Top 4 Maxxis Cross Country Tires for 2024

When choosing speed tires for cross-country mountain biking and marathons, efficiency, reliability and predictability are important. Maxxis has a few iconic treads in the XC game, with classics like the Ikon and Aspen, and more recently the Rekon Race. Severe has been seen several times before it starts in 2023, as the wet conditions close a huge gap on Maxxis. We look at 4 different Maxxis tires.

In 2023 Maxxis renewed one of their combinations. Many Maxxis cross-country tires have been available in the MaxxSpeed ​​​​3C (compound three), such as the Ikon. However the 2.4” WT (wide trail) Aspen and Rekon Race came with only two comps. Like any manufacturer, Maxxis wanted to improve certain aspects of their XC wheels, working with top teams and athletes to get the perfect combination. I spoke with Gordon Wadsworth, one of the US athletes behind the scenes trying different compounds.

READ: New Maxxis Aspen ST and 170tpi casings are available

'We have come up with great compounds that play well on both track and gravel. But they have to raise all the bars to make the production. The demons live in the details and in this case it was the proportion of silica and type that gave the new rubber its magic. The 3C MaxxSpeed ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​was a good set of compromises with each hard, medium, and soft compound playing a role where its strengths are appropriate. But when we started playing around with adding silica to the mix we found that we could start removing various rubber compounds because of the silica ingredients.' Maxxis has managed to combine some of the best features of soft and hard compounds into one new MaxxSpeed ​​rubber.

'This has been happening in car tires for a long time but the development of bicycle tires we are seeing with MaxxSpeed​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​25% faster, in wear characteristics, and improvements in cold and wet weather performance. Rolling out a different compound has weight and wear benefits but the aim was a faster, better tyre, and I think we've achieved that!'

In the summer of riding in most cases, I can testify that the tires roll faster, and the wear rate seems to be better too – which is more noticeable on a tire like the Aspen, which had a tendency to lose effective grip in the rear. a few hundred kilometers hard.

Maxxis Ikon 29 x 2.35” | weight 853g 59.5 mm

The Ikon tread pattern has been around for over a decade and is a classic in the Maxxis off-road tire range. I used to ride and race a lot on this tire with a 2.2”, then went back to the 2.35” 3C model in later years to use on the rear. The tread is longer than most semi slicks but the near center knobs still roll quickly, supporting a nice fast tire knob. No questions, this is an amazing rear tire if you want more braking and faster traction. But compared to the 2.2” size the 2.35” has a larger footprint, and the contact patch puts more edges on the ground than you might think. I find this to be a really versatile tire in most situations, and this has been for training rides and local races. Throw in a Rekon 2.4” up front and it makes for a very capable combination on aggressive trails. The latest MaxxSpeed ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ has made this classic even better.

Maxxis Aspen 29 x 2.4” | 762g 60.5mm

The Aspen is one of the classics in the Maxxis cross-country tire range, designed for speed and a favorite with fast kids around the world. The Aspen has a rounded profile and a small tread in the middle, the shoulder knobs still provide good support in the corner going into the transition area as well – but you need to accept that this is a slightly slippery XC wheel. It moves and pushes in a controlled way, but it also rolls very fast! I have spent a lot of time riding the 2.25” and 2.4” Aspen in many stage races. It's fast, but it can lack the right amount when you're running blind, leading to times where it feels like the rear wheel wants to overtake the front. That doesn't change with the new combination, but I found the wear rate to be much better. The small central ribs can often tear after a few days of hard stage racing, but I have found even after a few hundred kilometers of hilly training and many kilometers of road, the new MaxxSpeed​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​anew​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​atesizes. This is a fast tire and a great choice for a race day on hardpack – or just on the back in mixed conditions.

READ: FIRST LOOK: AMB XC MTB tire test

Maxxis Rekon Race 29 x 2.4” | 828g 61mm

I first rode the Rekon Race in 2.25”, and it has become a popular low-skid tire for many XC mountain bikes. The 2.4” model was my go-to front tire for most of 2023 – with plenty of grip and speed. So testing the new MaxxSpeed ​​combination​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ The Rekon Racer has a lot of small edges due to the wide range of low tread, but they stack up to roll quickly. Yet under the corners as the front wheel pushes they are like little nails in the ground – or little anchors under the brakes. This edge has worn reasonably quickly in the past, reducing overall drag a fraction – but I've gotten better wear rates with the MaxxSpeed. It's not a crazy light tire, but it has plenty of capacity and is an excellent dry condition tire on both ends with a large contact patch. I usually run it with an Aspen in the back, or pair an Ikon or Rekon in the front with a different setup. If you're looking for something a little faster than the Ikon, this is a great front and rear combination for dry and slightly mixed conditions.

Maxxis Severe 29 x 2.25” | 729g 58mm

Maxxis lacks a true wet weather tire. I have a set of unused Beavers, but usually rely on Ardent Race, Rekon or the old Forecaster in wet conditions. Severe laughs at them all in a wet and soft place. Thanks to the closed center tread it still runs smoothly – unlike the Forkaster – although the raised ribs are similar to the old model. The smaller 2.25” diameter reduces weight but also helps with frame and fork clearance. I found the rounded profile and small size to be very fast, and putting the brakes on these tires even in wet clay and root mixes was a blast. I was actually really surprised how well the tread works. The alternating edge knob and transition knob get plenty of grip on soft surfaces – although it feels odd in fast road corners. I haven't ridden in any peanut butter death mud thankfully, but I think in most wet and sloamy situations this will be my go to back and forth. For any rider with wet winter months, or runners who want to have something on hand for any conditions – the Severes set is a must.