Regardless of your geographical location, it's highly likely that Maxxis MTB tires are the dominant choice at your local trails or race series. But why is this? Well, put simply, they're some of, if not the best mountain biking tires available. It says it all when non-sponsored Maxxis athletes are using a Sharpie to disguise the fact they're rolling on Maxxis rubber at the sharp end of World Cup racing.
Across our test team, we've put all of these tires through their paces and what's most impressive is that Maxxis tires rank highly for almost every riding category and style. However, with such a huge range to choose from, trying to figure out which tire is right for you isn't always easy – which is where our Maxxis MTB tire guide comes in. Keep scrolling for a full overview of the best Maxxis tires for every discipline, and head to the bottom of the page where we explain all of the different casings options and compounds to help decipher which tire is best for you and your riding.
In this Maxxis MTB tire guide we've divided the tires into three categories – XC, Trail, and Enduro/Downhill. Even though we may have classed a tire in one category, there is a fair bit of overlap in the Maxxis range, so the categories are a bit more like loose recommendations. For example, you will find the Minion DHF and DHR II used in the Downhill World Cup, however, it is also one of the most widely used tire combos on trail bikes.
Cross-country tires
1. Maxxis Ikon
With tightly packed and slightly ramped knobs, the Ikon is precisely what we think of when envisioning the way a cross-country tire should look and ride. There are twin blocks up the center with two sets of transition knobs and well-supported shoulder treads, featuring siping throughout.
This pattern works well on everything from loose to hardpack giving a predictable cornering characteristic and a fast and efficient rolling speed. The shallow tread does struggle with mud although from our experience as long as the tread is able to stay clear you still get a surprising amount of grip in the wet. Larger sizes offer excellent comfort and compliance too so are well-suited to longer XC rides or bikepacking.
It's available in Dual Compound and 3C MaxxSpeed and MaxxTerra setups with standard and EXO casing. There's even a light and dark tan wall options.
The Ikon works well front and rear, particularly in the 3C compounds, or can be paired with a meatier front tire for a more aggressive XC setup.
2. Maxxis Ardent Race
The Ardent Race sees the same tread pattern as its trail-oriented sibling but has had a few millimeters snipped off the tread height all around. With the siped center knobs and the transition blocks the center profile isn't dissimilar to the Ikon, The center section is flanked with more prominent shoulder knobs meaning the Ardent Race leans slightly more onto the traction end of Maxxis cross-country tires.
The result is a tire that rolls quickly but has a little more catch and security for cross-country riders who like to corner hard, particularly if conditions are a little loose or soft.
Available in 29, 27.5, and 26 wheel sizes, although the options are limited with only three 29er variants. There are MaxxSpeed or Dual compound options with EXO protection.
Ardent Race will work on the front and rear or just as a front if you want a faster rolling rear tire. The more aggressive shoulders mean it could also work well as a fast rolling downcountry tire or even as a summer rear tire on a trail bike if you are looking for more speed.
3. Maxxis Rekon Race
The Rekon Race is a semi-slick rear-specific tire designed for XC racing. That means it has low-profile knobs in the center for low-rolling resistance combined with slightly bigger knobs on the shoulder of the tire for cornering grip.
The low profile and broad spread of knobs use a squared profile for better braking and acceleration on hardpack surfaces making it a great tire rear tire for short track or parched XC racing.
Available in 29 or 27.5, with most sizes unsurprisingly being for 29ers. They use EXO casing and come in black 120 TPI or Dark Tan Wall 60 TPI construction. Only Dual compound is available but as this is a rear-specific tire that is focused on rolling speed and durability this will work well.
This is a fast XC tire that would be ideal as a rear tire paired with a grippier tire on the front, like the Ikon or Ardent Race, perhaps. It can also be run as a front tire, but it'll take a skilled rider to find enough grip, and will only be suitable in certain conditions. Alternatively, it would also work as a grippy plus-sized front and rear gravel tire assuming you have a gravel bike that can clear a 2.25in tire.
4. Maxxis Aspen
The Maxxis Aspen is arguably one of the brand's fastest if not the fastest tires in the lineup. As you'd expect for quick cross-country race tire, the tread blocks are shallow with widely spaced ramped knobs in the center. There are slightly more aggressive knobs along the edge, which find cornering purchase in hardpack and loose-over-hardpack conditions.
