"2.35 tyres fit on XC717 rims, looking at running them tubeless or should I stick with 2.25s "
Bear in mind a Maxxis 2.25" is a lot bigger than a Maxxis 2.35", as big as a 2.5"
Its because older tread Maxxis (High Roller/Minion/Ignitor/Larsen TT/Swampthing/Medusa etc.. use much smaller carcasses than newer treads (Crossmark/Advantage/Ardent)
A new tread 2.1" is only a little smaller than an old tread 2.35"
Mavic does say max of 2.1" (eg XM719 is 2.3") but Maxxis do come up pretty small. A 2.1" Kenda Nevegal is only slightly smaller than a 2.35" High Roller, and I find both run okay on a rear XC717 disc, though I wouldn't want to run any bigger
A 2.35" High Roller has a much flatter shape than for eg a Nevegal and much taller/beefy side tread, so even on a narrower rim they should behave quite well
I've run a 2.25" Advantage and a 2.5" High Roller on a rear XC717 disc before (acting as a spare wheel) and both required a lot of pressure to reduce the increased pinchflats and general stability of a fat tyre on a narrow rim, especially noticable under 'heavy' cornering and landing drops (the angle the tyre meets the rim was getting 'extreme')