Since Maxxis introduced the Assegai, the go-to tire combo for Maxxis athletes and average riders alike has been an Assegai up front and a Minion DHR II on the rear. While this tire combination works well in dry to intermediate conditions, the Assegai has a tendency to pack up in wet dirt and the DHR II doesn't quite deliver a level of bite typically associated some with other options on the market. The next available tread pattern for wet or loose terrain is the Maxxis Shorty, a dedicated mud tire that, while offering immense traction in the wet, has a tendency to fold on hard pack and shouldn’t even be mentioned in the same breath as “rolling resistance." Aware of this glaring hole in their lineup, Maxxis set out to develop a high-performing mid-spike tire with the feedback of their World Cup athletes. After extensive testing and rider input the end result is the High Roller, a tire that had already secured multiple World Cup wins prior to its official release. 

The new High Roller isn’t just a refresh of the High Roller II; it is an entirely new gravity-oriented tire designed with feedback from the world’s fastest DH and enduro athletes.

Maxxis High Roller III Details

Compounds: 3C MaxxGrip

Casings: Exo+, DoubleDown, and Downhill 

Recommended Use: Enduro/Downhill 

Configuration Tested: 29x2.4”, Downhill casing, MaxxGrip compound / 23psi front, 27psi rear

Tread Details 

The new High Roller features an alternating two-block center tread pattern. The two sets of center knobs alternate between horizontal and vertical siping, with one set being spaced slightly wider than the other. The center knobs are ever so slightly ramped but maintain a traditional mid-spike “blocky” appearance. Unlike the Assegai, the tread doesn’t feature any transfer knobs between its center and side knobs, allowing for better mud clearance. The two alternating side knob profiles of the High Roller are somewhat reminiscent of a Minion DHR II and DHF, although they don’t have as nearly pronounced a “L” shape. One of the side knobs has small vertical siping on its face and the other is completely un-siped for better soil penetration. 

The alternating center mid-spike tread paired with tall side knobs easily penetrates loose soil while offering a defined cornering feel that riders can trust.

New High Roller III Compared to the Old High Roller II 

While this all-new tire from Maxxis carries on the “High Roller” namesake, its tread pattern differs massively from the outgoing High Roller II. The previous iteration of the tire featured a low profile, heavily ramped tread design with an emphasis on low rolling resistance. While the High Roller II performed as intended in dry conditions as a rear tire, its drifty nature and tendency to break-away easily wasn’t for everyone and meant it was never a very suitable front tire. Just a glance at other bikes in the Whistler lift line or at recent sales trends would indicate that the High Roller II had fallen out of popular use. 

Compared to the previous High Roller II, the new tread pattern places a much larger emphasis on outright traction. Instead of low profile, heavily ramped knobs for maximizing rolling speed, the new High Roller’s alternating blocks penetrate into loose soil and mixed conditions. While the newest model still rolls decently well in a straight line considering its immense traction and cornering ability, riders switching from the previous model shouldn’t expect the fast rolling specialist they were accustomed to. Instead, riders should anticipate a different tire entirely, one that performs exceptionally when the soil is loose, tempting riders to hold off camber lines that they wouldn’t have dreamed of attempting with the previous tread pattern. 

Ride Impressions

My first ride with the new High Roller took place shuttling in Squamish with the trails at their driest point of the summer. There was very little moisture in the ground, and trail conditions were less than ideal with a mixture of moon dust and sun-baked hardpack, along with a healthy amount of roots and rocks intermixed. Conditions were not what you’d typically prioritize a mid-spiked tire for. Still, they were a good test of the High Rollers’ versatility and grip on looser, steeper terrain where braking traction was at a premium. 

Image Credit: AJ Barlas

Dropping into the first trail, I was immediatly aware of the High Roller’s more “square” profile and could feel its center knobs penetrating into the loose soil. I had a short introductory lap on a familiar trail before finding myself gasping for traction on steeper terrain. Right away, the alternating center row of knobs allowed me to control my speed with confidence in a straight line, while its side knobs provided consistent grip when turning through dusty catch berms. Going into my first ride on the High Roller III, I anticipated a ride quality similar to that of the Specialized Hillbilly but was pleasantly surprised to experience a combination of grip, rolling speed, and side knob support that I had yet to encounter with any other tread pattern. 

Since that first ride, I’ve had the opportunity to test these tires in a variety of weather, allowing myself to become accustomed to the High Roller’s characteristics in its intended conditions. One particular weekend at the Whistler Bike Park stands out in my memory, as mother nature served up an ideal range of conditions, with my first lap of the weekend taking place in tear-off-worthy rain with the trails shifting throughout the weekend from full-on mud to perfect dirt. 

Image Credit: AJ Barlas

When the trails are fully saturated, the High Roller’s mid-spike knobs grip significantly better than that of other popular Maxxis offerings such as a Minion DHF or Assegai. While not as tall as a dedicated mud spike, they still have enough purchase in loose terrain to differentiate themselves from typical dry-condition tires, penetrating the overly-saturated soil with ease without clogging. As trails initially begin to dry out and turn to a sticky, thick peanut-butter consistency, the performance of the new High Roller really starts to shine. In these variable “in-between” conditions, the High Roller cuts through the muck, encouraging its pilot to ride at full speed, rather than tip-toeing about. The High Roller’s slightly square 2.4” profile provides a knife-like feeling that slices through the confusion of variable soil, offering a sense of security and sure-footedness that most tires struggle to provide in tacky mud. One of the standout characteristics of the High Roller in these types of conditions is its ability to shed mud and debris thanks to its tread spacing and the open channels between the center and side knobs. No matter the conditions, there was never a time I looked down to find the High Roller packed up, even when dragging a bit of brake down steep loamier terrain. 

