In this article I’m going to give you an overview of the best 29 inch enduro tires.
The enduro scene has been dominated by Maxxis for quite a while now, but it’s nice to see a number of other big brand names thrusting themselves onto the scene with high-quality offerings.
If there’s one mountain bike discipline where you can ponder over tire setups all day long it has to be enduro racing. From mounting specific tires front and back, to tire widths, compounds, casings, and even mix different tire brands.
And the tire options themselves are just as distinct as the choices people make between them. From the tried-and-true Maxxis DHF and DHR setup, to opting for a faster-rolling High Roller, to the extremely aggressive Magic Mary up front, with the allround Nobby Nic in the back, this list encapsulates the best the tire industry has to offer to enduro riders.
So without further ado, here’s my list of the very best 29 inch enduro tires.
Continental Der Baron Projekt ProTection Apex
The Continental Der Baron Projekt is a very aggressive mountain bike tire. Massive blocks sufficiently spaced ensure you have both maximum grip and maximum mud clearance, making this tire a solid enduro allrounder in both wet and dry conditions.
Even in the 2.4 inch width version, this tire weighs 890, which makes this tire a great option if you want to ride all year round, but you stay away from the trail in the worst of conditions.
The BlackChili compound from Continental is known for its great durability. So if you’re also looking for a tire that’ll last you a very long time, and save on cash that way, the Der Baron Projekt is a solid choice as well.
- Extremely lightweight gravity tire, durable
- Meant for downhill or enduro
Maxxis High Roller II
The Maxxis High Roller II is a solid option, both front and back, in loose and dry condition riding.
If you don’t have that much climbing to do, you might opt for a dual High Roller setup. But for any non-competitive riders. However, the DHR II plus High Roller front and back respectively, is a more forgiving, allround setup.
But as far as downhill goes, the High Roller’s spaced out knobs proved a perfect amount of bite in loose conditions.
- Solid trail and enduro tire, preferably up front.
- None
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 Minion SS
When riding in dry conditions the Maxxis Minion SS is probably the fastest-rolling enduro tire on the market.
It’s strange to call this tire a semi-slick, because that’s what SS stands for. The center tread, consisting of very small knobbies, are indeed a feature of what I would consider to be a semi-slick. But the side knobbies are the same as the DHR or DHF. That means you maintain high levels of speed on the straights with the proven grip when cornering.
It’s a formula which is as simple as it is effective, turning this tire into a speedy, dry condition enduro tire. I’ve seen the tire ridden both in the front and back, but to me the back seems the most logical choice, with a grippier tire up front.
- Very fast XC, great cornering grip, rear tire
- None
Schwalbe Hans Dampf
The Schwalbe Hans Dampf is a good rear enduro tire.
A classic-looking all-round tire with large side knobbies, and smaller horizontally aligned knobbies in the center tread. This tire transitions smoothly from fast straight into tight cornering, something not every tire does.
That smooth feel provides exciting reliability on everything but the most aggressive trails, where you might want larger knobs providing more grip in corners.
It’s becoming harder to distinguish tires within a certain category from each other, with all premium tires from major brands nearing perfection. With this tire it’s the same. It checks all of the boxes, but maybe outperforms none of its competitors who sacrifices one characteristic to excel more in another.
That means this tire is very reliable for the majority of riders out there.
- aggressive rear allround tire, reliable option
- performs best in dry conditions
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
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.
- High quality fit-and-forget all-round trail option. Loads of sizing / compound combinations possible. Can be used both front and rear for trail riding, or front for XC.
- None
Specifications 29 inch enduro tires
Name | Size | ETRTO | Weight (gr) | Tread color | Sidewall color | Compound | Puncture protection | Tire bead | TPI | Buy at Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Maxxis Minion DHF | 29×2.30 | 58-622 | 925 | Black | Black | 3C MaxxTerra | EXO | tlr | 60 | |
Maxxis Minion DHF | 29×2.50WT | 63-622 | Black | Black | 3C MaxxTerra | EXO | tlr | 60 | ||
Maxxis Minion DHF | 29×2.50WT | 64-622 | Black | Tan | Dual | EXO | tlr | 60 | ||
Maxxis Minion DHF | 29×2.60 | 66-622 | 978 | Black | Tan | Dual | EXO | tlr | 60 | |
Maxxis Minion DHF | 29×2.60 | 66-622 | 995 | Black | Black | 3C MaxxTerra | EXO | tlr | 120 | |
Maxxis Minion DHF | 29×3.00 | 76-622 | 1110 | Black | Black | 3C MaxxTerra | EXO | tlr | 120 | |
Maxxis Minion DHR II | 29×2.30 | 58-622 | 825 | Black | Black | 3C MaxxTerra | EXO | tlr | 60 | |
Maxxis Minion DHR II | 29×2.30 | 58-622 | 1040 | Black | Black | 3C MaxxTerra | DD | tlr | 120 | |
Maxxis Minion DHR II | 29×2.40WT | 61-622 | Black | Black | 3C MaxxTerra | EXO+ | tlr | 60 | ||
Maxxis Minion DHR II | 29×2.40WT | 61-622 | 988 | Black | Tan | Dual | EXO | tlr | 60 | |
Maxxis Minion DHR II | 29×2.40WT | 61-622 | Black | Black | 3C MaxxGrip | DD | tlr | 120 | ||
Maxxis Minion DHR II | 29×2.60 | 66-622 | 1035 | Black | Black | 3C MaxxTerra | EXO+ | tlr | 60 | |
Maxxis Minion DHR II | 29×2.60 | 66-622 | 983 | Black | Tan | Dual | EXO | tlr | 60 | |
Maxxis High Roller II | 29×2.30 | 58-622 | 920 | Black | Black | 3C MaxxTerra | tlr | 60 | ||
Maxxis High Roller II | 29×2.50WT | 64-622 | 990 | Black | Black | 3C MaxxTerra | tlr | 60 | ||
Maxxis High Roller II | 29×2.50WT | 64-622 | Black | Black | 3C MaxxTerra | tlr | 120 | |||
Schwalbe Hans Dampf | 29×2.35 | 60-622 | 1055 | Black | Black | ADDIX Soft | tlr | |||
Schwalbe Hans Dampf | 29×2.60 | 65-622 | 1110 | Black | Black | ADDIX SpeedGrip | tlr | |||
Schwalbe Nobby Nic | 29×2.25 | 57-622 | 810 | Black | Black | ADDIX SpeedGrip | tlr | |||
Schwalbe Nobby Nic | 29×2.60 | 65-622 | 1080 | Black | Black | ADDIX SpeedGrip | tlr | |||
Continental Der Baron Projekt ProTection Apex | 29×2.40 | 60-622 | 990 | Black | Black | BlackChili | ProTection Apex casing | 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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