The minimal tread of the Aspen means it is very quick on hardpacked surfaces. This will come at a braking and cornering trade-off compared to something like the Ikon or Ardent Race, especially in softer or damp conditions.
The Aspen is mostly only available in very narrow sizes and dual compound EXO specs, although there is a 29X2.40 tire with Maxxis' fastest MaxxSpeed single compound if you're looking for a race-specific tire.
It's suitable for the front or the rear, although considering its specific dry hardpack use case, it's probably best as a pair rather than supplemented with another tread pattern.
Overall, the Aspen is one of our go-to fast cross-country options – if this speed demon sounds like it's up your street then make sure to check out our full Maxxis Aspen review.
5. Maxxis Pace
This tire was designed for World Cup cross-country racers and the low-profile knobs, which aren't dissimilar from the Ikon, make it a fast-rolling assassin on the race course or Strava leaderboards.
That said, the Pace is a bit outdated for cross-country as the 2.10 sizing is very narrow compared to modern XC tires. Maxxis says the Pace works well for slopestyle, pump track, and dirt jumping although again it's only available in narrow sizes. If you have the clearance, the Pace would make a great option as a voluminous gravel tire though as they are reasonably lightweight, particularly the 27.5 sizes.
If you are buying these tires, we would recommend the dual compound EXO version rather than the cheap wired single compound tire, as they will offer a more supple ride, better grip, and more sidewall protection.
6. Maxxis Crossmark II
Maxxis CrossMark was originally developed when XC was still rolling on 26in wheels, they updated it to boost cornering performance and the CrossMark II is now available in 29 and 27.5 sizes too.
The almost continuous stepped center tread pattern should assure high straight-line speed, particularly in dry conditions. The ramped transition knobs and toothier shoulder lugs will give more bite when you lean the bike over.
The tires only come in a dual compound and EXO protected side wall setup. They are available for 26, 27.5, and 29 wheel sizes although only in a 2.25in width.
The CrossMark should work well as both a front and a rear tire although its narrow width limits its performance a little on the front.
7. Maxxis Severe
Maxxis' new Severe tire is a cross-country tire designed for wet and muddy conditions. It features widely spaced alternating, slightly angled siped knobs and uses the new MaxxSpeed single compound across the whole tire.
The 120 TPI carcass and MaxxSpeed rubber is encouragingly energetic and alive but damped and stable enough to still run lower pressures. The tread spread sheds mud very quickly and the single compound gives them a very consistent grip performance so you can continue to ride hard in the wet. From our experience, they are pretty tough and durable so we would expect them to last all winter.
This is a dedicated wet weather race tire so Maxxis only have one option of a 29X2.25 size using MaxxSpeed compound and EXO protection.
If you racing cross-country in the mud, then a front and rear Severe is going to be the optimal choice. If conditions are wet could be used as a rear and paired with a Forekaster.
For more, see our full Maxxis Severe review.
Trail and enduro tires
1. Maxxis Rekon
At first glance, the Maxxis Rekon looks quite a lot like a paired-down version of the uber-popular Minion or beefed up Ikon. Riding experience on the trail is the same as the Rekon and toes the line between what we'd look for if we are riding a steep and nasty cross-country course or a short-travel trail/downcountry bike.
The tread is still pretty low profile but, like the Ikon, it grips a lot harder than you would expect. With the wide center knobs providing heaps of braking traction and the L-shaped shoulder knob hooks up nicely when the tire is leaned on its side. While the tread looks aggressive, the Rekon has ramped center tread so it rolls pretty darn well, and there is alternating siping on the center and cornering blocks for grip on rocks and roots.
The Rekon's popularity is reflected in the available options as it comes in loads of widths, compounds, and carcasess. There are also light and dark Tan Wall versions too.
The Rekon is extremely versatile and could be used front and rear on either a cross-country bike when extra grip is needed, or for dry trail bike rides. It would also work as a front only XC tire to add a little more cornering grip or on the rear for a trail bike to add speed when conditions are mixed.
2. Maxxis Ardent
Remember the Ardent Race? Well here is its grippier downcountry cousin. The tire is almost exactly the same except the tread is taller, more aggressive, and spread a bit wider with some of the transition blocks removed.
The Ardent is a great dry weather light trail tire which rolls pretty quickly but has beefed up shoulder lugs to bite into the trail when the bike is leaned over. The shallow tread does mean its a bit skittery in loose conditions.
