BASIC TIRE CONSTRUCTION
SINGLE PLY CASING
One layer of nylon wrapped from bead to bead, a single ply conforms well to the terrain and is lighter weight.
DUAL PLY CASING
Two pieces of casing are used from bead to bead which provides additional protection in Downhill applications.
WIRE BEAD
A sturdy material is needed to hold the tire against the rim when inflated. Wire is used to ensure the bead will not expand, but wire is also heavier.
FOLDABLE BEAD
Foldable beads also stay tight to the rim but are lighter weight and easier to transport. The bead is made of an Aramid or Kevlar material.
CARBON FIBER BEAD
A flexible material with greater strength to withstand the high pressure rating of a road tire.
THREADS PER INCH (TPI)
The number of nylon threads that cross through one square inch of the tire’s casing. Lower TPI gives better puncture and tear resistance, but is heavier. Higher TPI conforms more to the terrain, offering a smoother, more supple ride. It is also lighter weight.
Maxxis TPI ratings are the threads-per-inch of a single casing ply, as compared to some competitor TPI ratings.
MAXXIS TECHNOLOGY
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TUBULAR
A traditional tire construction in which the tire is sewn around an inner tube. These types of tires must be glued or taped onto tubular-specific rims. |
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RADIAL
A radial construction orients the casing threads perpendicular to the direction of rotation. This allows the sidewall to easily bend and flex, resulting in a very compliant and supple ride. |
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TUBELESS ROAD
Tubeless technology that combines a carbon fiber bead for strength and a butyl inner liner for air retention to eliminate the need for an inner tube. |
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BUTYL INSERT
An extra layer of butyl rubber wrapped around the bead of a Downhill tire that helps prevent pinch flats and protects the rim from hard hits. |
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LUST
An acronym which stands for “Lightweight Ultimate Sidewall Technology.” The outside of the casing is covered in a lightweight material and an airtight rubber compound resulting in a durable tire that is lightweight with excellent air retention. |
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EXO PROTECTION
An extremely cut-resistant and abrasion-resistant material added to the sidewalls of select mountain tires. This densely woven material is also lightweight and highly flexible, ensuring that the performance of the tire remains unaffected. |
PUNCTURE PROTECTION
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SILKWORM
Silkworm Technology is an exclusive material incorporated into the casing of select models. The Silkworm material helps to increase puncture and tear resistance. Silkworm is featured as a bead-to-bead cap ply (denoted as Silkworm B2B) or under the tread as a breaker (denoted as Silkworm). |
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KEVLAR® COMPOSITE (K2)
Available in select tires, this Maxxis exclusive fabric provides more puncture protection than both standard Kevlar® and Vectran®. The addition of this lightweight and supple material ensures that the ride quality and performance remains unsurpassed. |
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NYLON BREAKER
The nylon breaker is a reinforcement option that offers protection from punctures directly under the tread area. The nylon breaker is available in select road tires. |
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MAXXPROTECT
A polyfiber material positioned between the tire tread and the casing. With varying thicknesses of 0.9mm – 1.5mm, MaxxProtect is designed to maximize puncture resistance in select hybrid models. |
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KEVLAR® INSIDE
A Kevlar® material positioned between the tire tread and the casing. Similar to MaxxProtect technology, Kevlar® Inside varies in thickness and provides optimal puncture protection. |
COMPOUNDS
The most important part of a tire is arguably the rubber compound within the tread. By changing the amounts of various components of the rubber formula, engineers can make two identical looking tires perform completely differenty. Below is a list of the Maxxis compounds and their distinct characteristics.
SINGLE One compound throughout the tread optimized for longevity and performance.
DUAL Two compounds comprised of a hard, longer lasting center and a softer gripping shoulder.
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SUPER TACKY
A special low rebound, high traction compound used in mountain tires. |
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TRIPLE
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ROAD
Three compounds comprised of a harder, longer lasting center and two progressively softer shoulder compounds for unparalleled rolling efficiency |
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3C Maxx Speed
Used primarily in cross country and enduro tires, the two compounds in the outer layer are secially formulated to lower rolling resistance and optimize treadwear and traction. |
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3C Maxx Terra
An intermediate compound configuration used in select mountain tires. 3C Maxx Terra is softer and offers more traction than 3C Maxx Speed, yet provides better treadwear and less rolling resistance than Maxx Grip. |
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3C Maxx Grip
A new name for the downhill 3C comound configuration that you have come to know and trust. 3C Maxx Grip offers the ultimate in grip and slow rebound properties for unparalleled traction in downhill applications. |