In this article you’ll learn what the best 27.5 downhill tires money can buy are.
The downhill discipline of mountain biking necessitates tires that bring the maximum in grip, puncture protection, braking power, and sidewall reinforcement to be able to handle the abuse as you tackle the trail as fast as you can.
Weight is of less importance, which is the reason you’ll be able to find tires which weigh three times as much as the nimblest of XC race tires.
The tread pattern of downhill tires is dominated by huge knobbies that provide the grip needed for fast-paced descents. Depending on the conditions, from dry and loose, to wet and muddy, the spacing of the knobs is more or less dense respectively, enabling you to shed mud and debris as quickly as possible.
Downhill tires (and other mountain bike tires as well, are made with various compounds, with softer compounds reserved for downhill. Softer compounds conform better to the terrain, adding more grip. The downside is they wear more easily. If you’re really only going to be using the tire for downhill, you’ll want the softest compound available.
You can go for the 2.5 inch downhill standard in terms of tire widths, but many downhill tires also fall into the all-mountain or enduro category, and come in other widths to add more versatility to your setup.
Those are the standard characteristics of a downhill tire. Let’s see what specific entries made it into my overview of the best 27.5 downhill tires.
Since there are so many different sizes and compounds, you can find a handy table at the end of the article to give you a proper overview.
Maxxis Minion DHF
When you’re looking for a mountain bike tire it’s almost impossible not to have heard of the Maxxis Minion DHF. The reason being it’s like the ultimate fit-and-forget mountain bike tire on the market. That means that the tire is just about perfect for any local trail riding, to enduro and downhill races.
The tread pattern shows that this tire prefers to sit on your front wheel. You can opt to put another fan favorite, the Maxxis Minion DHR II, at the back. That tire has horizontally aligned knobbies for increased braking power.
Its popularity ensures there are many options to choose from, both with respect to size, as well as casing. And all of them offer either the EXO sidewall protection, or Double Down breaker. For those with a penchant for tan sidewalls, there are those as well.
On its own, or paired with the Minion DHR II, the Maxxis Minion DHF is such a no-brainer that it’s hard to not recommend it to anyone for all-round trail-riding and downhill.
- Superb allrounder with loads of sizing / compound combinations possible. Combines with Maxxis Minion DHR II for an excellent all-round trail setup.
- None
Maxxis Minion DHR II
The “DH” in DHF and DHR stands for “downhill”. The “F” and “R” for “front” and “rear” respectively. The “downhill” in the name is a bit misleading, because the horizontal tread pattern of the DHR not only aids braking but also gives more traction when going uphill. Both tires have the same side knobs to maximize grip while cornering.
Maxxis intended these two tires to be used together as their go-to allround solution for trail riding. And these tires are in some many lists that it’s probably the best allround no-worries solution money can buy.
Together with the Minion DHF, the Maxxis Minion DHR II is a fantastic and confidence inspiring tire that will take your downhill rides to the next level.
- One of the best rear tires available, combines with Maxxis Minion DHF for an excellent all-round trail setup
- None
Maxxis Assegai
If you know mountain biking you know Greg Minnaar. And the Maxxis Assegai is said to be designed with his help. So what does that say about this tire?
Well, he’s a downhill champion, so expect monstrous level of grip and traction in a tire well-suited for the most aggressive trail riders among us. For such an aggressive tire, the profile is relatively rounded still, smoothing out transitions from straight to cornering, without that vague feeling you sometimes get in between.
This tire sits just below a true mud tire, so all of that traction will come at a premium, and the price you pay is of course a slow, and heavy tire in those times when you don’t need as much grip. When choosing tires you have to compromise, and when the going gets tough this is the tire you want to be riding.
- Very grippy tire, meant for bad conditions
- Meant for downhill
Schwalbe Big Betty
The Schwalbe Big Betty is the go-to rear tire for the Schwalbe Magic Mary. Where the Magic Mary has proven to be among the top tires in terms of traction, when combined with the Big Betty you improve your overall braking power.
It has a horizontal tread pattern to do so, that’s sufficiently spaced to have sufficient clearing characteristics as well when you release the brakes again.
