Best Dirt Bike Tires (Woods, Trail, Enduro, Mud, Hard Pack)

Something that can actually make you a better rider are the tires that you put on your dirt bike. Now, don’t get me wrong… mounting a new set of even the best dirt bike tires is not going to bump you up from novice to expert, but having the right tires makes a difference.

There are tires that are made to handle just about everything you throw at them, but in order to get the best results, it’s best to dress (your bike) for the right occasion. For example:

• Do you ride mostly tracks or trails?
• Is the terrain mainly loose rocks, tacky dirt or gravel roads?

All this comes into play when picking the right tire. Because let’s face it, the best dirt bike tires for enduro races are going to be quite different than those for groomed motocross tracks.

The first thing you need to identify is the TYPE of terrain you’re mostly going to be riding in.

• Soft terrain (sand and mud)
• Intermediate (groomed tracks and nice trails)
• Hard (granite and gravel roads)

The goal is to match up what the tire is designed for with the type of riding you do.

A soft tire is generally going to provide better grip and traction on hard surfaces and in dry conditions. And the same is true for the opposite end – a hard tire will work better in soft soil.

Confused yet? Sorry.

It actually gets a little more confusing. Let’s move on.

Difference Between Soft, Intermediate, and Hard Motocross Tires

Fully understanding the differences between the tires will not only make for better riding, but it will also save you a few bucks in the long run.

Here’s the “more confusing” part. Soft terrain tires are hard. Hard terrain tires are soft.

Thankfully, intermediate terrain tires are, well, intermediate.

• Soft Terrain Tires: It’s not as much the material but the treading that that optimizes a tire for a particular type of terrain. The tread pattern of soft terrain tires features more space between knobs. This enhances the ability of the tire to scoop up and cut through soft terrain. This particular design allows soft terrain tires to have maximum traction when riding on soft soil. It’s a similar concept as a paddle tire.
• Intermediate Terrain Tires: An intermediate terrain tire is almost like a Jack-of-all-trades. For a lot of riders, this is the go-to tire because it’s made to handle all types of terrain to some degree. The tire tread is tighter and the knobs are positioned close to each other while still leaving plenty of room to scoop soil on soft terrain.Intermediate tires are mostly used when facing unknown terrain or when riding on tracks of changing terrains. That being said, intermediate tires are not always the best idea for racing since they won’t match tires that are engineered for soft or hard terrain.
• Hard Terrain Tires: Hard terrain tires are generally preferred for trail riding on mountain paths or hills. They have no problems running over potholes, rocks, sticks, and roots.The traction on hard terrain tires is achieved by the closer spacing of the knobs. This type of tires has the tightest tread pattern.

Best Tire for Enduro and Trail Riding

The best enduro tires and trail riding tires are generally hard terrain dirt bike tires.

Although you will most-likely encounter some soft soil or patches of mud or sand, hard terrain tires are durable enough to handle the change and have plenty of traction.

In addition to hooking up great, the mixture of hard and soft rubber compounds and shoulder knobs on these tires help them last longer and perform better, making them the best enduro tire to buy.

Best Tire for Hare Scrambles

Although a lot of things go into creating the perfect setup for hare scrambles, the tires are a huge component that can be a difference maker.

Most terrain on hare scrambles consists of plenty of rocks and roots, as well as interesting wooded areas. But yes, there are going to be some patches of sand or mud that you’re going to have to navigate.

That being said, intermediate and hard terrain tires are generally best suited for these cross country type of rides (probably hard terrain, even more so).

The extra durability of hard terrain tires is hard to beat.

However, I tend to stick to an intermediate terrain tire. I’ll share with you the one I’ve been running below.

Best Soft Terrain Tires

Pirelli MX32 (#1 pick)

The MX32 rear tire has a very good tread pattern designed to excel in sand and mud. The wide paddle design is highly effective at keeping the tires clean and maintaining traction on very soft soil.

But the traction that you get from the MX32 doesn’t just extend to soft ground; it also provides good control when braking which is highly important on muddy tracks. Because the knobs are rather long, their ability to dig deep is off the charts.

The narrow knob design further improves traction in the softest terrain.

Just make sure to run the recommended tire pressure or it will be susceptible to pinch flats.

The level of durability on harder terrains could be better given the slightly higher price tag, but then again – it’s a soft terrain tire.