In this article I’m going to cover my picks for the best 27.5 inch slick mountain bike tires.
Even though 29 inch wheels have taken over the bicycle industry by storm, there are still plenty of reasons why you want to opt for the smaller 27.5 inch wheel size. If not for the fact there are still plenty of them you can pick up for a decent price, because the first owner wants to upgrade to 29 inch wheels.
Another solid reason to go for 27.5 wheels is because you can indeed convert a 26 inch bike into one running these bigger wheels. And in the end the options for 27.5 inch slick mountain bike tires are simply different from the 26 inch slick versions.
Whatever your reason, if you’re looking to spruce up your frame with the best 27.5 inch slick mountain bike tires money can buy, I’ve got the list for you.
Continental CONTACT Speed
Meant for the road the Continental Contact Speed is a slick tire in the true sense of the word. A minimalistic profile will turn your bike into a city slicker.
In the commuting and touring range from this German brand, it sits in the fastest category and is one of the most affordable options to obtain a fast-rolling tire.
It also has excellent puncture protection with Continental’s more than adequate SafetySystem breaker technology. Chances of flats are minimized.
- Affordable slick tire, with excellent puncture protection
- None
Maxxis Hookworm
The Maxxis Hookworm is a durable urban road bike tire meant to last for many miles as a trustworthy commuting companion.
It’s a large volume, round, and heavy wired tire that smooths out small bumps and road buzz once it has gathered momentum. It’s definitely not a race tire.
It has one of the weirder looking tread patterns I’ve seen on a tire, which makes it fall into the semi-slick category since there are no knobbies whatsoever. The swirling patterns probably do well siphoning water away to the outside in wet conditions.
At 26 x 2.5 inches make sure you’ve got enough frame clearance to be able to actually run these big tires.
I’ve run these types of heavy round tires and can say they offer an incredible plush and comfortable feel, and once you get going are fast enough for quick urban assaults.
- long lasting slick mile-cruncher, wide tire
- Heavy wired tire, might not fit every frame
Schwalbe Hurricane
I also decided to include the Schwalbe Hurricane in this list. It’s a shame they don’t sell them in skinwall versions as well. But the tire packs a solid combination of a flat centerline and side knobs.
The side knobs means the tire is more versatile than the average slick, opening up the possibility to take your bike offroad and away from the beaten path.
If you want to keep a MTB look for your tires without sacrificing too much speed on the road, this is the perfect tire for you. Especially if you like the occasional trail as well because of the added grip.
- Great all-round gravel and light XC tire, with an affordable quality.
- None
Schwalbe Marathon Plus MTB
The Schwalbe Marathon is the ultimate allrounder in the tire department and one of the best-selling tires on the market. So the German brand decided to make a MTB-specific version of this tire: the Schwalbe Marathon Plus MTB.
Although it looks like a knobby tire, if you look close enough you can see that the center tread will let you run smoothly across pavement. And just like the standard Marathon is meant for commuting and touring, the same goes for this one.
It’s a heavy tire when compared to some of the XC racers. But the biggest plus for hauling all that extra weight is that in terms of puncture protection, this tire has no equal. The reason is pretty simple. Schwalbe stuffed a 5mm strip underneath the center tread, made from highly puncture resistant rubber. And as simple as that sounds, it’s extremely effective in preventing punctures.
So for those of you who want the risk of flats nearing zero, this is the tire for you.
- Mile cruncher, unparalleled puncture protection
- Heavy, meant for commuting, touring, and bikepacking.
WTB Groov-E
The WTP Groov-E was designed for e-bikes, which is reflected in the weight of 970 grams.
The reason it’s on this list is because with its 2.40 inch width and weight, it will offer an extremely plush ride. Not everybody is looking for speed, and if comfort sits high on your list, this tire might be the one for you.
- E-bike compatible, very wide, plush ride quality
- Heavy
WTB ThickSlick
Of all the tires I’ve come across, none is as true to its name as the WTB ThickSlick.
The high-contrast white letters on the smooth carcass is one of the most distinctive designs for a black tire you can find. A tire with a non-existent tread pattern such as this one is obviously meant for riding on pavement and tarmac. And it does so admirably, with a reasonable enough weight and rolling-resistance.
It’s a very niche-oriented tire to turn your bike into something more. And one of the best-looking slick mountain bike tires ever to hit the market.
- True slick with no tread pattern. Unique-looking tire
- Meant for urban riding only
Specifications 27.5 inch slick mountain bike tires
Name | Size | ETRTO | Weight (gr) | Tread color | Sidewall color | Compound | Puncture protection | Tire bead | TPI | Buy at Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Continental CONTACT Speed | 27.5×2.00 | 50-584 | 700 | Black | Black | SafetySystem Breaker | tlr | 3/180 | ||
Schwalbe Hurricane | 27.5×2.00 | 50-584 | 610 | Black | Black | ADDIX | Performance | wired | ||
Schwalbe Hurricane | 27.5×2.25 | 57-584 | 690 | Black | Black | ADDIX | Performance | wired | ||
Schwalbe Hurricane | 27.5×2.40 | 62-584 | 885 | Black | Black Reflex | ADDIX | RaceGuard / Double Defense | wired | ||
Schwalbe Marathon Plus MTB | 27.5×2.10 | 54-584 | 1200 | Black | Black | ADDIX | wired | |||
Schwalbe Marathon Plus MTB | 27.5×2.25 | 57-584 | 1270 | Black | Black | ADDIX | wired | |||
WTB Groov-E | 27.5×2.40 | 62-584 | 970 | Black | Black | Dual DNA | tlr | |||
WTB ThickSlick | 27.5×1.95 | 50-584 | 713 | Black | Black | DNA | folding | |||
Continental CONTACT Speed | 27.5×1.25 | 32-584 | 470 | Black | Black | SafetySystem Breaker | tlr | 3/180 |
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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