Maxxis has announced two major additions to its mountain bike tyre line-up, with the launch of the Aspen AT and a wide range of 32in tyres.
The Taiwanese brand says the all-new Aspen AT cross-country tyre is designed to carry the Aspen’s signature speed into rougher terrain
Alongside it, Maxxis has revealed a range of 32in mountain bike tyres, including trail-oriented Forekaster and Dissector treads.
Maxxis was one of the first big brands to provide a 32in option, which we first spotted on a DirtySixer Instagram post last year.
The new Aspen AT is priced at £74.99 in both the 29in and 32in options, with the rest of the new 32in tyres also priced at £74.99.
Aspen AT
Maxxis says the Aspen AT is designed to retain the fast-rolling characteristics that have made the original a staple on the World Cup scene, while improving control in more technical terrain.
According to the brand, the new tread pattern has been reworked to offer greater grip and predictability when conditions become rough or variable.
It is said to sit between traditional low-profile race rubber and more aggressive downcountry or trail options.
The intended result is a tyre that can handle a broader range of conditions without compromising race-day efficiency.
It appears the Aspen AT is designed with an eye on the future, as XC tracks continue to evolve and become more technically challenging.
Greater than 32in range
Maxxis was one of the first brands to stack its chips on 32in, and this latest range hints it may soon be going all in on the emerging wheel size.
The new range sees the Aspen, Aspen ST, Aspen AT, Forekaster and Dissector all blown into a 2.4x32in size, with the Aspen ST also coming in a skinnier 2.15in option.
We have seen many XC tyres launch in the new wheel size, but the introduction of the Forekaster and Dissector treads shows a pivot to more trail-oriented riding.
The testing of 32in wheels suggests a benefit for XC, with better bump-smoothing and mile-munching potential, but we’ve seen very little of it for other disciplines.
Maxxis notes the following features in its marketing of the new tyres: increased rollover, improved rolling efficiency, better handling stability that increases with speed and more traction from a bigger contact patch.
While these all seem to check out, some riders are still reluctant to see the positives of a new wheel size.
