Bicycle FAQs
Contact us for answers to your questions not shown in our FAQs.
• What is your best tyre for urban street riding?
• You seem to offer a lot of cross country tires. How should I narrow the field to figure out which tyre is right for me? I ride mostly hard trail surfaces with some sandy sections.
• Why do you offer so many different sizes of tires and what do the sizes mean?
• I am a recreational cross country rider and do not know which compound to choose. What do you recommend?
• What is the advantage of running Tubeless Tyres?
• What does the number after the 26 (as in 26x2.0) stand for?
• What are the benefits of using a high volume tyre?
• What is Super Tacky?
• What is Slow Reezay?
• What are Butyl Inserts?
• Can I be sponsored by Maxxis?
• Why does Maxxis make so many compounds?
• What is a Presta valve?
• Why do some of your tires have orange stripes while others do not?
• Do you make Cyclocross tires?
• Does Maxxis make any Tubeless bicycle tires?
• How does a durometer test hardness and other related characteristics of a tyre?
• What is the MaxxPro 60a Compound?
• What is the eXCeption Series and what does it do?
• Do you make any tires in the 24" version for DH?
•What tyre is recommended for bicycle commuters on 26 inch and 700c wheels?
• What is Silkworm Technology?
• What is a Kevlar (DuPont) Belt?
• What does TPI stand for?
•What does the term durometer mean? • What is your best tyre for urban street riding? [Back To Top]
Our most popular tyre for urban assault is the 26" Hookworm. It is a grooved, slick, treaded tyre, made with our 60a compound. This tyre is designed to handle almost any conditions you’ll find in the street. And in fall 2004, we’ll be coming out with a 26" Holy Roller. This tyre will have an inverted semi-knob design and will be made with our hard 70a compound. It can be used for urban riding or dirt jumping.
• You seem to offer a lot of cross country tires. How should I narrow the field to figure out which tyre is right for me? I ride mostly hard trail surfaces with some sandy sections. [Back To Top]
There are several Maxxis tires available for XC riders in your type of terrain. For aggressive use, look into the High Roller or Mobster. They have large lugs for excellent bite in looser conditions, and large side lugs for accurate cornering. If you race and are concerned with minimizing rolling resistance, consider the Ignitor or Ranchero. These tires offer a rounder profile and lower rolling resistance, provided by more continuous knobs along the centerline. They also offer wedge-shaped side knobs for cornering performance.
• Why do you offer so many different sizes of tires and what do the sizes mean? [Back To Top]
As you have noted, Maxxis offers mountain bike tires in a variety of sizes to help you customize your ride.
The secret is finding the optimal width for your conditions. Here is a breakdown of the intent of various sizes:
? 26x1.8: This volume tyre is designed for mud applications.
? 26x1.9: This low volume tyre will be light but will still require high pressure. Used by lightweight riders or in race applications.
? 26x2.0-2.1: These sizes have been the standard for cross-country, providing a great compromise between low weight and large contact patch for increased traction.
? 26x2.35: This size tyre is becoming the "all mountain" tyre. It works well for aggressive XC riding, mountain cross racing or for any epic ride that may require climbing as well as fast, technical descents.
? 26x2.5-2.7: Used in downhill applications. The large contact patch provides excellent traction, and the high air volume aids in suspension. This technology decreases the likelihood of a pinch flat over extremely rough terrain at high speeds
• I am a recreational cross country rider and do not know which compound to choose. What do you recommend? [Back To Top]
For recreational riding you should go with a harder durometer tyre. Maxxis offers our cross country tires in a 70a compound, which delivers ultimate performance and a long-lasting tread life.
• What is the advantage of running Tubeless Tyres? [Back To Top]
Tubeless tires allow you to run lower air pressure without having to worry about pinch flatting a tube. This allows for maximum traction because you have more surface area contact with the ground.
• What does the number after the 26 (as in 26x2.0) stand for? [Back To Top]
Bicycle tyre size is expressed as the wheel diameter by the tires widest width. Therefore 26x2.0 means that the tyre is 26" in diameter and 2.0" wide. Maxxis also offers 16,” 20,” 24,” and 700c size tires in various disciplines.
• What are the benefits of using a high volume tyre? [Back To Top]
A high volume tyre allows for a large area of ground contact, which helps to increase traction. Using a high volume tyre also reduces the likelihood of a pinch flat.
