Tire Picks for Leadville Trail 100 MTB

Published: 5/30/2025

Tags: leadville 100, tire pick, race setup, colorado, tire

📷 Photo by Matthew Trabold — Mosquito Pass, Leadville.

📌 Note: I’ll be racing the Silver Rush 50 MTB in July using this exact setup. This post will be updated after that race with real-world data from Leadville100-like conditions.

Best Tires for Leadville Trail 100 MTB

If you’re lining up in Leadville this August, what are you rolling on for those 100 miles? You need something that rolls fast, holds up to sharp fire road rocks, and lets you ride hard at high altitude while keeping air in the tires. This is a race known for flats, fatigue, and altitude induced carnage.

I haven’t raced Leadville yet, but I’ve spent a lot of time riding Colorado’s high-alpine fire roads and I’m racing the Silver Rush 50 MTB in Leadville this July — which shares similar elevation, terrain, and course conditions. I’m using that race to dial in the exact setup I plan to use at the Leadville 100.

My Leadville 100 MTB Tire Recommendation

Front & Rear: Maxxis Aspen ST 2.4 WT | 120tpi/EXO/MaxxSpeed

This tire has become the go-to for fast XC marathon races, and for good reason — it’s incredibly light, fast-rolling, and at 2.4” wide, offers solid volume for comfort on rough fire roads.

Tire Pressure: 12 PSI front / 13 PSI rear (always check the Silca Tire Pressure Calculator)
Rider weight: ~85 kg with me and all the gear
Tire Inserts: Vittoria Airliner Lites (front and rear)
Bike: Specialized Epic 8 w. RockShox Flight Attendant to manage my suspension

Running ultra-low pressure at altitude with inserts gives me more grip, better comfort, and reduces fatigue over 100 miles of rough terrain. It’s a setup I’ve tested at Sea Otter and will validate at Silver Rush 50.

Leadville Tire Lessons from Keegan (and My FS Take)

Lots of riders are making tire choices based on hardtail setups. I’m running this on a full suspension 120/120mm bike (Epic 8), which helps reduce impacts and lowers flat risk even at aggressively low pressures.

Notably, Keegan Swenson won Leadville on Aspen STs front and rear with the 170 TPI version for lower rolling resistance — but he flatted on the rear. He was riding a Santa Cruz Highball, a stiff hardtail, and running an increasingly common Frankenstein drop-bar setup with a 100mm fork. That probably didn’t help when it came to flat protection, especially bombing the descents at race pace. Of course, when you’re trying to push your already-held course record even further, these marginal gains are worth the risk.

I’ll be testing the 170 TPI version myself at Silver Rush 50 and will update if it proves durable enough for race day. But with a full suspension rig and inserts, I’ve got more margin for error.

Should You Use Tire Inserts for Leadville?

Yes. Leadville has a reputation for flats — especially on Powerline, Sugarloaf, and the fast descents with embedded granite and loose-over-hardpack. I run Vittoria Airliner Lites, which weigh almost nothing, don’t affect feel, and add peace of mind at low pressure. There’s really no penalty to running these in my book.

Alternatives I Considered

Maxxis Aspen (non-ST): Better mud shedding if it rains — my backup option for very sloppy conditions.
Rekon Race: Rolls almost as fast as the Aspen STs but doesn’t perform well in mixed to sloppy conditions. The handling gain over the STs in dry conditions isn’t very worth it on this course. If you’re looking for a bit more descending/braking confidence - this could be a good choice on a dry day.

TL;DR: My Leadville Tire Setup

Aspen STs at low pressure with inserts are what I trust for Leadville 100. You get the speed of a race-day tire, the comfort of low-pressure volume, and the protection you need to avoid race-ending flats.

I’ll be racing this exact setup at Silver Rush 50 in July to validate it under Leadville-like conditions — and making small tweaks if needed. Unless the weather throws a curveball, I’m locked in.

I’ll be toeing the line at the Breck Epic Stage Race the very next day after Leadville — and I will not be running Aspen STs front and rear there. Totally different terrain, totally different tire demands. Stay tuned for those tire picks.