Vittoria Mota AM £54.99
The downhill-inspired Mota (there’s a 2.5in DH-casing version too) looked perfect for eking out that last bit of traction in wet/loose conditions and, even in pouring rain, it never failed us. The large, wide-spaced knobs track accurately through slop and loam without clogging, and we were surprised by how well the grapheneinfused ‘G+ Isotech’ rubber gripped on wet roots. Four variations of this compound are used, to provide different characteristics across the tread. While the casing doesn’t feel particularly thick, Vittoria have strengthened the sidewall to resist tearing and included their ‘APF’ insert above the bead, which is claimed to reduce the risk of pinch punctures. We found the tyre a particularly tight fit. Inflating a tube inside and leaving it overnight made setting it up tubeless considerably easier. www.zyrofisher.co.uk