The Maxxis Aggressor is a new tire that’s not quite as burly as the company’s popular High Roller II, DHR II and DHF models, but has more bite than the Ardent. If you’re considering a new tread pattern for trail riding or enduro racing in dry conditions, the Aggressor is an excellent choice.
I tested the Aggressor in the 29x2.3 size with the with a tubeless-ready, EXO casing. (Maxxis also offers the Aggressor in a 27.5x2.3 version.) Weight for my pair of test tires was 905g.
The EXO casing has proven quite durable, shrugging off numerous botched landings on square-edged rocks. Aggressive and heavier riders in need of even more protection should consider the Double Down (DD) version, which uses a 120tpi dual-ply construction and comes with a bump in weight of approximately 200g.
The Aggressor is not positioned as a rear-specific tread pattern, but this is where I found the tire to really excel. I paired it with a Maxxis DHF front tire and absolutely loved the performance and cornering characteristics. This has become my go-to tire combination for dry conditions on loose and loose-over-hardpacked trails.
The channel between the center and side knobs isn’t overly wide, making it easy to finesse the tire into turns without hitting a dead zone of traction.
As a front tire, the Aggressor is good for hardpack and intermediate terrain, though the tightly-spaced blocks don’t dig in and hold as well as a knobbier tire. The tight knob spacing and ribbed microtread also mean this tire isn’t the best option if you frequently ride in wet or muddy conditions.
In any situation, the Aggressor is much more predictable tire than the Maxxis Ardent, with larger side knobs that hold a line and well-positioned center knobs that roll with relative ease and provide plenty of traction when climbing or braking. It’s not a high volume tire, however. While labeled as 2.3in wide, the Aggressor measures in at just 2.25in on a rim with an internal width of 30mm.
Summary
The Aggressor hits the bullseye for balancing traction, rolling resistance, weight and durability. While the Aggressor does a lot of things well, it positively shines as a rear tire in dry conditions.
