The best winter eMTB tyres need to answer two different UK problems. Wet mud, roots and cold rock call for suitable tread and rubber; hard ice calls for studs. A tyre that works well in soft ground does not become a safe ice tyre simply because the temperature falls, and snow can conceal both surfaces on the same ride.
Our overall choice for mixed winter trails is the Schwalbe Magic Mary Radial Gravity Pro. The specialist Ice Spiker Pro serves a different purpose when hard ice is a regular feature of your routes. The ten options below cover those extremes alongside supported rear tyres, a mixed-wheel option and open-tread choices for particularly soft ground.
For a ride dominated by deep slop, see our dedicated eMTB mud tyres guide. If your usual routes stay firmer, the trail tyre guide covers a broader year-round brief. We may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page.
Best winter eMTB tyres: the shortlist
Best overall: Schwalbe Magic Mary Radial Gravity Pro — £66.99 (RRP £83.99)
Bontrager G-Spike Team Issue — 29 × 2.40 — £41.99 (RRP £69.99)
Maxxis Shorty Gen 2 MaxxTerra EXO/TR — 29 × 2.40 — £42.99 (RRP £64.99)
Hutchinson Griffus Racing Lab 2×66 — 29 × 2.40 — £55.99 (RRP £76.99)
Continental Kryptotal-FR Enduro Soft — 29 × 2.40 — £59.24 (RRP £78.99)
Continental Argotal Enduro SuperSoft — 29 × 2.40 — £59.99 (RRP £79.99)
Pirelli Scorpion E-MTB S — 29 × 2.60 — £59.99 (RRP £74.99)
Michelin Wild Enduro MS Racing Line — 27.5 × 2.40 — £62.99 (RRP £79.99)
Vittoria Mota Race Enduro — 29 × 2.40 — £74.99
Schwalbe Ice Spiker Pro RaceGuard — 29 × 2.25 — £81 (RRP £87)
The best winter eMTB tyres in detail
Schwalbe Magic Mary Radial Gravity Pro — 29 × 2.50
Best winter eMTB tyre overall
£66.99 (RRP £83.99)
The Magic Mary Radial Gravity Pro is our overall choice for mixed UK winter trails. Its open tread and pronounced shoulders suit mud, roots and soft ground, while the Addix Ultra Soft compound prioritises grip over fast rolling. This 29 × 2.50in version combines the radial casing with Schwalbe’s E-50 marking and a substantial 1340g claimed weight.
It is a useful starting point among the best winter eMTB tyres when rides mix natural loam with rock and trail-centre surfaces. The radial construction is designed to let the tread conform readily to the ground, but setup still matters: follow the tyre and rim pressure limits and leave adequate clearance. The soft compound and gravity casing bring drag, and this remains an unstudded tyre rather than an answer to polished ice.
Pros
Excellent mixed-winter grip
Supportive eMTB-ready casing
Predictable on roots and rock
Cons
Heavy and slow compared with trail tyres
Specifications
Size: 29 × 2.50in / 63-622
Compound: Addix Ultra Soft
Casing: Radial Gravity Pro
Tubeless: TLR
E-bike marking: E-50
Claimed weight: 1340g
Bontrager G-Spike Team Issue — 29 × 2.40
For deep-mud downhill courses
£41.99 (RRP £69.99)
The G-Spike Team Issue is a downhill mud tyre with tall rubber blocks, not a metal-studded ice tyre. Its 42a compound and dual-ply casing with an added butyl layer put penetration and support ahead of low weight. The 29 × 2.40in wire-bead version has a claimed weight of 1400g.
It belongs in the best winter eMTB tyres shortlist for riders tackling exceptionally soft downhill terrain, where a less aggressive pattern can struggle to reach firm ground. The rubber spikes are trimmable for different course conditions, but that is a specialist adjustment rather than a routine first step. It is listed as a clincher, so do not assume tubeless compatibility without explicit tyre-and-rim approval.
