In this article I’m going to give you the lightest 26 inch mountain bike tires money can buy.
Tires are the best place to look when you want to reduce weight. Because the amount of money you have to invest to shave off hundreds of grams, or maybe even a pound or two, is relatively low. For instance, it’s much, much more expensive to buy a very light full carbon saddle to shave off 100 grams than it is to use one of the tires listed here to shave off hundreds of grams more for a fraction of the cost. Since full carbon saddles are incredibly expensive.
To level the playing field, I didn’t include tires with a width smaller than 2 inches. If you do, you move more into the touring section of tires than into straight up knobby mountain bike tries. The tires listed here all have a weight below 600 grams. If this doesn’t say much, just consider that your average MTB trail tire weighs almost twice that amount.
The easiest way to reduce weight is to use less rubber, which is the heaviest compound that makes up a tire. But that weight reduction does come at a price, since the tires listed here should be used for either gravel or cross country purposes. Grippier tires have bigger blocks and huge side knobbies. Bigger knobs obviously means more rubber used, hence an increase in weight.
Another component is that these tires have thinner sidewalls, increasing the opportunity to reduce overall tire weight. Thinner sidewalls also means that sidewall ruptures are more likely to occur. Naturally sidewall ruptures are something you’ll find on enduro, downhill and rough trail riding. Again, an area where you should not be using these tires.
That’s enough talk for now, here are the lightest 26 inch mountain bike tires.
Maxxis DTH
The Maxxis DTH is by far the tire I most often see on (retro) MTB builds, and for good reason. It’s a gorgeous-looking semi-slick tire that’s exceptionally fast because it’s meant for BMX, dirt-jumping, and pump tracks.
That means the tire has a racing pedigree, which brings both fast-rolling characteristics, and grip with it. It’s wrapped in a very lightweight package. And because of its intended usage on the race track, it also means the tire is great for gaining momentum quickly.
Maxxis is known for providing a wide range of high-quality tires, and with the added benefit of providing both a standard black and tan version, it’s no wonder many older mountain bikes get outfitted with a pair of these.
Sizes range from 2.15 up to 2.3 inches, which will make for a great-looking setup with a very plush road feel.
- Exceptionally fast racing tire. Tan options available. Fantastic tire for MTB builds, with excellent puncture protection.
- None
Maxxis Ikon
The absolute cross-country king in Maxxis’ lineup. The Maxxis Ikon has near perfect all-round tire characteristics, which makes it an excellent option for diverse road and trail conditions. Though it’s categorized obviously as an XC tire, it’ll also perform superior for bikepackers and gravel riders.
That being said, this is a racing tire, which means it’s light. But the reliable EXO compound, also used for harsher enduro racing, also means you’ll enjoy this tire for many miles.
As with any tire with this type of tread, it’ll perform well in dry conditions. The 26 inch version has both a 2.35 and 2.2 inch width option. You can run this tire both front and back, and might opt for the wider version in the front for some added grip. Especially if you expect some portions of your ride to be particularly rough.
It’s undeniable that the top-of-the-line products of Maxxis are superior to many if not all of their competitors. And the Maxxis Ikon shows it, with a perfect blend of weight, speed, grip, and protection.
- The cross-country king. Highly versatile tire which excels in XC, bikepacking, and gravel, lightweight. Can be used front and rear. Pair with Ardent Race in the front for ultra-fast yet grippy XC setup. Tan options available
- None
Schwalbe Billy Bonkers
The Billy Bonkers is Schwalbe’s answer to the popularity of the Maxxis DTH for pumptrack and slopestyle. They also come in an extremely light 490 grams 26 inch version, making it the perfect tire for fast city flying, gravel and cross country riding.
The Billy Bonkers also comes in a tan-wall version, but you’ll have to stick with a 2.1 inch width, because that’s the only one in Schwalbe’s lineup. The German brand has made a racing tire, which also proves to be very fast and grippy.
It’s a tough choice to make between the two. One isn’t necessarily better than the other
- Very lightweight tire, with tan option available. Great grip, and rolling-resistance characteristics. Fantastic option for MTB builds.
- None
Schwalbe Marathon Supreme HS469
The Schwalbe Marathon Supreme is meant for speed with hardly any profile at all on very light tires.
It’s a great fast-rolling commuter and touring tire that offers excellent puncture-resistance characteristics as well.
Though it might not be the flashiest tire on the market, its appeal lies in its ability to crunch many miles. So even though it might not be the most affordable tire on the market, the ROI is high nonetheless.
- fantastic grip, durable and puncture-resistant, fantastic lightweight touring tire
- None
Kenda 3-Sixty
The Kenda 3-Sixty is a semi-slick tire meant for slopestyle that also comes in a 26 inch version.
The tire comes in a standard black and a creme tread pattern. But the color isn’t just there for looks, but denotes a difference in functionality. The creme version uses a rubber compound that is ideal for dry condition tracks. While the black tread rubber is the perfect solution for wet conditions.
- multiple colors available, fast rolling
- different colors have different characteristics
Panaracer RiBMo
At 26 x 2 inches and 560 grams the Panaracer RibMo is among the lightest tires for its size on this list. Its minimal tread pattern moves it into the direction of being a slick tire, perfect for fast urban commuting.
The Panaracer RiBMo uses their proprietary ProTite technology, which is an extra puncture-resistant layer which runs the entire length and width of the tire. And they offer a more durable, commuter-friendly compound.
The conclusion is this tire will make your bike feel fast and nimble for many many miles at a reasonable enough price.
- Ultra-light slick tire, affordable, durable, and supple, japanese build quality
- None
Panaracer GravelKing SK (TLC)
The Panaracer Gravel King SK has become my favorite gravel tire on the market. In my mind there are two brands that stand out from the crowd, and those are american-made WTB and their Japanese counterpart Panaracer.
