Breaking Down The Ultimate Maxxis MTB Tire Setup

[@PeterJamison]

What is your favorite tire setup?

[@eXaviar]

ATM Specialized Butcher and Eliminator 29x2.6 /2.3 in Grid Trail T9 / T7 as my Enduro setup. sometimes a Hillbilly Grid Gravity T9 upfront, when it is wet or deep dirt. This year, I will try a Eliminator upfront and a Purgatory Grid Trail T7 as my lighter Trail setup

[@PeterJamison]

@@eXaviar 🤙🏼

[@jesusalbertoguerrerocarden6628]

Maxxis Assegai 2.5 MaxxGripp DD front, Minion DHRII or Dissector both in MaxxTerra DD 2.4 on the back or Continental Kryptotal Fr front and Xynotal back, both on soft compound and enduro casing

[@alabaster4263]

The ones on sale are my favorite

[@PeterJamison]

🤘🏼

[@worldstallestmidget]

Always been a fan of dhf/dhf 2.5 On a regular bike. On my e bike I ran dhf/dhr2. My favorite combo ever was dhf/mobster back when I rode and raced downhill! That rear tire hooked up in any condition! Except deep mud!

[@PeterJamison]

Mobster! Never heard of that one!

[@callaway5148]

Double DHF, at least Exo+ but bumping to DD when needed. Max Grip front, Max Terra rear. I've tried all the others (Assegai, DHR2, Dissector, Aggressor, High Roller 2) but double DHF is it for me, though I will sometimes go Dissector in the rear if I want a little lighter tire with slightly better rolling. DHF stomps the Assegai up front for me because it forces you to lean the bike and dig in. I like leaning and knowing when those side knobs are hooking up. On the Assegai I find it harder to tell when you're on those side knobs and they give way in an unpredictable manner compared to DHF. Also, unless you're on top of your technique, the high grip when partially leaned over on the Assegai can lull you into thinking you're leaned far enough and then getting caught out because you were lazy and didn't commit. Assegai is great, but not for me! DHR2 is popular as a front tire, but I find it doesn't hold its line as well as the DHF. It wants to get bounced out and slide sideways, whereas the DHF tracks true and holds the line.

[@PeterJamison]

Glad you are enjoying the DHF so much, it is a great tire 🤘🏼

[@JLawMTB]

I think the Assegai grips well and is more forgiving if your not weighting the bike correctly in turns but feels vague. I prefer the feel of a DHR or DHF on the front. You get more feedback for how the tire is gripping making it more predictable.

[@PeterJamison]

Thanks for sharing!

[@dustyimage981]

Great explanation from a guy who knows his stuff!

[@PeterJamison]

Thanks for watching!

[@locotiki66]

Nice job Pete! I need to try going back to a lighter sidewall on the front now that I’m older than dirt. Killing it bud!

[@PeterJamison]

Thanks Ed! Lighter sidewall in the front is a good move no question 🤘🏼

[@Ammotive28]

Assegai DD MG, Ive struggles to find an all rounder that suits the way I ride, local climate & terrain better. I’ve put a Shorty DH MG on the back when it’s really muddy.

[@PeterJamison]

Glad you've found a setup that works well for you 👊🏼

[@eXaviar]

ATM 29er front and back: Specialized Butcher T9 upfront and Eliminator T7. Both in Grid Trail casing as my Enduro setup based on a Ragley Big Wig. Something in-between Exo+ and DD. When it wet or the soil is deep, i will pull out the Hillbilly Grid Gravity T9. This year as a lighter and faster rolling Trail setup, i will try an Eliminator and a Purgatory. Both in Grid Trail T7. As a BONUS, i got all tyres on sale for round about 30€ each 🤯

[@PeterJamison]

That is a good deal!

[@jokermtb]

Been running a dhr2 on the rear for a few years now. I'm very used to how the tire feels on my bike. Recently, I put a Dissector on the rear and while I expected a little bit better rolling speed, I was shocked by how much additional speed my bike carried everywhere - it was very noticeable. While I primarily ride on actual dirt (I'm in Michigan), the difference in cornering grip is negligible between the dhr2 and dissector, but if you live in rockier drier terrain, you'll notice the difference. That said, I just bought two more dissectors on deep discount to stock up, so I'm sold on this rear tire. FYI, I run an Assegai 2.5 on the front, as you cannot get a better gripping front tire from maxxis.

[@PeterJamison]

Glad you have been enjoying the Dissector & Assegai combo! Definitely excited to toss another Dissector on in the future. Thanks for watching!

[@Mkondvar]

Once u try Schwalbe Hans dampf on rear you never come back for dissector. Dissector its tire for 300 miles with agrresive riding, then start ripping side knobs.Hans Dampf have better braking, in supertrail casting almost the same weight like exo+, but much stiffer sidewalls and protection and roll faster. Knobs have the same height as dissector.

