Buying guide · 9 min
Which BMX tyres to buy for the way you ride
Grip, cushion and speed: which tyre suits the way you ride in street, park, dirt or racing, and who each one is perfect for.
Published · Updated
Quick answer: For street and park, pick a wide, smooth tyre: the Maxxis Grifter (20 x 2.10") is the do-it-all classic, the KHE MAC2+ (20 x 2.30") is one of the lightest wire-bead tyres and the KHE Acme (20 x 2.40") is the fattest for cushioning jumps. For dirt and pump tracks, look for knobs, like the Kenda Amrak (20 x 2.20"). And for racing on paved tracks, a narrow, fast tyre like the Maxxis Torch (20 x 1.75"). Before buying, check your wheel diameter and how much width your frame and fork can take.
Only one part of your BMX touches the ground, and that's the tyres. Everything you feel when you ride goes through them: the grip as you carve hard into the bowl, the cushion that saves your knees on landing, the speed you pick up in two pedal strokes and the confidence to go for that jump you've been eyeing for weeks. That's why new tyres are one of the upgrades you'll feel most: the same bike suddenly feels different. Here's which tyre suits the way you ride, with five models from long-standing BMX and bike brands (Maxxis, KHE and Kenda), and who each one is perfect for.
Before you start
This guide is based on each brand’s spec sheets and the product listings, checked on 20 October 2026, not on our own test: we tell you what the manufacturers say and how each tyre fits the way you ride. We don’t give prices, because they change often, or made-up scores. All sizes are for 20" wheels, the size on most adult BMX bikes.
| Model | Size | Bead | Tread | Perfect for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maxxis Grifter | 20 x 2.10" | Wire | Low, freestyle | Street and park, a do-it-all classic |
| KHE MAC2+ | 20 x 2.30" | Wire | Smooth | A light, fast bike in the park |
| KHE Acme | 20 x 2.40" | Wire | Lightly diamond-patterned | Cushioning jumps and landings |
| Kenda Amrak | 20 x 2.20" (pair) | Wire | Knobs | Dirt jumps and pump tracks |
| Maxxis Torch | 20 x 1.75" | Folding | Low, race tread | Racing on paved tracks |
Which tyre suits where you ride
The key question isn't which tyre is best, but where you'll spend your sessions. Each surface asks for something different, and getting it right is what makes the bike respond the way you want:
- Street and park (concrete, wood, skateparks): a wide tyre, around 2.10" to 2.40", with a smooth or very low tread. It grips hard surfaces, rolls fast and cushions landings.
- Dirt jumps and pump tracks (dirt): a tyre with knobs that bite on take-off and in turns. On loose dirt, a smooth tread slides.
- Racing (track): a narrower, lighter tyre, to accelerate hard out of the gate and keep your speed over the rollers.
- If you're starting out: a wide, versatile tyre is more forgiving and gives you confidence while you learn to control the bike.
Beyond the surface, look at three things: width (wider means more grip and cushion; narrower means lighter and faster), the bead (wire is tough and simple; folding is lighter) and the pressure range, which is always printed on the sidewall.
1. Maxxis Grifter: the street and park classic
The Grifter is Maxxis's take on freestyle: the brand presents it as a high-volume casing BMX tyre designed for freestyle, to run front or rear. The link in this guide is the 20 x 2.10" wire-bead version with a 60 TPI casing and dual rubber compound, about 664 g and up to 110 psi, according to Maxxis. The brand also makes it in other widths, up to 2.40".
What's in it for you? That "planted" feeling on concrete. The air volume works as a cushion when you drop off a ledge or land a jump in the park, and because it's made for freestyle it feels at home on concrete, wood and bowl corners. It's a tyre that doesn't make you think: fit it and ride.
Perfect for you if… you ride street or park and want a reliable tyre that works just as well front or rear. If you're after the "one for everything", start here.
2. KHE MAC2+: light and fast for the park
KHE, the German BMX brand founded in 1988, presents the MAC2+ as a very fast freestyle tyre with smooth rolling, good grip and high stability, and as one of the lightest wire-bead tyres in its size. The linked grey-and-black version is 20 x 2.30" and weighs about 550 g, according to KHE. The brand recommends it for park and street.
Less weight in the wheels is obvious the moment you pull on the bike: bunny hops feel lighter, spins in the air take less effort and the bike accelerates eagerly. And at 2.30" wide you still have the volume to land softly.
Perfect for you if… you spend your afternoons at the skatepark, like a nimble bike and want your air tricks to feel lighter without giving up a wide tyre.
3. KHE Acme: the fattest for cushioning
The Acme is KHE's "fat" tyre: 20 x 2.40" (about 60 mm), wire bead and about 640 g, according to the brand. Its surface is lightly diamond-patterned, made to grip on ramps and also when you brake with your shoe on the wheel. KHE gives a pressure range of 2.8 to 4.2 bar (40–60 psi) and recommends about 2.8 bar so the tyre soaks up some of the impact. The linked version is blue and black.
If you love drops, stair sets and the kind of landings you can hear, this gives you extra cushion your knees and rims will thank you for. Wider also means more rubber on the ground, and that translates into confidence when you're going fast around the park.
