The best XC mountain bike tyres ridden & reviewed

It’s an exciting time in the world of XC bikes. Over the last few years they’ve received the longer, lower, slacker treatment that’s crept in across the rest of the more gravity-focused side of the industry. But while the new crop of bikes has become incredibly capable of pointing down hill, it hasn’t come at the cost of how well they climb. In fact, with improvements to suspension performance and kinematics, if anything, pedalling efficiency has also improved.

So, what riders are left with is an exceptionally well-rounded bike. One that can chase your mates on more gravity focused rigs down the hill on shuttle days, tear around the trails at an XCO race, then still step in and pull triple duties as a bikepacking or gravel bike without giving up too much in terms of speed.

But whether you’re trying to stuff your front wheel into a tight corner or looking for maximum straight-line speed and minimal rolling resistance, the rubber underneath you is going to make a huge difference to how that same bike is going to respond. In fact, tyre choice is going to drastically transform your bike, depending on what you’re asking of it on any given ride.

Just as cross-country bikes have come a long way over the last few years, so have the tyre options to complement them. From light-duty trail or *gasp*, “down country” tyres with heavy-duty casings and puncture protection to out-and-out race tyres with paper-thin sidewalls but blazing speed, riders have so much choice. There’s seemingly a tyre for every trail and every occasion.

The crew here at Flow have done the tireless, hard work of getting out there on the trails and riding our bikes — I mean, someone has to do it, right? — and testing some of the best options available, so you can spend less time deliberating over rubber and more time out there riding.

While we think this list is pretty comprehensive and covers most bases, we simply can’t include everything, especially if we haven’t used it. If there are any glaring omissions, it’s likely we just haven’t had the opportunity to ride it, or at least put enough time in on it to form a strong opinion and compare it to the other options that really stand out.

If you’re anything like us and love nerding out on gear, you’ll be champing at the bit to find out which tyres were our pick of the bunch, so we won’t keep you waiting any longer. Read on to find out the best cross country mountain bike tyres we keep reaching for over and over again.

Tyres might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Specialized, but their lineup of XC Tyres, which has been overhauled over the last few years and retail for about $70 AUD, are seriously impressive and represent excellent value.

Specialized employ three casing options for its XC tyres and two different compounds. The compounds are numerically named, with the higher number representing a softer compound. The XC range utilises the T5 and T7 compounds, although it does employ a softer T9 rubber for its trail and gravity tyres.

The S-Works casing features a supple 120tpi construction that conforms to the trail beneath you but offers very little in the way of sidewall or puncture protection. It’s paired exclusively with a dual-compound rubber, using the firmer T5 compound on the centre tread for reduced rolling resistance and a longer wear rate and the softer T7 on the side knobs for improved traction. Given its compromise on strength, this casing is best reserved for XCO or XCC racing. Definitely don’t use these for a multi-day XC marathon stage race.

The Control casing is the middle option in the lineup. Specialized opted for a 60tpi construction that results in a higher rubber content than the S-Works casing, resulting in a heavier weight and substantially increased stability and puncture resistance. The Control will probably suit most riders in all but the rockiest terrain.

Finally, the GRID casing is the heaviest-duty carcass for the Specialized XC tyre roster, but the fact that it also shows up in their gravity catalogue should tell you a bit. It also uses a 60tpi build, but with an addition of heavy-duty polyamide strips in the sidewalls to bolster the tyre’s pinch-flat resistance.

Highs: Plenty of grip, great value and spoiled for choice in compounds, casings and sizes makes it a great all-rounder.Lows: Gives up a little bit in terms of rolling speed on the heavier side, the T7 Grid weighs 900g

The Ground Control is Specialized’s most aggressive XC option and is a really fun tyre that offers a tonne of grip while still rolling impressively fast. It features a “block-in-block” tread pattern that reduces any sensation of squirm while still conforming well to the trail and digging through dusty, loose-over-hard surfaces to reliably hook up when pushed hard.

Especially so in the GRID, T7 option, it’s sure-footed, predictable and performs in all conditions. If your XC bike gets ridden beyond the race course, and is asked to serve as a trail bike or backcountry rig, the Ground Control will happily plough through rock gardens while still rolling well enough for longer rides. You’re just not going to see it at any World Cup races any time soon.

It can be ridden front and rear or pairs well run up front, with a Fast Trak in the back.

Check out our in-depth review of the Specialized Ground Control tyres

Highs: Versatile tyre for a wide range of conditions, good grip, especially in the T7 compound, great valueLows: Comes in slightly undersised, a little slower rolling than nearest competitors

The second fastest tyre on offer from Specialized, the Fast Trak uses short and more tightly packed tread than the Ground Control. The alternating but near-continuous centre blocks make for a smooth and fast-rolling ride. It will hum along relatively quietly even on pavement but will still happily eat up technical trail, feeling very predictable as it’s tipped over and transitions from centre tread to side knobs.

