Catering for all disciplines, we take you through the full Maxxis mountain bike tyre range

By Nick Clark

Published: Monday, 06 February 2023 at 12:00 am


Maxxis is one of the leading manufacturers of mountain bike tyres of all disciplines. Known primarily for its downhill and enduro tyres, Maxxis also offers top-level cross-country tyres.

The brand has a large range of mountain bike tyres with varying technologies, so it can be difficult to know what the best Maxxis tyre is for your type of riding.

Maxxis also produces a wide range of road bike tyres, gravel tyres and options for commuting.

In this guide, we focus on Maxxis’ range of mountain bike tyres, including an overview of its tyre technologies, compounds and casings.

Maxxis mountain bike tyre technologies explained

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The construction of a Maxxis mountain bike tyre involves many layers.
Maxxis

Maxxis casing constructions explained

Maxxis offers a variety of MTB tyre casings to suit different types of riding. Tyre casings impact how a tyre feels and the level of protection it provides.

All else being equal, a thinner casing is usually more supple than a thicker casing, but offers less protection on gnarly terrain.

Maxxis uses a range of different options across its tyre range, from lightweight casings to heavy-duty casings for gravity riding:

  • Single-ply casing features one layer of nylon wrapped from bead to bead. This conforms well to terrain, giving a supple ride feel, and is lighter than Maxxis’ other casings.
  • Dual-ply casing features two layers of nylon, adding additional protection and sidewall stiffness for enduro and downhill riding.
  • Wide Trail (WT) construction optimises the tyre tread for 30 to 35mm-wide rims, avoiding the square profile that tyres with narrower designs face on modern wide rims.
  • Tubeless Ready (TR) features sealant-compatible rubber and uses dual-ply 60 TPI (threads per inch). There is a butyl insert for support and rim protection, offering increased grip and reliability. A tubeless-ready bead locks the rim and the foldable bead provides additional weight savings.

Maxxis puncture technologies explained

Even the best mountain bike tyres can be punctured by thorns, lacerations and snake bites. Maxxis offers four types of puncture protection to deal with these problems:

  • Silkworm Protection is a puncture- and tear-resistant material incorporated into the tyre’s casing under the tread.
  • EXO Protection is a cut- and abrasion-resistant material added to a tyre’s sidewall. This densely woven fabric is lightweight and flexible in order to retain tyre performance. EXO Protection is for exceptionally rocky trails, where the chance of tearing the sidewall is high.
  • EXO+ combines Silkshield and EXO protection. The Silkshield layer runs from bead to bead, with a layer of EXO along the sidewalls.
  • Double Down (DD) is a dual-ply casing for enduro and downhill racing. Two 120 TPI casing layers are reinforced on the sidewall with a butyl insert to avoid gashes and pinch flats.

Maxxis tyre compounds explained

Rubber compounds can have a big impact on the grip, longevity and handling of a tyre. Maxxis uses different combinations of rubber compounds for different ride characteristics:

  • Single Compound tyres feature one compound throughout the tread for optimised longevity and performance.
  • Dual Compound tyres feature two types of rubber and offer lower rolling resistance and increased cornering grip.
  • Triple Compound (3C) tyres have three types of rubber arranged for the ultimate traction at the end of racing.

Maxxis cross-country tyres

Maxxis Ardent Race

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Maxxis’ Ardent Race is a shallower version of the Ardent trail tyre.
David Rome/Future Publishing
  • Dual or 3C MaxxSpeed
  • EXO protection
  • Tubeless-ready
  • Wheel diameter: 26, 27.5, 29in
  • Width: 2.20, 2.35, 2.60in WT
  • Recommended as front or rear tyre

The Ardent Race is designed for technical cross-country courses. Borrowing the tread pattern from the full-fat Ardent trail tyre, a smaller tread height is used to achieve faster rolling speeds.