[Closed] Maxxis tyres and clipless pedals

Maxxis are generally decent tyres yeah, can be pricey though and certainly not the only decent option.

Schwalbe are the second leading brand.

Sounds like you need to start a "what tyres..." thread - everyone loves them.

But seriously, what bike and what kind of riding?

Nothing wrong with the Specialized tyres that will come with the bike, you should get the valves with it and its worthwhile setting up tubeless. We run 22 psi front and 24 psi rear in our Butchers
I ride flats but my daughter competes with the DMR V Twins.
Flats its worth keeping an eye out for 5 10s in the sales. Tried alsorts but can't find any that grip better.

But seriously, what bike and what kind of riding?

Have a Stumpy Comp on order and intend to use for trail riding. I won’t need new tyres for a while but the Maxxis are just everywhere so I had to ask.

Need to the pedals and shoes ASAP though or I’ll be doing no riding, lol.

Nothing wrong with the Specialized tyres that will come with the bike, you should get the valves with it and its worthwhile setting up tubeless. We run 22 psi front and 24 psi rear in our Butchers
I ride flats but my daughter competes with the DMR V Twins.
Flats its worth keeping an eye out for 5 10s in the sales. Tried alsorts but can’t find any that grip better.

Thanks Tracey. I was thinking about tubeless and trying to find out if I need to buy a ‘special’ pump to inflate them? Will have a look at the pedals and shoes you’ve mentioned.

With the Specialized tyres and Roval wheels you should get them up with a good pump. The rims should be taped already with 2bliss tape.
It should also come with basic Specialized pedals but worth upgrading.
Bike won't come with a shock pump so you may need one to set it up.

I’ll Wade in....

I got a new bike with maxxis ardents on. Didn’t like them on local terrain so swapped for DHR/DHF Minions.. they were awful. I had more punctures in 3 rides than I’d had in the last 3 years. Now back on specialized and have had no issues.

so yes, in my opinion Maxxis are HUGELY overrated, an opinion backed up on here when I asked...

I used to ride platform clips (the red shimano DH ones) I find the basic m520 clipless pedals easier to get in to. Never tried any others like Cooke bro’s to be fair!

dont worry about what you should have, just work out what works for you..!!

Maxis can be found a lot cheaper than Schwalbe etc (IME) which is why they are popular I think

Very happy with Michelin Wild Enduro front and rear.
Very happy with Nukeproof Horizon CS with Five Ten Hellcat shoes

Slight thread hijack, but my Cannondale came with Ardent’s and I’m not that impressed with them. They just don’t seem to do anything particularly well. My defaults for replacing them were going to be a 2.5 DHF up front and a 2.3 DHF out back, however I’ve no experience with Minions. Maybe I’m just drinking the Koolaid, as they say.

I think it’s fair to say that most mid-range and upwards bikes come ‘OEM’ with Maxxis tyres, with cheaper stuff running WTB Trail Boss’ or similar. Don’t see much else OEM which could also contribute to why most folk you see out and about are running on Maxxis something-or-others.

They have a good reputation and I presume are available cheaper as OEM than other brands.

Obviously only specialized are going to fit specialized tyres but they are pretty good at an excellent price.

I've been around the houses, and ended on Maxxis - they seem to be the tyres to settle on, for good reason.

There is a reason why Maxxis tyres are everywhere. Yes they do a few stinkers in a fairly vast range but the wider, soft compounds are pretty much the gold standard.

Tried a set of the new Spec T9 compound tyres I was given, they lasted one ride before I gave them back.

As for clips or flats, whatever floats your boat - if I was clipping in I’d probably run the nukeproof pedals now & stick with my 2FO clip lite shoes.

Specialized tyres are fine for most riding but since you're asking, their sponsored riders use Maxxis tyres with the logos blacked out.

For trail riding on a Stumpy they're perfect. For giving it ten tenths in chunky terrain you need tougher sidewalls and stickier rubber.

