Maxxis Bicycle Tire Terminology and Acronyms
Confused by a Maxxis tire technology term or acronym? This list is for you!
Tubeless Ready - TR
Tubeless tires provide the rider with many benefits: the ability to run lower air pressures, which improves traction; lower rolling resistance when compared to a tube-type tire; and less chance of flatting since there is no tube. Maxxis Tubeless Ready (TR) tires provide the benefits of a UST tubeless tire without the weight penalty. Maxxis TR tires use a standard casing and require the use of a liquid sealant in order to make them airtight. Maxxis Tubeless Ready tires are the only Maxxis tires approved for use with liquid sealants. Using a liquid sealant in any non-TR Maxxis tire will void the warranty.
Tubular
A traditional tire construction in which the tire casing is sewn or wrapped around an inner tube. These types of tires must be glued or taped onto tubular-specific rims.
Radial Road
A radial construction orients the casing threads perpendicular to the direction of rotation. This allows the sidewall to easily bend and flex, resulting in a very compliant and supple ride.
Tubeless Road
Tubeless technology that combines a carbon fiber bead for strength and a butyl inner liner for air retention to eliminate the need for an inner tube. The Silkworm layer provides puncture protection from road debris. Choose Maxxis tubeless road tires for the ultimate road experience.
Butyl Insert
An extra piece of butyl rubber that extends from the bead of a downhill tire up into the sidewall. The butyl insert helps prevent pinch flats, protects the rim from hard hits and adds sidewall stability.
L.U.S.T.
Maxxis mountain tubeless tires, certified to UST® standards, featuring Lightweight Ultimate Sidewall Technology (L.U.S.T.). This technology offers better puncture resistance, improved air retention, better longevity and lower weight than previous tubeless technologies. By adding a thin fabric layer to the sidewall, covered in a special airtight rubber compound, Maxxis created a casing that is lighter, tougher and holds air better.
EXO Protection
An extremely cut-resistant and abrasion-resistant material added to the sidewalls of select mountain tires. This densely woven fabric is also lightweight and highly flexible, ensuring that the performance of the tire remains unaffected. Choose EXO Protection for exceptionally rocky, treacherous trails where the chance of sidewall cuts and abrasions is high.
Double Down - DD
DoubleDown (DD) is the next step in the evolution of the dual-ply tire casing for enduro racing. Two 120 TPI casing layers reinforced with a butyl insert provide the enduro racer with the support and protection of a downhill tire, but in a lighter package.
Single-Ply Casing
One layer of nylon wrapped from bead to bead. A single-ply casing conforms well to the terrain and is lighter weight.Downhill (DH) Casing
Two layers of casing material are used from bead to bead, providing additional protection and sidewall stiffness for downhill applications.Threads Per Inch (TPI)
The number of threads that cross through one square inch of a single ply of the tire's casing. Lower TPI gives better puncture, cut and abrasion resistance but is heavier. Higher TPI conforms better to the terrain, offering a smoother, more comfortable ride while reducing the weight of the tire. Maxxis TPI ratings are the threads-per-inch of a single casing ply, as compared to some competitor TPI ratings.
Wire Bead
The function of the bead is to keep the tire in contact with the rim while the tire is inflated. A rigid metal wire is utilized as bead material in applications where ultimate strength is needed and transportability is not a factor.Folding Bead
Foldable beads also keep the tire secured to the rim but are lighter weight and easily transported. The bead is made of spun aramid or Kevlar® fibers.Carbon Fiber Bead
A flexible material with greater strength to withstand the forces exerted by a high-pressure road tire.Silkworm Protection
Silkworm Technology is an exclusive material incorporated into the casing of select Maxxis models, increasing puncture and tear resistance. Silkworm is featured under the tread as a breaker (denoted as Silkworm).
Kevlar Composite - K2
Available in select tires, this Maxxis-exclusive fabric provides greater puncture protection than both standard Kevlar® and Vectran®. The addition of this lightweight and supple material ensures that ride quality and performance remain unsurpassed.
Nylon Breaker
The nylon breaker is a reinforcement option that offers protection from punctures directly under the tread area. The nylon breaker is available in select road tires.
MaxxProtect
A poly-fiber material positioned between the tire tread and the casing. With varying thicknesses of 0.9mm - 1.5mm, MaxxProtect is designed to maximize puncture resistance in select hybrid models.
Kevlar Inside
A Kevlar® material positioned between the tire tread and the casing. Similar to MaxxProtect technology, Kevlar® Inside varies in thickness and provides optimal puncture protection.
SilkShield
SilkShield offers protection from bead to bead whereas Silkworm is found under the tread only. SilkShield provides an additional level of protection for sidewalls in addition to under the tread.
MaxxShield
MaxxShield represents the ultimate in flat protection. We begin with our SilkShield bead to bead protection and add the K2 (Kevlar® Composite) layer for unparalleled durability.
Compounds
The most important part of a tire is arguably the rubber compound within the tread. By changing the amounts of various components of the rubber formula, engineers can make two identical looking tires perform completely differently. A list of the Maxxis compounds and their distinct characteristics is below.Single Compound (SC)
One compound throughout the tread optimized for longevity and performance.Dual Compound (DC)
Two compounds used within the tread of select tires to offer lower rolling resistance and increased cornering grip.Super Tacky
A special low rebound, high traction compound used in mountain tires.
3C Triple Compound Road
Triple Compound road technology utilizes three distinct silica compounds in different locations within the tread of the tire. The center compound is optimized for exceptional treadwear and low rolling resistance. The progressively softer shoulder compounds provide increased grip while cornering. Choose a Triple Compound Maxxis road tire for the ultimate in tire handling in all conditions.
Road Compound
Three compounds comprised of a harder, longer lasting center and two progressively softer shoulder compounds for unparalleled rolling efficiency
Maxx Speed Compound
Used primarily in cross country and enduro tires, the two compounds in the outer layer are specially formulated to reduce rolling resistance and optimize treadwear and traction
Maxx Terra
An intermediate compound configuration used in select mountain tires. 3C Maxx Terra is softer and offers more traction than 3C Maxx Speed, yet provides better treadwear and less rolling resistance than Maxx Grip.
Maxx Grip
A new name for the downhill 3C compound configuration that you have come to know and trust. 3C Maxx Grip offers the ultimate in grip and slow rebound properties for unparalleled traction in downhill applications.
60a
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 tire 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 tire 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.
eXCeption Series
The eXCeption Series of tires is a combination of the Maxxis 62a compound and 120 TPI casing. This not only makes for a lighter model tire: it also enhances cornering, braking, and acceleration. These tires are recommended for race use only.Slow Reezay
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 the Maxxis 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.Durometer Rating
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 tire’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 tire 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 tire’s equation. Tire compound, chemical composition, tread pattern, casing design, and tire 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.