Pros
Very open mud tread
Supportive dual-ply casing
Specialist trimmable rubber spikes
Cons
Heavy and slow away from soft downhill terrain
No metal studs for ice
Specifications
Size: 29 × 2.40in / 58-622
Compound: 42a
Casing: 60 TPI Downhill Strength, dual-ply
Bead/type: Wire clincher
Claimed weight: 1400g
Metal studs: None
Maxxis Shorty Gen 2 MaxxTerra EXO/TR — 29 × 2.40
Best value mud front
£42.99 (RRP £64.99)
The Shorty Gen 2 is a proven UK-winter front pattern: tall, well-spaced blocks reach through loose surface mud and clear rather than building a smooth clay ring. This MaxxTerra EXO/TR version is lighter and faster than a MaxxGrip downhill casing, making it easier to justify on an eMTB that still pedals long distances.
The MaxxTerra version is a more general trail choice than the softer MaxxGrip gravity alternatives. Pair it with a less aggressive rear tyre if your rides involve long climbs and only the descents are muddy. The lighter EXO casing needs sensible pressure and rim-strike margins under an eMTB; choose a stronger casing if your terrain regularly overwhelms trail tyres.
Pros
Excellent mud clearance
Strong current price
Reasonable rolling speed
Cons
Lighter casing than enduro/gravity versions
Specifications
Size: 29 x 2.4in WT
Compound: 3C MaxxTerra
Casing: EXO
Tubeless: Tubeless Ready
Hutchinson Griffus Racing Lab 2×66 — 29 × 2.40
Best mixed-winter rear option
£55.99 (RRP £76.99)
The Griffus 2.4 is less of a mud spike and more of a robust mixed-condition enduro tyre. Its tri-compound tread keeps a faster centre beneath climbing torque while softer shoulders add cornering security, and the 66TPI Hardskin casing provides useful cut protection.
This reinforced 2×66 version has a claimed weight of 1280g and works as a supported rear option behind a more aggressive front. Among the best winter eMTB tyres, its role is balancing grip and rolling on mixed routes. Sticky clay can still overwhelm a less open tread, and the Griffus is not intended for hard ice.
Pros
Good rear-tyre balance
Strong casing
Excellent current discount
Cons
Not a deep-mud or ice specialist
Specifications
Size: 29 × 2.40in
Casing: 2 × 66 TPI, Hardskin
Compound: Race Ripost Gravity tri-compound
Tubeless: Ready
Claimed weight: 1280g
Continental Kryptotal-FR Enduro Soft — 29 × 2.40
For winter routes with firmer trail-centre sections
£59.24 (RRP £78.99)
The front-specific Kryptotal balances winter grip with a less specialised tread than a dedicated mud spike. Its supported blocks suit mixed surfaces, while the Soft compound and Enduro casing give it a useful brief for trail-centre routes that remain largely firm beneath the rain. The selected version is 29 × 2.40in.
This is one of the best winter eMTB tyres for riders whose local loops alternate between loose corners, rock and built trail. It does not clear deep clay as readily as the most open patterns here, but that compromise can be worthwhile on a varied day out. Keep the FR front and RE rear versions distinct when ordering; neither becomes an ice tyre because it uses a soft compound.
Pros
Useful mixed-terrain front pattern
Supported Enduro casing
Less specialised than a mud spike
Cons
Not the first choice for deep clay or ice
Specifications
Size: 29 × 2.40in
Position: Front, FR
Compound: Soft
Casing: Enduro
Tubeless: Ready
Continental Argotal Enduro SuperSoft — 29 × 2.40
Best for loose natural terrain
£59.99 (RRP £79.99)
Continental’s Argotal is built around an open pattern for loose surfaces rather than hardpack speed. In Enduro casing with SuperSoft rubber, it gives the front wheel a supported base and a slow-rebound contact surface that suits steep, wet natural trails.
The pronounced shoulders support loaded turns while the open centre leaves room for soil to clear. Among the best winter eMTB tyres, it is a descending-focused alternative for loose natural ground. SuperSoft rubber brings rolling resistance and wear on hard surfaces, and it remains unsuitable as a substitute for studs on hard ice.
