Do mud tyres really make a difference? Yes, yes they do.

There are several things at play here. Firstly, the tyres will have a different tread pattern of nobs than other MTB tyres. The nobs will generally be smaller and squarer shaped. Secondly, mud tyres have a more open tread pattern, which means there’s more space between the nobs or spikes which helps prevent the mud sticking to the tyre and building up. And finally, mud tyres tend to be slightly narrower so they can cut through the crud.

If the mud where you ride is deep or claggy, which it tends to be in areas with clayey soil like the Mendip Hills, then longer spikes or knobs will bite in deeper and give you more grip. Look at Michelin Wild Mud tyres.

If your regular trails are more on the rocky side, with patches of mud in between, then tyres with shorter nobs are the ones to go for. Try the Maxxis Beaver or Bontrager Mud X.