I wouldn't worry about it. They're decent and reasonably priced.

Do a bit of reading into all the Maxxis permutations. People compare Apples to Oranges on forums often - especially around the different casings and compounds. I have my ups and downs with Maxxis - mostly online from Germany, again comparing specs like for like when checking prices. Was impressed with the Specialized Hillbilly Grid a couple of years back, not so with other tyres from them in recent years, though they have just made some changes.

The Hillbilly Grid is a mint front tyre for general British soggyness.

currently running maxxis DHF on front and spesh slaughter on the rear. both are excellent.

for clippy pedals with a platform look at the time enduro pedals. they range from pretty reasonable @40 quid (atac mx2) through to ****in expensive. they're a good weight with a decent sized platform and the retention mechanism is excellent. i've been using times for years - in several cases the same ones.

The saint pedal is great, but go with whichever clippless system you are already happy with and pick their enduro/dh pedal to go with skate type spd shoes.

Good luck with the Butcher tyres and Roval wheels, they have a bad rep on Specialized Specific forums for not having very good grip in wet, rooty etc.. conditions and the rims dent easily so be careful when running low pressures

Ive had 3 Specialized bikes with Roval wheels and a combo of Butcher & Slaughter tyres (grid casing) all have been terrible and replaced asap with Maxxis tyres and DT or Hope wheels

The only good Specialized tyre Ive tried is the Hillbilly, i was very impressed with the level of grip especially when transitioning on to the side knobs

As for Maxxis tyres you cant go wrong with the classic DHF & DHR combo or a set of Assegai's

Have used Crank Bros Mallets in the past, TBH mine were fragile and the brass cleats wear quickly. I now use Shimano Saint clipless pedals, which are both durable and provide a decent sized platform for my size 11 feet.

Tyres are a bit of a learned taste. I've used Maxxis Minions / HR2s on my bikes for years but there's very little wrong with Specialized's own brand rubber. As for tubeless with Roval wheels, Tracey has covered this, it's pretty easy to set up with a track pump and soapy water.

Specialized tyres are ok - no reason to immediately change them out or necessarily go for Maxxis.

I like the Maxxis DHF / Aggressor combo in summer but I’m not on a Specialized Hillbilly 2.6 front and DHR2 2.3 rear. Really good in the slop so far.

Butcher / Purgatory is a decent all year round pairing if you aren’t up for changing tyres with the season.

Pedal wise the Nukeproof Horizon clipless are decent. With any pedal like that you want spd shoes that are styled like flats....XC style shoes with chunky soles don’t play nicely with the cage / pins.

I went for Shimano AM7 shoes and they work beautifully with the Nukeproof Horizons I’m running. I’ve got the bigger squarer version of the pedals but they also do a slightly lighter more rounded off style.

Specialized tyres are ok

No, they have been OK in the past, and I haven't tried the newer versions, so won't comment, but the last couple of years they've been really terrible. I've had perhaps one or two actually dangerous tyres, Continental Vector springs to mind, but I would happily add both the recent Butcher and Slaughter to the pile of rubbish that I would happily burn. There was a pair on both the Enduro I bought (they lasted one v short ride) and the Stumpy EVO I tested, and they were shit.

Replaced with Minion DHR II front and rear.

At least OP can make his own mind up about the Spesh tyres.

I'd probably be taking them off new and eBaying them, as I concur with those saying some of them are frustratingly un-grippy.

But TBF I have a Blk Dmnd Butcher 2.6 on the rear and now I've added a Rimpact so it stops cutting near the bead, it's a very good rear tyre for enduro-ing. No way would I have one on the front though.

My hillbilly has been fine and my nephew / my mate are both running a butcher / purg grid combo (one tubeless and one with tubes) and finding them decent. So I’m that small poll I’d say they’ve been decent enough. I’ve got a mixture of Maxxis (aggressor / dhr2 / dhf) / schwalbe (Magic Mary on the front only)/ Specialised Hillbilly / Wtb Trailboss tyres - I’ve not really had any issues with any of them. All run tubeless and ridden reasonably hard (no racing or really gnar stuff) and I’ve not punctured / split one yet.

