Maxxis Dissector 3C MaxxTerra EXO WT review

The Maxxis Dissector was designed for downhill racing by Canyon’s DH champion Troy Brosnan, but seems to have found favour as a faster-rolling trail and enduro tyre – especially fitted on the rear.

The thinner casing options are pretty lightweight for the category, which adds versatility and has boosted its popularity outside the pure gravity sector.

Maxxis Dissector 3C MaxxTerra EXO WT specifications and details

The Dissector tread blends faster-rolling Maxxis XC and trail patterns with its familiar DH classics such as the Minion and High Roller II.

With Brosnan being Australian, it’s no surprise this tyre targets dry, dusty and loose over hard conditions, but with pretty spaced-out lugs there’s still enough negative space for it to be effective shedding sticky mud in wet UK conditions too.

A low-profile central strip has big unsiped central blocks looping the crown, with alternate narrower blocks with small slits to aid braking traction and deformation.

The inflated shape is square with an almost flat top, and the aggressive shoulder blocks jut out sideways beyond a broad grooved grip channel.

Maxxis offers the Dissector in a wide range of casings and compounds from EXO through to Double Down and DH, each with increasingly thick, tough and heavy carcasses. This EXO version tipped the scales at 985g.

Maxxis Dissector 3C MaxxTerra EXO WT performance

The key Dissector character trait is the wide strip with no lugs between the central blocks and shoulder knobs, which dictates a distinct on/off feel to cornering grip.

There’s an almost ‘floaty’ moment as the tyre transitions onto the edge blocks before biting hard into the earth.

This sensation won’t be for everyone (especially on the front, where it’s too vague), but the slip-then-grip sensation can be a lot of fun and helps really tip the bike into turns if you’re riding aggressively.

The open centre tread can feel a little bobbly at low speeds while climbing, but this doesn’t stop this being one the fastest-rolling tyres in Maxxis’ gravity family.

Accelerating, it feels snappy compared to equivalent casing treads and there’s little sense of the energy-sapping dread you get with most DH tyres as your mates pedal away uphill or roll away downhill on mellower trails.

The fairly open tread also has decent bite in loam or even greasy or loose mud, plus straight-line braking traction is better than other Maxxis models that also target rolling speed, such as the Aggressor, but it’s not the best in class.

One drawback of the open tread is you get more feedback through your feet with less rubber laid down crossing rock gardens or root webs, and overall there’s less of a damped, planted and comfortable ride than some competitors.

Maxxis Dissector 3C MaxxTerra EXO WT bottom line

Certain other tyres might offer more grip and comfort, but in terms of balancing weight, rolling speed and superb cornering grip, the Dissector strikes a good balance – especially in the lighter-casing models.

Not all riders will love the extremely on/off cornering feel though.