[Closed] Best 2.6 mountain bike tires

UK is a big place, trail surface wise. What works for me in SW Scotland won't be as good for someone in the Malverns, or the Angus glens.

Where are you based?.

I'm in Edinburgh so mostly do xc and trails in the Pentland Hills and go to Glentress trail centre.

I've got a hardtail that came with Nobby Nics. Most reviews about these say they are not good in wet, I've had a couple of slides in mud so far. So considering something else.

Allrounder? Forekaster.

Not the fattest 2.6, mind. More like 2.45.

There'll never be a good Nobby Nic, it's one of the few certainties in biking.

I'm really liking the Hillbilly but it's a bastard of a thing to pedal around, they might as well have made it square.

Spesh Buthcer in 2.6 is a pretty good all round tyre. Not a massive 2.6, but plenty of volume.

hand dampf i reckon for the best do it all rubber in soft

I think the best 2.6 tyre probably measures 2.4-2.5”! I like the Hillbilly up front a lot but it’s a bit excessive for trail centres and XC. I had the Butcher 2.6 on the back and have just swapped it for an Eliminator 2.3 which’s isn’t much narrower, just smaller volume, and feels the better for it!

I like the Butchers on mine, especially as they were half price in the sale.

Cheers for all the replies. I had looked at a hans damf speedgrip on the rear and a magic Mary soft on the front but can't seem to find them in the right options anywhere.

The speshilized look like a good option, seem good value, fair bit cheaper than the Shwalbes.

If you’re looking for 29” I have an unused Butcher 2.6!

I have that exact Schwalbe combo on my ebike and it's really good, I have the Apex versions. Got one of them from Rose bikes from memory, can't remember on the other but both were under £45 each

No a fan of the butcher, it's not very good at anything in particular. As above, there's not msnytyres that actually come up to 2.6.

Minion DHF is a safe bet.

How about High Roller front, to give some grip, and something faster rolling on the back like a forekaster or Rekon?

I've been using a Bontrager SE5 2.6 recently, which replaced a Butcher. Better in every way. Grippier, tougher sidewall, rolls faster. Good for everything up to full-on mud.

Forekaster front, Minion SS back, is pretty lively

Hr2 3c on the front and Dhr2 dual compound on the rear, if they come in 2.6?

The Mary is still the best all rounder I've tried, but only ever see the 2.35

Bontrager SE4 2.6 on my hardtail. Loving them for everything except tarmac

I'm running DHF 2.6 3C front, Rekon 2.6 EXO rear. Only a few rides in and loving them so far on trail centre hardpack and local woodsy trails. Will probably swap the Rekon for a Forekaster when the seasons change and it gets muddy.

I'm tempted to go the specialized route. They have a sale on so can get a pair of tires for less than a single Shwalbe, Maxxis or Bot. Seems hard to find any of the most popular choices in 2.6 too.

Thanks for the offer but Ive got a 27.5....

Magic Mary would be good for you.

Cheap Hans Dampf 2.6

https://www.rosebikes.co.uk/schwalbe-hans-dampf-evolution-addix-speedgrip-apex-mtb-tyre-2675854?product_shape=black&article_size=27%2C5x2%2C6

MM a few quid more, not in stock by the look of it though

https://www.rosebikes.co.uk/schwalbe-magic-mary-evolution-addix-soft-apex-mtb-tyre-2675857?product_shape=black&article_size=27%2C5x2%2C6

I found some Minnions on Amazon that I was talking myself into buying but now you found those Shwalbes.....

Hillbilly on the front of my Ebike worked well around Glentress a couple of months back. It comes up at 2.4 on 27mm rims though.

Who's ridden the 2.6in Mary and what's the verdict? Should be a girthy bastard going off other Schwalbe tyres I have known.

And do they fit fine in a boost Lyrik with mudguard?

I've taken the plunge and ordered the schwalbes. The MM is rated highly on MBR...

https://www.mbr.co.uk/reviews/tyres/schwalbe-magic-mary-review

That's a good review actually, ta.

This group review is helpful too...

https://www.mbr.co.uk/news/product_news/best-mountain-bike-tyres-323130

Who’s ridden the 2.6in Mary and what’s the verdict? Should be a girthy bastard going off other Schwalbe tyres I have known.

2.6 soft here, in boost pike, with mudguard too. Prob comes up 2.5, it's a beast of a tyre in the mud n loose stuff.

I’ve got a 2.6 MM on my s150. Boost pike. 29er. It’s big and grippy. Enough mud clearance in the fork. Currently in Verbier and it’s doing the job nicely. It’s a big tyre and not the fastest rolling, but very confidence inspiring. 2.6 HD on the back.

I’m running a 2.6 Magic Mary Orange
and Hans Dampf2 blue

On DT Swiss XM521s with 35mm inner width

They are great - plenty of grip

Who’s ridden the 2.6in Mary and what’s the verdict? Should be a girthy bastard going off other Schwalbe tyres I have known.

And do they fit fine in a boost Lyrik with mudguard?

I had a pair of the supersoft DH casing ones on my Kenevo.
Took them off as even on the Ebike they seemed draggy.😵
Fit in a Lyrik with mudhugger fine though.

Might as well sling one in the basket when I get a new rear tyre then, ta

MM orange and HD blue 2.6 Apex here on an ebike. Mary has been superb, put a DHF back on the front when it dried out a few weeks back. Then it rained and I lost the front down a muddy chute last week, hit a tree and broke my Exposure bracket so that was £25 gone....Mary is going back on and prob staying on

HD has been really good too, fast rolling and good grip. Have holed the belt a few times but there are some really sharp bits of flint round here and at least one would have sealed if I hadn't let the sealant dry out....
Just got a Michelin E-wild for the rear because they are cheap and supposed to have a lot of grip and also roll well. But given the gaudy graphics and boat anchor weight I'm sort of wishing I'd just got another cheap HD from Rose

ive got the 29 2.6 mary in orange. tbh its so gripy im still not using it properly.

hard work comming from a butcher tho (which is now on the back)