It’s a well-rounded tyre that can perform across a wide range of conditions, and its large choice of casing and compound options allows you to fine-tune your use case. The T7 compound is a good option for a bit of extra grip when run up front, and the T5 is well suited out the back for better rolling resistance and wear.

While we’d usually be reaching for the Control casing, we really appreciate the option of having the GRID casing available. There aren’t too many other options on the market that combine such a fast-rolling tread with a burly casing that can resist punctures and sidewall cuts to this level.

Read more about how we went with the Specialized Fast Trak XC tyres.

Highs: Accelerate incredibly well and hold their speed, light — 2.35in T5 Control weighs 680gLows: Measures slightly narrow, rear can lack traction on looser climbs, struggles in the wet

If you’re looking for out-and-out speed, the Renegade is Specialized’s fastest tyre. Featuring a tightly packed tread of micro-blocks, they accelerate quickly and hold their speed incredibly well. All that speed does come at a cost, but they hit above their weight for such a fast tyre and hook up surprisingly well when things get rough, especially when compared to other more anaemic tyre offerings on the market.

Like all of the Specialized lineup, tubeless set-up is a breeze. You don’t get as many options for compounds and casings as the other tyres, with the available offerings biased towards lightweight and speed.

It would pair well front and rear as a speedy option for racing on buffed-out singletrack, gravel rides or mixed-terrain bikepacking. Alternatively, it makes a great option as a faster rear tyre to be matched up with a Renegade up front.

Check out our in-depth reviews of the Specialized Renegade XC tyres below.

In total, Schwalbe offers six XC tyres, and by the time you consider their three different casing options and two different compounds, it can be a lot to get your head around. To us here at Flow, three of the tyres really stood out.

As the name suggests, the Super Race casing is the lightest of the bunch, eschewing the Snake Skin puncture protection in the name of speed and suppleness. It does however utilise three polyamide layers in the sidewall, two under the tread and a thin Raceguard strip under the tread. What results is minimal rolling resistance and a smooth ride.

Next up, the Super Ground casing offers riders a little bit more protection with the inclusion of a third layer of polyamide under the tread along with an extended, wall-to-wall Raceguard strip. Outside of racing, this is probably the sweet spot for XC applications, and even then, on rockier courses, the slight weight penalty may be worth the trade-off for reliability.

The Super Trail casing self-declares as more of a burly trail option than an out-and-out XC carcass but is an option worth keeping in your back pocket for those particularly wild descents and rockier trail networks. It’s a fairly big step up from Super Ground in terms of weight and protection, with the inclusion of an Apex protection layer around the bead to increase stiffness and pinch protection.

Schwalbe has made its two XC compounds nice and easy to understand. Addix Speed is fairly self-explanatory, as the fastest and firmest rubber that’s best optimised for low rolling resistance and high mileage marked by a red stripe in the tread. Addix Speedgrip, on the other hand, uses a slightly softer compound that, you guessed it, strikes a balance between both speed and grip — denoted by a blue stripe.

Highs: Confidence-inspiring grip, better rolling than you’d expect for such an aggressive tyreLows: Heaviest tyre in our group test, with Super Trail, Speedgrip weighing 939g

A newer tyre in the Schwalbe lineup, the Wicked Will, is equally at home on a trail bike as a fast-rolling rear tyre as it is on the front of an XC bike for more aggressive riding. As modern XC bikes become more capable, Schwalbe designed the Wicked Will as a tyre that can keep up.

While not the fastest rolling tyre, we were impressed at the speed it carried, considering the grip that it offers. The Super Ground casing seems to make the most sense for ol’ Will, considering its tread profile, but that extra protection does bring a weight penalty, tipping the scales as the heaviest tyre in this round-up.

If racing isn’t your main focus, the Will is an incredibly versatile tyre. Ideally suited as a front tyre paired with, say, a Racing Ray in the rear, you’ve got a pretty solid year-round combo that you could run on almost any trail in any condition.

Check out our review of the Schwalbe Wicked Will.

Highs: Tightly packed tread pattern rolls very quickLows: Performance limited to dry, hardpack conditions

The Racing Ralph is likely a name you’ll recognise and with good reason. It’s been tearing around race tracks at world-class speeds for decades. It has, however, recently received a refresh, and this new version is surely the fastest yet.

The latest iteration is explicitly designed as a rear tyre, intended to be paired with the new Racing Ray up front, and it features an almost semi-slick tread pattern. A tightly packed array of short and wide centre blocks make for a tyre that spins up very quickly off the mark or out of corners.