When trails are at their best, having taken on that ideal dark brown color, the High Roller is beyond capable. The slightly ramped center knobs roll fast enough to carry speed on hard-packed trails, while the side knobs are distinctly supportive, never squirming or folding at high speeds. 

The side knobs of the High Roller III deliver a distinct cornering feel and don’t squirm or fold on hard-pack trails.

Front Performance 

As a front tire, the slightly square profile of the 2.4” diameter High Roller provides a pin-point directional feel. The alternating side knobs are semi-firm and don’t easily fold on hard-pack surfaces. Disregarding their differences in profiles, the feeling of pushing into the front isn’t too dissimilar from that of a Specialized Hillbilly, or a Schwalbe Magic Mary tread pattern.

The High Roller is a predictable front tire option for riders wanting a tire that provides a consistent cornering feel and is suitable for a wide range of conditions. In dry or intermediate conditions, the High Roller would pair nicely with a Minion DHR II rear tire.

Rear Performance 

When installed on the rear, the High Roller provides fantastic breaking traction in a straight line and ample off-camber grip. The tire pedals well, especially considering it is a performance gravity-oriented tread pattern. It also provides good grip when putting down powerful pedal strokes. 

Paired with the same tire up front, a combination of dual High Rollers is highly predictable, rolling and gripping well in a straight line, with a distinct cornering feel riders will quickly learn to trust. 

Casings / Compound

The High Roller is optimized for all-out grip and is currently only available in Maxxis’s softest MaxxGrip compound. I’ve found MaxxGrip to be a touch firmer than some other manufacturers’ softest rubber, but it still provides a noticeable increase in grip over rocks compared to the MaxxTerra compound.

Maxxis’s DH casing remains the gold standard for gravity-oriented flat protection.

At launch, the High Roller III was only available in a combination of Downhill casing and 3C MaxxGrip rubber. DoubleDown and EXO+ casings are now available for purchase, providing the same level of traction in a lighter, more pedal-friendly package. 

Maxxis’s Downhill casing has been the industry standard for reliable heavy-duty protection from pinch flats and side wall slices, and my experience aboard the High Roller has been no different. These tires have endured a summer’s worth of bike park laps and pedal days, each with their fair share of rock gardens, and I haven't experienced a single flat. The release of the High Roller saw some internal updates to the construction of Maxxis's Downhill casing, but Maxxis was tight-lipped on further details.

Durability

I have subjected the High Roller to a summer’s worth of rides and more bike park laps than I can count. Being a performance-oriented tire constructed of  Maxxis’s softest compound, it’s not entirely surprising that my set of High Rollers is starting to show visible signs of wear. However, they probably have a couple more months worth of riding in them before it is time for a change. Some of the center knobs are starting to round off, and minuscule stress tears are a common sight, especially on the rear tread. The side knobs are nearly pristine, and I can’t find a single one that shows any signs of tearing at its base. Riders shouldn’t expect the same lifespan from the High Roller as they would an Assegai or DHR II, but the High Roller will make it deep into a season’s worth of heavy riding before performance begins to fade.

Image Credit: AJ Barlas

Maxxis High Roller Compared to the Assegai 

The Assegai is a fantastic tire in dry conditions and provides a very consistent and predictable feel that many riders favor. The only limitation of the Assegai is its tendency to pack up in loose soil, rendering it nearly useless when fully clogged. While I still give the Assegai the upper hand as a front tire in fully dry conditions, the High Roller is generally more versatile and isn’t susceptible to clogging. 

Maxxis High Roller Compared to the Specialized Hillbilly 

I very quickly found myself getting up to speed on the High Roller, partially because of its rider-friendly traction and intuitive grip but also because it also reminded me of the Specialized Hillbilly, a tire I have spent a lot of time on. Both tires feature moderately spiked alternating dual-knob profiles, with very similar amounts of spacing. The Hillbilly’s knobs are ever-so-slightly taller than those of the High Roller and have less ramping. The differences between the two manufacturer’s compounds and the slightly shorter ramped knobs of the High Roller give it an advantage in rolling efficiency. The High Roller shares similar riding characteristics to the Hillbilly in loose, wet dirt. While both tires perform exceptionally in mud and loose conditions, the High Roller outperforms the Hillbilly of hardpack trails, as its knobs don’t squirm or tear in the same way the softer T9 rubber tends to.

Verdict / Who is the High Roller III Suited For?

The new High Roller performs well over a variety of conditions, ranging from rim-deep moon dust to picturesque beds of rooty loam. When the sky opens up, and trails turn to mud, it provides a sense of security typically reserved for condition-specific spiked tread patterns. This tire is a fantastic option for riders who value the utmost traction and performance in wetter climates and loose conditions. 

Often, especially on a mountain with as much elevation and terrain as Whistler, riders will encounter a broad range of trail conditions in quick succession. In these instances where a ribbon of saturated techy loam spits out onto a drier section of hard-packed flow, the High Roller adapts without flinching. This tire is a standout option for those who don’t want to have any doubts about traction regardless of the terrain. The High Roller has filled a previously unaddressed gap in the Maxxis lineup, and its versatility has made it a permanent fixture on my bike since its release.