The Maxxis mountain bike range is easier to use when you stop treating every model as a separate mystery and start reading it as a system. This maxxis mtb tire chart turns the line-up into a practical reference, so you can compare tread, compound, casing, and real trail use without getting lost in the model names. For UK riding, that matters because wet roots, soft ground, and hardpack often call for different tyres on the front and rear.
What matters most at a glance
- XC race choices like the Aspen ST, Aspen, Aspen AT, Rekon Race, Ardent Race, and Ikon prioritise speed, low weight, and smaller knobs.
- Trail tyres like the Rekon, Forekaster, Ardent, Aggressor, and Dissector trade some speed for grip and control.
- Aggressive trail and gravity options like the Minion DHF, Minion DHR II, Assegai, High Roller, Shorty, and Wetscream use bigger tread and tougher casings.
- MaxxSpeed rolls fastest, 3C MaxxTerra balances grip and wear, and 3C MaxxGrip gives the most traction.
- EXO is light, EXO+ adds protection, DoubleDown is for hard enduro use, and DH is the heaviest-duty option.
- Current 2.40 and 2.50 tyres no longer need the WT label, but rim width still matters when you choose a size.
Maxxis models grouped by riding style
I split the range into three buckets, race, trail, and gravity, because that is the quickest way to make the line-up useful in the real world. I am focusing on the models most riders actually compare, not every archive or niche tyre, so the chart stays readable and practical.
Note: exact sizes and colourways vary by market, so I am listing the construction families and the uses that matter most.
XC race and fast downcountry
| Model | Typical role | Common spec clues | My practical read |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aspen ST | XC race, short track | MaxxSpeed 120 TPI + EXO TR |
The fastest-feeling option here, but not the most forgiving. |
| Aspen | XC race | Dual compound or MaxxSpeed 120 TPI + EXO TR |
The safer all-round race tyre when the course changes under you. |
| Aspen AT | XC race on rougher courses | Single-ply 120 TPI MaxxSpeed TR |
Best when you want Aspen speed with a little more range. |
| Rekon Race | Rear XC race | Dual compound 60 or 120 TPI + EXO TR on select specs |
Semi-slick speed with just enough bite for dry XC and short track. |
| Ardent Race | XC and light trail | Dual or 3C MaxxSpeed 60 or 120 TPI + EXO TR on select specs |
More corner support than Rekon Race, without jumping into full trail tyre weight. |
| Ikon | XC all-rounder | Dual, 3C MaxxSpeed, or 3C MaxxTerra 60 or 120 TPI + EXO TR on select specs |
One of the easiest XC tyres to live with over a long season. |
If I were building a race bike for mixed British XC events, this is where I would start. The decision usually comes down to whether you want the absolute lowest drag, or a tyre that still feels composed when the ground gets soft or damp.
Trail and mixed conditions
| Model | Typical role | Common spec clues | My practical read |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rekon | XC and light trail | Dual, 3C MaxxSpeed, or 3C MaxxTerra 60 or 120 TPI + EXO or EXO+ TR on select specs |
The bridge tyre between race speed and everyday trail control. |
| Forekaster | XC and trail | Dual or 3C MaxxTerra 60 or 120 TPI + EXO or EXO+ TR on select specs |
Better when the trail is loose, rooty, or damp. |
| Ardent | Light-duty trail | Single or dual compound 60 TPI + EXO TR on select specs |
Fast on dry hardpack, simple, and light, but less convincing when the ground gets messy. |
| Aggressor | Trail and enduro rear | Dual compound 60 TPI + EXO or DoubleDown TR on select specs |
Excellent as a rear tyre for dry, rocky terrain and hard braking zones. |
| Dissector | Trail, enduro, and downhill | Dual, 3C MaxxTerra, or 3C MaxxGrip 60 TPI + EXO, EXO+, DD, or DH TR on select specs |
More control than a pure trail tyre, without going all the way to a downhill casing. |
This is the most useful middle of the range for riders who do a bit of everything. On UK trails, I find this category matters more than people expect, because it is where you balance rolling speed against wet-ground confidence.
Read Also: Shimano XT Wheels - The Right Choice for Your Trail Bike?
Aggressive trail and gravity
| Model | Typical role | Common spec clues | My practical read |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minion DHF | Aggressive front | Single, dual, 3C MaxxTerra, or 3C MaxxGrip EXO, EXO+, DD, or DH TR on select specs |
The default front benchmark for many aggressive builds. |
| Minion DHR II | Aggressive rear | Single, dual, 3C MaxxTerra, 3C MaxxGrip, or Super Tacky EXO, EXO+, DD, or DH TR on select specs |
The braking tyre when you want more rear bite and control. |
| Assegai | Maximum front grip | Dual, 3C MaxxTerra, or 3C MaxxGrip EXO, EXO+, DD, or DH TR on select specs |
Steady, predictable, and very confidence-focused on steep ground. |
| High Roller | Enduro and downhill | 3C MaxxGrip EXO+, DoubleDown, or DH TR |
Built for intermediate enduro and downhill conditions where grip matters more than drag. |
| Shorty | Soft terrain mid-spike | 3C MaxxTerra or 3C MaxxGrip Trail, enduro, or downhill specs TR on select specs |
Better in wet, loose, and sloppy conditions, and the 2.40 casing helps with clearance. |
| Wetscream | Muddy downhill race | 3C MaxxGrip or Super Tacky DH casing TR on select specs |
This is only for the worst mud and race-day slop, not a general-purpose tyre. |
If you ride aggressively, the front tyre usually decides whether you trust the bike or not. That is why the DHF, Assegai, and High Roller sit in such different places on the chart even though they all live in the same broad gravity family.
