your tire will rub the frame when the frame or wheel flexes under hard cornering or pedaling.

It also increases the likelihood of debris getting jammed in there and stopping you suddenly, which is a serious safety concern.

xc mtb tire trail ride
Do you mostly ride smooth singletrack or rocky, rooty trails?

Know what type of trails you ride most often: Most of us won’t ride particularly muddy trails unless we’re racing—and even then, many local races will delay or reroute trails on rainy days to avoid damaging the trails.

In general, look for an all-around tire (which most of the tires on this list are), and skip semi-slick options unless you primarily ride slick rock, rail trail, or road with the occasional beginner-friendly singletrack. If you regularly ride pavement to get to the trails, tires with tighter spacing in the center section will roll way more smoothly en route.

Check the size twice before you hit Buy. As you may have noticed from this list, most of these tires are available in multiple sizes, multiple widths, and even multiple casings. Heck, some of these tires, like Vittoria’s Mezcal, are even being developed into 700c gravel bike versions. While the casings will make a tire slightly more or less supple or durable, it’s the width and size that are critical if you want them to fit your wheels and bike.

Frequently Asked Questions about XC MTB Tires

How do I know it’s time to replace my MTB tires?
One indication is when you get a flat that’s impossible to patch, like a rip in your sidewall. But otherwise, you’ll need to pay attention to how your ride feels, and how your tires look. Over time, the rubber lugs will wear down and you’ll notice that you’re getting less traction as you pummel over rocks and roots.

There’s no “replace after 5,000 miles” type of number on how far a tire can take you. The type of terrain you ride will cause a tire to wear out slower or faster, as will the type of rubber the tire’s lugs are made with.

Ironically, pricier tires are more likely to wear out sooner, since they’re typically made to be extremely supple and grippy…and because of that, the rubber wears out quicker, especially if you’re riding on roads to and from the trails.

4oz stans tubeless sealant required for fresh 29x2.4" tire setup

Should I go tubeless?
If you’re somewhat mechanically-inclined and don’t mind (potentially) making a mess to get them set up (or you’re willing to pay someone to do it for you), setting up your tires as tubeless will let you run lower tire pressure—meaning better traction—and will help you avoid a lot of potential flat tires. The lack of a tube also saves weight and generally makes the ride more comfortable.

Unless otherwise noted, all of our recommendations here are tubeless-ready, meaning they need sealant to properly retain air…if you use them without a tube. All of the tires here can also be installed with a tube, whether for ease or because you needed to add one out on the trail to get home.

Most modern rims produced in the last five years are tubeless compatible, with most mountain bike rims now using a hookless design for even easier setup. However, not all wheel/tire combinations are optimal for going tubeless, so if you’re running older wheels or rims, check the manufacturer’s website for compatibility.

2016 Boyd Cycling Ridgeline carbon mountain bike wheels
Hookless mountain bike wheels use straight-sided interior walls and can generally reduce pinch flats and are lighter.

What about tubular mountain bike tires?
Nope.

Really? Why not?
The easy answer is because almost no brand offers them anymore. The real answer is because they’re super expensive, if you flat your race is over, and they’re much harder to change out should course conditions change. Also, good luck finding rims/wheels to put them on.

How much do MTB tires cost?
Mountain bike tires can be as cheap as $30 per tire, or as pricey as $150 per tire. Somewhere in the middle is the sweet spot: At around $50 to $70, you may sacrifice some weight savings and suppleness, but you’ll get a durable tire that should handle most conditions gracefully.

Schwalbe's Racing Ralph in the rear and Racing Ray in the front.
Schwalbe’s Racing Ralph in the rear and Racing Ray in the front…this might have been a bit much for them.

Can I run different tires for my front and rear?
Absolutely! In fact, many brands offer front- and rear-specific tires and encourage mixing and matching. That’s why in this roundup, there are two tire front-and-rear mountain bike tire combinations listed as best-of.

