Hutchinson Cobra TR Hardskin £44.95
While it comes in narrower, lighter XC/marathon versions, the fastrolling Cobra is a viable option for trail/all-mountain riding in this 2.25in width. It has the smallest volume on test, inflating visibly smaller than the nominally same-sized WTB Trail Boss. The rounded profile rolls well, braking traction is better than that of the semi-slick tyres on test and it climbs well on all surfaces other than claggy clay, which the tight tread pattern struggles to shed. Sharp edges to the side knobs mean they bite into the ground nicely, but the tyre starts to get drifty on soft ground, where they can’t get as much purchase as more pronounced tread blocks. The reinforced ‘Hardskin’ casing is fairly thin to the touch, so we ran relatively high pressures to prevent the tyre getting pinched by the rim. www.windwave.co.uk