World Cup Champion Greg Minnaar's signature tire.
The Maxxis Assegai tire is named after the iron-tipped spear used by the Zulu people of South Africa. Greg Minnaar, a native of South Africa, thought it was a fitting name for a tire ready to do battle on the mountain. The tall knobs punch through dust and loam to find traction, but also offer support and confidence on wet roots and rocks. While other tires excel only in certain conditions, the new Maxxis Assegai is built to go fast everywhere.
The side blocks have been borrowed from the well-known High Roller, but have been strengthened to prevent them from wrapping up when reaching the biggest overloads in corners. The most characteristic are small blocks that fill the tread where most tires have an empty space, i.e. between the middle and side blocks. It was Greg's idea for maximum cornering grip.
Technologies found in tires, check them when choosing a tire from the list:
WT - Wide Trail - The tire optimized for use with a 35mm inner rim.
EXO Protection - Extremely durable material, prevents chafing and tearing of the tire on the side walls, where the tread is no longer present.
EXO + Protection - Our EXO+ construction combines two of our best puncture protection materials: SilkShield and EXO. The SilkShield layer runs from bead-to-bead with a layer of EXO along the sidewalls. Combined, these two materials create EXO+ which improves tread puncture protection by 27%; sidewall durability by 51%; and resistance to pinch flats by 28%.
DH CASING (BUTYL INSERT) - An extra piece of butyl rubber that extends from the bead of a downhill tire up into the sidewall. The butyl insert helps prevent pinch flats, protects the rim from hard hits and adds sidewall stability.
3C MAXX GRIP - A new name for the downhill 3C compound 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.
TUBELESS READY - Tubeless 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 since there is no tube. Maxxis Tubeless Ready (TR) tires provide the benefits of a UST tubeless tire without the weight penalty. Our TR tires use a standard casing and require the use of a liquid sealant in order to make them airtight. Maxxis Tubeless Ready tires are the only Maxxis tires approved for use with liquid sealants. Using a liquid sealant in any non-TR Maxxis tire will void the warranty.
3C MaxxGrip - Designed for DH tires. Maxx Grip offers excellent grip and less rebound effect with unmatched traction.
3C MaxxTerra - Maxx Terra is an intermediate configuration of three components, offering better traction than Maxx Speed. Used in several selected Enduro / FR tires.
Dual Compound - Two types of rubber compound used in one tread (harder in the middle, soft on the tread side).