26in wheels have faded into near obscurity on mountain bikes over the past decade, with most new bikes now using 29in or 27.5in wheels – or sometimes a mix of both.
However, there are plenty of riders still flying the flag for mountain biking's original wheel size, with the #26aintdead crowd still ripping around trail centres and pump tracks.
While almost all bike manufacturers have forgotten about the poor old 26in wheel, there are still plenty of tyre options for those who choose to run them.
In this list, we’ve focused on traditional mountain bike treads instead of dirt jump, urban, touring, or gravel bike conversion tyres. We've reviewed the majority of the tyres in this list in a larger wheel size, but we've included others we're confident will be good too.
With that said, here are seven 26in mountain bike tyres you can still buy – that are actually worth talking about.
- Bike tyre sizes explained: MTB, gravel, hybrid and road rubber demystified
- Best mountain bike tyres in 2025: top-rated tyres for XC, downcountry, trail and enduro riding
7 of the best 26in mountain bike tyres you can still buy
Schwalbe Racing Ray Addix Speed
SQUIRREL_TEXT_13076276
- £51.99 / $65 / €58.99
The Racing Ray is a fast-rolling XC tyre that has great straight-line speed and good cornering traction. It has a front-specific tread pattern and is designed to be used with a Racing Ralph on the rear.
It's a great all-arounder, suited to dry or damp conditions and provides plenty of confidence on a variety of surfaces.
Schwalbe offers the Racing Ray in a single 2.25in option for 26in wheels. That's pretty old-school, but most XC bikes from the 26in era will be limited to tyres around that size.
- Read our review: Schwalbe Racing Ray Addix Speed tyre review
SQUIRREL_13076276
Schwalbe Racing Ralph Evo TLE
SQUIRREL_TEXT_13076274
- £51.99 / $65 / €58.99
The Racing Ralph is designed for cross-country racing and is best used as a rear tyre, although it can be used at the front in dry conditions.
It has class-leading traction and control, with a fast-rolling nature.
The low-profile tread is designed to reduce weight and keep rolling resistance as low as possible.
It's versatile in all conditions, providing grip for everyday riding and big-distance epics.
Like the Racing Ray, the Racing Ralph is only available in a 2.25in width.
- Read our review: Schwalbe Racing Ralph Evo TLE tyre review
SQUIRREL_13076274
Schwalbe Hans Dampf SuperGravity ADDIX Soft
SQUIRREL_TEXT_13083230
- £59.99 / $98.99 / €84.99 / AU$99.99
The Hans Dampf is an enduro tyre best suited to rocky and hardpack trails.
We found the tyre had great straight-line speed and provided good damping over rock gardens.
It has bulky side knobs, which enable you to trust the tyre when leaning it over, finding good grip on a variety of hard terrain.
We wouldn't suggest it if you ride a lot of soft, muddy trails because the tread doesn't cut as deep as others.
Schwalbe only offers the 26in Hans Dampf in a 2.35in width, which isn't far off the 2.4in many riders use on modern 27.5in and 29in bikes.
- Read our review: Schwalbe Hans Dampf SuperGravity ADDIX Soft tyre review
SQUIRREL_13083230
WTB Vigilante 2.3
SQUIRREL_TEXT_13092621
- £39.99 / $36.95
WTB's Vigilante 2.3 is an aggressive trail and enduro tyre, with prominent lugs that should dig into any terrain, wet or dry, and provide support at high speeds.
It looks to offer great value at £39.99 / $36.95, which is a lot cheaper than others on this list.
We've tested the brand's Tough/High Grip version and found the treat held a confident line on a variety of terrain.
As the name suggests, the 26in Vigilante 2.3 is only available in a 2.3in width. This is around the usual width that trail-focused bikes of the 26in era run.
Schwalbe Magic Mary SuperGravity ADDIX Soft
SQUIRREL_TEXT_13099608
- £65 / $79.49 / €84.99 / AU$99.99
The Magic Mary is an enduro tyre designed to be used on the front. It has extraordinary traction, with large knobs digging into dirt, no matter how soft it is.
While it's not as good as a dedicated mud tyre, the Magic Mary has good versatility, which means you can leave it on all-year round.
Its large knobs give it great braking traction and inspire plenty of confidence for cornering.
Like the Hans Dampf, the 26in Magic Mary only comes in a 2.35in width. However, this should see it fit the majority of older gravity-focused bikes.
- Read our review: Schwalbe Magic Mary SuperGravity ADDIX Soft tyre review
SQUIRREL_13099608
Continental Race King BlackChili ProTection
SQUIRREL_TEXT_13076280
- £60 / $76 / €69.95
Continental’s Race King is an extremely light cross-country tyre, even with the brand's ProTection sidewall reinforcement.
The tyre is best for dry and hardpack trails when we tested them, with its small and tightly packed knobs suffering in the wet.
It's supple over roots and rocks and it was easy to pull over the rim.
Continental offers the 26in Race King in 2in and 2.2in widths, meaning you should be able to spec the tyre to your preferences.
- Read our review: Continental Race King BlackChili ProTection tyre review
SQUIRREL_13076280
Maxxis Minion DHF EXO+ TR 3C MaxxTerra
SQUIRREL_TEXT_13076204
- £75 / $79 / €93.49
Maxxis' Minion DHF has long been a versatile beacon of its gravity range, with a tread pattern designed for cornering prowess and rolling speed.
The broad side knobs flange outwards, increasing cornering capabilities and predictability.
The Minion DHF offers excellent grip on a variety of terrain, although it really shines on hardpack.
Maxxis offers the 26in Minion DHF in 2.3in, 2.35in and 2.5in widths, meaning they should suit a variety of bikes.
- Read our review: Maxxis Minion DHF EXO+ TR 3C MaxxTerra review
SQUIRREL_13076204
Maxxis Minion DHR II 3C MaxxGrip DD
SQUIRREL_TEXT_13095982
- £69.99 / $95.49 / €87.49
Maxxis' Minion DHR II is another gravity-inspired design with great recognition for grip.
We were impressed by its ride feel and ample grip in almost all conditions, and its assured feel under braking.
The tyre doesn't shed mud the best, with the large side lugs digging in deep to find traction.
While the tyre is designed for the rear, many people use it on the front and rear.
The 26in Minion DHR II is available in 2.3in and 2.4in widths.
- Read our review: Maxxis Minion DHR II 3C MaxxGrip tyre review
SQUIRREL_13095982
What to consider when buying 26in mountain bike tyres
Tubeless
Tubeless tyre technology launched on 26in wheels, so just because you're not using the most up-to-date wheel size it doesn't mean you can't tap into the self-healing nature of a tubeless setup.
There are some early tubeless systems, such a Mavic's UST rims, that cause compatibility issues, so be careful to find the right tyre and rim combination for anything with proprietary technology.
Width
It’s important to note that if you are looking for tyres for an older mountain bike, you may be tempted to pick a larger width to keep up with industry trends. However, older rims are much narrower than those on the current crop of mountain bike wheels, which may result in a sub-optimal tyre profile.
If you're buying new old stock of tyres, which might be the case because 26in tyres are produced in fewer numbers these days, you might want to be wary of their age – rubber deteriorates over time.