[@jokermtb]

@@Mkondvar Sidewall tearing is not an issue in Michigan. That, and I picked up two extra 2.4 Dissector WT's for $31 each, on colorado cyclist's going out of biz sale.....might as well stock up at those prices!

[@freezer4230]

The Dissector is fast and it's great on hardpack but on loose it will let go pretty suddenly, both braking and cornering. Also, run a Dissector in front only if you like putting your face in the dirt. Why some OEMs spec Dissector in front is beyond me.

[@jokermtb]

@@freezer4230 It does let go under braking easily. It grips in corners just as hard if one pumps the bike into the turn (to get those side knobs in the mix). It does shralpp extremely well! After riding the Dissector on the back for a few weeks, I really like how my bike climbs easier, and cornering seems about the same, BUT I've never locked up my rear brake more when I really toss out the anchor (running Saint brakes w/ galfer rotors isn't helping alleviate that!).....I guess I am spoiled by the braking grip of the DHR2. There is no perfect rear tire!

[@lilblaster22]

Sweet mother of pearl you are the fastest man alive...

[@PeterJamison]

Haha I definitely wouldn't say that, but thanks 👊🏼

[@freezer4230]

DHR2/DHR2 is max cornering traction in my book. Assegai is nice because it's higher volume for smashing through the gnar but on loose over hardpack the DHR2 side knobs allow for harder cornering. And the DHR2 on front has much better braking traction than Assegai if you're riding really steep and loose stuff. Not quite as plush a ride as Assegai, but pick your priorities.

[@PeterJamison]

🤙🏼 Definitely need to experiment with the DHR as a front tire more in the future...

[@Bike4adventure]

great video, lots of information!

[@PeterJamison]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching!

[@wd99999]

Dissector / Rekon on my Honzo CR DL 🤙🏼

[@PeterJamison]

🤙🏼

[@LaurentiusTriarius]

Michelin DH22 front and back or DH22/34. On the hardtail I have currently the vredestein Bobcats 29 tubeless, casing feels a bit flimsy but the rubber is proper erasing gum, better than Michelin magi x in certain dry and cold conditions ...

[@PeterJamison]

erasing gum 😂

[@DandyHippo]

When you said the dissector wasnt necessarily better than dhr was it still better? Or worse? Or no actual difference

[@PeterJamison]

I don't have any super strong feelings about the Dissector, still need to log some more miles on it 🤙🏼

[@DandyHippo]

@@PeterJamison gotcha fam, other in the comments said that washes out more easily and less grip overall but rolls much better. Only tried on pals bike so dont have too much xp on it either

[@my2017raptorhardtail]

Very helpful as always. How do you think an assegai in the rear would be too? Been thinkin about trying it, but let me know your thoughts. I love Assegai in the front. Most control. 🤙

[@PeterJamison]

Glad you found the video helpful! Some of my thoughts on the Asseagi as a rear tire can be found at 5:08 ✌🏼

[@my2017raptorhardtail]

Ha! The one part I guess I missed. Thanks brother. Might do a 2.5 Assegai just to test it out because the rear 2.6 dissector rubs a little.

[@terryontwowheels]

Hey Peter , what width do you run on your trail bikes ?

[@PeterJamison]

I run 2.5 in the front and 2.4 in the back! ✌🏼

[@MonsterMX99]

I used to have Dhf + Dhr combo, but Conti Argotal DH SS + Kryptotal is much better, they are so well damped and last longer than Maxxis Maxterra.

[@PeterJamison]

🤙🏼

[@jacktejada1721]

Hey Peter, I just subscribed to your channel so this is my first time reaching out. Great video I have been running Assegai EXO + Max Grip (front) and a DHF EXO+ Max Terra (rear), on my SB140 mullet. PSI is 19 front and 23 rear. Of course I am 140 pounds. I have really enjoyed this combo for two years now but that whole time I had gotten a wrist injury And went through a long recovery and have recently gotten back to almost 100% strength and range of motion. I ride quite a bit but didn’t get the chance very often to ride the steeper rockier terrain in my area that I love until now. I have been thinking about running the double down casing and even trying the DHR II on the rear, although I have been very fortunate to not have a flat in a very long time with the current set up. Do you have any thoughts on moving to the DD’s and / or the DHR? Thanks!