It's available in single and double compound varieties within the standard, EXO, and Skinwall flavors depending on your riding style.
The Ardent can be used front or rear on a trail bike or a as a grippier front cross-country marathon tire if you need that extra catch when you start getting tired.
3. Maxxis Forekaster
Maxxis has recently redesigned the Forekaster from the ground up, and if you've read our Maxxis Forekaster review, you'll know it performs flawlessly throughout nearly every weather and track condition.
Despite its small and relatively compact tread pattern, the Forekaster is deceptively grippy when pushed hard on trails well beyond its intended limits; after just a few corners we had full faith in the new in-line shoulder knobs. This high level of grip doesn't come at a compromise to rolling speed either, and we found the Forekaster to hold an impressive on-trail pace thanks to its low 901g weight and well-thought tread pattern.
The MaxxTerra Forekaster will offer the most grip although the dual compound version is a good option for the rear – as it will roll slightly faster and be a little more durable. All tires come with EXO Protection sidewalls.
Its another front and rear tire which can also be used to speed up a trail bike. The Forekaster is a little heavy for cross-country but if you really need that extra grip, it could work well.
4. Maxxis High Roller II
The High Roller and updated High Roller II has been a staple of the Maxxis MTB range for longer than some riders have been alive. Its broad tread pattern has proven universally popular thanks to versatility in different trail conditions, impressive braking traction, and slight drift to catch nature as you transition between the center and shoulder knobs on corners.
Maxxis High Roller II's are covered in widely spaced pointy knobs designed to poke deep into soft soil, but not take any along for the ride. The profile is as square as they come, and when the High Roller hooks up, it will damn near jolt the fillings out of your teeth. Modified knobs on the shoulder and center contribute braking traction and help the High Roller not to be a squirmy nightmare over hardpack.
Maxxis offers the High Roller II in a dizzying number of combinations for the rigors of trail, enduro, and DH riding.
The High Roller II works well for all-mountain, enduro, and downhill applications, although its slower rolling speeds limit its fast trail riding performance. It works well on the front and rear, particularly on steep terrain, or its often paired with a Minion DHF II on the front for a grip and rip front and drifty rear riding style.
5. Maxxis Aggressor
The Aggressor is an extremely popular tire because it is one of the most versatile in Maxxis' line-up. With a squared-off profile, the tread pattern seems to excel in everything but the extreme ends of the bell curve. Even with an aggressive tread layout it rolls well, claws in well on climbs and braking, and offers confident cornering traction.
Maxxis attributes this do-everything-well character to what it calls advanced knob shaping which creates extra gripping edges with the shoulder tread well-reinforced for enhanced stability. The result is a tire that has a similar braking tenacity and soft slip corner initiation as the High Roller II without the expense of rolling speed.
As this is an enduro tire, it's only available in a hard wearing dual compound and the choice of EXO or Double Down casing. It comes in a 2.30 width or a larger 2.50 size.
The Aggressor is a rear specific tire and is best used with a Minion DHF II or Assegai for a fast yet grippy enduro setup. It would also work as a durable trail bike rear if you need something tougher than a Rekon or Forekaster.
6. Maxxis Minion DHF
In terms of tire testing the Minion DHF has been our trail/enduro benchmark since its release – it really is that good!
The Minion DHF has become known as being one of the best handling tires around so if you are looking to rail corners with precision, this is a great option. With a relatively simple tread pattern, it's one of the most popular front tires due to its exceptionally predictable grip in everything from moon dust to claggy mud. You can read about why we think it's so good in our in-depth Maxxis Minion DHF review.
The center tread is blocky with the leading edge ramped to limit rolling resistance, the cornering blocks are stable and meaningful. With the Minion DHF chosen by so many in a vast range of riding situations, the spec sheet with all the available sizes, casings, and compounds take up almost an entire 8x10in piece of paper. It even comes in plus size and a fat bike version!
The Minion DHF is primarily a front tire that best used with a DHR II or High Roller II for better braking. If you want the ultimate cornering setup you can run a DHF front and rear although you will lose some braking performance.
