A 32in Maxxis Aspen cross-country tyre has been leaked on Instagram by DirtySixer, fuelling debate on whether we'll see the new standard used on XC bikes in the UCI World Cup this year.
The new tyre is pictured on the brand’s Gravel bike and appears to use Maxxis’ MaxxSpeed compound and EXO casing.
DirtySixer is known for making 32in and 36in bikes aimed at taller riders and has joined the likes of Cannondale and Canyon in making a bike for 7ft 1 basketball legend, Shaquille O'Neal.
It looks as though the tyre is a late-stage prototype and doesn’t feature the 'Test Pilot' branding we’ve come to expect on unreleased Maxxis tyres.
The Aspen is Maxxis’ lightweight cross-country tyre, with the low-profile tread pattern usually favoured by racers in dry conditions thanks to its fast-rolling nature.
While we’ve seen brands such as Vee Tire cater to the 32in size, Maxxis would be one of the first mainstream tyre manufacturers to adopt the standard, possibly paving the way for wider use in the industry.
The implications of this could mean we see 32in cross-country bikes at the start line of the UCI World Cup sooner than anticipated.
It has long been speculated that bike manufacturers have been trialling the wheel size, with 32in wheels rolling over rough terrain easier and increasing the tyre contact patch when compared to 29ers.
In theory, these factors should lead to faster lap times, but there are some disadvantages compared to the current standard – such as slower acceleration.
Unlike the UCI’s rules regarding road wheel sizes, which limits them to 700c, there’s no such regulation for mountain bike wheel size.
It’s not the first time we’ve seen a wheel-size change in mountain biking, with the jump from 26in to 29in marking a new level of capability.
Initially, 29in wheels were received with scepticism and ridicule, but their increased performance benefits have seen them become the standard across all disciplines of mountain biking.
Whether that’ll be the case for 32in is questionable, but we’re likely to see them introduced in the near future.
