Our Current Favorite MTB Tire Combos! [Video]

In the world of mountain biking, you essentially have an endless array of choices when it comes to selecting a tire combination for your bike. To complicate things, what works for some riders, their bike and their terrain isn't going to work as well for others. With that said, we have ridden countless tires and combinations and we're here to tell you what works best for us, right now in 2024! Tune in!

Jeff's Favorite Gravel/Flat Bar Rigid MTB Tire Combo

Continental Race King, Front & Rear

A unique bike requires a unique set of tires. Enter Jeff's Revel El Jefe, or as we like to call it: Jefe's Jefe. Jeff's goal for this bike was to be as light and fast as possible while being comfortable on a diverse array of terrains from singletrack to fire roads, pavement and anything in between. His chosen tire for this application is the Continental Race King - essentially a lightweight XC race tire. It has the ideal amount of grip for this bike considering it doesn't encounter much technical or steep terrain. It's main objective is to go fast, and that it does very well.

Jeff & Jared's Favorite XC Tire Combo

Maxxis Forekaster Front, Maxxis Rekon Rear

When it comes to a light trail/XC bike, finding the right balance of grip and rolling speed becomes paramount. In this scenario, we prefer to have a front tire that is noticeably grippier and knobbier than the rear so we can have grip up front for cornering, yet with a faster rolling, less grippy tire in the rear to maintain a reasonable rolling speed and an efficient ride. With that said, the *somewhat* new Maxxis Forekaster has an extremely impressive amount of grip for such a tire, and works very well for a front tire on a light trail/XC bike. The Rekon pairs very well with this tire as it rolls fast and hooks up plenty for this type of application. If the Forekaster is too heavy and grippy for your tastes on an XC bike, the Rekon works well up front with either another Rekon out back or an Ikon if you are craving even more speed.

Jeff & Jared's Favorite Trail/Enduro Tire Combo

Maxxis Assegai Front, Maxxis DHRII & Maxxis Dissector Rear

Trail and Enduro tires start to prioritize grip more than it's XC counterparts. When the going gets steep, loose and technical, you'll want more aggressive knobs, softer tire compounds and thicker casings to maintain grip, prevent punctures and provide a more confidence inspiring ride on the trail. Our go-to traction devices for this sort of riding are of the Maxxis varietal, specifically the Assegai in the front and the Minion DHRII in the rear, as well as the Dissector. Our favorite version of the Assegai for this application is the EXO+ casing and the MaxxGrip compound. If you tend to ride extremely rocky trails, then the DoubleDown Assegai may suit your needs better. Out back, it's tough to beat the DHRII as it has an excellent combination of rolling speed and climbing/braking traction. If you're like Jeff and you prefer something that rolls a tad bit faster and doesn't grip quite as much as the DHRII, you may reach for a Dissector as it also pairs very well with the Assegai up front. Either the EXO+ casing or the Double Down casing version, both available in the MaxxTerra compound should be sufficient for most riders' trail/enduro needs.

Jeff & Jared's Favorite DH Tire Combo

Continental Kryptotal Front & Rear

Speaking of thicker casings, more aggressive knobs and softer compounds, DH tires are the absolute king of the hill in this regard. These tires are much heavier (typically more than double the weight of an XC tire) due to their massive knobs, thick casings and significant increase in the sheer amount of rubber that is used. Enter the Continental Kryptotal. Our favorite versions of this tire for DH and serious enduro riding is the DH casing with the Super Soft compound in the front, and DH casing and soft compound in the rear. These tires provide the ultimate traction for the most demanding riding situations you can encounter, and are loved by World Cup Downhill riders everywhere, including Neko Mulally and his Frameworks team.