It’s best suited for buffed, dry conditions, and although it is intended as a rear tyre, it could definitely be considered upfront for more gravel-oriented rides where speed is the priority. The tread pattern is certainly reminiscent of the brand’s G-One R gravel tyre.

Keen to know more about our mate Ralph? Check out our full review of the Schwalbe Racing Ralph.

Highs: Offers more grip up front when paired with a Ralph in the rearLows: Comes in a little undersized

The Racing Ray is a newer tyre to the Schwalbe catalogue, introduced with the intent of being a fast-rolling front tyre to be paired with the classic Ralph.

The Ray features tightly-spaced and staggered centre tread that is also slightly ramped, resulting in a very smooth feeling and minimal rolling resistance. Generous amounts of siping across the knobs allow for increased tread flex to provide greater traction on hard-packed trails.

The wider shoulder blocks do an excellent job at minimising squirm while cornering and offering a predictable feeling through turns.

Check out our full review of the Schwalbe Racing Ray.

If you take a quick look around the parking lot at any given trailhead, you’re likely to see the yellow Maxxis label adorning more rubber than any other brand, and with good reason. Maxxis, who specialise in off-road tyres, have a knack for developing high-performance tread patterns that become standouts in the industry and then just leaving them alone.

They follow the same formula with their casings, keeping things incredibly simple. All of their XC tyres feature their EXO sidewall protection, and then you have the choice of a 60tpi or 120tpi option depending on your priority for stiffness and puncture protection with the former, or weight and suppleness with the latter.

As both tyre and rim sizes have gone wider and wider, Maxxis has leaned into this trend and introduced their Wide Trail or WT tyres. These are true-to-size 2.4in tyres that optimise the tread layout and profile around a wider 30mm rim, although Maxxis states they will work with rims down to 25mm. The result is a plumper, fuller tyre that allows riders to run lower pressures for better traction, improved comfort and reduced rolling resistance.

There are three compound options on offer from Maxxis. A basic Dual Compound option that features a firmer rubber for the centre tread which makes for a harder wearing and reduced rolling resistance, paired with a softer, grippier rubber on the shoulders. The 3C MaxxSpeed compound formula introduces a firmer base rubber below the tread and is optimised for the lowest rolling resistance possible, while the 3C MaxxTerra compound utilises the same three-compound layout but uses slightly softer rubbers for more grip.

Highs: Very fast low profile tread,Lows: Not particularly light at 857g, definitely not a mud tyre

A fast-rolling semi-slick, featuring tight clusters of micro-knobs, the Reckon Race is a swift tyre that offers more versatility than the race-day Aspen. While still more than fast enough to strap a race-plate on, the Reckon Race can be pushed further on more technical race courses or to stay on the bike after as a daily driver for those riders who prioritise rolling resistance.

The Reckon Race really comes into its own in the 2.4in, 120tpi, MaxxSpeed version. The fast and supple large-volume casing, paired with the recently updated three-rubber compound faultlessly compliments its tread pattern.

Read more about the Maxxis Rekon Race.

Highs: Solid all-around tread pattern, great damping qualitiesLows: EXO casing somewhat susceptible to punctures, especially in smaller sizes

Maxxis’ all-round XC tread really lives up to its name as an absolute classic of the cross country tyre segment. Available in just about any size you can imagine, including the wide rim optimised 2.4in and ultra-plump 2.6in for those looking for a bit more volume for their ride.

If you’re the type of rider who likes to put their tyres on and then forget about them until they’re worn out, the Ikon is an excellent choice. They’re fast enough to race on and offer enough grip for trail days. The tread is slightly taller and more widely spaced, making for very predictable traction, shoulder-to-shoulder, even in wet conditions.

While we have found the EXO casing to lack a little in terms of puncture protection, when paired with the larger sizes we think it’s adequate enough for all but the rockiest trails.

Sizes | 27.5 x 2.25in, 29 x 2.1in, 29 x 2.25in, 29 x 2.4in WTCasing | EXO 60tpi, 120tpiCompound | Dual Compound, 3C MaxxSpeed

Highs: Very fast, very light, Wide Trail casing, available in 2.4inLows: Limited climbing and braking traction, struggles in the wet.

The name Aspen is synonymous with speed. A true race tyre that has been piloted to many the top step of a World Cup XCO podium, it’s a long time since Maxxis has made any updates to the Aspen, and with good reason. They’re onto a winning formula here. That said, there is also the ST version, which sees even less tread and under an extremely skilled pilot, it can mean blistering speed.