Will be interesting to see how the Forekaster 2.6” goes that I’ve bought as it’s a bit lighter / flimsier than the rest - going to run a Rimpact in that to be on the safe side.

Don't MBR have a policy of fitting the same Maxxis tyres to all their bikes? The idea is that there's no point doing a review of a £3k bike when ~£60 worth of tyres make such a massive difference.

If one brand put mud tyres on their bikes and another put summer tyres on then you'd have the bizarre cases where one would win over the other simply based on what month the test was.

Presumably, Maxxis must pay them a fair bit for the privilege of it not being Schwalbe/Continental/Michelin/Vittoria but it makes sense for the reviews.

Thanks for all suggestions. I don’t intend to change to Maxxis or not until the tyres that come with the bike need replacing. It just really stood out that the majority of bikes seem to run Maxxis and I wondered why.

I’m thinking Horizon DH but not settled on shoes yet but will keep searching. Trying to find skate style with cleats at a good price.

Will be waiting a while for the specialized tyres to wear out, the compound is way too hard. The enduro I had came with them, persevered for a bit, gave up, fitted Maxxis, havent looked back since. Currenty have a Mary on the front, as Maxxis don't really make a tyre that works as well this time of year, maybe the new shorty might hit the spot, assegai is ok with a gravity on your side, but on flatter trails its dragtastic.

It just really stood out that the majority of bikes seem to run Maxxis and I wondered why.

Pricing, what the buyer wants and reliability. On the last point, maxxis are pretty damn reliable compared to other tyres.

Just to echo some of the earlier posts, it's really the specific tyre models, not brands that you should be comparing.

I live and ride in the Alps and I find that a combo of a Maxxis DHF in EXO casing on the front and a Maxxis DHR II in DD casing on the rear works very well for me. It seems to be a popular option amongst a lot of riders out here who do a mix of pedalling and uplift.

Other than grip and rolling resistance, the biggest considerations for me are pinch flat protection and wear.

Pinch flat protection: I find that Maxxis' DD casing on the rear and EXO on the front is sufficient for most Alpine riding. When I lived in Surrey (i.e. zero rocks), I found that EXO front and rear was sufficient.

Wear: I think that the Maxxis MaxxTerra compound on the rear will take 1-2 weeks of fairly hard uplift-assisted riding (3,000-4,000m of descending per day) or 3-4 weeks of riding without uplift (1,000-1,500 descending per day). I got much worse results with Schwalbe previously, but haven't tried their latest offerings. As for the front, go for the grippiest compound they offer in whichever model you're considering.

I think I’ve found the shoe for me....

https://singletrackworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/specialized-2fo-roost-shoes-for-clip-in-and-flat-riders-alike/

These with the Horizon DH pedals and I’ll be wearing the Specialized tyres until they’re worn out or damaged. I’m pretty sure they’ll be good enough for me.

Thanks for all the help with suggestions.

Hmm ... Interested to read the negative comments on the Specialized tyres. I've had no previous experience of them, but recently fitted a pair of the 29x2.6 Butchers to the BigWig I've just built up. Limited riding experience, but I did find them very sketchy on wet roots on a couple of the unofficial lines at Whinlatter (but then the trails were also way steeper and techier than anything I typically ride). I also had an unexplicable front wheel washout just at the top of Whiteless Pike, seemed to just lose it on that shiny tussocky grass that grows up high. I put it down to a sudden wind gust (was very blustery) or hidden slippy rock, but also wondered whether the tyre compound isn't great? It's the Gripton compound I have ...

Locally, through the slop, they seem fine, but I've not really ridden the bike much.

Interested to be pointed at some of the forums where users have been complaining ...

There is no right answer and you won't be shot for your tyre choice.