These combinations are designed to offer better lateral (sideways) bite and faster rolling up front, giving you more accurate steering control. In the rear, the knobs are shaped and angled to prioritize acceleration and braking, but for XC they’re still going to roll fast and hold their own in a corner.

schwalbe thunder burt xc tire review
The Thunder Burt makes quick work of slickrock, even when it’s overly technical, but it’s very condition-specific.

Some brands also offer semi-slicks (like Schwalbe’s Thunder Burt, which we raced at the True Grit Epic in St. George, UT) that use smaller, more tightly spaced knobs that work great for rear tires when the ground is really dry and hard, like on Moab’s slickrock. So, you can mix and match to create your own pairings based on the terrain and weather.

That said, all of the non-paired tires listed here work great front and rear, but we wouldn’t put a front-specific tire on the rear of our mountain bike…or vice-versa.

riding the new 2021 santa cruz blur xc

Are those weights for real? My tires are so much heavier!
Well, most “mountain bike tires” fall into the general purpose trail category and have more aggressive tread blocks/knobs and more protective casings. And most of those are now 750g to 900g.

By comparison, these XC tires might seem really light, and they are, but there used to be sub-400g semi-slick race tires back when we rode 26″ wheels with tubes. And they sucked. Anything under 600g for a 29er XC tire is going to have compromises somewhere, usually in how much protection they offer against punctures and cuts.

Still have questions?
Have more questions about what tires you need for your mountain bike, or confused by some of the terminology? Check out our Mountain Bike Tire Explainer article to learn everything you need to know about MTB tires, from how to choose between XC, Trail, Enduro, All-mountain, or DH; the differences between each style and size; and how to look at lugs and gauge the best riding style for every tire.

Leave any other questions in the comments and we’ll do our best to answer them. And let us know what your favorite XC tires are and why!

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satanas
satanas
2 years ago

The text says “…most mountain bike rims now using a hookless design…” however, this is only true of *carbon* rims, not alu, and most people – other than BR editors – will have alu rims. I’m not aware of any alu rim with a hookless edge, which makes production easier and cheaper with carbon. Hookless also makes carbon rim edges more impact resistant, again less of a deal with alu.

gregoryvanthomas
2 years ago
Reply to  satanas

Roval mountain aluminum rims have no hook. I’m sure there are others.

Steven Landis
Steven Landis
1 year ago
Reply to  satanas

Nah dawg

cyclebiker0-0
cyclebiker0-0
1 year ago
Reply to  satanas

Tairin wheels out of Canada makes alu rims with a hookless bead: https://www.tairinwheels.ca/product-page/tairin-duty-mk2-alloy-rim

IBC
IBC
2 years ago

I wanted to love the Kenda Booster Pro, light, offered great grip & rolled well, but I very quickly killed the rear with a sidewall snakebike, and then also the front with another sidewall tear. Both incidents were hits I wouldn’t have thought twice about running other similar tyres. Now on a Rekon/Rekon Race combo which have survived similar hits with no sweat.

TimE
TimE
1 year ago
Reply to  IBC

also killed two in a similar manner. Otherwise they are great tyres

Ethan White
Ethan White
1 year ago
Reply to  IBC

I’ve run the Maxxis Rekon Race front/rear for this year’s XC season and honestly I’m not impressed. Before this set I was on a pair of Maxxis Rekons (non-race) and they were much faster than the Rekon Race set.

Ever since I’ve been riding on the Rekon Races, the bike has felt like it’s constantly bogged down in sand or mud because the tires are too soft. On my last two sets of tires (WTB Nano Race & Maxxis Rekon, respectively), I could run 18 PSI easily. On the Rekon Races, I’ve had to run at a minimum 21 PSI or higher just to overcome the ridiculous rolling resistance. Even then, I got obliterated this season. My times have been several minutes slower on my local trails and I’ve not come close to besting my PR on my home XC course, which was set a few years ago on the Nanos.

I stopped using the Nanos because the tread wears too quickly; I’ll burn through a set before next race season. So think I may try Continentals…

Hexsense
Hexsense
2 years ago

A bit nitpicking but I’d like to see these tire photos taken in the condition they suite to.
Currently, many tire photos on the bike presented here are taken in a forest trail. That background is fitting for Racing Ray/Ralph. Vittoria Mezcal on grass with other bikes hang casually in the background is also fitting.
But perhaps: Aspen photo would be better with dry trail background, Renegade on mud course etc.

