Maxxis High Roller
Diameters Offered: 27.5’’ and 29’’
Stated Width: 2.4’’
Version Offered: DH Casing / 3C MaxxGrip Rubber (more variants coming soon)
Blister’s Measured Width (on 30 mm internal-width rim):
- 2.27‘’’ (casing)
- 2.38’’(tread)
Blister’s Measured Weight (29’’ diameter): 1,410 and 1,419 g
MSRP: $105
Intro
A lot of Maxxis’ DH racers had been spotted on a new tire at the World Cup races this season, so it wasn’t much of a surprise when that tire formally launched, but the name caught me off guard. Sure, the High Roller name has long held a place in Maxxis’ lineup, and the High Roller II had faded into obscurity after more than a decade on the market, but the new High Roller (Maxxis isn’t officially calling it the High Roller III) looks nothing like the earlier two variants.
The original High Roller cornered exceptionally well, especially in drier, firmer conditions, and rolled pretty quickly, but its braking performance… left a lot to be desired. The High Roller II’s braking performance was vastly better than that of the original, and it still cornered pretty well, but it was quickly overshadowed by the Minion DHR II that was released a short time later and never really achieved widespread popularity — despite being quite a good tire in the right conditions.
So from that angle, maybe it’s not such a big surprise that Maxxis went in a different direction with the new High Roller — and it looks to fill a distinct hole in their lineup in the process. Maxxis says that the new tire is the new go-to tire — both front and rear — for their DH racers in most conditions short of super dry and firm (where an Assegai front / DHR II Rear combo is the default), or wet enough to merit the Shorty mid-spike. Let’s see what they’ve come up with.
Design
At a quick glance, the High Roller actually looks a lot like the Shorty mid-spike, despite their very different intended conditions. As Maxxis puts it, the Shorty is meant for “dry and loose or wet and sloppy” trails; the High Roller is for “intermediate enduro and downhill conditions.”
(I’m just going to call the new tire the “High Roller” since Maxxis isn’t using the High Roller III name. From here on out I’m talking about the new one, not the original.)
Like the Shorty, the High Roller uses two-wide rows of square(ish) center knobs and similarly-blocky side ones with no intermediate transition knobs to get in the way of side knob engagement. However, the dimensions and designs of those knobs differ in some important ways that point to the differences in intended use. The High Roller’s center knobs are slightly bigger (in terms of length and width) but are substantially shorter than those of the Shorty, and are also slightly more tightly spaced. The High Roller’s side knobs are much wider, longer, less tall, and more tightly spaced than those of the Shorty.
The High Roller’s center knobs also alternate between using lateral and longitudinal sipes (the Shorty’s are all lateral) and are set at two different row widths as compared to the Shorty’s three. Both tires use alternating siped and non-siped side knobs, but the Shorty gets a full-length longitudinal sipe on every third knob whereas the High Roller only has a partial-length one on every other knob; the non-siped High Roller side knobs also feature a slight L-hook for braking bite a-la Minion DHF / DHR II, though the High Roller version is considerably shallower.
The High Roller’s side knob design is closer to that of the Assegai than any of the aforementioned tires, but the High Roller’s knobs are slightly wider for (theoretically) better lateral support, and the L-shaped knobs don’t feature any of the partial-width lateral sipes of the Assegai ones. The Assegai’s side knobs are a little bit more tightly spaced.
That’s a recipe that seems quite promising on paper. The High Roller’s fairly open center tread looks like it should penetrate softer dirt much better than the Assegai, and the High Roller has a much more open channel between the center and side knobs to help the tire really dig in when leaned over. Compared to the Shorty, the High Roller’s shorter center knobs and bigger, more tightly spaced side ones look like they should be a lot more supportive / less vague and squirmy on firmer surfaces.
The only design attribute that gives me a little bit of pause is the fact that the High Roller’s side knobs are angled slightly outward (i.e., with the leading edge set wider than the trailing one). I’ve generally found tires with a similar arrangement (most notably the Schwalbe Magic Mary) to feel vague and unpredictable in how they signal that you’re pushing the limit of grip on the side knobs, and to be quick to step out if you have to take a stab at the brakes while leaned over. Granted, the High Roller’s angling of the knobs is a lot more subtle than that of the Magic Mary, but it’s still interesting to see Maxxis going that route when they historically haven’t for the most part.
Some Questions / Things We’re Curious About
(1) How do the new High Rollers slot into Maxxis’ already extensive lineup, and what sorts of conditions do they work best in?
(2) And what versions / alternate construction options will Maxxis offer going forward? They’ve said that more options beyond the current DH casing / MaxxGrip rubber combo are on the way, but we don’t yet know the detaills.
Bottom Line (For Now)
The new High Roller looks to fill a hole in Maxxis’ lineup as an option that’s suited for a wide range of conditions, with a little more of a bias toward the softer / looser end of the spectrum than the Assegai or Minion DHR II. Maxxis is talking a big game about how widely their DH racers are favoring the High Roller across a broad range of conditions, and we’ve recently started spending time on them too. Check out our Flash Review for our early impressions, and stay tuned for a Full Review to come.
Flash Review: Our Initial On-Trail Impressions
BLISTER+ members and those who purchase our Digital Access Pass can check out the Flash Review below to read our initial on-trail impressions. Get our Digital Access Pass to view all our Flash Reviews and Deep Dives, or become a BLISTER+ member today to get access to that and a LOT more, including the best worldwide Outdoor Injury Insurance, exclusive deals and discounts on skis, personalized gear recommendations from us, and much more.
Flash Review — Maxxis High Roller
The new Maxxis High Roller doesn’t look anything like the earlier tires to bear that name, but how does it perform? Check out our early impressions.
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