Continental

X-King ProTection Tire - 26in

Trying to nail that perfect balance between speed, rolling resistance, and corner-hugging grip? It can be like looking for a tiny unicorn-shaped needle in a rubbery haystack, or it can be as easy as slapping on the Continental X-King ProTection Tire. A grippy but fast shoe for enduro-oriented riders, the X-King blends closely spaced and fast-rolling center knobs with blockier, wider edge knobs to balance speedy rolling and bombproof grip on firm, dry terrain.

Enduro takes a toll on your tires, too, but the X-King boasts Continental's ProTection casing, which basically employs an extra ply to the tire, protecting it against cuts, tears, and gashes when you're steamrolling down rough and rocky terrain. This extra protection is even more essential because the X-King is set up to be run tubeless, which can make punctures a slightly bigger deal. Luckily, the Black Chili rubber compound is strong on its own, and Continental also claims it reduces rolling resistance, increases grip, and even improves tread life, so you'll be able to ride the X-King long after your friends have changed out their tires.