Pros
Excellent loose-ground bite
Supportive enduro casing
Strong off-camber control
Cons
Slow and wear-prone on hard surfaces
Specifications
Size: 29 × 2.40in / 60-622
Compound: SuperSoft
Casing: Enduro with Apex protection
Tubeless: Ready
Pirelli Scorpion E-MTB S — 29 × 2.60
Best eMTB-specific winter tyre
£59.99 (RRP £74.99)
Pirelli builds the Scorpion E-MTB S around the extra casing stability and puncture support that powerful, heavy bikes demand. HyperWALL reinforces the bead and sidewall zone, while SmartGRIP Gravity rubber is tuned for consistent adhesion rather than a hard, fast centre strip.
The 29 × 2.60in volume suits riders who have the clearance for a wide tyre, with enough space left for mud. Its tall, open tread can work at the front or where steep soft climbs demand rear traction. Among the best winter eMTB tyres, it is a clear eMTB-specific option, but neither the width nor the casing should be assumed to fit a frame designed around narrower rubber.
Pros
Purpose-built eMTB support
Large winter footprint
Strong bead and sidewall protection
Cons
Wide casing will not fit every frame
Specifications
Size: 29 x 2.6in
Compound: SmartGRIP Gravity
Casing: HyperWALL eMTB
Tubeless: Tubeless Ready
Michelin Wild Enduro MS Racing Line — 27.5 × 2.40
For the smaller wheel on a mixed-wheel eMTB
£62.99 (RRP £79.99)
The Wild Enduro MS Racing Line covers mixed and soft terrain with Michelin’s Magi-X compound and a substantial two-ply casing. This listing is the 27.5 × 2.40in version, making it relevant to the smaller rear wheel on many mixed-wheel eMTBs. Michelin lists the pattern for front or rear use, so it can also suit a compatible 27.5in front wheel.
Its reinforced construction is the attraction when winter routes combine mud with sharp rock and hard compressions. It is a more demanding tyre to pedal than a light trail casing, so choose it for the support your terrain requires rather than the Racing Line name alone. Among the best winter eMTB tyres, it fills a useful smaller-wheel role without implying that any rubber compound is dependable on sheet ice.
Pros
Reinforced casing for rough terrain
Useful mixed-wheel rear size
Front or rear fitting
Cons
Heavy compared with a light trail tyre
Specifications
Selected size: 27.5 × 2.40in / 61-584
Compound: Magi-X
Casing: Racing Line, 2 × 55 TPI
Use: Front or rear; mixed/soft terrain
Tubeless: Ready
Claimed weight: 1200g
Vittoria Mota Race Enduro — 29 × 2.40
Best race-ready mud tyre
£74.99
Vittoria’s Mota uses a very open, directional tread with deep braking edges and widely separated shoulders. The Race formulation combines Graphene and Silica compounds to balance wet adhesion, damping and block support, while the 60TPI enduro casing resists folding under a heavy bike.
The 29 × 2.40in version is the option priced here, with a claimed weight of 1180g. It suits demanding soft-ground riding when an open pattern is worth the extra drag. For riders comparing the best winter eMTB tyres for steep natural trails, the Mota is a purposeful choice; for long road links and gentle hardpack it is more tyre than necessary.
Pros
Outstanding mud-clearing tread
Supportive race casing
Two useful widths
Cons
Heavy and slow for general trail use
Specifications
Selected size: 29 × 2.40in / 60-622
Casing: 60 TPI Race Enduro
Compound: 1C Race Graphene + Silica
Tubeless: Ready
Claimed weight: 1180g
Schwalbe Ice Spiker Pro RaceGuard — 29 × 2.25
Best specialist option for hard ice
£81 (RRP £87)
The Ice Spiker Pro is the specialist in this selection of the best winter eMTB tyres. Metal studs provide mechanical purchase on frozen surfaces where ordinary rubber knobs cannot offer the same grip. The selected tyre is the folding RaceGuard 29 × 2.25in version; confirm the exact casing and fit before treating another Ice Spiker listing as equivalent.
