Conclusion

Even with more new tyre models entering the market, brands face an uphill battle luring riders away from tried and trusted options that have proven themselves over several years. No brand has so far achieved a dream tyre that’s light enough for efficient climbing, yet also heavy enough to provide stability and momentum at speed to stay confident, composed and resist deflections.

This fantasy high-grip tyre would also be supple and conforming for comfort and terrain-tracking, whilst also supportive under extreme rider loads. Naturally, durability would be sorted so it doesn’t wear out too fast either. Like previous group tests, Maxxis’s complete packages tick the most boxes and do the best job of balancing the matrix of grip, stability and support. The fact they also come up a bit lighter than most other brand equivalents doesn’t go unnoticed when you’re winching uphill. There’s also a predictable and controlled feel when really loading its tyres in corners or compressions, plus a good range of casings and compounds that are really grippy.

Maxxis doesn’t totally rule the roost however, and since this group test doesn’t include plenty of tyres that have impressed us previously, we’re offering a quick summary of some of our year-round favourites for aggressive trail and enduro riding below. The list isn’t exhaustive and doesn’t factor in specific requirements like mud riding or tougher tyres for DH or Alpine trails.