mtbtires.com

Favorite Most-Conditions Tire:
Hutchinson Spider

Favorite Trail Tire and 29er Tire:
Panaracer Rampage

Favorite Downhill Tire:
Michelin DH32 AT

Co-Favorite Mud Tires:
Panaracer TrailRaker and Schwalbe Black Shark Mud

Favorite Most-Conditions Tire
Not sure of the conditions or the terrain or just do not like to change tires? Mount the Hutchinson Spider (any size, standard or tubeless). The Spider can take you from summer hardpack and gravel to winter slop with barely a slip. Not the best for any one condition and does not struggle in any.

Favorite Trail (and 29er) Tire
Know how a good road slick just sticks no matter had hard you push it into a corner? Want that same feeling on dirt? The Panaracer Rampage delivers. It can feel blasé when ridden passively. Get aggressive and it comes alive. Lean it into a corner and it carves the turn, lean it more and it grips harder. Feel at the limit? What limit? Available in 26″ and 29″ sizes.

Favorite Downhill Tire
Yes, it is big (2.80″) and heavy (1450g). It is also cushy and grippy. The Michelin DH32 AT delivers traction in the deep powdery dust and rock gardens of the mountain resorts, and in the wet of the Pacific Northwest without wearing out in a day or two of shuttling. All of Michelin’s downhill tires have the added bonus of being UST compliant without added weight.

Favorite Mud Tires
The Pacific Northwest is (in)famous for it. A good mudder is a revelation coming from a “regular” tire. The Panaracer TrailRaker and Schwalbe Black Shark Mud are the best of breed. Tall open treads that punch through for traction and release the crud to be ready for the the next bite.
The TrailRaker is the slightly better choice for harder/drier conditions. The Black Shark Mud excels in the deeper and sloppy to sticky glop. Both do surprisingly well on wet roots and rocks but do not expect miracles. Mud riding, more than any off road condition, is about partial traction. Mudders make it more controllable.

Partial traction and control. The essence of mountain biking and mtb tires. They give us the excitement we love.