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Complete Guide to Downhill Rubber

djjohnr

djjohnr

Turbo Monkey
Apr 21, 2002
3,011
1,704
Northern California
Picked up a pair of DH casing Assegais and ran them at Downieville. Terrain was mostly blown out decomposed granite and baby heads. Traction was superb, these things stick. Easy to control when they let go. Not sure how they'll do on hardpack or mud, but in dry/loose conditions they were ace.
 
mykel

mykel

closer to Periwinkle
Apr 19, 2013
5,098
3,817
sw ontario canada
djjohnr said:
Picked up a pair of DH casing Assegais and ran them at Downieville. Terrain was mostly blown out decomposed granite and baby heads. Traction was superb, these things stick. Easy to control when they let go. Not sure how they'll do on hardpack or mud, but in dry/loose conditions they were ace.
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Had my first day out this year on the big bike yesterday with brand-new Ass-guy up front (DHR2) in back.
First time back on Maxxis DH rubber in 10 odd years.

I ran on both natural and hardpack. Traction was phenomenal on both surfaces. No squirm or anything weird on the hardpack. Having said that, speed was moderate at best as it was the first day with the Avy cart in the 888 and it started out like a bag of hammers, by the days end was much better than the reshimmed stock cart. Still a bit of work to do, but I ran out of skill as evidenced below.

So, at the "local" hill, the trails all end on a "collector" which is a natural blue trail that cuts across the bottom of the ski-hill feeding back to the lift. It is easy with a couple of fun bits including a rooted section of tight fast esses.

When you catch a pedal mis-timing the dance no amount of hero front wheel grip will help; when you think you are paying attention, but the trail feels otherwise.

 
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mykel

mykel

closer to Periwinkle
Apr 19, 2013
5,098
3,817
sw ontario canada
SkaredShtles said:
I thought the dual-compound center knobs were the least "grippy" rubber Maxxis has?

Fucking Maxxis website. :rant:
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For what we are interested in, from least to most grip.

Maxx-Pro - Single Compound - 60a
Dual Compound - 51a/60a
Maxx-Terra - 70a/42a/50a
Maxx-Grip - 70a/40a/42a *
Super-Tacky - Single Compound - 42a *
Slow-Reezay - Single Compound - 40a (DISCONTINUED)

* Not sure which is actually grippier between the full ST and MG which uses ST and SR over a hard base.
 
SkaredShtles

SkaredShtles

Michael Bolton
Sep 21, 2003
65,625
12,692
In a van.... down by the river
mykel said:
For what we are interested in, from least to most grip.

Maxx-Pro - Single Compound - 60a
Dual Compound - 51a/60a
Maxx-Terra - 70a/42a/50a
Maxx-Grip - 70a/40a/42a *
Super-Tacky - Single Compound - 42a *
Slow-Reezay - Single Compound - 40a (DISCONTINUED)

* Not sure which is actually grippier between the full ST and MG which uses ST and SR over a hard base.
Click to expand...
So the dual-compound center knobs should wear... slowly. Maybe that's not the right word. :D
 
jonKranked

jonKranked

Detective Dookie
Nov 10, 2005
85,835
24,413
media blackout
mykel said:
For what we are interested in, from least to most grip.

Maxx-Pro - Single Compound - 60a
Dual Compound - 51a/60a
Maxx-Terra - 70a/42a/50a
Maxx-Grip - 70a/40a/42a *
Super-Tacky - Single Compound - 42a *
Slow-Reezay - Single Compound - 40a (DISCONTINUED)

* Not sure which is actually grippier between the full ST and MG which uses ST and SR over a hard base.
Click to expand...
it seems like the maxx grip is the old 3C setup. softer knobs on a harder casing, i never used them, but supposedly the grip was on par with super tackys but they lasted a little longer
 
slyfink

slyfink

Turbo Monkey
Sep 16, 2008
9,316
5,070
Ottawa, Canada
jonKranked said:
its 2019. are you people really just learning that soft tires wear out quicker?
Click to expand...
¯\_(ツ)_/¯

But there's more to it than that. I've had semi-slicks last longer (Rock Razor Super Gravity), and they were soft compounds too. I think their saving grace is the multitude of small knobs continue to do their thing even as they wear out and round off.

I think the Aggressor truly is the sum of its parts: soft(ish) rubber, nice wide channel to get the side knobs to dig in well, and low ramped knobs for less rolling resistance. taken together, all these factors make it a tire that wears out quickly. Now that I type it out, it makes sense. But when you look at the tire, and hold it in your hands, it doesn't seem like a "race-day" tire.
 
slyfink

slyfink

Turbo Monkey
Sep 16, 2008
9,316
5,070
Ottawa, Canada
mykel said:
For what we are interested in, from least to most grip.

Maxx-Pro - Single Compound - 60a
Dual Compound - 51a/60a
Maxx-Terra - 70a/42a/50a
Maxx-Grip - 70a/40a/42a *
Super-Tacky - Single Compound - 42a *
Slow-Reezay - Single Compound - 40a (DISCONTINUED)

* Not sure which is actually grippier between the full ST and MG which uses ST and SR over a hard base.
Click to expand...
Maybe this is why I like the DHR2 I put on to replace the Aggressor. It's MaxxTerra vs dual compound. I guess I'll see how long it lasts...
jonKranked said:
if the dual compound center tread is 60a then its a design related thing as slyfink said
Click to expand...
https://www.maxxis.com/catalog/tire-506-140-aggressor
upload_2019-7-16_14-42-57.png
 
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Bikael Molton

Bikael Molton

goofy for life
Jun 9, 2003
4,019
1,154
El Lay
The Aggressor makes sense theoretically as a race day tire for regional enduros or maybe bike park "Air DH" races - World Cups, not so much.

I don’t race, so I’d just buy a DHF and ride it for a bit (MG/ST for 2 days, MT for 3 weeks) and boom... I’d have a faster rolling DHF.

In my experience, it's mostly trail riders who use Aggressors; someone on the internet made them scared to pedal a DHF up the hill.
 
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toodles

toodles

ridiculously corgi proportioned
Aug 24, 2004
5,499
4,747
Australia
rpet said:
In my experience, it's mostly trail riders who use Aggressors; someone on the internet made them scared to pedal a DHF up the hill.
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I gave them a go for awhile. As others have said they're pretty hopeless in anything resembling mud, but ok for a fast rolling rear paired with a DHF front for gravel or dry conditions. I didn't have much luck with keeping air in them though, even in a DD casing and the fast rolling aspect was only good on crappy courses anyway so I'd rather a DHR2 for racing. The EWS guys were running them for awhile, but you don't see them much anymore.

Really not a DH tyre and never was intended to be.
 
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