{"id":34875,"date":"2018-04-19T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2018-04-19T04:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.maxxis.com\/us\/maxxis-introduces-greg-minnaars-signature-tire-the-assegai\/"},"modified":"2021-04-16T11:03:51","modified_gmt":"2021-04-16T15:03:51","slug":"maxxis-introduces-greg-minnaars-signature-tire-the-assegai","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.maxxis.com\/us\/news\/maxxis-introduces-greg-minnaars-signature-tire-the-assegai\/","title":{"rendered":"Maxxis Introduces Greg Minnaar\u2019s Signature Tire, the Assegai"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"\u00a0<\/p>\n

3 World Championship itles<\/p>\n

3 World Cup Overall itles<\/p>\n

21 World Cup Wins<\/p>\n

75 World Cup Podiums<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

And counting\u2026<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Without a doubt, Greg Minnaar is the most dominant downhill racer in World Cup history. He\u2019s also remarkably consistent and versatile — a podium contender on any course, whether steep and technical or smooth and flowing. Simply put, Greg is fast everywhere.<\/p>\n

When we approached Greg two years ago with the idea of creating a signature tire, he was eager to combine his three decades of racing experience with Maxxis\u2019 unmatched engineering capabilities. Our engineers sent over drawings of some of Greg\u2019s favorite tires: the Minion DHF, DHR II, Shorty, and High Roller. Greg then sketched out his ideal tread pattern, taking bits and pieces he liked from each. As he puts it:<\/p>\n

\u00a0\"Greg<\/p>\n

\u201cMy idea was to design a tire around some of Maxxis\u2019 iconic tread patterns. I started in the center by combining the Minion DHF and the Minion DHR II. he reasoning behind this was I felt the surface area of the DHF rolls well and gives you a good footprint on hardpack, greasy turns as well as confidence on wet roots and rocks. he DHR II added faster rolling speed and more aggressive braking. <\/em><\/p>\n

hen I worked on the \u2018extra\u2019 tooth to give you more support when leaning the bike over so there\u2019s a consistent feel all the way onto the side knobs. And that leaves me talking about my all-time favorite tire — the High Roller. Maxxis engineers and I came up with a remodeled High Roller side knob with very similar characteristics to the original. But with the support the extra tooth gives you, you have the ultimate wingman when cutting hard on a flat turn. <\/em><\/p>\n

\"Greg<\/p>\n

Finally, I took the height of the knobs from the Shorty. he knobs are well-supported, so the extra height aggressively bites into loam and dry, dusty conditions.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

– Greg Minnaar<\/em><\/p>\n

Such a potent tire deserves a potent name, which is why Greg chose to call his signature tread the Assegai. As a native South African, a name with ties to his home country seems fitting.<\/p>\n

\"Greg\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI wanted something that sounded sharp and aggressive, and that\u2019s how I ended up calling my tire the Assegai! he Assegai is a traditional Zulu warrior spear, the Zulu being the traditional tribe of KwaZulu Natal, the region of South Africa where I was born and raised.\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n

– Greg Minnaar<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Specs<\/strong><\/p>\n

he Maxxis Assegai<\/a> is initially available only in a downhill-spec — naturally. Other features of the Assegai include:<\/p>\n