mountainbike maxxis Assegai Tire – Thunder Mountain Bikes

• Dual Compound, 3C MaxxTerra, or 3C MaxxGrip options
• 60 TPI, DoubleDown (2×120 TPI), or Downhill (2×60 TPI) casing options
• EXO or EXO+ puncture protection options
• Wide Trail (WT) sizes are optimized for 35mm inner width rims
• Tubeless Ready

Maxxis’ 3C MaxxTerra is an intermediate triple compound configuration used across their mountain tire line. The 3C MaxxTerra compound offers more traction than 3C MaxxSpeed, yet provides better treadwear and less rolling resistance than MaxxGrip, which makes it ideal for trail riding in all conditions.

Maxxis’ 3C MaxxGrip compound uses the stickiest, slowest rebounding rubber offered in a mountain bike tire. This high traction compound is the same one used by top World Cup Downhill and Enduro World Series athletes and is now available in various casing configurations to cover all riders.

• 3C MaxxGrip + EXO casing = Light duty trail riding in wet/slick conditions
• 3C MaxxGrip + EXO+ casing = All-around trail riding in wet/slick conditions
• 3C MaxxGrip + DoubleDown casing = Enduro racing and e-bikes
• 3C MaxxGrip + Downhill casing = Downhill racing and long travel e-bikes

DoubleDown (DD) is the casing solution for enduro racing and e-bike use from Maxxis. Two layers of lightweight 120 TPI casing material are combined with a butyl sidewall insert to create a highly durable tire with more trail feedback than a Downhill casing tire.

DoubleDown tires are marginally lighter than their Downhill counterparts, but it’s really the difference in “trail feel” that sets the two apart. Some riders may prefer the highly damped ride provided by a Downhill casing tire.

As the name implies, Maxxis’ Downhill casing tires are designed for extreme use in all gravity applications, from downhill racing to bike park riding to free riding to long travel e-bikes. A Maxxis Downhill tire is made with two layers of durable 60 TPI casing material along with a large butyl rubber insert that extends from each bead into the sidewall. The butyl insert helps prevent pinch flats, protects the rim from impacts, and provides additional sidewall stability.

EXO is a cut- and abrasion-resistant material added to the sidewalls of many Maxxis mountain bike and gravel tires. This densely woven fabric is lightweight and highly flexible, ensuring that the tire's performance remains unaffected. Choose EXO Protection for enhanced durability for gravel, XC, and light-duty trail riding.

EXO+ is Maxxis’ medium-duty puncture protection option suitable for all-around trail riding and lightweight e-bikes. Maxxis begins with a durable 60 TPI casing, adds in their legendary EXO puncture protection layer in the sidewalls, and tops it off with a small butyl insert around the bead. The tough casing and EXO material avoid damage from rocks and roots, while the butyl insert protects the tire from pinch flats and helps prevent rim damage.

The Assegai, Forekaster, Minion DHF, and Minion DHRII tire models have received official ECE-R75 Certification and are approved for use on eBikes at speeds of up to 50 KPH.

Tubeless-ready tires provide the rider with many benefits: the ability to run lower air pressures, which improves traction; lower rolling resistance when compared to a tube-type tire; and less chance of flatting because there is no tube. Tubeless-ready tires are denoted by the letters “TR” on the sidewall.

Tubeless-ready tires must be mounted to tubeless compatible rims and require the use of a liquid sealant to maintain pressure. Liquid sealants have the added benefit of sealing small punctures. Be sure to check your sealant regularly and refresh as needed, as it will dry out over time. Pick up an extra bottle of sealant here. 

Liquid sealants should only be used in the following types of tires: tubeless road, tubular, and tubeless-ready. Using liquid sealants in any other Maxxis tire will void the warranty.

Wide Trail (WT) construction optimizes the tire’s tread layout and profile on today’s modern, wider rims. Traditional tires are designed around older, narrower rims and can create an overly square tire profile, leading to less-than-optimal performance. WT tires are optimized for a 35mm inner rim width but are proven to work over a range from 30-35mm inner rim widths, depending on the rider’s preference.

Maxxis Wide Trail XC tires are optimized for use with 30mm internal width rims, but they will perform well on rims as narrow as 25mm. Maxxis does not recommend rims wider than 30mm or narrower than 25mm.