Maxxis has gone big with their gravity treads, putting out two new versions of the DHF and DHR II tires, and one new version of the Shorty.
All three get a new 27.5 x 2.5 Tubeless Ready (TR) Wide Trail (WT) option, which is two new things in one. First, they’re the first tubeless ready option on their mountain bike tires built with the downhill casing. Second, they’re called Wide Trail, which means the knob spacing has been revised and optimized for use on 30-35mm rims (internal width).
Left to right is the new 27.5 x 2.5 Shorty, Minion DHF and Minion DHR II.
You’ll see the “WT” Wide Trail mark behind the tire’s width number, saving yet another hot patch logo from filling the sidewall. The “TR” and “DH Casing” marks let you know these are the new ones.
If you need to go even bigger, there’s a new 27.5×2.6 size for the DHF / DHR II, which has 7% more air volume than the 2.5. These both get TR and WT construction, again optimizing the tread pattern for use on wider rims.
Side by side, you can just barely tell the 2.6 (on left in both pics) is bigger, but they say the added volume is very noticeable when riding.
All of the 2.5 TR DH tires will be available in both folding aramid bead and wire bead, and the 2.6 and others will be folding bead only. Weights have been requested (we’ll update as we get them), available in August or September, retail is TBD.
All of these join the 27.5×2.6 Forekaster and Rekon tires that introduced the Wide Trail concept in 2015. And look for a new 29×2.6 Rekon at Taipei show later this month. The TR 29×2.5 DHF and 29×2.4 DHR II tires have been out for a while so riders with long travel 29ers have something to ride. There aren’t a ton of those out yet, but it’s a category they’re paying close attention to since more people are experimenting with that larger wheel size.
The new Torch TR is their first tubeless ready BMX tire. It’s a race-day only tire, and while it’s not UST or mean to be run without sealant, they say their sponsored riders are using no or minimal sealant. Why? Because it’ll hold air very well, and races are only about 30 seconds. This one was pumped up to it’s 100psi max two weeks ago and it’s only lost about 5psi.
The rim comes from alienation, which licenses WTB’s TCS rim profile. Maxxis’ reps say even the lightest weight BMX tubes are about 30-40g, and those are very, very expensive, so running the Torch dry (sans sealant) saves those 30+ grams, which is very important for a full-out sprint event like BMX. It’ll come in a 20×1.75 only, retail is TBD.
