MTB Tire Test: Maxxis Aspen MaxxSpeed EXO/TR

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The Maxxis Aspen is one of Maxxis's most popular mountain bike tires, and it's now available with their race-winning MaxxSpeed compound. The new MaxxSpeed (not to be mistaken with their older 3C MaxxSpeed) compound uses a silica filler to improve both rolling performance and wet traction, which are critical ingredients for winning races.

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We already tested the older 29x2.25 Maxxis Aspen EXO/TR (read our review) with the "Dual" compound, which will provide us with a baseline performance to see how much of an improvement the new MaxxSpeed compound brings. Maxxis claims the new MaxxSpeed compound reduces rolling resistance by 25%, which should result in a rolling resistance in our test of roughly 20 watts at 25 psi / 1.7 bars.

20 watts would be exciting as it would be competitive with some of the fastest-rolling mountain bike tires in the world. Maxxis also claims improved wet traction, which we would welcome, as the old "Dual" compound Aspen didn't perform that strong in our wet grip test. We're not expecting huge numbers in our hard-surface wet grip test, as the tread pattern on the Aspen is extremely "open", and it's just not made to grip well on hard surfaces.

For now, the MaxxSpeed Aspen is only available in the 29x2.4WT size, but it appears at least a 27.5-inch version is coming as well. We'll compare the 29x2.4WT Aspen MaxxSpeed against the 29x2.25 Aspen "Dual compound" and a range of mountain bike tires from other manufacturers with similar tread patterns/knob height.

Manufacturer Specifications

Manufacturer Specs
Brand	Maxxis
Model	Aspen MaxxSpeed EXO/TR
Year	2023
Supplied By	Bought in store
New or Used	New
Mileage	0 km
Price Range	High
Buy At	Ad Amazon.com
Manufacturer part number	ETB00464700
TPI	120
Compound	MaxxSpeed
Bead	Folding
ETRTO	61-622
Size Inch	28"
Width Inch	2.40
Specified Weight	770 grams
Max Air Pressure (psi)	25
Made In	Members Only
Available Sizes	29x2.4

Maxxis Aspen MaxxSpeed EXO/TR Test Results

Size, Weight, and Thickness Measurements

Size, Weight, and Thickness Measurements
Specified Weight	770 grams
Measured Weight	778 grams
Measured Width Carcass	59 mm (un-round)
Measured Width Tread	62 mm
Measured Height	58 mm (un-round)
Measured Knob Height Center	2.2 mm
Measured Knob Height Edge	3.5 mm
Measured Total Thickness Center (excluding knobs)	2.3 mm
Measured Total Thickness Sidewall	Members Only
All size measurements are taken at an air pressure of 35 psi / 2.4 bars on a 17.8 mm inner width rim.

Rolling Resistance Test Results

Rolling Resistance Test Results
Inner Tube	None (40 ml sealant)
Rolling Resistance 55 PSI / 3.8 Bar	Members Only
Rolling Resistance 45 PSI / 3.1 Bar	Members Only
Rolling Resistance 35 PSI / 2.4 Bar	24.4 Watts CRR: 0.00731
Rolling Resistance 25 PSI / 1.7 Bar	28.5 Watts CRR: 0.00854
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	38 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	2.3 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	58 Points
Wet Grip Center	Members Only
Wet Grip Edge	Members Only
Measured Knob Height Center	2.2 mm
Measured Knob Height Edge	3.5 mm
Grip in points = coefficient of friction * 100 MTB grip test rim width = 30.0 mm
Wet Grip Test and Off-Road Tires (info)

Conclusion

Unfortunately, we can't confirm the 25% reduction in rolling resistance that Maxxis claims. We see the Aspen MaxxSpeed behaving in the opposite direction with a rolling resistance that is roughly 8% higher than the 29x2.25 Aspen with the "Dual" compound that we tested in 2019 (read our review). We feel disappointed as a tire that comes with a "MaxxSpeed" compound should be up there with the fastest rolling mountain bike tires.

The MaxxSpeed name puzzles us even more when we look at the specified and measured weights of the Aspen MaxxSpeed. Both are much higher than the competition and the older 29x2.25 with "Dual" compound, even when we compensate for the higher volume of the 2.4 size. Some of the weight has gone into the puncture protection as the MaxxSpeed (unexpectedly?) performs much better in our puncture tests than the "Dual" compound version.

We do see an improvement in our hard surface wet grip test, but it's still extremely limited by the small knobs and very open tread pattern; The Aspen just isn't made to be a strong performer in this test.

Overall, the Maxxis Aspen with MaxxSpeed compound is still a decent performer, but we feel the "MaxxSpeed" name doesn't meet expectations.

Ad Buy Maxxis Aspen MaxxSpeed EXO/TR at Amazon.com

RATING: 3.5 / 5
TEST VERDICT: Recommended

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