Of all the downhill combinations available on the market today, I can’t think of a single one that beats Schwalbe’s current offering of Magic Mary and Big Betty. It’s one of the heaviest sets of downhill-specific tires, that’ll provide you the ultimate in traction.
- Rear downhill tire, fantastic traction
- Meant for downhill
Schwalbe Magic Mary
The Magic Mary is Schwalbe’s grippiest tire from their entire lineup. It performs both brilliantly as a downhill tire, but is just as effective for all-round trail riding in brutal conditions.
It has top-of-the-line traction combined with super fast rolling characteristics and a good feel for the trail at high speeds. If you want to be in the moment and experience flow going down sloppy slopes the Magic Mary delivers big time, with virtually zero cons.
Good braking power, allround riding characteristics in dry and wet conditions, this is Schwalbe’s top tire for all-mountain, enduro and downhill, no matter what the conditions are.
- Very grippy, go-to gravity tire, solid braking power, 4-season downhill tire
- Meant for downhill
Continental Kryptotal Fr
The Continental Kryptotal Fr is part of the German brand’s new trail, enduro, and downhill lineup of premium tires.
There are a number of tires for these disciplines and the Kryptotal Fr is meant as a front tire. With three different casings you can choose your weight and puncture protection, with more protection and weight as you move into the direction of downhill.
This tire outshines the competition with its casing, with the downhill version offering a 6-ply casing, or a 4-ply with dual breaker. This is something I’ve never seen on a mountain bike tire and makes for a near-indestructible tire.
To ensure it doesn’t feel like you’re riding with wooden tires, the plies tapers off to the side. With the downhill from 6 to 4, and both enduro and trail version from 3 to 2.
Furthermore the trail and enduro version have reinforced sidewalls, and I guess Continental decided 4 plies was enough for the downhill version.
The tread pattern is similar for all three versions, and is characterized by a fairly densely populated center tread. It offers allround reliability.for a tire that’s meant to be ridden with its twin brother: the Kryptotal Re. This really is a tire designed for the front.
I know other brands, most notably Maxxis, dominate the professional scene, but on paper at least, this is one of the most impressive mountain bike tires I’ve ever seen.
- Great allround characteristics, newer compound pays dividends in suppleness. Otherworldly casing options with incredible puncture protection.
- Front tire only. Meant to go with the Kryptotal Re
Continental Kryptotal Re
The Continental Kryptotal Re is the rear wheel version of the Fr also coming in trail, enduro and downhill specific casings.
Those casings are the same, and you can read in the Fr section what I think of the casings, which are nothing short of astounding.
This tire comes in three different versions, so be sure to get the right one based on your preferred mountain bike discipline. You can obviously choose a soft downhill compound for an enduro racer, things are not set in stone.
The tread is optimized for both braking power and traction, and is really meant to be mounted in the rear.
- Great allround characteristics, newer compound pays dividends in suppleness. Otherworldly casing options with incredible puncture protection.
