The top 8 best 650b slick tires

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In this article I’m going to give you a variety of the best 650b slick tires available.

I’ve added two distinct versions of tires. The first category is true slicks. Those are tires, which have almost no tread pattern to speak of, or are entirely smooth. The other category is semi-slicks. That group of tires have smooth or semi-smooth center lines, and a more pronounced tread pattern on the sides. These semi-slicks are far more adequate when you use the tires on anything else but smooth tarmac, and can rightly be called gravel tires.

I’ve also added quite a range of widths and weights. Usually with bicycle components, including tires, you pay more for less. So tires weighing less, but having the same width are more performance-oriented for those of you who care. But there are also enough options for the more budget-minded among us.

So without further ado, here’s my list of the best 650b slick tires.

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.

Maxxis DTR-1

The Maxxis DTR-1 is an affordable semi-slick 650b tire with a tread pattern for urban assaults.

The foldable version is reasonably light for its width of 47 millimeters, coming in at just over 500 grams.

It’s a no-fuss tire for people looking for a fast-rolling commuter option for their bike without having to dig too deep into their wallets.

Maxxis Recepter

The Maxxis Recepter is a great-looking option for people looking into 650b slick tires with gravel characteristics.

Just as with the Continental Speed King it has hardly any tread pattern to speak of, but has small side knobbies for added grip when cornering.

It’s a lightweight performance tire sitting at 485 grams for a 1.85 width version.

The Recepter also comes with Maxxis’ tried-and-true EXO protection, which is hardly a luxury when taking your bike on rougher roads.

It means that this tire is a perfect companion for fast-riding on dirt roads and hardpack.

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.

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.

Schwalbe Thunder Burt

Another fantastic option from Schwalbe, and on the more premium side, is the Schwalbe Thunder Burt. It’s a very lightweight XC tire with hardly any tread pattern in the center to speak of.

If you feel that you might be gravel oriented with your bike this is an excellent choice. The raised knobbies on the side will give you the confidence you’re looking for, while the extremely low weight of just 510 grams also means these mid-size tires are very fast.

WTB Horizon

The WTB Horizon is a gorgeous and supple 650b slick tire, available in both black and true tan-wall options.

The 47 millimeter width tire comes in both a single ply 60 TPI and a more supple 120 TPI version. The center tread has no pattern whatsoever and is flanked by dual herringbone patterns to provide a modicum of traction when riding anything else but smooth tarmac and pavement.

It’s fully tubeless compatible and the round tire ranging between 515 and 571 grams for the various versions will make a plush ride indeed for any type of light gravel riding or urban commuting.

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.

Specifications 650b slick 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	link
Schwalbe Hurricane	27.5×2.00	50-584	610	Black	Black	ADDIX	Performance	wired		link
Schwalbe Hurricane	27.5×2.25	57-584	690	Black	Black	ADDIX	Performance	wired		link
Schwalbe Hurricane	27.5×2.40	62-584	885	Black	Black Reflex	ADDIX	RaceGuard / Double Defense	wired		link
Schwalbe Marathon Plus MTB	27.5×2.10	54-584	1200	Black	Black	ADDIX		wired		link
Schwalbe Marathon Plus MTB	27.5×2.25	57-584	1270	Black	Black	ADDIX		wired		link
Schwalbe Thunder Burt	27.5×2.10	54-584	510	Black	Black	ADDIX Speed	Super Ground			link
WTB ThickSlick	27.5×1.95	50-584	713	Black	Black	DNA		folding		link
WTB Horizon	27.5×1.85	47-584	532	Black	Black	Dual DNA		tlr	60	link
WTB Horizon	27.5×1.85	47-584	515	Black	Tan	Dual DNA		tlr	60	link
WTB Horizon	27.5×1.85	47-584	571	Black	Black	Dual DNA		tlr	120	link
Maxxis DTR-1	27.5×1.85	47-584	505	Black	Black	Dual		foldable	60	link
Maxxis Recepter	27.5×1.85	47-584	484	Black	Black	Dual		tlr	120	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.