The Right Mountain Bike Tires are Essential to Your Ride
You may not think it makes a lot of difference which mountain bike tires you put on your bike, but if you put the wrong ones on you'll know soon enough that you should have made a different choice.
Different mountain bike tires are best for different biking situations, so it is important to choose tires that match the kind of riding you hope to do on your mountain bike. Mountain bike tires are much wider and thicker than road bike tires because they are designed to withstand off-road riding. Tires with "knobs" in them are good for off-road biking because they can provide more grip on the trails, in loose conditions though, you want more tread to show through the knobs.
If your mountain bike tires have SC in the name, they are designed for soft conditions such as sand and dirt. The blacker your mountain bike tires are, the more carbon there is in them, which makes your tire harder and more durable. Some tires are less black because they have less carbon, making them softer and better at gripping to achieve more traction. The downside of this with mountain bike tires is that they can wear out sooner
Be sure to know how to repair mountain bike tires before you head out on the trail. There's nothing worse than having to walk your bike back through miles of rough terrain because you couldn't fix a flat. Also, be sure to carry a patch kit, tire lever and replacement tube so that you're ready to go when faced with a flat on one of your mountain bike tires.
One more note about mountain bike tires is that you should be sure to maintain the correct pressure for the air in your tires. This tip is actually good for any type of bike tire, not just mountain bike tires.
Once you've got the right mountain bike tires on your bike, and they're the right pressure, get out there and hit the trail!
