AGGRO TYRES
Whether your bike’s a full-factory range-topper or has been put together on a tight budget, fitting a set of great performing – or terribly treacherous – tyres can make or break the way it rides. However, finding the right rubber to match your needs isn’t an easy task – there are umpteen options and plenty of variables to consider, from tread pattern to casing width and sidewall thickness to compound, so you need to be clued up to choose the right balance.
When it comes to width, our timed testing indicates that 2.6in tyres roll quicker over rough terrain than the 2.3 to 2.5in rubber tested here. However, these fatter tyres aren’t to everyone’s taste, because they can feel bouncy and undamped. Also, unless you have wide rims and enough clearance in your frame, they won’t be compatible with your bike.
Tread patterns are generally conditions-specific. Tall, widely-spaced knobs are great for muddy or loose trails, but shorter, more closely-packed blocks will be grippier on hardpack terrain and roll faster. Softer rubber compounds grip better on rocks and roots, because the blocks can deform and provide mechanical grip as they ‘bite’ the terrain. They also absorb bump energy, giving a damped feel, but wear quicker and roll slower than harder equivalents.
Most tyres are also offered in different sidewall, or casing, thicknesses. Thicker tyres will resist punctures better and can
