Fitting the right mountain bike tires to your bike is absolutely fundamental to getting the top performance out of the bike. You could have the best, coolest bike in the whole orld, but if you tires are not up to it, it is not going to happen.
Just stop and think a minute. Your tires are the one and only points of contact you have with the terrain. It’s not even the whole tire that makes contact, just that small percentage which actually touches the ground. This small contact governs how well to corner, how fast you go, how quickly you stop, and how well you stay in contact with whatever surface you’re riding on. Knowing this, your tire “comfort” will therefore also have a bearing on your confidence. You will feel a lot more confident if you know the tires will do the job. Not only will your bicycle be able to perform to the extreme, but so will you.
The technology of mountain bikes is in a constant state of evolution, but the tire technology is changing even faster. Tires are now being made in different sizes and with different and new materials. This has resulted in much more variety when choosing mountain bike tires that are right for you.
Although all the tires are essentially made out of rubber, the type and grade of rubber can vary. This takes into account the different types of surface, with each new surface now capable of being related to a specific rubber grade. Typical examples would include trail tires, all terrain tires, and XC tires. It is now becoming quite a cult sector and is developing its own unique terminology structure including “brand” names such as: Fast Fatties, Black Chili etc.
The “knobs” on mountain bike tires are engineered specially to give the best ultimate performance on a variety of surfaces. For instance dry terrain tires would have low “knobs”. The low “knobs” effortlessly break through the loose surface of the soil in order to grab into the hard, steady ground underneath. Muddy terrain calls for high “knobs” on tires. The extra height allows the “knobs” to penetrate deep mud and keep a hold on the hard area beneath.
The profile and spacing of the “knobs” is also very important. First, to prevent mud from packing in, they are spaced sufficiently. Secondly, the “knob” profiles are specifically designed to ensure maximum contact performance when the bike is presented at an angle to the terrain. The profile of all terrain tires are a combination of the best attributes of both wet and dry, put together to offer the best balance. A half way house as it were, but in name only, not in performance.
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