SIX OF THE BEST
Tenacious rubber that’ll help you tame even the trickiest trails
Grippy winter tyres – we test six to find out which perform best on tricky terrain, from sticky mud to slippery roots
Vittoria MOTA TLR G2.0 £60
SO GOOD… The fastest-rolling tyre here, the MOTA’s narrow casing (it was 2.18in wide on our 30mm rim) helps it steer more predictably in mud and its well-spaced tread clears well and offers good grip in soft, muddy conditions.
NO GOOD… Wet braking distance is the longest on test. It’s easily knocked off-line by wet rocks and roots, due to its harder compound and narrow casing, which needs a higher pressure to prevent squirming. The slimmer profile means a harsher ride and less traction in rough terrain, and seems to dig in and lose more speed in deep mud than wider tyres. www.zyrofisher.co.uk
Michelin Wild Enduro Front GUM X £45
SO GOOD… While Michelin’s MAGI-X compound impressed us in summer, it wears quickly and hardens up in cold weather. In contrast, their GUM-X rubber remains super-sticky even on cold, wet days, delivering best-on-test grip on greasy rocks. The Wild Enduro Front also stopped soonest in our wet braking test. Its tall shoulder tread grips well in mud, particularly when cornering, so it’s brilliant for slippery natural trails.
NO GOOD… As well as being slow-rolling for a mid-weight tyre, the square profile and flexible carcass make it unpredictable when pushed hard in hardpack berms. www.silverfish-uk.com
Continental Der Baron Projekt Protection Apex £65
SO GOOD… Although not mud-specific, the Baron’s short but wide-spaced tread blocks shed mud brilliantly and offer superb straight-line traction in the slop, particularly when braking. Also, the casing feels less wooden than on the old version. NO GOOD… The shoulder tread isn’t that aggressive and the tyre repeatedly understeered in soft dirt where others carved harder. It came second from bottom in our braking test, suggesting hard-conditions grip isn’t great, although it sticks to rocks better than the Vittoria. Also, it’s among the slowest-rolling here. www.continental-tyres.com
Maxxis Shorty 3C MaxxTerra EXO £60
SO GOOD… This tyre excels in sticky mud thanks to its tall shoulder tread and well-spaced blocks that shed crud fast. It digs into soft stuff, with impressive braking and cornering traction. One of the fastestrolling tyres here, thanks to its lightweight EXO casing, the Shorty is never vague or squirmy in dry conditions so can be left on all year. It’s fantastic for muddy tracks without sacrificing rolling speed.
NO GOOD… The EXO casing bounces off rocks noticeably more than betterdamped tyres like the Michelin and Schwalbe, making Maxxis’s reinforced Double Down casing and 3C MaxxGrip compound a better bet for rocky riding. www.extrauk.co.uk
WTB Verdict TCS Tough/High Grip £58
SO GOOD… With tall, well-spaced tread blocks, the Verdict offers confidenceinspiring grip in muddy conditions. There’s a ‘Wet’ version with even taller tread blocks, but we never felt this tyre lacking in the slop. It’s up there with the Shorty and Mary for soft-conditions grip. The compound sticks to wet rocks and roots well, and has a comfortable, well-damped feel through trail chatter. NO GOOD… It rolls on the slower side, particularly at lower pressures. The tall tread blocks and relatively square profile make it slightly vague and unpredictable in hardpack turns when lent over hard. www.hotlines-uk.com
Schwalbe Magic Mary SuperGravity ADDIX Soft £65
SO GOOD… Schwalbe’s new 2.6in Mary only measures up at 2.35in, but is still usefully wider than the standard tyre. The tall tread is more spaced out, so it’s superb in mud, but comes into its own over rocks and hardpack, offering great traction. Rolling speed isn’t too bad either. It’s the best compromise here between rough hardpack and soft conditions – a great all-round winter tyre.
NO GOOD… It’s heavy (a lighter SnakeSkin version is available) and not quite as good in sticky mud as the Shorty. The ADDIX Soft compound isn’t as grippy as GUM-X over wet roots and rocks. www.schwalbe.com