• What is Super Tacky? [Back To Top]
Super Tacky is a compound with a durometer rating of 42a. This means that it is a very soft compound. It is used exclusively in our downhill and freeride lines. The soft compound allows the rider to have superb surface traction. These tires are used for racing.
• What is Slow Reezay? [Back To Top]
Slow Reezay is a compound with a durometer rating of 40a. This means that it is a very soft compound. It is used exclusively in our downhill line. Due to its slow rebounding properties, this compound allows for traction and speed to be maintained in highly technical terrain. These tires are used in racing.
• What are Butyl Inserts? [Back To Top]
Butyl inserts are pieces of butyl rubber wrapped around and placed in between the two overlapped 60 tpi layers, midway through the sidewall in our 2-ply casings. The inserts add strength to the sidewall and add stability to resist pinch flats.
• Can I be sponsored by Maxxis? [Back To Top]
Sponsorship for 2006 is closed. To request sponsorship in 2007, submit your resume between September 1 and November 15, 2006. Please check back later for specific sponsorship requirements.
• Why does Maxxis make so many compounds? [Back To Top]
Maxxis makes multiple compounds in order to provide optimal performance in various conditions and terrains, as well as durability for riders looking for longer tread life. All of our compounds are podium-proven by riders around the world.
• What is a Presta valve? [Back To Top]
There are two types of valves in bicycle tubes today: Schrader and Presta. Schrader valves are a North American standardized system in which the air pressure from a pump will force the needle into the valve stem, allowing air to get into the tube. Presta valves are a European version with a barrel adjuster on the top of the stem (The stem is unscrewed to allow air into the tube.) Both systems work well. Many road and XC tubes are Presta valve, while a majority of DH, some XC, and most small tubes (for children's bikes) are Schrader.
• Why do some of your tires have orange stripes while others do not? [Back To Top]
The orange stripe on the sidewall of our tires is a Maxxis trademark. Until two years ago, all production tires had the orange stripe. When the Super Tacky, Slow Reezay, and eXCeption compounds were designed, the orange stripe could not be placed on the sidewall due to the softness of the compounds.
• Do you make Cyclocross tires? [Back To Top]
At this time we are manufacturing two different models: the Mimo CX-700 x 35c low profile knobbed tyre, and the Wormdrive CX-700 x 42c semi-slick tyre. Look for the new Locust 700 x 35c tyre to be introduced in October of 2004.
• Does Maxxis make any Tubeless bicycle tires? [Back To Top]
Yes, currently we offer a wide variety of UST-compatible tubeless tires. See our bicycle products page for a complete list.
• What is a 2-ply (or) dual-ply DH casing?
Two 60 tpi (threads per inch) casings vulcanized with butyl rubber and reinforced sidewalls make up Maxxis downhill casings, which are world renowned for performance and reliability. Our DH casings provide more stability at high speeds and allow for lower air pressure without the risk of pinch flatting.
• How does a durometer test hardness and other related characteristics of a tyre? [Back To Top]
The durometer hardness test is non-destructive. The small instrument size means that there is no need for elaborate specimen preparation. This makes it an ideal method for checking materials under any condition with accuracy and reliability. All durometers have a spring-loaded indenter, which applies an indentation load to the specimen, thus sensing the "hardness,” which can be related to other material characteristics. Use of a durometer provides a quick yet accurate way to indirectly measure other material properties, such as tensile modulus, resilience, plasticity, compression resistance, and elasticity.
It is relatively simple to determine the correlation between durometer hardness and other properties for a given material. A set of specimens of the material (or family of materials) is first tested on a standard tester for property desired, e.g. tensile strength. A set of durometer readings for the same samples is then observed and noted. Thereafter, only the durometer hardness need be observed on similar material specimens (tires) to obtain a reasonable measure of the other property. Some properties correlate exactly, while others are sufficiently close for practical use as an initial quality control or materials engineering test.
• What is the MaxxPro 60a Compound? [Back To Top]
The MaxxPro 60a compound is great for varying terrains and weather conditions. Only Maxxis has exclusive use of the Exxpro polymer, created by Exxon. Our engineers have blended Exxpro with our own MaxxPro elastomer, which allows soft tires to have a long tread life without compromising the increase in traction that soft compounds provide.