- Rear tire. Meant to go with the Kryptotal Fr
Specifications 27.5 downhill tires
Name | Size | ETRTO | Weight (gr) | Tread color | Sidewall color | Compound | Puncture protection | Tire bead | TPI | Buy at Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Schwalbe Big Betty | 27.5X2.40 | 62-584 | 1300 | Black | Black | ADDIX Ultra Soft | tlr | |||
Schwalbe Big Betty | 27.5X2.40 | 62-584 | 1180 | Black | Black | ADDIX Soft | Super Gravity | tlr | ||
Maxxis Minion DHF | 27.5×2.30 | 58-584 | 880 | Black | Light Tan | 3C MaxxTerra | tlr | 60 | ||
Maxxis Minion DHF | 27.5×2.50 | 63-584 | 1005 | Black | Black | 3C MaxxTerra | EXO+ | tlr | 60 | |
Maxxis Minion DHF | 27.5×2.50 | 63-584 | 945 | Black | Black | Dual | EXO | tlr | 60 | |
Maxxis Minion DHF | 27.5×2.50 | 63-584 | 956 | Black | Tan | Dual | EXO | tlr | 60 | |
Maxxis Minion DHF | 27.5×2.60 | 66-584 | 1010 | Black | Black | 3C MaxxTerra | EXO+ | tlr | 60 | |
Maxxis Minion DHF | 27.5×2.60 | 66-584 | 965 | Black | Black | Dual | EXO | tlr | 60 | |
Maxxis Minion DHF | 27.5×2.60 | 66-584 | 925 | Black | Black | 3C MaxxTerra | tlr | 120 | ||
Maxxis Minion DHR II | 27.5×2.30 | 58-584 | 800 | Black | Black | Dual | EXO | tlr | 60 | |
Maxxis Minion DHR II | 27.5×2.30 | 58-584 | 805 | Black | Black | 3C MaxxTerra | EXO | tlr | 60 | |
Maxxis Minion DHR II | 27.5×2.40 | 61-584 | 900 | Black | Black | Dual | EXO | tlr | 60 | |
Maxxis Minion DHR II | 27.5×2.40 | 61-586 | 940 | Black | Tan | Dual | EXO | tlr | 60 | |
Maxxis Minion DHR II | 27.5×2.40 | 61-587 | 1126 | Black | Black | 3C MaxxTerra | EXO+ | tlr | 60 | |
Maxxis Minion DHR II | 27.5×2.60 | 66-584 | 910 | Black | Black | 3C MaxxTerra | EXO+ | tlr | 60 | |
Maxxis Minion DHR II | 27.5×2.60 | 66-584 | 1065 | Black | Black | 3C MaxxTerra | EXO | tlr | 60 | |
Maxxis Assegai | 27.5×2.50 | 65-584 | 1005 | Black | Black | 3C MaxxTerra | tlr | 60 | ||
Maxxis Assegai | 27.5×2.50 | 65-584 | 1090 | Black | Black | Dual | tlr | 60 | ||
Maxxis Assegai | 27.5×2.50 | 65-584 | 1049 | Black | Black | 3C MaxxGrip | tlr | 60 | ||
Maxxis Assegai | 27.5×2.60 | 65-584 | 1002 | Black | Black | 3C MaxxTerra | tlr | 120 | ||
Continental Kryptotal Fr | 27.5×2.40 | 60-584 | 1000 | Black | Black | BlackChili | Trail casing | tlr | 3/180 | |
Continental Kryptotal Fr | 27.5×2.40 | 60-584 | 1080 | Black | Black | BlackChili | Enduro casing | tlr | 3/330 | |
Continental Kryptotal Fr | 27.5×2.40 | 60-584 | 1220 | Black | Black | BlackChili | Downhill casing | tlr | 6/660 | |
Continental Kryptotal Re | 27.5×2.60 | 65-584 | 1100 | Black | Black | BlackChili | Trail casing | tlr | 3/180 | |
Continental Kryptotal Re | 27.5×2.60 | 65-584 | 1220 | Black | Black | BlackChili | Enduro casing | tlr | 3/330 | |
Continental Kryptotal Re | 27.5×2.40 | 60-584 | 1000 | Black | Black | BlackChili | Trail casing | tlr | 3/180 | |
Continental Kryptotal Re | 27.5×2.40 | 60-584 | 1080 | Black | Black | BlackChili | Enduro casing | tlr | 3/330 | |
Continental Kryptotal Re | 27.5×2.40 | 60-584 | 1220 | Black | Black | BlackChili | Downhill casing | tlr | 6/660 | |
Schwalbe Big Betty | 27.5X2.40 | 62-584 | 1180 | Black | Tan | ADDIX Soft | Super Gravity | tlr | ||
Schwalbe Big Betty | 27.5X2.60 | 65-584 | 1085 | Black | Black | ADDIX Soft | Super Trail | tlr | ||
Schwalbe Big Betty | 27.5X2.60 | 65-584 | 1295 | Black | Black | ADDIX Soft | Super Gravity | tlr | ||
Schwalbe Magic Mary | 27.5X2.40 | 62-584 | 1205 | Black | Black | ADDIX Ultra Soft | Super Gravity | tlr | ||
Schwalbe Magic Mary | 27.5X2.40 | 62-584 | 1110 | Black | Black | ADDIX Soft | tlr |
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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