Lifelonglearner
Lifelonglearner
2 years ago
Reply to  Hexsense

What does ‘suite to’ mean in this context?

Hexsense
Hexsense
2 years ago

Is there any comment on Continental Cross King front / Race King rear combo?

Jan-Niklas Jünger
Jan-Niklas Jünger
2 years ago
Reply to  Hexsense

Would say the same… Pidcock rocking it in the WorldCups this year. But no mention here 😀 epic failure

Jeff Zenno
Jeff Zenno
2 years ago

Love Maxxis combo of Aspen on rear and Rekon up front. Great traction to climb and get through sandy washes with Aspen and Rekon grips little better in turns up front. I am in AZ desert so dry, loose and rocky is normal.

Big Mike
Big Mike
2 years ago

And the year is only half over! How much faster can tires get???!?!

Mark Oliver
Mark Oliver
2 years ago

I am currently using a tube for my tubeless ready tires and rims. I have plans in converting this to tubeless set up but I am worried that maybe this will not work since my tires are old. Any thoughts? Thanks

CO Danimal
CO Danimal
1 year ago
Reply to  Mark Oliver

Do it and you’ll never go back…Use “Stans” notube fluid, works great, is simply the best!…….Pull the tube out, put in the “tubeless valve stems”, watch a video or two on the effort and steps advised…(Youtube) I’d go with a new set of tires, just to have a fresh start with new beads. You need a high pressure air hose to put tires on and seat the beads. I usually go to local bike shop with the tires on but the fluid still in the bottle, and they will pour it in and use their high pressure hose to get them to seat. Or if you have one in the garage, watch a couple of video’s and give it a shot!

Stefan Jost
Stefan Jost
2 years ago

Aluminium Hookless rims from Newmen since 2017. Best one for me, light and very strong/stiff.

Where are the Continental Cross King RS 29″ in 2.3.
I ride the second pear since 2018. Best tyre if be riding at dessert sand, hard pac, rocks and wet weather. It’s the perfect one for all conditions.

Greg
Greg
1 year ago

I guess this article got updated?
Maxxis WT tires are for rims 30-35mm wide, not 25-30. Saying they start at “only” $50 and then mentioning how easy they are to set up tubeless is confusing. All their tubeless ones are expensive, msrp of $80 or more.
Best “budget” should probably go to Specialized with their $65 (not $70 as posted) Control level tires.

bill
bill
5 months ago
Reply to  Greg

its 25-30
From the Maxxis website: Aspen and Rekon Race tread patterns
29×2.40WT size
• 30mm internal rim width recommended
• 25-30mm internal rim width acceptable

edzoba
edzoba
1 year ago

SCT is for SIDEWALL CASING TECHNOLOGY by Kenda website. Booster 2.4 in the front, deflated to 1.7 bar (1.4 also possible) is great!

Sirclimbalot
Sirclimbalot
1 year ago

Booster pro has quite a lot of friction the pavement. I’d guess 10 more Watts than a Rocket Ron. Performance is better on trail, but nothing deserving of a top XC tire.

VanMitch
VanMitch
1 year ago
Reply to  Sirclimbalot

I saw the Zero Friction site, where the Aspen showed way more resistance than a RoRo and some other treaded tires! I can’t understand how the knobbier RoRo can roll even as fast as Booster on pavement… But I believe you! So hard to understand without testing all !

jeff
jeff
1 year ago

Getting Booster Pros to seal on my carbon wheels was a pain – I think they were a tad too big/loose. Even though I finally got them to seal, I won’t be using them again.

Antoine
Antoine
1 year ago

Conti Race King protection has the lowest rolling resistance. It’s also a surprisingly versatile tire (but no mud for sure) and it has “ok” resistance to puncture/wear. A winner at the rear for sure, for the front it’s not very aggressive (i use a Barzo).

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