No matter how advanced the components you install, tires have the greatest impact on your ride. Mountain bike outer tires are a very important part of the bicycle that determines its basic performance. Therefore, this time, for beginners who may not know much about them, we will explain in detail how to choose the right mountain bike tires for you, as well as the functions and characteristics of tires, to help you choose the optimal tires.

Mountain Bike Tire Sizes

 For current mountain bikes, the wheel diameter is mostly 26 inches, for example, marked as 26X1.95 (the number after the 'X' indicates the tire's width), and there are also 27.5 or 29 inches. The marking method is the same. This is how sizes are marked.

Mountain Bike Tire Classifications:

A suitable outer tire can often provide a better riding experience! When choosing a tire, since only the tire makes contact with the ground among all bicycle parts, different riders will have different demands on tires depending on their riding conditions. For example, tire grip, rolling resistance, wear resistance, puncture resistance, weight, anti-slip, ease of installation, handling, acceleration, braking performance, and tire noise. Below, we will introduce details of several common tire functions and practical sections.

Type A: Off-road Mountain Bike Tires 

Type A tires have a clear deep tread pattern with relatively large spacing between the treads, primarily used for mountain cross-country riding. The deep tread pattern provides good grip, some shock absorption, and mud protection. It is an all-rounder product with comprehensive off-road tire functions. In other words, if you are a mountain or off-road enthusiast and usually want to ride in more challenging locations, this type of tire is ideal. The deep tread pattern has noticeable resistance when riding on general roads, so it is also very suitable for those who need to exercise to lose weight. Also, mountain tires have rolling resistance.

Type B: Leisure Mountain Bike Tires  

Compared to deep-tread tires, Type B tires have significantly smaller treads and are mainly used for city cycling, roads around lakes, and domestic dry roads, making them convenient and versatile. If you are a rider who just rides for fun and wants to improve tire grip, this tire is a good choice!

Type C: Slick Mountain Bike Tires for City Riding

At first glance, Type C tires are basically the same as road tires, but because mountain bikes and road bikes have different riding postures, many bikers are hesitant to buy a road bike just for speed. However, there are still many riders who want to ride fast while also prioritizing comfort, which led to the creation of slick mountain bike tires for city riding. These slick tires prioritize speed, so grip performance can largely be ignored. Off-road wrestling is almost always possible, so these are for bikers who care about speed and usually just wander. If you ride around the city or only on asphalt and concrete roads, these tires are the best choice.

Type D: Multi-functional Mountain Bike Tires

 Type D tires, as their name suggests, have both the grip performance of mountain tires and the low resistance of slick tires, making them suitable for a variety of situations. The selection method varies depending on your intended use. If you usually commute or go on weekend trips, these tires are the best!

Type E: Long-Distance Mountain Bike Tires

Type E tires are relatively popular, combining a mountain semi-gloss with a slick design, making them suitable for riders who can navigate all kinds of roads and surface conditions. These types of tires are also robust, sturdy, and easy to repair, making them one of the best tires for long-distance riding. However, this is not absolute. The most important thing is that they suit the rider's preferences.

Type F: Mountain Bike Tires for Gravel Roads 

Type F tires are suitable for gravel roads. Their wide tread pattern and broad span make them convenient for small gravel. They are especially suitable for riding on windy, sandy, and gravelly roads, but their disadvantage, similar to mountain tires, is relatively high resistance, making it difficult to reach 45km/h on these tires even with a full sprint.

 Finally, before purchasing tires, it's a good idea to seek advice from a technician and buy tires according to your actual situation.