Maybe for your pedal choice though 😁

I'm not a Maxxis fan, many others are. There are so many variables when it comes to tyre choice that you'll likely end up with a selection in your shed.

I find Michelin Wild Enduro to cover most conditions. That's just me.

As for pedals, I ride flats exclusively. So I can only objectively comment on flat shoes and - even then - only based purely on my experience.

I've found Five Tens/5.10 to be pretty good. I prefer my current shoes, ION AMP Scrub. But of course I do else I wouldn't be using them 😁

If you want to try flat pedals then there's plenty of composite options out there at affordable prices.

As for tyres, ride what you have. If you don't like them then assess why and firstly play with pressures.

Then you can consider rim inserts, or different tyres for different conditions. Even different rim widths.

For now though, enjoy riding your new bike. If something doesn't feel right then ask on here and someone will happily help you out 👍

Seeing that the OP was 10 years absent from the sport, I can't help but to suggest to try flat pedals.
While you were off, flat pedals and shoes had a massive evolution and I would go as far as to say they're the de facto option for the vast majority of riders who aren't racing

I like Schwalbe tyres, but Maxxis have lots of good ones as well.

Pedal wise I can agree with the comment about nukeproof horizons not playing nicely with xc style shoes. Mine are fine, great even, with my 5ten flat style spd shoes, but my MW5's don't get along with them. The tread seems to get caught on the cage, which has forced a couple of spectacular dismounts....

Shimano trail pedals are good and pretty cheap for general do it all duties, but I like the extra platform and pins on the Horizons for techier stuff.

In motocross and motorcycle Enduro you use a soft compound for hardpack and a hard compound when the ground has a lot of give in it ie mud. So my Gomas are staying on

Seeing that the OP was 10 years absent from the sport, I can’t help but to suggest to try flat pedals.
While you were off, flat pedals and shoes had a massive evolution and I would go as far as to say they’re the de facto option for the vast majority of riders who aren’t racing

@zezaskar I’m used to the feeling of being attached as I snowboard too. I can’t see any benefit, for me, of not being attached to the bike. It’s easier to pedal uphill and I feel safer attached to the bike for jumping and when coming downhill.

I can’t afford to buy pedals and shoes twice so getting flats and finding I don’t like them would be a PITA.

What is it that’s driven the change to flats bearing in mind I’m trail riding and will never be doing comps? From what I’ve read, so far, I can only think it’s because the majority prefer not to be attached to the bike. Feel like I’m overlooking something about flats though.
Thanks.

It wasn't my intention to turn this thread into a "clips Vs flats" things, so, sorry about that.

Without going into what could be a hour long rant about it, I'll just report what I personally like about flats, which happen to be the same things that made several of my mates to convert full time:
- modern pedals/shoes are so sticky that you feel nearly no loss going uphill. In fact there are several trails I prefer to climb on flats
- no matter how safe you feel with clips, on flats there's always an extra safety net that generally makes you corner faster and try different things
- way easier to control bike with hips as there's no float in the mechanism
- it gives you instant feedback on your body position
- it forces you to preload the bike bike more
- more predictable interface with the bike, if you do your job your feet will stay on regardless of conditions. With clips you shoe may or may not clip in, may or may not unclip in certain situations
- crashing is way safer
- this one's very personal, but I find it more comfortable on my feet, ankles and knees on long distances

Okay, actually, not okay. My Specialized 2FO clipless shoes arrived just now and, even though I ordered my usual shoe size, they are too small.

I went onto Specialized's website and had another look at the flat version of the same shoe and it showed them as being low stock... "less than 3" in my size. So now I've just ordered them before they sell out and I don't have an option for flats at all. Now I'm considering ordering the clipless version in the larger size so that I have both with a view to sending one pair back 🤯

I've read extensively on the benefits of flats versus clipless and it is going to be down to personal preference, use and ability but my concerns for flats are two things... firstly, they have metal spikes on them and I have legs that have been used for things nature didn't intend them to be used for. Now I'm in my 40's 😭 I'm feeling the affects of all the abuse. The last thing I need is anything smacking me in the knees, especially a metal pedal with pins in it.

