Schwalbe Wicked Will

It sits right in the sweet spot between the two. While it’s fast enough for cross-country racing, the aggressive side knobs provide the extra cornering confidence you need for technical trail riding.

The Super Race casing is designed to be supple and lightweight, which helps the tire conform to the ground for better traction. It prioritizes speed and efficiency, making it feel very lively and responsive, though it is less robust than Schwalbe's heavier-duty casings.

While it is designed as a tubeless-ready tire, you can certainly run it with an inner tube if you prefer. However, running it tubeless is highly recommended to take full advantage of the lower pressures and self-sealing benefits.

The Addix SpeedGrip compound is a versatile all-rounder. It offers excellent grip on hardpack and dry trails, and while it handles damp conditions well, it isn't a dedicated mud tire.

Most modern cross-country and trail frames have clearance for 2.4-inch tires, but you should check your frame's specific tire clearance specifications to ensure there is enough room for mud and debris.

The center tread is optimized for speed, so it won't bite into loose dirt quite as aggressively as a dedicated downhill tire. However, the transition to the side knobs provides enough predictable braking support for most trail and XC riding scenarios.