Our guide to the best tyres for marathon riding in the local context and understanding tread, width, compounds and more.
Many of us have a love-hate relationship with tyres. We love the rolling speed but struggle with the traction or we’re plagued by punctures but don’t want a heavier casing. The tyres that you spec on your bike can fundamentally change its behaviour and handling.
Tyre choice is a really powerful tuning tool and in this article, we’re going to highlight some of our favourite marathon tyres for South African riding and give a little bit of insight into the technical side of things on tread, threads per inch, width and so on.
Tyre Tread
When it comes to tyre tread, you generally weigh faster-rolling properties against increased traction. In the context of marathon riding, the obvious bias is towards faster rolling tyres because courses aren’t overly technical and more time can be made up from rolling faster rather than rallying the descents!
Faster rolling tyres have a lower profile centre tread and often low profile cornering knobs as well. You may opt for a more aggressively treaded front tyre to increase control while still getting rolling speed gains from the low-profile rear tyre. Note, that fast rolling treads will also be less effective on heavy braking.
Tyre Compounds
The rubber mix the tyre is made up of is called the compound. Tyre compounds are typically made of a combination of natural and synthetic rubber, as well as other additives, like Graphene or Silica, that affect the tyre’s properties.
Softer compounds offer better grip, especially in wet or loose conditions, but they wear out more quickly. Harder compounds offer less grip but last longer and roll faster. It is a game of compromise essentially and you need to prioritise what you need more, traction or durability and rolling speed. Many tyre manufacturers often use harder compounds for the centre tread of the tyre and softer ones for the side knobs to get a better cornering grip while maintaining high rolling speeds. That being said, single compound tyres are still good options a lot of the time.
Threads Per Inch (TPI)
TPI or Threads Per Inch is a number usually ranging from 60 to 120 that you may see printed on the side of your tyre or in the specs on its web page. Lower thread counts typically mean thicker threads which make for a stiffer casing with a bit more puncture protection. Higher thread counts (±120) which use thinner threads typically make for a more supple casing that has a lower rolling resistance.
Supple casings will roll faster but can be more prone to puncturing. Assess your terrain and tendency to puncture and then decide accordingly.
Tyre Width
Tyres of around 2.4 inches are increasingly popular at marathon races. Their larger volumes allow for lower pressures which means that the tyre can better conform to the trail and reduce rolling resistance without sacrificing puncture resistance.
Going for 2.3 – 2.4 inch tyres is almost a no-brainer on technical terrain if your rim width is 25mm or wider and your frame/fork have the clearance necessary! You will also benefit from increased traction for braking and cornering. For gravel roads and smoother trails where puncture resistance and control aren’t as crucial, 2-2.2 inch widths will roll a little faster.
Tyre Pressure
Speaking of lower tyre pressures, there can be a tendency among us to ride pressures that are way higher than necessary. While this can often reduce puncture risk, it sacrifices a lot of control and rolling speed on rough terrain.
Check out what pressures some of SA’s top riders are running for their weight and tyre width or use this online calculator to get you into the right ballpark.
Pressures should typically go up with increased rider weight or narrower tyre width and down with decreased rider weight or wider tyres. It takes a bit of work to find the ideal pressure for yourself but that sweet spot will deliver when you nail it. And if you’re still running tubes in your mountain bike tyres, then there is a whole world of lighter and better rolling setups waiting for you in the form of tubeless tires!
Our top marathon tyre picks for South African terrain
Ok, we all know the terrain is very different around the country and one tyre won’t necessarily suit all conditions so we’ll specify with each tyre if they are better suited to the rocky and rugged cape soils, or the smooth hardpack of KZN midlands, for example.
Maxxis Aspen
Price: R800 – R1000
Superpower: Speed!
Best spec: 2.4 WT 120TPI Maxx Speed
Weight Claimed: 760g
The Maxxis Aspen is an icon in the XC and marathon world, even more so than its sibling named the Ikon.. oddly enough! The tread is as low profile as you can get before becoming a slick tyre but it still grips surprisingly well on hardpack trails. If you don’t need extra traction to get you through the loose moments, gamble on the Aspen and feel the speed. If you can find them in the new Maxx Speed compound, definitely give that a try!
Vittoria Barzo
Price: R800 – R1000
Superpower: Versatility / wet weather
Best spec: 2.35 – 4C – XC Race
Weight Claimed: 725 g
Vittoria is so good at making tyres, they produce tyres for other brands as well as for themselves! Their 4 compound (4C) construction is unique to their tyres and offers a precise balance of traction and rolling resistance.
The Barzo XC Race is a brilliant all-rounder and also works well in wet conditions due to the generous spacing between the knobs that lets mud clear from the tyre and will serve you well in a variety of terrains if you tend to ride on mixed trails and roads.
Specialized Ground Control
Price: R1000 – R1200
Superpower: Traction
Best spec: 2.35 – GRID – T7
Weight Claimed: 870 g
Specialized has a great range of tyres from the speedy Fast Track to their chunky Butcher. They perform at the highest level and also recently underwent an overhaul of their compounds, further increasing their performance! T9 is their grippiest and T5 the hardest-wearing compound. The T7 strikes a good balance and works super well on the tread pattern of the Ground Control to offer truly impressive traction for the rolling speed that you get as well. If you enjoy some rougher trails but also like clocking big miles, say hello to your new favourite tyre!
Schwalbe Thunder Burt
Price: R1100 – R1300
Superpower: Rolling Speed
Best spec: 2.25 – Super Race – Addix Speed
Weight Claimed: 700g
The Thunder Burt is Schwalbe’s fastest mountain bike tyre. Its tread pattern is a semi-slick style where the centre knobs are notably smaller than the cornering knobs. As a result, you get great rolling speeds and still have good cornering traction when you lean the tire over well. Great as a rear tyre and also on the front if the trails are smooth or you’re doing a lot of gravel road riding.
Pirelli Scorpion XC M
Price: R800 – R1000
Superpower: Durability
Best spec: 2.4 – Pro Wall – SmartGrip
Weight Claimed: 825g
Pirelli is fairly new to the mountain bike world but they have come out swinging with a solid range of tyres and compounds. Their SmartGrip compound is a single compound that is quite resistant to tread wear. It may not be the best in loose situations but if you’re munching lots of miles, these are a good bet!
When To Get New Ones
If yours are looking worn out or are aged from too many days in the sun (or years in the garage) then a fresh set will be a big performance upgrade. This is also obviously true if your tread is heavily worn. Now slap on those fast-rolling tyres and go get those KOMs! For more details on the tech and deciding on which one is right for you, read our guide here