7. Maxxis Minion DHR II
Similarly to its DHF sibling, the DHR II is another genuinely amazing benchmark tire. It features a wide paddle centre tread and the same shoulder knobs as the Minion DHF. The DHR's aggressive tread pattern provides awesome grip and zero sketchiness in any thinkable condition – there was one full season where World Cup racing legend Danny Hart ran the DHR front and rear at every race, regardless of the weather and track condition. If that doesn't highlight how predictable and surefooted the DHR is, then we're not sure what will.
Greg Minnaar also ran DHR front and rear tire to a DH World Championship victory, so relegating it to just a tire to be run in the back is selling it short. While the DHR II is technically designed to be paired with the DHF on the front, the benefits of running a dual DHR with its enhanced braking performance amplify grip levels on very steep terrain.
Like the DHF, the DHR II is available in far too many options for us to list them all here, but you can read our full Minion DHR II review where we dive deep into the DHR's performance and specification options.
The DHR II is specifically a rear tire that works best with either a DHF or Assagai. As we have already mentioned though, the DHR makes an outstanding front and rear combo if you ride steep trails.
8. Maxxis Minion SS
A semi-slick enduro tire? Yep, that's precisely what the Minion SS is with what verges on file tread up the center, with the infamous Minion shoulder tread. It's a tire you'd only want to run if you live somewhere where the trails are dry and hard-packed, and only on the rear.
With that said, the transition from the center tread to the side knobs is extreme, it's not a tire you can ease into a corner, you have to commit or it's going to break loose as soon as you start to lean it over. But once the shoulder tread engages, they bite hard.
Downhill tires
1. Maxxis Assegai
Maxxis' Assegai is all about maximizing traction. The tread is tall and punches through dust or loam to find traction in loose conditions while the siping and well-supported base means they can find purchase on hardpack, rocks, and roots too.
The Assegai is for the racers, the loam sessions, the uplift smashers, the e-bikers, the weekend warriors, or just anyone who wants superior grip and the utmost confidence on the trail.
Only available in a 2.5in width and the DH, Double Down, EXO, and EXO+ casing, the tire is well suited to anyone who's looking to track the trail like Velcro, but isn't too worried about rolling resistance.
There's a reason why we gave the Maxxis Assegai a perfect score, and that's because it offers the best grip available, front and rear, in all conditions.
2. Maxxis Dissector
The Dissector was designed in collaboration with Troy Brosnan and offers a stellar balance of rolling speed and traction. The center tread follows a 2-3-2 pattern which is ramped on the front and squared off on the back, while the shoulder tread alternates from rectangles to 'C' shaped blocks.
In the wild this offers good grip, but it's worth noting there can be a fade in traction before the shoulder knobs bite when fully leaned over, similar to the High Roller II. This isn't too noticeable on hard dry trails but in softer or damp conditions its a lot more noticable.
For this reason, we prefer the Dissector as a faster rear alternative to something like a DHR or Assegai for enduro or downhill riding.
Make sure to read our thorough Maxxis Dissector review for more details.
3. Maxxis Shorty
Back in the day during wet world cup rounds, it was common to see mechanics in the paddocks spending their downtime trimming the knobs off spiked mud tires. Maxxis saw what was going on and released the Shorty for intermediate and sloppy conditions. The spikes are mid-height and wide-set, with the distance between each block not only allowing mud to clear but also helping the knobs penetrate further. Each block gets a horizontal sipe to help the tire grab onto anything it can.
The result is a half spiked mud tire that offers decent grip and clearing performance in the mud but will still feeling predictable and handling well on harder surfaces. It's still a specialist tire and doesn't have a whole lot of use for most of us unless you live in the UK or somewhere where heavy rain is considered nice weather for riding.
If the conditions are calling for a Shorty, they probably warrant running matching front and rear for consistent grip.
4. Maxxis Wetscream
The Wetscream is the most specialized, condition-specific tire in Maxxis' range. It's a mud spike tire designed for the muddiest downhill tracks in the world. Thus, Maxxis says on its website that the Wetscream is "for competition use only" and "not for your local trail."
It's available in one width (2.5in) and should really only be needed by downhill racers in the worst of conditions. If you really need to ride in the worst conditions, front and rear, Wetscreams are the only option.
Maxxis tires explained
What are the different types of Maxxis tire casings?
Tire casings refer to the layers used in order to construct the tire, the casing can be made up of a number of layers and will usually protection against punctures. Maxxis have four different casings options, however, not every tire will come in every casing:
- EXO: A single ply casing option with a cut- and abrasion-resistant Exo material that offers additional sidewall protection. Exo casings areavailable in both 60 TPI and 120 TPI tires.