I’ve been a longtime fan of Panaracer. When the gravel-craze took hold of the bicycle industry, they created the tire that would serve as the de facto standard for gravel tires with the GravelKing SK. It has just the right weight, just the right tread pattern, just the right puncture protection, and all wrapped up in a beautiful package, both in black and tan-wall options.
Deservedly so, the Panaracer Gravel King SK is in my mind the true fit-and-forget, all-weather, all-season option for gravel aficionados. But will serve those bikepackers and hard-riding daily commuters just as well.
- Superb allround gravel tire, very lightweight, with excellent puncture protection, ride characteristics, and with japanese build quality.
- None
Kenda Small Block Eight
The Kenda Small Block Eight is a long-running allround mountain bike tire. Considering the sizes smaller than 26 inch, you can find this tire in the bikepark as well as on the trail.
With a very densely spaced tread pattern in a lightweight package, this is a fast-rolling tire with great momentum. The 26 inch version comes in a 2.35 and 2.1 inch width.
It has a very round profile and the lack of protruding side-knobbies makes this tire more suitable for gravel riding than for pure trail riding. It’s a solid option for a MTB build used for commuting, bikepacking, and urban riding as well.
- Classic mountain bike tire, great allround characteristics, suitable for any type of riding. Fast-rolling and low weight
- None
Continental CONTACT Urban
The Continental CONTACT Urban is, as its name implies, a slick tire meant for urban commuting.
It’s one of the fastest tires for urban applications, and has a certificate for it to be mounted on speed pedelecs up to a speed of 50 km/h. It has the performance-oriented PureGrip compound, which is a step below their race compound BlackChili used for mountain bike tires.
A strong nylon breaker sits underneath the center tread and serves as a lightweight, flexible, yet very puncture-resistant protective layer.
- Very fast, lightweight, yet puncture-resistant slick tire
- For those who prefer speed over durability
Continental Cross King ProTection
The Continental Cross King ProTection is the newer version of a magnificent, lightweight cross-country racer.
ProTection replaces the RaceSport moniker. It’s a three- and four ply system underneath respectively the tread and sidewall, ensuring maximum puncture protection and shieldwall tearing.
This doesn’t take away from the fact that this tire is still one of the lightest in its category. A true racer.
- Maximum puncture protection in a lightweight cross-country racing tire.
- None
Continental Race King ProTection
The Continental Race King ProTection is an extremely light tire. In the weight department it means it outshines every comparable tire from every other brand by far. And it’s also the best XC tire in the rolling-resistance department.
I cannot stress enough that with respect to speed and acceleration, a light tire makes all the difference. And tires are also the most cost-effective way to reduce the overall weight of the bike.
Try reducing a couple of hundred grams of any other bike component and be ready to spend in the hundreds of dollars. Not so the case with tires. And on top of that the tire has the advanced ProTection puncture protection, with a composite breaker and a bead to bead sidewall protection polyamide fabric.
All that speed comes at a price, because traction is not this tire’s strength when compared to other mountain bike tires. And it’s the reason this tire performs best in dry conditions.
But when riding in those conditions getting up to speed and keeping it is like nothing you’ve ever experienced before. It rightly deserves its name.
- One of the lightest mountain bike tire on the market, with excellent puncture protection. Geared towards speed in every way.
- None
Specifications lightest 26 inch mountain bike tires
Name | Size | ETRTO | Weight (gr) | Tread color | Sidewall color | Compound | Puncture protection | Tire bead | TPI | Buy at Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kenda 3-Sixty | 26×2.25 | 57-559 | 583 | Creme | Black | Single | tlr | |||
Kenda 3-Sixty | 26×2.25 | 57-559 | 598 | Black | Black | Single | tlr | |||
Panaracer RiBMo | 26×2.00 | 48-559 | 560 | Black | Black | Mile Cruncher | foldable | |||
Schwalbe Billy Bonkers | 26×2.10 | 54-559 | 490 | Black | Tan | ADDIX | foldable | |||
Schwalbe Marathon Supreme HS469 | 26×2.00 | 50-559 | 560 | Black | Black | ADDIX | foldable | |||
Maxxis DTH | 26×2.15 | 52/54-559 | 570 | Black | Black | Single | foldable | 60 | ||
Maxxis Ikon | 26×2.20 | 55-559 | 592 | Black | Black | Dual | tlr | 60 | ||
Kenda Small Block Eight | 26×2.10 | 54-559 | 592 | Black | Black | DTC | KSCT | foldable | ||
Continental Cross King ProTection | 26×2.20 | 55-559 | 565 | Black | Black | BlackChili | ProTection casing | tlr | ||
Continental Race King ProTection | 26×2.20 | 55×559 | 535 | Black | Black | BlackChili | ProTection casing | tlr | ||
Continental CONTACT Urban | 26×2.00 | 50-559 | 590 | Black | Black Reflex | PureGrip | SafetyPro Breaker | wired | ||
Continental CONTACT Urban | 26×1.75 | 47-559 | 565 | Black | Black Reflex | PureGrip | SafetyPro Breaker | wired |
Johan van Seijen
FoundeR Restoration.bike
Johan van Seijen is the founder of restoration.bike. His passion for cycling in general, and restoring older bikes turned into a website to share his knowledge with a broader audience. Starting out on his father’s road bike and riding classics as the Amstel Gold Race and Liege Bastogne Liege he has shifted his attention to trail, XC, and gravel riding since. No matter how much he loves writing about everything related to cycling, nothing beats actually using his ever-expanding bicycle collection.
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