Scott-3 Rox Riders Talk About Maxxis’ Aspen, Ikon & MaxxLite Tires
7/16/2012In mountain biking, changing your tires is the quickest way to gain a performance edge. Having the right tire for the terrain and conditions can mean the difference between a podium spot and a miserable day on the bike.
To find out what some of our top XC racers are using, Maxxis recently sent a film crew from Route 2 Projects out to the Hardwood Hills stop of Canada’s Ontario Cup. Cross country legend Geoff Kabush, along with Scott-3 Rox Racing teammates Derek Zandstra, Amanda Sin and Mikaela Kofman sat down to tell us about three of the team’s favorite tires:
Aspen http://youtu.be/9NDBJwHBOJA
The Aspen features a high-volume, lightweight casing; low-profile center tread; dual-compound rubber; and aggressive side knobs. Available in 26 and 29-inch sizes, the Aspen is ideal for buff to slightly loose cross country trails. The low center tread rolls fast, but the side knobs are substantial enough to allow for confident cornering. The dual-compound rubber strikes a balance between rolling resistance, treadwear and grip.
Ikon http://youtu.be/nQP8z2EnHvc
The racer’s favorite. The Ikon features a high-volume casing; small, ramped knobs; 3C Maxx Speed triple-compound rubber; and EXO sidewall protection. The tread design of the Ikon shines in all but muddy conditions, making it the most versatile tire we offer. For rocky and rooty trails, the Ikon is available with Maxxis’ EXO Protection, which helps prevent damage to the sidewalls of the tire at a minimal weight penalty. The Ikon is available in several configurations in both 26 and 29-inch sizes. If your trails have varying conditions or you want one tire to do it all, choose the Ikon.
MaxxLite 285 & 29 http://youtu.be/qC6MsoeoiHM
An unfair advantage? The MaxxLite is the pinnacle of our tire technology. The 26-inch MaxxLite 285 gets its name from its weight, an amazing 285 grams! The MaxxLite 29 uses the same tread design found on the 285, just in a 29-inch size. Weight for the MaxxLite 29 is 345 grams, making it one of the lightest 29er tires available today. The MaxxLite is a race-specific tire using a very supple 170 threads-per-inch casing, Silkworm puncture protection and dual-compound rubber. When conditions call for it, there is no faster tire.
Check out the videos to hear the racers’ thoughts and to see the tires in action!
