Maxxis Ravager 700 x 40 tyre review

Aggressive tread and siping places the Maxxis Ravager firmly into the winter gravel tyre category.

It is offered next to the brand’s popular intermediate Rambler tyre and the newer, slicker Receptor.

The Ravager impresses with plentiful grip in the mud, coupled with surprisingly sprightly feel on the road, though it is currently limited to a single size option.

Maxxis Ravager specifications

The Maxxis Ravager is currently available only for 700c wheels in a 40mm width, but you do get to choose between a standard casing or an EXO casing, which adds puncture protection.

If tan sidewalls are your bag, you'll need to compromise here: the Ravagers are black sidewalls only.

Featuring an aggressive tread pattern with relatively deep-profile shoulder knobs flanking a lower-profile, more tightly packed pattern of centre tread, the Ravager is designed for all-conditions use on varied terrain.

The pattern resembles the popular WTB Riddler, but the Ravager features a deeper tread for tackling more challenging trail conditions.

Siping on the tread reinforces its positioning as an all-weather tyre, providing channels for moisture to be cleared.

The tubeless-ready standard-casing Maxxis Ravager tyres on test weighed in at 546g per tyre.

Maxxis Ravager performance

On gravel wheels with a 23mm internal diameter (WTB CZR i23), the Maxxis Ravager tyres inflated to a 41mm width, with an easy tubeless setup using just a track pump rather than a tubeless pump or CO2 inflator.

The tyres hold pressure well, and didn’t need re-inflating for the duration of the test. The Ravagers didn’t puncture either, despite not having the extra EXO puncture protection.

40mm width is about average for gravel tyres these days, though there are certainly higher-volume options available.

Although wider tyres can offer more comfort at lower pressures, and often greater grip over technical off-road terrain, I found that the narrower Maxxis Ravagers outperform them when it comes to cutting through mud on boggier sections. The narrower tyres also felt as though they roll faster on smoother terrain and tarmac.

The construction of the Ravager offers a great compromise for multi-terrain use. They offer reliable and predictable cornering on tarmac without the squirminess you can sometimes experience with more supple, higher-volume tyres.

The miles come easy on the road thanks to the low-profile, tightly packed central tread, but the tyres still offer a good level of grip when leaning into turns on gravel and mud due to the more aggressive shoulder knobs.

Generally speaking, the grip offered is impressive, giving you the confidence to attack that slippery rock slab climb, pop over awkward roots or splash straight through the middle of a muddy puddle.

During the testing period, they’ve also shown no appreciable signs of premature wear.

The Maxxis Ravager doesn’t come cheap, but you certainly get what you pay for.

Maxxis Ravager bottom line

With such an impressive reputation when it comes to mountain bike tyres, it’s no surprise that Maxxis has excelled at making a reliable, fit-and-forget gravel tyre for riders who don’t let foul conditions stop them.

Although the Ravagers only come in a single size, their performance means they deserve to be a contender on any list of the best winter gravel tyres.