The super low profile centre tread of the regular Aspen makes for a delightfully fast rolling tyre, probably the fastest on test. Meanwhile, the presence of fuller, blocky corner knobs means it can still carry that speed into corners without getting too sketchy like other low-profile treads. It’s a tyre that is even starting to show up on gravel race rigs of some of the top pros looking for bigger volume options, and that should tell you something about how fast they roll.

The 120tpi, 2.4in version is our pick, with the broader profile doing the heavy lifting and making up for the lack of traction provided by the tread itself. It offers an impressively supple and compliant ride and is definitely a tyre we would be reaching for on race day or for more mixed terrain and bikepacking-style rides.

The Italian rubber manufacturer Pirelli may be better known for its presence in the world of motorsport, but they have stormed onto the mountain bike market since entering from stage left five years ago.

The XC tyre lineup is somewhat simplified compared to other brands, offering just two casing options and only one, single compound rubber option. We appreciate that it doesn’t require Google Translate or a degree in tyre manufacturing to navigate the different options and naming conventions.

You simply pick the level of protection you want, the standard ProWALL casing or the LITE casing.

Could it be any easier to navigate? As the name hints, the LITE casing offers a lighter, thinner and more supple option for those riders who are racing or primarily ride on buffed, smoother trails. Those in rockier terrain or just are generally harder on their equipment will be after the ProWall casing that features an extra layer of nylon reinforcement in the sidewall for puncture protection and improved support at lower pressures.

Following this line of simplicity, Pirelli has chosen to develop a single high-quality rubber compound that they call SmartGRIP, steering clear of the trend of layering multiple layers of different rubbers across the tyre. Pirelli’s theory is that the single compound is more durable, wears more consistently and provides better performance over the life of the tyre.

Highs: Predictable transition across tread, stable casing resists folding even at low pressuresLows: A little slower than direct competitors

Designed as Pirelli’s “Medium” terrain or all conditions XC tyre, the XC M is very much a confidence-inspiring option. Its profile is neither too square nor too round, instead offering the perfect gentle curve that, in conjunction with its tread layout, provides an exceptionally predictable transition as you lean the bike over. This feeling is further complimented by a stable casing structure that provides plenty of sidewall support even at lower pressures.

What really sets the Scorpion M apart, is the level of chemical grip afforded by whatever black magic Pirelli has put into its SmartGRIP rubber compound. From rock slabs to wet, slimy tree roots, it has an uncanny ability to keep the bike underneath you when other tyres would have you washing out.

This tackiness does not seem to have come at the expense of durability, as you would expect from what feels like a traditionally soft rubber compound. In fact, the opposite. Through our testing, we’ve found the XC M to be an incredibly tough tyre. Both are hard-wearing and resistant to punctures and sidewall cuts.

Keen to find out more about these Italian bike shoes? Hit the link to read more.

Highs: Great braking traction, compound grips well in the wetLows: Somewhat slow rolling, slips a little under high-torque, technical climbing

The Pirelli Scorpion XC R is designed as a rear-specific tyre and pairs flawlessly with the XC M up front. It gets its own special blend of the SmartGRIP compound, but unlike the XC M, it is only offered in the reinforced ProWALL version due to the higher loads and absolute hiding that rear tyres are subjected to.

While not the fastest rolling tyre, the XC R shines in looser conditions. Its broad centre tread blocks, which are angled slightly backwards, provide excellent braking traction, drastically reducing the chance of accidentally locking up the wheel and losing the rear end.

Its big, widely spaced cornering blocks and slightly rounded profile also make it a tyre that will happily lean into a turn and hold tight even when things get loose. While many riders will opt for less traction out of a rear tyre in favour of lower rolling resistance, if you find yourself pushing the capabilities of your XC rig in steeper and looser terrain, the XC R definitely stands out as a very confident and sure-footed option.

Read more about the Pirelli’s rear-specific Scorpion XC R below.

Highs: Blistering speed, surprising grip and available in two sizes.Lows: A little skittish and unstable on loose terrain, small tightly spaced tread blocks have a well-defined limit.

The Scorpion XC RC is Pirelli’s XC racing scalpel, designed for performance between the tape in hardpack and loose conditions.

The tread blocks are even lower profile than the XC M. Closely spaced and tapered central knobs, along with angled intermediate knobs, create an excellent platform for maintaining maximum speed over rolling terrain, with minimal rolling resistance. You’ll need to be on your game because these suckers turn over fast!

With that, these aren’t your point-and-pedal type tyres and careful line choice while climbing is essential. Descending the XC RC is lively, offering an outstanding balance of cornering grip and braking traction for such a fast-rolling tyre. As speeds picked up and the terrain gets looser, managing braking points became crucial for controlling speed and maintaining traction.

Check out our full review on the Pirelli Scorpion XC RC.