Coming in hot for the end of the gravel season is the all-new Maxxis Reaver, a fast-rolling, lightweight, race-ready tread already amassing course records. Keegan Swenson (Santa Cruz) set a new course record this year at Crusher in the Tushar. Andrew L’Esperance (Maxxis Factory Racing) won the Blue Mountains Gravel Fondo in June, both riding the Maxxis Reaver. So, if you’re eyeing up some late-season gravel, fondos, or getting your tire coffer ready for next season, you might want to listen up.
Maxxis Reaver Gravel Tire — What is it?
The Maxxis Reaver is a dry-condition, fast-moving gravel race tire. The tread mixes the Maxxis Speed Terrane cyclocross tire and the Maxxis Aspen ST Cory Benson spotted at the Nové Město World Cup.
That Tread Looks Familiar
The bulk of the Maxxis Reaver tread comes from the Aspen ST tire. The center line is a variation of paddle knobs taken from the Aspen, arranged in sets of three. Between the paddle knobs are diamond file treads. The diamond treads lower rolling resistance and connect every third and sixth paddle tread, giving extra contact.
The side knobs are sharp and closely spaced, offering cornering confidence and grip when sinking in gravel or mud. The side knob has a sipe groove allowing them to flex and conform to the terrain and crawl over rocks.
How does the Maxxis Reaver compare to the Rambler and the Receptor?
The Maxxis Rambler is more of an “all conditions” gravel tire, meaning if you’re getting into wet roads and mixed conditions, go Rambler. The Receptor is a slick center tread; it might be the best bet if the course has a large amount of pavement. But, if you’re looking for all-out speed and race performance for gravel (dry, small rocks, crushed limestone, country roads, and some forest), the Reaver will do nicely.
Maxxis Reaver Sizes and Weight
Right now, Reaver is only available in a 700x40c size, still the most common ‘fast gravel’ size. But rumors are there will be a 700x45c size in a few months. The Reaver casing uses Maxxis lightweight gravel construction, consisting of a 120 TPI tubeless-ready casing with EXO sidewall protection. Riders have the choice between an all-black or tan sidewall.
- Price: $70.00
- Weight: 420g (tan sidewall)
Maxxis Reaver Ride Impressions
The new Maxxis Reaver in a 700×40 is right on the money for the transition from gravel to cyclocross tires. I wasn’t ready to start rolling just my 33mm tires, but 45mm was too much — the Reaver arrived at the perfect time.
The tread is similar to a dry conditions cyclocross tire and has an excellent round profile, not boxy like some file treads can get. I paired the Reaver with the Roval Terra CLX Gravel wheels with a 25mm internal rim width. The tire inflated to a slightly larger 42mm width, but retained a round profile.
Reaver On the Road
On the road, the Reaver is fast; on the gravel, the Reaver is fast; in the woods… You get the drift. The combo of the 120TPI casing and the speed-focused center line tread make this tire fun in dry conditions. The casing soaks up lots of road chatter, and the diamond-knurled center offers predictable traction in sandy terrain.
I pumped the Reaver up to 40psi for my initial rides and kept that pressure (going up or down by 5psi) for all of my riding. The casing is slightly pressure-sensitive but feels more like a mountain bike casing than a road casing. Around 40psi, the tire would offer nice suspension in the corners without folding and roll fast on the road without chatter on the gravel.
The Reaver handles like a file tread ‘cross tire in the woods and on grassy fields. The side knobs are active in the corners and perform better than expected, especially when compared to similar cross-specific treads. As for flat protection, I’ve yet to have one, and I’ve made some questionable line and pressure choices when first mounting these guys up.
The Reaver’s Achilles heel is the wet — obviously.
When the rain starts to fall, the Reaver still has some life to it, but when the trails get muddy, the Reaver’s power diminishes. That said, the side knobs still can chug along in the muddy bogs and the one-off saturated sector. But it might be time for a Rambler switch if you’re encountering a full-on muddy race when pedaling traction is needed.
Final Impressions
So far, I’ve enjoyed my time on the new Maxxis Reaver. It’s fast, fun in nearly every condition I’ve ridden it, and looks great in tan. If this performance continues, I can see the Reaver quickly climbing to the top of the Best of Gravel Tires list. Check back for a long-term review this fall.
