Twelve years after the High Roller II was launched, Maxxis release the High Roller III that sits between the Assegai and Shorty tyres.
With the advent of the Minion DHR II becoming the defacto rear tyre of choice these days, Maxxis have re-envisioned the High Roller’s use to land it squarely between a Shorty and an Assegai to produce the High Roller III.
Key features:
- 3C MaxxGrip rubber compound
- Downhill (2×60 TPI) casing
- 30-35mm rim width recommended
- Tubeless Ready (TR)
- £74.99 RRP
- Maxxis.com
The new Maxxis High Roller III is already a World Cup winner under the likes of Ronan Dunne and Jackson Goldstone, proving that its latest iteration is well up to the task. Having been edged out by the ever-popular Minion DHR II, the third version of the High Roller comes in between the Shorty and Assegai as a brand new intermediate offering.
Widely-spaced, ciped central blocks sit between large, supported shoulder knobs. This combination is aimed at penetration in wet conditions as well as doing a solid stint when it turns dry and dusty. When World Cup tracks get steep, wet, loose and blown out, the High Roller III is aimed at being the tyre of choice.
Maxxis’ MaxxGrip 3C rubber compound is backed up by a 2-ply, 60tpi casing in its downhill guise, with DoubleDown in 2-ply, 120tpi and EXO+ casing in 60tpi options also available. Both 29 and 27.5″ tyres will be on offer in a 2.4″ width only. The 29 x 2.4″ DH casing tyre comes in at 1400g, whilst the 27.5 x 2.4 EXO+ casing tips the scales at 1100g.
The DH casing comes in at £74.99, and £79.99 for the DoubleDown casing. DH tyres should be available at launch, with DoubleDown coming in the Autumn. EXO+ tyres will be available later but the date is TBC.
Opening moves
Maxxis’ latest offering, the third gen High Roller would swap out the Assegai front tyre on my Santa Cruz Nomad test bike for a decent comparison. Downhill casing would be the only option available at launch, so it would be a little heavier and robust than the stock DoubleDown fitted, but not by much.
Mounted onto a Santa Cruz Reserve carbon rim without too much of a wrestle, the tyre hit the bead with a thwack I haven’t heard in a while. Sealant to suit and off we went. Tyre pressure for my 58kg frame being somewhere in the region of the 15 mark.
Whilst it certainly hasn’t been muddy of late, my local trails dry slowly and being able to cut through the grease to the traction or just hold a filthy high line or off-camber line is a real bonus. In that, I would soon find out that the new High Roller is one of the best.
Front tyre grip is something that can’t often be too high and the High Roller is one of those that clings like a limpet to whatever you’ve opted to point the bike at. The shoulders feel a little stiffer than that of a Shorty so you can really shove them into the harder surfaced corners without the tyre squirming. Grip on rowdier, looser, slicker trails is a real jump from the Assegai and the High Roller clears better too.
As I have only had the tyre a week, and Maxxis do market this as a race tyre, durability doesn’t really come into the equation just yet. Certainly tyre wear hasn’t been a concern, especially being a front tyre.
Having run downhill casing versions of both the High Roller and Assegai recently, I think the High Roller might actually be a better all-rounder than the Assegai. Certainly in the context of the trails I ride. It’s very much in the Tacky Chan/Argotal range which are also very effective options for the riding I do.
So far, so very good then. Whilst it is a bit much having the DH casing tyre on the front of a long travel enduro bike, when you drop into the trail and hook the first off-camber like a champ, it certainly feels more than worth it. Keep your eyes peeled for a full review once it’s eaten a few more miles.