[@PeterJamison]

Glad you enjoyed the video! If you aren't having any flats or troubles with EXO + I would keep running that and would definitely recommend testing out the DHR II 👊🏼

[@dirtmedicine]

Assegai up front, disector rear

[@PeterJamison]

🤘🏼

[@dylansalt1]

I’m very confused on why you use such high tyre pressures for “traction” the whole reason for tubeless tyres when they were first introduced was to be able to run lower pressures (this was 2.3 tyres back then) for extra traction (over tubes) and conforming to the terrain - now we have 2.5 & 2.6 tyres - surely pressures can be run lower - I’m 93kg and find at such high pressures I’m “pinging “ off routes, small rocks etc - I’m not doing massive jumps but do do enduro routes and find 23 at back and 20 at front works for me - if it’s basically loose over hard with no rocks I’ll run even softer pressures- I run 2.5 Assegai on front and a 2.4 DHR2 on back - I also do 4x4 stuff and the rule is lower tyre pressures = more traction

[@PeterJamison]

Thanks for watching! Tire pressure is relative to the rider weight and riding style. With how I ride, 25 psi is on the very low end for me; but that is great you are able to have success at 20 psi 👍

[@joshreyes4647]

double dhr II

[@PeterJamison]

Seems to be popular these days!

[@billydeewilliams8909]

In my own 'career' (never going to go pro or anything like that), I'm about where you were, relatively speaking, in 2021. I too am trying out a lot of different Maxxis tire combos. I was on Vittoria and Bontrager tires for quite a while. Vittoria are perfectly capable all-round, and they're unmatched in terms of tire width options. You can get lots of their tires from like 25mm all the way to 2.6. Of Bontrager tires, with the exception of the XR series, the less said the better. The XR2 fucking rips though; before they got rid of all the cool names, the XR was the famous 29+ tire, the Chupacabra. Their new rebrand looks like garbage too. On my three bikes with Maxxis tires, I run DHR2 front on all of them, and generally I run EXO+ (except on my rigid; they only make 29x3.0 in regular EXO). On my rigid, I have an Aggressor rear; on my trail bike, Rekon; on my e-enduro, Dissector. I truly don't see the point of the DHF (though I've never ridden it). I don't know exactly how much to credit the information on Maxxis' website, but according to it, the DHF is slower, worse braking, and identical in corners to the Dissector. The DHR rolls slower than the DHF, but brakes and corners better. And of course the Assegai is slow but brakes and corners excellently. Honestly, from the information on the site, it seems the DHF should be a rear and the DHR a front. I know the rear tire does a ton of work when it comes to braking, so having a really strong braking tire in the rear makes a good deal of sense, but overall I don't see it. I'd rather run an Assegai front (which I've also never ridden on). Probably my next Maxxis combo is going to be Assegai front Dissector rear. I don't live at a park or anything, just riding a lot of local trails in NorCal, so I don't feel I need anything more serious in the rear. Also, I'm really looking forward to trying out some of Continental's new lineup, particularly the Kryptotal. Tire pressure is a really interesting subject. I'm pretty big, 280 lbs, and my bikes at another 25-50 lbs on top of that. I punched my numbers into the Silca tire pressure catalog (using Category 4 gravel, which is basically singletrack), and it recommends I run the crazy low pressures of 12 rear 11 front (with 2.6 tires). Obviously, I didn't run right out and test this, but my normal pressure (using Cush Core) is 20 front 25 rear, and I decided just not to fill the tires for a few days as I rode on them. Yesterday, I had a big day on the bike, and my rear tire was pretty low, probably something like 22, and it felt pretty squirmy, so I think I'm going to stick with my normal for now.

[@callaway5148]

Saying you don't see the need for the DHF but you've never ridden it is, well... nevermind. But it is the tire which has seen more world cup podiums than any other by far. The performance bars on the Maxxis site aren't quite right. Put a DHF up front, get used to it, then swap it for a Dissector and then tell me the DHF is pointless. I dare you! For reference, I've ridden Assegai, DHF, DHR2, and Dissector up front. On the rear I've used DHF, DHR2, Dissector, Aggressor, and High Roller 2. My favorite (F/R) is DHF/DHF, followed by DHF/Dissector. I like the High Roller 2 better than the Dissector in the rear, but I usually can't find it in the casing I want.

[@PeterJamison]

Glad you have been able to get some good testing in!

[@KurtRWalker]

The ultimate Maxxis setup is....Continental :P

[@PeterJamison]

What do you prefer about the Continental tires?

[@roddas26]

​@@PeterJamisontry them and find out. The are my personal favourite, now.

[@LaurentiusTriarius]

​@@roddas26 I didn't like the kryptotal at all, slow rolling but I'm used to Michelins... Plenty of traction but felt numb as a front tire so I did put 32 psi in it, meh to each is own 😊

[@MrDavecore777]

I still think Maxxis has better variety of compounds and casings. I will not switch out my exo+ assegai MG until they release a Super Soft Enduro Krypto

[@KurtRWalker]

@@MrDavecore777 Super soft tires simply dont last long enough in Utah, AZ, and Vegas. I cant be changing out tires with inserts every month, and the shops bitch and moan about inserts already. But I hear you.

[@jorgesantos8509]

Never trust a biker who says a tan sidewall looks amazing! : )

[@PeterJamison]

To each there own 🤙🏼