MTB Tire Guide

Sources & methodology

Short answer: measurements come from third-party test-rig tests and are normalized to a 1–10 scale per test series; grip remains an editorial assessment from field tests.

We don't invent values. Hard numbers come from third-party test-rig tests, grip assessments from field tests – each summarized in our own words with a link to the source. Good to know: we don't operate our own test laboratory – all measurements come from published third-party lab tests, which we evaluate per test series and always link.

Test-rig sources

Bicycle Rolling Resistance – MTB-Messreihe

Lab
NL

Einzelreifen auf dem Rollenprüfstand, 28,8 km/h, 42,5 kg Radlast, Rollwiderstand bei niedrigem Luftdruck; Nassgrip als Reibwert x 100 auf Hartbelag (kein Off-Road-Grip); Pannenschutz-Punktzahl aus Durchstichkraft und Gummidicke; Breite gemessen auf 17,8-mm-Felge bei 2,4 bar

View source

BIKE Magazin – Labortest (Schwalbe-Labor)

Lab
DE

Rollwiderstand: 20 km/h, 50 kg Radlast, 1,7 bar; Gewicht und Reifenbreite im Labor gemessen

View source

ENDURO Mountainbike Magazine – Labortest 64 Reifen

Lab
DE

Rollwiderstand auf dem Prüfstand in Watt, Durchschlagschutz in mm bis zum Felgenkontakt, Durchstichfestigkeit in Newton (1,5-mm-Stumpf, 5-mm-Meißel Lauffläche und Flanke), jeweils 29-Zoll-Reifen

View source

Field and grip sources

BIKE Magazin / MountainBIKE – Reifentests

Grip- und Praxiseinschätzungen

View source

Cycletyres – Testübersichten

Ergänzende Marktübersicht

View source

E-MOUNTAINBIKE Magazine – Reifentest

E-MTB-Sicht, Verschleiß, Speed-Index

View source

ENDURO Mountainbike Magazine – Der beste MTB-Reifen im Test

Praxiseinschätzungen und aktuelle Modellstände

View source

MTB-News.de – Reifentests und Dauertests

Verschleiß und Alltagstauglichkeit

View source

How we convert measurements

  • Rolling resistance: Measured watts are normalized to a 1–10 scale within the same test series. Fewer watts means a higher score.
  • Puncture protection: Puncture travel in millimetres and pierce force in newtons are weighted together and also normalized within the test series.
  • Grip: Not objectively measurable. Grip values remain editorial assessments from field tests; the wet-grip measurement from a drum on hard surface is explicitly not off-road grip.
  • Important: Test rigs work with different speeds, loads and pressures. Don't compare absolute values from different sources directly against each other – rankings always apply within one test series.
  • Without data basis: No number. Missing values stay empty instead of being estimated.

Suggest a source

Know a lab test or review we do not cover yet? Send us the link – we check every submission before any data goes live.

  • Transparent method: rig, test pressure and conditions are described.
  • Published numbers, not just ride impressions.
  • Publicly reachable and permanently linkable.
  • Ideally 2020 or newer so the values match current tires.
Missing a source? Suggest it.