MOJO Tech Tips: Our Top 4 Tires for Fall Riding

As the leaves start to fall and the trails turn wet, soft, and unpredictable, having the right tire becomes more than just a performance upgrade — it’s essential. Fall riding demands rubber that can claw through loam, clear mud, grip wet roots, and stay consistent through rapidly changing conditions. Whether you're charging through rain-soaked singletrack or navigating slippery off-camber hills, your tire choice will make or break your ride. After digging into the best options across the top brands in the industry, we’ve narrowed it down to our Top 4 Tires for Fall Riding based on real-world traction, durability, and overall trail confidence. And yes, we have tried each of these four. Let’s break them down!

#4 – Shinko 525 Hybrid Cheater

The Shinko 525 Cheater is a specialist tire that earns its place on this list because of its exceptional traction in low-speed, technical fall terrain. It uses a gummy rubber compound similar to trials tires, molded into a full-size motocross carcass, which makes it incredibly grippy on wet roots, rocks, and loose climbs. It’s ideal for riders who spend fall riding steep singletrack, woods, and greasy enduro terrain. However, it drops into the #4 position because that same gummy compound tends to wear quickly, and the tire can feel vague or unstable at higher speeds or in faster trail conditions. It’s an incredible performer in the right terrain, but not as versatile or durable as the higher-ranked options.

🥉 #3 – IRC M5B EVO

The IRC M5B EVO comes in at #3 as the brute-force option in the lineup. With huge, deep knobs and a soft terrain design, it’s made to plow through fall slop, dig into muddy ruts, and claw up soaked hills. If you're riding in truly bad trail conditions — post-storm, deep loam, or leaf-covered muck — the M5B is hard to beat in terms of raw traction. However, it’s a bit too much tire in less-extreme situations. The tall knobs flex more than some riders prefer, and it can feel vague at lean or under braking on firmer or faster terrain. It's less agile than the top two picks, but dominant when traction is scarce and terrain is nasty.

🥈 #2 – Maxxis Maxxcross SI

The Maxxis Maxxcross SI secures the #2 spot thanks to its incredible consistency and predictability in fall conditions. It’s one of the most confidence-inspiring tires for soft to intermediate terrain, with strong braking traction, excellent cornering grip, and durability that outperforms softer compound tires. It’s especially well-suited for riders who charge through loam, roots, and moisture without wanting to swap tires as conditions change. While it doesn’t have the pure mud-digging power of the M5B or the ultra-soft grip of the Shinko, the Maxxcross SI delivers stable, reliable traction across the full spectrum of fall terrain, from early season tackiness to cold-weather moisture.

🥇 #1 – IRC VE33S

Topping the list at #1, the IRC VE33S offers the best overall performance for fall conditions — without compromise. It hits the sweet spot between soft-terrain grip and intermediate-terrain stability. The tread design is open enough to clear mud and debris, while the carcass offers just enough flex for wet roots and ruts but remains responsive on harder, faster sections. Unlike full gummy tires, this "sticky" tire holds up well over time, making it the perfect set-it-and-forget-it tire for possibly an entire fall riding season. It might not dig as aggressively as the M5B or offer the technical stickiness of the Shinko, but it excels in more conditions, more often, and with more control. That versatility makes it the most valuable fall tire of the bunch.

More Tires for Optimal Fall Riding (Wet, Mud, Soft, Loam, Mixed Terrain)