The top 7 best 27.5 all mountain tires

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In this article I’m going to give you some serious contenders for the very best 27.5 all mountain tires.

There’s no reason in changing a winning formula, and some tires are just downright great performers in a number of mountain bike disciplines. That being said there are also a couple of new additions to the overall all mountain lineup this year, and a classic name in a new jacket.

For the all mountain category I focused on tires that perform great in a number of conditions and support a variety of riding types. Some are better climbers because of their weight and traction. Others are better suited for death-defying downhill sections because of their grip and braking power.

It seems that choosing the right mountain bike tire is always a compromise between a certain number of tire specific characteristics. And this list of the best 27.5 all mountain tires is no exception to that rule.

But enough talk, let’s head over to my top picks for the best 27.5 all mountain tires.

Continental Trail King ProTection Apex

The aptly named Continental Trail King ProTection Apex is the German brand’s allround trail-tackling solution.

It performs exceptionally well in all sorts of conditions, and might only wafer a bit on the steepest of technical downhill sections. That means this tire is a very good and lightweight all mountain solution indeed.

It’s one of the faster tires on this list, well-suited for those among you who don’t shy away from a steep climb. The tread pattern provides high levels of traction and with even the 2.8 width version sitting at just over a kilo, which is about 20 percent lighter than its competitors.

The knobs are rather spaced-out from each other, which means this might not be the grippiest tire in the front. On the flip side, riding in wet conditions is marginally improved because it’ll shed mud better and won’t clog up that easily.

Kenda Hellkat Pro

The only 26 inch option left in Kenda’s lineup for all-round trail, enduro, and downhill purposes.

Unlike other brands like Maxxis, Schwalbe, and Continental, Kenda seems to be moving away from 26 inch tires for their premium lineup. Although an understandable move it’s still a shame. It means that for downhill you’ll have to settle for the Kenda Hellkat over the Kenda Pinner.

Nonetheless the Kenda Hellkat is an impressive offering which propels the brand back among its peers. The Maxxis DHFs and Schwalbe Magic Marys have been at the top of downhill lists for a very long time now, so it’s good to see Kenda taking a shot with this tire that has excellent traction and durability characteristics.

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.

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.

Schwalbe Nobby Nic

The Schwalbe Nobby Nic is the best all-round trail tire from the German manufacturer. If there’s a tire that could rival the dominance of the Maxxis DHR and DHF and its omnipresence on the trail, it’s this one.

It’s tread pattern provides loads of grip and traction. Its allround nature means it’s just as good in the front as it is in the back. And it’s also often seen as a grippy front tire for aggressive XC riding, with a faster and lighter tire in the back.

You can go up to a size 2.35 if you want to and it’s also the only tire that comes in a 26 inch tan version. So if you’re looking for a solid all-round setup, meant for every conceivable condition, dry and wet, hardpack and forest trail, and you want to ride a tan version, this is the tire for you.

Vittoria Martello

It’s strange to feel that the Vittoria Martello is as fast-rolling as it is. It definitely is not the lightest tire on this list, with already the 2.6 inch version at a respectable 1230 grams.

That might be because of Vittoria’s proprietary 4C compound, which reserves softer compounds for the edger, so the knobs can conform correctly to the trail and dig deep into softer soil, while harder compounds at the center maintain your rolling efficiency.

Either way, the Martello is a beast of a tire; durable and tough, letting you rip through trails in all kinds of conditions. In the end weight is just one component of the entire equation that makes up a high-quality tire. And with extremely high levels of grip, and more than enough speed to let you fly into the corners, this tire will keep you grinning for the entire duration of your ride.

WTB Vigilante 2.5/2.6/2.8

The WTB Vigilante 2.5/2.6/2.8 is a solid contender to many of the premium offerings from other high-quality brands.

Obviously there are a number of tire widths to choose from, depending on your personal preference when it comes to grip. What this tire has got going for it is that’s prefers grip and handling over weight. The rather widely spaced and high soft knobbies do very well in keeping your bike connected to the trail, ensuring high levels of confidence in hard cornering.

WTB offers this tire in their TriTec compound, which basically means that the casing consists of three layers, with each layer having a different firmness. The harder durometer is reserved for the center, reducing the risk of punctures and making the tire faster in a straight line. This gradual increase in softness from center to side sounds great on paper, and indeed works exceptionally well on the trail. It makes for a really grippy and reliable tire in corners and reasonably fast on the straights with adequate levels of puncture protection.

