CX/Gravel Tire Test: Maxxis Reaver EXO/TR 40

The Maxxis gravel bike tire lineup is expanding quickly, and the Reaver, with its low-profile tread design, is now Maxxis's top choice for pure gravel racing. When compared to the Maxxis Rambler (read our review) that we tested in 2021, the Reaver comes with a lower/faster center tread, while the cornering knobs along the edge of the tire look somewhat similar.

The tread design looks quite different from most other tires that follow the same idea. The tread design uses diamond knurling, and Maxxis claims it reduces rolling resistance and enhances grip in dusty or loose conditions. The Reaver features sets of three paddle knobs that give extra grip during hard braking. The side knobs are spaced closely together and staggered to deliver consistent cornering performance. In addition, each side knob has a sipe (groove) that allows it to flex and conform to the terrain, enhancing traction.

The Reaver's foundation is a tubeless-ready 120 TPI EXO/TR casing that we're pretty familiar with by now as we find that casing construction on nearly all of Maxxis's off-road tires. Some tires in Maxxis's lineup are available with different compounds, but the Reaver sticks to their 'Dual Compound,' which is probably their most used compound and well-known by now.

The Reaver is currently available in the 40-622 and 45-622 sizes, which we feel is a good start as those are the most popular gravel bike tire sizes at the moment. Both sizes are available with black, or tan sidewalls if you prefer a classic look. We've tested the 40-622 version with black sidewalls, and we'll compare it to the Maxxis Rambler and a selection of gravel bike tires with a similar tread pattern.

Manufacturer Specifications

Manufacturer Specs
Brand	Maxxis
Model	Reaver EXO/TR
Year	2024
Supplied By	Bought in store
New or Used	New
Mileage	0 km
Price Range	High
Buy At
Manufacturer part number	ETB00485500
TPI	120
Compound	Dual
Bead	Folding
ETRTO	40-622
Specified Weight	430 grams
Max Air Pressure (psi)	60
Made In	Members Only
Available Sizes	40-622 (700x40c) 45-622 (700x45c)

Maxxis Reaver EXO/TR 40 Test Results

Size, Weight, and Thickness Measurements

Size, Weight, and Thickness Measurements
Specified Weight	430 grams
Measured Weight	425 grams
Measured Width Casing	40 mm (un-round)
Measured Width Tread	40 mm
Measured Height	37 mm (un-round)
Measured Knob Height Center	1.0 mm
Measured Knob Height Edge	1.9 mm
Measured Total Thickness Center (excluding knobs)	1.50 mm
Measured Total Thickness Sidewall	Members Only
All size measurements are taken at low air pressure on a 17.8 mm inner width rim.

Rolling Resistance Test Results

Rolling Resistance Test Results
Inner Tube	None (30 ml sealant)
Measured Width	40 mm
Rolling Resistance Real tire width in mm: 30-32 = 66 psi/4.6 bar 33-35 = 60 psi/4.1 bar 36-38 = 54 psi/3.7 bar 39-42 = 50 psi/3.4 bar 43-46 = 46 psi/3.2 bar 47-50 = 42 psi/2.9 barHigh Air Pressure (50 psi / 3.4 bar)	Members Only
Rolling Resistance Real tire width in mm: 30-32 = 55 psi/3.8 bar 33-35 = 50 psi/3.4 bar 36-38 = 45 psi/3.1 bar 39-42 = 42 psi/2.9 bar 43-46 = 38 psi/2.6 bar 47-50 = 35 psi/2.4 barMedium Air Pressure (42 psi / 2.9 bar)	Members Only
Rolling Resistance Real tire width in mm: 30-32 = 44 psi/3.0 bar 33-35 = 40 psi/2.8 bar 36-38 = 36 psi/2.6 bar 39-42 = 33 psi/2.3 bar 43-46 = 31 psi/2.1 bar 47-50 = 28 psi/1.9 barLow Air Pressure (33 psi / 2.3 bar)	24.2 Watts CRR: 0.00725
Rolling Resistance Real tire width in mm: 30-32 = 33 psi/2.3 bar 33-35 = 30 psi/2.1 bar 36-38 = 27 psi/1.9 bar 39-42 = 25 psi/1.7 bar 43-46 = 23 psi/1.6 bar 47-50 = 21 psi/1.4 barExtra Low Air Pressure (25 psi / 1.7 bar)	29.0 Watts CRR: 0.00869
The CX/Gravel section is a multi tire size section, air pressures have been adjusted to the measured casing width. All numbers are for a single tire at a speed of 29 km/h / 18 mph and a load of 42.5 kg / 94 lbs. Use the formula: RR (Watts) = CRR * speed (m/s) * load (N) to calculate rolling resistance at a given speed and load.

Puncture Resistance Test Results

Puncture Resistance Test Results (higher is better)
Total Puncture Score Tread	29 Points
Total Puncture Score Sidewall	Members Only
Tread Puncture Force Sharp Needle	Members Only
Tread Puncture Force Blunt Needle	Members Only
Tread Total Tire Thickness	1.50 mm
Sidewall Puncture Force Sharp Needle	Members Only
Sidewall Puncture Force Blunt Needle	Members Only
Sidewall Total Tire Thickness	Members Only

Hard Surface Static Grip Test Results

Static Grip Test Results
Wet Grip Average	63 Points
Wet Grip Center	Members Only
Wet Grip Edge	Members Only
Measured Knob Height Center	1.0 mm
Measured Knob Height Edge	1.9 mm
Grip in points = coefficient of friction * 100 CX/Gravel grip test rim width = 23.0 mm
Wet Grip Test and Off-Road Tires (info)

Conclusion

While the tread pattern looks much faster, the Reaver doesn't perform much better in our rolling resistance tests than the Maxxis Rambler (read our review) we tested in 2021. When comparing these side by side, they perform surprisingly close to each other, with minor differences in the height of the center knobs (obviously) and sidewall puncture resistance. The real difference between these tires will come down to real-life usage, where the tread pattern will be more critical.

When compared to similar tires from other brands, the Reaver's main shortcoming is again the rolling resistance that comes in higher than tires from other brands. In our other tests, the Reaver performs in the middle of the pack, and we can't find a single area where it is the absolute best option. Overall, we rate the Reaver as a good all-round performer, but we recommend looking at our CX/Gravel overview page and look for a better tire for your specific needs.

RATING: 3.0 / 5
TEST VERDICT: Recommended

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