The second issue I have with flats is jumping. I don't mind if people class it as cheating or having less skill. The fact is, I'm pretty certain I will jump better with clipless. As already stated, I prefer things strapped to me (snowboard) and it feels more natural.

I'm only going to be doing trails/cross country with mates. No racing here. The only jumps are the ones on natural terrain and also the man made ones when I visit trail centres. Will I really benefit from flats for this sort of riding? Do most people use clipless for trail riding anyway?

Now I'm thinking I should stick with what I know for the above two reasons but would really like to hear from people in my age bracket, ability (I've not done any mtb for 10 years) and who are doing the same type of riding. Do you still use clipless? Did you change to flats and regret it? Do you find jumping in flats as easy or better than with clipless? Have you smacked your knees and or shins with flat pedals and, if so, how much damage did this do? Are knee/shin pads a way of overcoming the possibility of getting smacked in the knee/shin or is this overkill for the riding I will be doing?

I know people will say 'try both and see what you like' but that £100 on shoes and similar on pedals to then realise I don't get on with the flats and then have to splash out the same on clipless pedals and shoes.

Sorry for all the questions and thanks for any help with this. I just want to get it right first time and save the money/hassle. I don't want to be out on a long ride with pedals and shoes I don't get on with or with my shins and knees smashed to bits or worse.

I was similar to you - I rode a lot in my teens but at around 20/21 I stopped riding. Now 39 and started riding again about 5 years ago. I started back on spds as that was what I used when I stopped riding. No problem with them - but on steep tech as I got out my comfort zone I thought I’d have a go with flats. Love them and probably ride them for the majority of stuff.

However on big uplift type / rocky trail centre days my ankles seem to suffer on flats - when they don’t on clipless.

So I tend to fluctuate between both depending on what I’m riding. I find jumping nicer on flats - when I switch back to clipless it feels odd on jumps for a while. I think I also corner better on flats but can’t really say why.

So just go with what you’re comfortable with I’d suggest. You could always go for the cheapest flat style spd shoes and some cheap spds and see how you get on. If you’re happy then get some better pedals - but if you decide you don’t like being clipped in at least you haven’t spent too much money on the setup.

If you decide to go flats with grippy shoes I’d go for some 5-10’s over the 2FO. I’ve yet to find a shoe that has as much outright grip on pedals as my 5-10 Freerider elements. Shame they stuck up water like a sponge, but shoe driers get them dry after a few days!

Edit - without wanting to jinx myself I find I don’t tend to hit my shins on flats - if anything I tend to get the pins hit me in the back of the calf occasionally. Not many knee / shim pads would stop that.....but it’s generally not a major issue.

You're absolutely correct, clips Vs flats is a personal preference thing. However, "preference" only shows up after extensive experience with both. I happen to know people who can ride both types of pedal great, but prefer clips.

Pins to the shin is still a risk, but a very small one. I only got hit once, but it wasn't because of a slipped pedal, it was a proper crash.

On the jumping thing, look, on a bicycle (no idea with a snowboard) you have absolutely no need to be clipped in to jump. You just need to learn to do your job (preload, extend, feet pointing down) and the thing will go up from your kicker or natural jump. Even if in the end you end up preferring clips, you'll certainly improve you're technique from your flats experience.

Regarding why people tend to corner better on flats, I thinks it's a combination of:
- less stressed about crashing
- no mechanism float makes it easier to steer with hips/knees
- I think the mid foot pedal position people tend to use with flats moves your CoG forward and better loads the front wheel

@joebristol @zezaskar

Thanks both for your comments that have helped me come to a conclusion/decision about this.

