The hot patch on Maxxis’ new downhill tire says Highroller, but it’s technically the Highroller III—the original Highroller came out in 2001, followed by the Highroller II in 2011.
The name may be the same, but there aren’t many similarities between the new model and its predecessors when it comes to tread pattern. Instead, the tire looks more like a mix of the Shorty and the Assegai, taking inspiration from the former’s center knobs and the latter’s side knobs, a combination that aims to create a tire that can penetrate soft ground while maintaining good support for high-speed cornering. It was developed with direct input from World Cup DH riders and has already racked up a resume that includes multiple World Cup wins and podium appearances.
Highroller Details
• Dimensions: 29 x 2.4″ and 27.5 x 2.4″
• MaxxGrip rubber compound
• DH 2 x 60 TPI carcass
• Declared weight: 1400 grams (29″) / 1335 (27.5″)
• Price: 105 USD
• maxxis.com
Initially, the tire will only be available in DH casing with MaxxGrip rubber in a 2.4″ width for 29″ or 27.5″ wheels, but DoubleDown and EXO+ casing versions are in the works.
Driving impressions
Summer conditions are at their peak at the Whistler Bike Park, which means braking bumps are getting higher by the day, wheel holes are forming in even the most well-constructed corners, and the dust layer is getting thicker and thicker. In other words, perfect conditions to try out a tire like the High Roller.
I’m a fan of the Shorty in the wet, but it’s not a tire I’d want to use in the bike park due to the softer shoulder knobs—they tend to fold up when pushed on hardpack, which can lead to unwanted wheel sags. With the Highroller, the slightly shorter center knobs compared to the Shorty and thicker side knobs make it much more solid on hardpack. There was no inaccuracy when pushing into the carved berms on A-Line or Dirt Merchant, and it wasn’t long before I could fully trust the tire and really lean into those high-speed corners.
There hasn’t been any rain in a while, so I can’t comment on the tires’ wet handling, but they’re a lot of fun to ride on steep, loamy trails. The 2.4-inch width keeps them from feeling too loose or floaty, and the tire does a great job of gripping in soft terrain. Several of the trails I tested them on featured sustained sections of hard braking, and there was enough grip to keep from accelerating out of control.
The Highroller is a little more precise than the Assegai – you can really tell what the tire is doing as the knobs dig in. There’s still a nice sweet spot to play with, though, and it’s precise without requiring totally perfect placement all the time. I’m not a DH racer, but it’s easy to see how this would make a good race tire – the Canadian Open DH track is a great example of where it would fit in, with plenty of steep, loose sections filled with sand, roots, and rocks.
It’s worth mentioning that these tires are designed more as race tires than tires that you can stick on your bike and ride for months and months without any degradation. My rear tire is starting to show signs of wear after a few days of park riding and some pedaling, mostly in the form of chewed center knobs. This is to be expected when you combine sticky rubber with rougher conditions, but it’s something to keep in mind, especially considering the price of DH tires. A Highroller on the front with a MaxxTerra DHR II on the rear would be a good combination that’s a little more oriented toward longevity.
Overall, the Highroller fits nicely into Maxxis’ lineup, although I wonder if the Shorty will start to fall out of favor due to the added versatility the Highroller brings.
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