- EXO+ : The guts are the same as the 60 TPI EXO casing but with abutyl insert added at the bead to prevent pinch punctures and rim damage.
- DoubleDown (DD): Aimed at Enduro riders, the DoubleDown uses a dual ply construction made up of two layers of 120 TPI material in order to balance durability and suppleness. Large Butyl inserts extend from the bead and up the sidewall for pinch protection and added stability.
- Downhill: The toughest tires Maxxis makes. It features a similar design to the DoubleDown but uses a heavy duty Dual-Ply 60 TPI casing for maximum durabilty.
What's the difference between Maxxis rubber compounds?
The tread of a tire is made up of a rubber compound which contributes to the grip and rolling speed of a tire. Maxxis offers its mountain bike tires as a single compound, dual compound, or triple compound, with the latter two positioning harder or softer rubber in strategic regions of the tread to achieve specific rolling or traction goals.
- MaxxSpeed: Maxxis' newest rubber compound uses a single layer of high-silca content compound which is claimed to give 25 percent less rolling resistance over the 3C MaxxSpeed while also improving wet weather traction.
- Dual Compound: These are tires designed to last longer with hard rubber in the center tread with a softer compound for the shoulder knobs. Dual Compound uses harder rubber which wears slower and rolls faster making them a popular option as rear tire when grip is less critical.
- 3C Triple Compound: 3C uses a harder base layer and two different, softer compounds on the center and cornering tread. There are three versions of the 3C compound for XC, trail, and gravity.
- Super Tacky: Maxxis uses a single 42 Durometer rubber compound throughout the entire tire. Maxxis has previously used this for their downhill tires although Maxxis' range doesn't currently feature any Super Tacky mountain bike tires.
What's the difference between MaxxSpeed, MaxxTerra and MaxxGrip?
Maxxis' 3C Triple Compound design is used on the majority of their tire range and comes in three different versions. Each design has specific characteristics so it is important to choose the right one for your riding.
- 3CS MaxxSpeed: MaxxSpeed was designed for cross-country and uses harder rubber to enhance rolling speeds. MaxxSpeed is in the process of getting phased out in favor of Maxxis' new single compound MaxxSpeed.
- 3CT MaxxTerra: MaxxTerra is aimed at general trail riding and balances rolling speed and traction for all-round performance. This is a good compound for the majority of riders.
- 3CG MaxxGrip: MaxxGrip is used by Maxxis' Downhill and Enduro riders as they are made using their stickiest, slowest rebounding MTB rubber for ultimate cornering and braking traction. MaxxGrip is also available with EXO and EXO+ casings as a wet-weather trail tire.
What does WT mean on a Maxxis tire?
Looking through the available tire options you may notice two tires with the same specs but one will be marked WT. This stands for Wide Trail and is a tire designed to give a better tread profile when mounted to modern rims with wider internal diameters.
Wide Trail XC tires are optimized for 30mm rims although they will perform well as low as 25mm, Trail, enduro, and downhill Wide Trail tires can be used on a range between 30mm and 35mm inner rim widths. Maxxis doesn't recommend going outside these rim measurements when using WT tires.
What does TR mean on a Maxxis tire?
Simply put, TR stands for tubeless-ready and all Maxxis MTB tires are tubeless-ready with the exception of a few wire-beaded budget tires.
What does TPI mean?
TPI stands for Threads Per Inch and relates to the structure on which the rest of the tire is constructed on. Higher TPI carcasses use a finer thread and a tighter weave which absorbs less rubber and reduces weight and gives the tire a more supple ride feel. Lower TPI counts generally feature on cheaper tires but the thicker threads also increase durability and protection against punctures. Maxxis offer most of their tire models in both 120 TPI or 60 TPI options although the 120 TPI is more commonly found on the performance cross-country tires.
Why do my Maxxis tires have white logos?
You may have noticed that some Maxxis tires have yellow logos and others have white logos, the difference in color designates whether the tire is OEM (stock on a complete bike) or not. If your bike comes with Maxxis tires they will have white logos and will most likely be a dual compound tire. If you purchase a Maxxis tire it will come with yellow logos. It's also worth noting that if an after-market tire doesn't specify the compound on the side wall then it will be a dual compound tire.
