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BEST ALL ROUNDER
MAXXIS
HIGH ROLLER II EXO 3C
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Maxxis, maxxis.co.uk
A stone-cold classic of the modern era, the Maxxis High
Roller II has a solid reputation as a go-to tyre for most
conditions, offering a great balance of grip, control, braking,
and rolling resistance. Weighing in at 906g (pretty much
bang on the claimed weight of 915g), the tyres feature a 60tpi
tubeless ready EXO casing and folding Kevlar bead, with
three progressively softer rubber compounds making up the
tread. There’s a harder 70a compound at the base, 50a in the
centre for traction and braking, and a soft 42a compound
on the edges for enhanced cornering grip. The aggressive and
square tread is a subtle but effective revision of the old High
Roller (a classic in its own right) – carefully shaped and siped
centre knobs give way to big chunky side knobs designed to
offer exceptional cornering traction in looser conditions and a
smoother transition onto the tyre shoulder than the original.
Cornering on the front is amazing when leant over
onto that edge, especially in looser and sloppier conditions,
and it only got squirrely when combined with steep upright
braking or cornering. Otherwise it holds its line well, and
that edge is great when you’re on it. If you don’t lean the tyre
over assertively while riding on harder trail surfaces, there is
the risk it’ll just go straight instead of making the turn. Push
the tyre down onto those cornering blocks, however, and the
High Roller II hooks in well. Braking control on the front was
good, only giving up in steep slop when most tyres that aren’t
a dedicated mud spike would struggle.
As a rear tyre it’s fantastic, offering lots of grip, while
the good tread pattern claws up and over most surfaces
without causing too much drag. What drag there is becomes
only really noticeable on tarmac, and is not an issue at all
when you’re having fun. There is more resistance than a
Hans Dampf for example, but the High Roller II is a more
confidence-inspiring tyre both front and rear.
Riding in the north Lakes, we ran higher pressures
(more so than normal) throughout the test (27 psi at the
front, 32 at the back), to compensate for the relatively
unsupportive sidewalls and to prevent burping. On our third
ride, we managed to put a significant hole in the rear tyre,
and although it went back up with an anchovy and stayed
sealed for the remainder of the test, if you are particularly
hard on tyres, we would recommend that you consider the
new Double Down version for extra protection. It might
weigh more but it is a lot more durable, and for this tester
at least the whole point of tubeless is less faff and more
riding time, though unless you’re pummelling hard rocky
trails or schralping in the Alps, for most riders and UK trail
conditions, the EXO version is more than durable enough.
The tyres popped up tubeless first time, using just a track
pump on both Stan’s Flow EX and DT EX471 rims, and
other than putting a hole in the rear sidewall, they didn’t burp
or lose pressure throughout the duration of the test. Finally,
wear was slightly higher than average, but then again we were
running the softer of the 3C compounds available and this is a
small price to pay for the grip on offer.
Overall
There’s a reason why these tyres are so prevalent, and that’s
because they offer a near perfect balance of traction, cornering
confidence and flexibility. They’ll do a near enough brilliant
job of keeping you upright in all but the worst conditions,
and with the extensive Maxxis range there’s guaranteed to be a
casing and compound to suit your local trails.
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