Choose it when persistent ice is a regular feature of your routes, rather than for a winter dominated by soft mud. Follow Schwalbe’s running-in guidance of around 40km on asphalt without hard acceleration or braking, then continue to ride cautiously on frozen surfaces. Studs do not make deep snow, hidden obstacles or icy descents predictable, and the noise and rolling resistance are noticeable on bare roads.
Pros
Studs address hard ice directly
Modern 29in fitment
Foldable RaceGuard construction
Cons
Specialist choice with noticeable road noise
Check clearance and exact version carefully
Specifications
Selected size: 29 × 2.25in
Construction: Folding, RaceGuard
Studs: Tungsten-carbide cores
Use: Frozen surfaces and hard ice
Running-in: Follow Schwalbe’s 40km guidance
How to choose the best winter eMTB tyres
Start with the surface you ride most often. Tall, widely spaced rubber knobs can penetrate soft soil and leave room for mud to clear, while a less extreme rear tread can reduce drag on firmer links. Hard, polished ice is a different problem: studs offer mechanical purchase, but even a studded setup demands reduced speed and cautious braking. Walking or changing the route remains the right decision when conditions exceed your grip or visibility.
Check the wheel diameter, ETRTO size, permitted rim width and frame clearance before choosing a casing. Leave room for mud as well as the tyre itself. A 29 × 2.60in tyre is not automatically a suitable replacement for a 2.40in model, and a mixed-wheel bike may need different diameters front and rear. Match casing support to bike load, terrain and riding style rather than lowering pressure until the tyre feels soft.
For tubeless use, both the exact tyre and rim must be approved for it. Use a compatible sealant within its temperature limits, and inspect the system regularly; cold-weather punctures are an inconvenient time to discover a dry casing. Our tubeless sealant guide explains the available approaches.
Best winter eMTB tyres: common questions
Do I need studs for every UK winter ride?
No. Many UK winter rides are mainly wet and muddy, where suitable tread, casing and compound are more useful. Studs are a specialist choice for persistent frozen surfaces. Never assume an unstudded mud tyre will grip a shaded patch of black ice.
Should I change the front or rear tyre first?
The front tyre is often the first place to improve steering confidence, but the rear still needs adequate braking and climbing traction. Do not pair a specialist front tyre with an unsuitable rear simply to reduce rolling resistance. On hard ice, consider the grip requirements of both wheels together.
Can I ride studded tyres straight from the packet?
Follow the manufacturer’s running-in instructions before relying on the studs. Schwalbe advises a steady period on asphalt without strong acceleration or braking. Inspect the tyres afterwards and continue to manage speed carefully: studs improve purchase, not judgement or visibility.
Set pressure for the actual casing and conditions
Use the tyre and rim manufacturers’ guidance as your starting point, then make small, controlled adjustments with the same gauge. Check the bike outside before riding rather than relying on how a tyre felt in a warm room. A different width, casing or radial construction can need a different setup, so do not transfer a familiar pressure blindly to a new tyre. Keep enough support to avoid rim strikes and instability.
Allow for supplier dispatch when ordering
The selected Pirelli Scorpion E-MTB S, Vittoria Mota and Schwalbe Ice Spiker Pro options are available to order from supplier stock. Check the retailer’s dispatch estimate if you need them for a particular ride. The Argotal and Michelin Wild Enduro MS selected versions also carry limited-stock notices, so confirm the exact size and version at checkout.
Verdict: the best winter eMTB tyres for UK conditions
The Magic Mary Radial Gravity Pro is our overall mixed-trail choice, with the Shorty and Argotal serving softer ground and the Griffus offering a supported rear option. The Ice Spiker Pro stands apart for hard ice. Choose the best winter eMTB tyres around the actual surface and the bike’s fit requirements, then leave enough margin for conditions to change during the ride.