All MaxxPro tires benefit from 100% perfectly dispersed carbon black. Maxxis’ technology allows for the carbon black molecules to be ground smaller and thus more closely arranged than carbon black found in other manufacturer’s compounds. The result is a smoother tyre surface that wears longer than traditional compounds. Maxxis’ perfect dispersion of carbon black also minimizes cut growth in instances where the tread becomes torn or cut. The tyre also rolls faster as a result of the rubber recovering more slowly after shaping itself to the terrain. MaxxPro is one of the many technological advantages brought about by our more than thirty years of producing bicycle tires.
• What is the eXCeption Series and what does it do? [Back To Top]
The eXCeption Series of tires is a combination of our 62a compound and our 120 TPI casing. This not only makes for a lighter model tyre: it also enhances cornering, braking, and acceleration. These tires are recommended for race use only.
• Do you make any tires in the 24" version for DH? [Back To Top]
We currently produce the High Roller in a 24x2.50 60a model. We also produce the Hookworm urban assault tyre in a 24x2.50. Look for the Holy Roller 24" dirt jump tyre in October 2004.
• What tyre is recommended for bicycle commuters on 26 inch and 700c wheels? [Back To Top]
The Maxxis Overdrive was specifically designed with bicycle commuters in mind. The Overdrive has a grooved slick design for all weather conditions and for both on and off-road conditions. The Overdrive also features a reflective sidewall for increased visibility in dark or rainy conditions. The 26" version will be available in October 2004.
• Do you produce any puncture resistant road tires?
All Maxxis bicycle tires are made to last. For those who are looking for an extra level of protection, the RE-Fuse is a perfect match. This tyre has a layer of Silkworm and a Kevlar (DuPont) Belt, which adds two puncture resistant layers built into the casing to provide the reliability you need on long rides.
• What is Silkworm Technology? [Back To Top]
Silkworm Technology is incorporated into the casing of select tires to increase puncture resistance and decrease rolling resistance. There are two options for the Silkworm Technology: the breaker and the cap ply.
The breaker ply option protects the tyre from punctures directly under the tread area. This also helps to increase rolling efficiency by providing a firm support around the circumference of the tyre. You will find the breaker option in some of our Road and Cross Country line of tires.
The cap ply option provides superior protection against flats and tears by protecting the tyre from bead to bead. The cap ply option is used in the RE-Fuse and our Downhill UST tires.
• What is a Kevlar (DuPont) Belt? [Back To Top]
The specially formulated Kevlar (DuPont) belt is a breaker ply that is positioned between the layers of the casing. Kevlar provides maximum puncture resistance in the most unpredictable conditions. The RE-Fuse and Overdrive models utilize this technology.
• What does TPI stand for? [Back To Top]
TPI stands for threads per Inch. It defines the number of threads contained in one inch of the tyre casing. The lower the number of TPI, the larger the gauge cords in the casing. Thus, the more durable the tyre becomes. The higher the TPI, the more lightweight the tyre becomes and the more supple the ride of the tyre. The majority of our tires are 60 TPI, and our race tires are 120 TPI.
• What does the term durometer mean? [Back To Top]
A Durometer is both an instrument and the international standard for measuring the hardness of rubber. A Durometer works by measuring the penetration of the gauge’s indentor under the specific conditions of a given Durometer standard. Shore“A” Durometer is used for flexible materials. Durometers are described in the American Society for Testing and Material specification ASTM D2240; this is the recognized specification for the instrument and test procedures.
Measuring the Durometer of a rubber compound is one simple way to differentiate between two compounds. The Maxxis eXCeption line of tires at 62a Durometer is more rigid than Maxxis Super Tacky(ST), which is 42a. This difference can also be felt by hand when applying pressure to a tyre’s tread. Durometer hardness is only one of many compound properties. It can provide a general guideline on compound performance, but cannot be an accurate indicator of tyre compound performance. For example, the harder compound will typically have better tread wear and rolling efficiency, while the softer compound will provide maximum traction. However, other properties such as rebound and tear resistance are also important. Furthermore, tread compound is only part of the tyre’s equation. tyre compound, chemical composition, tread pattern, casing design, and tyre wear are all factors that affect the performance of your tires. Different areas such as grip, durability, and rolling efficiency are optimized in each Maxxis compound. Consider all the variables when selecting one of Maxxis’ tires.
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