Today the flat version of the 2FO's arrived. Very nice!! However, I've just ordered a third pair, lol. These are the clipless version in a size bigger. I'll return the other 2 pairs. I'll then get clipless trail pedals and also some flats. If I do anything that isn't a trail centre then I'll definitely use the clipless. For trails centres with jumps and berms, etc. I'm going to use the flats with some Vans skate shoes and see how that feels. I can take the clipless pedals and shoes in case I find it horrible. If I like it then I can just by some decent flat shoes.

Just over one week until I can collect the Stumpy. This is getting exciting!!!

Thanks again, Mark

@stumpymark

If you don’t already have the vans don’t buy any for riding flats. Order some cheapie things from sport direct like the below ones. They’ll have essentially the same grip as vans so will give you that experience. What you’ll find with skate shoes of any type is that the sole will be quite bendy so will grip ok - just I found my feet would start to ache after a while. 5-10’s generally have a stiffer sole so support the bottom of your foot better.

https://www.sportsdirect.com/soviet-jace-canvas-trainers-mens-246080#colcode=24608022

Flat pedal wise most of the very similar composite flats with metal pins on would do the job. I personally run Superstar Nano Evo’s on both bikes which I picked up for £35 when they had a sale on / discount code etc. Found them to be pretty decent.

Vans (or Vans style shoes) are great for messing around with the bike but will really kill your feet at any distance and they lack toe protection. They are grippy tho, surprisingly.

I'd definitely recommend some flat pedal specific shoes, riding flat pedals with crappy shoes makes as much sense as doing the same with clips. There are plenty of good options around. Shimano, Ion and Afton shoes seem to pop up occasionally at great discounts. For instance, I don't think one NEEDS all that Five Ten grip. Besides my Impacts, I have a pair of Shimano GR7s which happen to be great and grippy enough for anything except maybe chasing KOMs on DH tracks or winning enduro races.

Anyway, if you do try flats then please be stubborn enough to keep them for at least 5 rides, preferably 12 like some skills instructor I can't recall the name uses to say. The first couple of rides are usually miserable, don't let that scare you.

It's your call, but I don't get why you're so adamant about not using the flats outside trail centres. Just out of curiosity, would you mind to explain why?
I can say that 10 years ago it would never cross my mind to to ride exclusively on flat pedals, but since then better pedals, better shoes and dropper posts happened

I run Maxxis on most of my bikes but recently tried the MSC Grippers all round in Scotland. Really good grip and speed. Around 40 Gbp for a beefy enduro tyre.

@joebristol I already have lots of vans in varying states so using an old pair just to try out is fine even if they get wrecked. I just want to thrash around and try jumping with them. When my feet start hurting I can stop or throw the clipless on. I’m going to be doing a lot of riding with my young daughter so that’s time when I can experiment with the flats. If I like the flats then I’ll get decent shoes.

@zezaskar I’m saying I’ll use flats at trail centres but I meant I’ll do this at first as well as the short runs with my daughter. That’s because I don’t want to realise I hate flats in the middle of a 6 hour ride. Also, at the trail centres there will be lots of jumps, etc. to test the flats out rather than the odd naturally occurring jump out in ‘nature’. It’s just a quicker and more convenient way to test out the flats. Beyond that, if I love flats, I can invest in good flat shoes and use them for everything.

On a side note, I’ve found Crank Brothers Mallet DH for £100 inc. delivery online. Can this be right or to good to be true?

Ah fair one - go with the vans then and see how you get on.

With riding flats you want the pedal to sit a little further back under your shoe rather than the ball of your foot like with spds.

You want to focus on trying to get your heels down as that gives you more grip.

With crank brothers mallets they’re generally recognised as being really good functionality wise - but they need lots of maintenance. You’ll probably find you go through a lot of bushings / bearings to stop them going rattly.

There are plenty of other pedals out there I’d pick in front of those - I went for the Nukeproof Horizons but equally Shimano spds tend to be pretty bulletproof - and I have a soft spot for time pedals as they were always good.