How to read the spec codes without guessing
Once the models are grouped, the remaining code tells you how the tyre will feel under load. This is the part many riders skip, then wonder why the right tread feels wrong on the trail.
| Spec | What it means in practice | Why I care |
|---|---|---|
| MaxxSpeed | The current XC race compound. It is a high-silica rubber aimed at lower rolling resistance and better wet traction, and Maxxis says it cuts rolling resistance by about 25% versus the previous 3C MaxxSpeed in lab testing. | Choose it when speed is the goal and the course rewards quick acceleration. |
| 3C MaxxTerra | The middle-ground triple compound. It gives more grip than MaxxSpeed, but it rolls and wears better than MaxxGrip. | This is often the sensible choice for trail bikes and mixed conditions. |
| 3C MaxxGrip | The softest mountain compound in the range, with the most traction and the slowest rebound. | Best for wet, steep, or technical riding where the tyre has to stick. |
| EXO | A lightweight, cut- and abrasion-resistant sidewall layer. | Good for XC and light trail, but not my first pick for repeated rock strikes. |
| EXO+ | A 60 TPI casing with EXO protection and a bead insert. | The sweet spot for all-round trail riding when you want a bit more insurance. |
| DoubleDown | Two 120 TPI layers with a butyl sidewall insert. | Built for enduro, where support and impact resistance matter more than low weight. |
| Downhill | Two layers of 60 TPI casing with a large butyl insert. | Use this when the priority is gravity abuse, not climbing efficiency. |
| 60 TPI vs 120 TPI | 60 TPI is tougher and heavier. 120 TPI is lighter and more supple, but more fragile. | I use 60 TPI when the terrain is harsh, and 120 TPI when feel and weight matter more. |
| TR | Tubeless Ready. It is designed to run with sealant and tubeless-compatible rims. | It is usually worth it, because lower pressures improve grip and reduce flats. |
Important: current 2.40 and 2.50 mountain tyres no longer carry the WT label, so I read rim fitment directly from the size notes rather than the sidewall letters. Most trail and enduro sizes are happiest on modern wider rims, while some XC tyres, especially the wide-profile race options, still like a narrower range around 25 to 30 mm internal width.
With the code decoded, the last step is matching it to the kind of riding you actually do, especially if you spend a lot of time on wet British ground.
Which setups work best on UK trails
I rarely recommend a single tyre in isolation. On real bikes, the front and rear do different jobs, and the best setup is usually a pair that matches the terrain, the rider, and the weather.
| Use case | Front tyre | Rear tyre | Why it works |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry XC race | Aspen or Aspen AT | Aspen ST or Rekon Race | Fast rolling, low drag, and enough cornering if the course stays open and dry. |
| Mixed XC and marathon riding | Aspen AT or Ikon | Rekon Race or Ikon | Still quick, but less nervous when the course gets rougher or the pace settles. |
| Wet roots and shoulder-season trail riding | Forekaster or Assegai | Rekon or DHR II | More front confidence and better braking where British trails can turn slippery fast. |
| General trail riding | Rekon or Forekaster | Rekon or Aggressor | A useful balance of grip, speed, and wear for year-round use. |
| Aggressive enduro or bike park | Assegai or DHF | DHR II or High Roller | Good front bite and rear braking control when the terrain is steep and rough. |
| Deep mud or race-day slop | Shorty or Wetscream | Shorty or Wetscream | Only worth it when the ground is genuinely soft enough to justify a spike or mid-spike. |
For most UK riders, the sweet spot is not the fastest tread on the chart, it is the tyre that still gives you confidence when the trail changes halfway through the ride. If I had to simplify the choice, I would say the front tyre should protect your line choice, while the rear tyre should protect your braking and traction under load.
The details that save you from buying the wrong Maxxis tyre
Before I buy, I check five things: the actual tread family, the front or rear role, the compound, the casing, and the rim width the tyre was designed around. That sounds basic, but it is exactly where a lot of riders go wrong, especially when they buy by model name alone.
- Tyre family: make sure the model matches the speed or grip level you actually need.
- Role: check whether it works better as a front tyre, a rear tyre, or a true all-rounder.
- Compound: decide whether you want MaxxSpeed, MaxxTerra, or MaxxGrip before you compare price.
- Casing: move up in protection if you ride rocks, roots, or bike park tracks more often than smooth singletrack.
- Fitment: check rim width and tyre width together, because the same tyre can feel perfect or vague depending on the wheel.
My own rule is simple, if a bike has to survive winter riding, I choose casing first and compound second. That is the cleanest way to turn the Maxxis range into something you can actually use, instead of just a list of familiar names and numbers.
