A modern take on the hard conditions tire, the Maxxis Assegai first appeared on the World Cup downhill scene in 2018, designed by Greg Minnaar to address the 'grip gap' present when staring to lean over the original Minion DHF. Within a season it was everywhere from Pro DH bikes to enduro machines and since then it has become arguably the most popular front tire in mountain biking, the benchmark tire for many and a design now widely imitated but not yet equalled.
The tread consists of an alternating 3-2-3 centre pattern, with tall but wide knobs that span the full width of the tire and large well supported side knobs. That pattern, coupled with a large and rounded 2.5' carcass means that no matter what angle the tire is at, it gets a tremendous amount of rubber down onto the ground. As a result it both has an incredibly consistent feel when changing angle and provides exceptional grip and cushioning over everything from loose rock, to root and off cambers. As a bikepark tire, it might well unbeatable.
So good is the Assegai, that from it's origins as a pure race tire, it's now made in a range of weights to suit everything from lighter trail bikes all the way through to DH use.
How do I pick casing and rubber? There are a few to choose from!
Have a read of our Maxxis tire guide here. It explains the differences in their sidewalls and rubber compounds. Alternatively get in contact with the shop and we’ll help you work out which combination might best suit your bike and riding.
How does it compare to the other Maxxis tires?
Have a read of our High Roller vs Assegai blog for a feel of how the two tires compare to each other. The short version is that for dry weather, hardpack and bikepark riding, the Assegai is king with the best cushioning and grip, but for mixed conditions and especially mud, the High Roller is the one to go to. If both of those are slower rolling than you'd prefer the DHR II actually works pretty well as a front tire and rolls quicker than either.
Can I use an Assegai as a rear tire?
For sure. It'll give great grip and wear just fine (pick a Maxterra compound for general rear use). It doesn't roll as fast as a DHR II but then it has even more grip, so if rolling speed isn't a major concern then it can work very well indeed.