Maxxis has updated its all-round performance road racing tyre, the High Road, with a new construction that promises improved rolling resistance, puncture resistance and grip.
Available as both a clincher and tubeless tyre, in sizes 700 x 25c and 700 x 28c, Maxxis claims a two per cent reduction in rolling resistance and a seven per cent increase in puncture resistance.
Maxxis says that Alex Dowsett, of WorldTour team Israel Start-Up Nation, used a tubular version of this new tyre to take his stage win at the Giro d’Italia in October 2020.
Higher thread count casing
The updated High Road maintains the same HYPR rubber compound as the previous version, so the headline change is the revised tyre casing, which now features 170 TPI (threads per inch), up from 120 TPI on the outgoing model.
As discussed in our best road bike tyres buyer's guide, high TPI counts generally deliver lower rolling resistance and a more comfortable ride quality.
Maxxis also claims the clincher version of the High Road has seen a 12 or 15 per cent decrease in weight versus the outgoing model, with the 700 x 25c and 700 x 28c versions said to weigh 185g and 205g, respectively.
However, the tubeless versions weigh “roughly the same as before”, with the 700 x 25c and 700 x 28c versions said to come in at 285g and 315g each.
This chimes with our experience of the previous 700 x 25c High Road tubeless tyre, which weighed 575g for a pair when we reviewed it last year.
The new casing construction is also said to make the latest High Road more supple than before, which “improves air retention, as well as ride quality and comfort.”
The claimed improved puncture protection comes as a result of a new anti-puncture layer (dubbed "ZK") located beneath the tread. A new tread pattern, shared across both the clincher and tubeless versions, is also claimed to improve wet cornering grip.
In terms of compatibility with hookless rims for the tubeless tyre (the clincher version is only compatible with hooked rims), Maxxis said that currently only Giant and Cadex hookless rims – such as those found on the current Giant TCR Advanced Pro and TCR Advanced SL bikes – have been confirmed as being fully compatible.
Pricing and availability
The new Maxxis High Road clincher and tubeless tyres are available now. The clincher version has an RRP of £59.99 / $70 / €62.50, with the tubeless version costing £64.99 / $80 / €72.
