Raised on Comp IIIs, I’ve always thought BMX look best on a knobbly tyre. But the options these days are very slim. From what I see there are really just two modern options readily available; S&M Mainlines and Odyssey Aitken Knobbys.
(Fly Ligeras are very hard to come by. Maxis Holy Rollers are still available but they’re showing their age with PSI of 60.)
Am I missing any?
I’m currently hoarding Fly Sergio’s..
by _GoinOutWest_
4 Comments
You’ve basically got the main options. United, Relic, and Fit FAF are all semi-knobby tires.
There are also a ton of 20″ MTB options nowadays, but you need to be careful with fork clearance as even 2.4 XC tires often don’t clear a BMX fork (specifically I tested a Kenda Booster 2.4 and it rubbed bad.)
I’m a big fan of the Ligeras, and I wish Maxxis would do a 2.3 or 2.4 holy roller tread on the grifter casing to modernize that tire, but the wire bead 2.2 is still decent.
https://preview.redd.it/qybc6xpskfuh1.png?width=532&format=png&auto=webp&s=61352f915ec9bfa8bf04d698eaf76ede05fca490
That’s pretty much your lot. There’s a few multi surface patterns that the mainline also falls into a bit, so relic flat out, primo v-monster, united indirect, fit faf in the 2.25″ version. Realistically heavier treaded tyres have fallen from use because there’s no massive benefit to them. For transition and trails most are using a threaded yet not heavily knobbly tyre these days.
Fly haven’t got any tyres in production currently it’s worth noting regardless what their website is saying….
I had a relic flat out on my front wheel at some point and really liked it, and I generally prefer slicker tires. I think if I had to get new tires I’d consider going back to it.
I’ve got the Aitken knobbies. They’re good in the loose but pretty slow for anything else. Even semi hard pack dirt you can really tell the difference. You’re just working harder for the look. I think I’m gonna do the regular Aitken next. Maybe next spring.
Hate to say it but there’s way more options if you open up to the non primary bmx brand names. YunSCM seems like they have every style and size you could ever think of. Probably don’t last as long though. My kid does enough skids to wear through any tire so cheap ones make sense. I’ve put enough of them on to say they aren’t bad tires overall.