Tyred and Tested!

Even to a self-confessed tyre geek, the array of acronyms, abbreviations and hieroglyphics on tyre sidewalls can be downright baffling: TR, TCS, TRSR, Addix, 60 vs 120TPI, 40a, 42a or 60a, Dual compound, 3C and so on.

Fortunately, it’s all pretty straightforward when broken down and there are three main factors to take into consideration when looking for a tyre – the casing, the compound, and the tread pattern.

Casing

The casing is ultimately what holds the tyre together. A tightly woven fabric wraps around the bead and overlaps under the tread. A higher thread count (TPI) makes for more densely woven casing that makes the tyre more supple, but ultimately how thick the casing is will determine how durable the tyre is overall. Most trail tyres use a single or 1.5 ply casing, downhill tyres are dual ply, and in some extreme cases (pun only mildly intended), manufacturers spec triple ply tyres for maximum protection against rock strikes. Most manufacturers also offer additional layers of sidewall protection on some models, to prevent both pinch punctures and slashes to the sidewalls from passing rocks, and these are usually strategically placed to provide maximum protection for minimal weight gain. As for tubeless compatibility, all the tyres on test claim to be tubeless ready (meaning they’re designed to work with the addition of sealant), but they went up with various degrees of difficulty. Some popped up onto the rim with ease, while others refused to play ball even after resorting to putting a tube in.