Perfect for you if… you want comfort, jump a lot in street or park and want a tyre that forgives the less clean landings. Before ordering, check your frame and fork have room for 2.40".
4. Kenda Amrak: knobs for dirt and pump tracks
On dirt, a smooth tyre slides right when you need it most. The Kenda Amrak has evenly spaced knobs for a consistent bite, a 30 TPI casing and a wire bead. Kenda presents it as a versatile all-round mountain bike tyre and lists about 551 g in 20 x 2.20"; KHE sells it for dirt jumps, pump tracks and street, as a pair (front and rear), and points out that its wide profile looks almost like a 2.40".
What do you get? Traction on the take-off of dirt jumps, a front wheel that holds as you lean into pump-track berms and peace of mind that the rear won't step out when you brake late. Getting two in the box makes fitting fresh rubber even easier.
Perfect for you if… you head to your local dirt jumps or pump track and want a tyre that grips on dirt, and can mix in some street too.
5. Maxxis Torch: speed for racing
Maxxis designed the Torch specifically for racing on today's paved BMX tracks, and recommends it front and rear. The linked version is the 20 x 1.75" folding tyre with a 120 TPI casing, dual compound, EXO sidewall protection, about 367 g and up to 110 psi, according to Maxxis.
It's by far the lightest tyre in this guide, and you feel it every time you leave the gate: less weight to move and a low tread that rolls fast on tarmac. It's the tyre for someone who wants to shave off tenths and feel the bike react to every pedal stroke.
Perfect for you if… you race or train on a BMX track with paved turns and want pure speed. For street or dirt, one of the others is a better fit.
Smooth or knobby: which suits you
Smooth or low tread if…
- You mostly ride skateparks, concrete or wood.
- You ride street and want to roll fast between spots.
- You want a smooth, quiet tyre.
Knobby if…
- You ride dirt jumps, pump tracks or dirt paths.
- You want grip when leaning into loose turns.
- You mix dirt with some street.
There's no perfect tyre for everything, and that's good news: it means there's one made for you. If you ride a bit of everything, start with the surface you spend the most hours on. And if you switch disciplines one day, new tyres are one of the cheapest ways to adapt your bike without touching anything else.
How a good tyre shows in your tricks
The right tyre won't do your tricks for you, but it takes away the fear. When you trust the grip, you hit the ramp faster, carve the bowl without braking and land knowing the bike will keep rolling straight. That confidence is what makes you progress session after session.
Pressure plays its part too. More pressure rolls faster and feels more direct in the park; a bit less gives you grip and comfort, especially on dirt. Experiment gradually and always stay within the range printed on the sidewall. And don't forget the rest of your kit: good BMX pedals and flat-sole shoes complete your grip from the feet up.
Common mistakes when choosing BMX tyres
- Buying the wrong size: a 20" tyre won't fit an 18" wheel, however close it looks.
- Choosing a tyre that's too wide: if it rubs on the frame or fork, it slows you down and wears out. Check the clearance first.
- Taking smooth tyres to the dirt: they slide in turns and on take-offs.
- Taking knobby tyres to the skatepark: they roll slower and feel less precise on concrete.
- Ignoring pressure: too low and you risk pinching the tube; too high and the bike bounces and grips less.
- Waiting until it's completely bald: a worn tyre or one with sidewall cuts can leave you stranded mid-session.
Still choosing a bike? Start with how to choose your first BMX. To keep upgrading yours, see the first BMX upgrades, the best BMX pedals and protective gear. Once your new tyres are on, practise the manual and bunny hop or learn to pump with the BMX first steps, and find somewhere to try them in the skatepark, track and pump track directory. All guides are in buying guides and, once you know which one is yours, take a look at the five tyres with verified specs just below.
Frequently asked questions
Which BMX tyre is best for skateparks?
For skateparks, a wide tyre (around 2.10" to 2.40") with a smooth or very low tread works best: it grips concrete and wood and cushions landings. The Maxxis Grifter, KHE MAC2+ and KHE Acme are made for exactly that, street and park.
What tyre width does my BMX need?
It depends on where you ride and how much room your bike has. Street and park riders use 2.10" to 2.40"; racers use narrower tyres such as 1.75". Before buying, check your frame and fork have room for that width without the tyre rubbing.
What pressure should I run in my BMX tyres?
Always within the range printed on the tyre sidewall. More pressure rolls faster and feels more direct in the park; a bit less gives more grip and comfort, especially on dirt. For example, KHE gives 2.8–4.2 bar for the Acme and recommends about 2.8 bar.
Can I use a street tyre for dirt or pump tracks?
You can ride it, but on loose dirt a smooth tyre slides in turns and on take-offs. If you often ride dirt jumps or pump tracks, a knobby tyre like the Kenda Amrak gives you much more traction.
What’s the difference between a wire bead and a folding bead?
The bead is the hoop that holds the tyre on the rim. A wire bead is tough and simple; a folding bead uses a flexible fibre, weighs less and can be folded. The Maxxis Torch in this guide, for example, is a folding tyre.
Why don’t you give prices or scores?
Because prices change often and we don’t want to give you a made-up score: we’d rather tell you how each tyre fits the way you ride. Sizes and weights come from each brand’s spec sheets and the product listings, checked on 20 October 2026.