I tend to disagree that this tire works as well in the rear as it does in the front when it comes to braking and traction. The widely spaced tread pattern without those distinctive horizontal rows simply isn’t the best setup to support those two rear tire characteristics. On the other hand, if you like a loose feel and don’t mind the occasional drift, this tire actually enhances such a way of riding.

In the end the WTB Vigilante rightly deserves its spot on this list with grippy and fun riding characteristics that’ll suit a great number of riders.

Specifications 27.5 all mountain tires

Name	Size	ETRTO	Weight (gr)	Tread color	Sidewall color	Compound	Puncture protection	Tire bead	TPI	Buy at Amazon
WTB Vigilante 2.5/2.6/2.8	27.5×2.50	60-584	1092	Black	Black	TriTec Single		tlr	60	link
WTB Vigilante 2.5/2.6/2.8	27.5×2.50	60-584	1174	Black	Black	TriTec Dual		tlr	60	link
WTB Vigilante 2.5/2.6/2.8	27.5×2.60	65-584	1340	Black	Black	TriTec Dual		tlr	60	link
Schwalbe Big Betty	27.5X2.40	62-584	1300	Black	Black	ADDIX Ultra Soft		tlr		link
Maxxis Minion DHF	27.5×2.30	58-584	880	Black	Light Tan	3C MaxxTerra		tlr	60	link
Maxxis Minion DHF	27.5×2.50	63-584	1005	Black	Black	3C MaxxTerra	EXO+	tlr	60	link
Maxxis Minion DHF	27.5×2.50	63-584	945	Black	Black	Dual	EXO	tlr	60	link
Maxxis Minion DHF	27.5×2.50	63-584	956	Black	Tan	Dual	EXO	tlr	60	link
Maxxis Minion DHF	27.5×2.60	66-584	1010	Black	Black	3C MaxxTerra	EXO+	tlr	60	link
Maxxis Minion DHF	27.5×2.60	66-584	965	Black	Black	Dual	EXO	tlr	60	link
Maxxis Minion DHF	27.5×2.60	66-584	925	Black	Black	3C MaxxTerra		tlr	120	link
Maxxis Minion DHR II	27.5×2.30	58-584	800	Black	Black	Dual	EXO	tlr	60	link
Maxxis Minion DHR II	27.5×2.30	58-584	805	Black	Black	3C MaxxTerra	EXO	tlr	60	link
Maxxis Minion DHR II	27.5×2.40	61-584	900	Black	Black	Dual	EXO	tlr	60	link
Maxxis Minion DHR II	27.5×2.40	61-586	940	Black	Tan	Dual	EXO	tlr	60	link
Maxxis Minion DHR II	27.5×2.40	61-587	1126	Black	Black	3C MaxxTerra	EXO+	tlr	60	link
Maxxis Minion DHR II	27.5×2.60	66-584	910	Black	Black	3C MaxxTerra	EXO+	tlr	60	link
Maxxis Minion DHR II	27.5×2.60	66-584	1065	Black	Black	3C MaxxTerra	EXO	tlr	60	link
Continental Trail King ProTection Apex	27.5×2.20	55-584	775	Black	Black	BlackChili	ProTection Apex casing	tlr	3/180	link
Continental Trail King ProTection Apex	27.5×2.40	60-584	915	Black	Black	BlackChili	ProTection Apex casing	tlr	3/180	link
Continental Trail King ProTection Apex	27.5×2.60	65-584	955	Black	Black	BlackChili	ProTection Apex casing	tlr	3/180	link
Vittoria Martello	27.5×2.35	55-584	940	Black	Black	4C Graphene		tubeless	120	link
Vittoria Martello	27.5×2.60	65-584	1230	Black	Black	4C Graphene		tubeless	120	link
Vittoria Martello	27.5×2.80	70-584	1230	Black	Black	4C Graphene		tubeless	120	link
Kenda Hellkat Pro	27.5×2.40	60-584	823	Black	Black	Dual		tlr	120	link
Kenda Hellkat Pro	27.5×2.40	60-584	1110	Black	Black	Dual Layer		tlr	60	link
Kenda Hellkat Pro	27.5×2.60	65-584	1247	Black	Black	Dual Layer		tlr	60	link
Maxxis Forekaster	27.5X2.35	60-584	690	Black	Black	Dual		tlr	120	link
Maxxis Forekaster	27.5X2.60	66-584	820	Black	Black	Dual		tlr	60	link

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.