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MTB tyres and inner tubes

The choice starts with the ground. Coarse, widely spaced knobs grip in soft ground and mud; finer, more closely spaced knobs roll faster and quieter on hard ground.

Rubber compound

Soft rubber grips better and wears faster; hard rubber lasts longer and slips sooner. Many tyres combine both: harder in the middle for rolling resistance, softer on the shoulders for cornering.

Tubeless

More common off-road than on the road, because you can ride with low pressure without risking pinch flats. Sealant closes small holes by itself on the way.

Front and rear tyres can be different. More grip at the front and less rolling resistance at the rear is a common split.