Tire Shootout: Maxxis Assegai vs High Roller 3

The original Maxxis High Roller is one of the all time classic mountain bike tires. One of the first modern gravity treads, it launched way back in 2001 and stuck around almost unchanged for almost two decades, with only a minor update to the tread pattern in 2011. Fast rolling and relatively grippy it used to be seen on everything from full downhill race bikes to regular trail bikes, with the Super Tacky version everywhere in the Tweed Valley for a few years. As the years ticked by however, it was gradually replaced by first the Minion DHF and DHR and then later with the Assegai, which has virtually become the default choice for many, though the DHF does also still have a loyal following. 

Racking up a pile of World Cup downhill and Enduro wins, specced on bikes from many brands and a favourite of riders of all abilities, the Assegai has also become our go to front tire here at Tweed Valley Bikes and in the Dirt School coaching team, with it in place on the front of practically every longer travel staff & race team bike from the last few years. Until very recently, if someone was asking our advice as to what to choose when looking for a grip upgrade we’d have recommended it almost automatically but now with the new High Roller 3, it has some real competition for the crown of ultimate front tire.

As the reigning champion, the Assegai reset the benchmark for grip when it was launched in 2019 with many other brands now making similarly patterned tires in a bid to compete. Its tread is based around the now common 2-3-2 centre pattern combined with large edge knobs, all of which are relatively tall to help dig into loose surfaces. It only comes in a 2.5’ diameter and on a regular 30mm internal rim, inflates to give a fairly generous and rounded profile with plenty of volume to take the sting out of trail impacts and chatter. 

The slightly rounded profile combined with the intermediate knobs and large stable side knobs create a tire with an incredibly consistent feel and there is always plenty of rubber in contact with the ground no matter what angle the wheel is at. That consistency is the absolute trump card of the Assegai and the reason it has become as popular as it has, with its exceptionally predictable behaviour making it easy to trust in almost any situation (but not quite all - see below). It just never does anything unexpected and even when grip does eventually let go it usually does so in a gradual and controllable manner. Braking traction is excellent and for hardpacked or dry conditions there is possibly no better front tire. 

(Absolutely perfect Assegai conditions on Cresta Run)

As good as all those traits are, there are a couple of downsides to the Assegai. The simplest one is that when the ground gets soft and sticky, the closely spaced knobs clog with mud and dirt more easily than some other designs which can rapidly reduce the effectiveness of the tread when conditions are really nasty. The larger volume and rounded profile that gives such consistent grip also doesn’t create as much of an edge when the dirt is soft, meaning the tire can be a little more prone to shearing across the surface rather than biting in. Finally, all the rubber contact that creates its unmatchable grip also means that the Assegai rolls a little slower than most of the other Maxxis designs. 

(Absolutely 100% not perfect Assegai conditions)

When word came of the rebirth of the High Roller, there was quite a bit of speculation as to what it might look like and it would be fair to say the new tire was a bit of a surprise. Looking visually more like the Maxxis Shorty mud tire than the High Roller of old it was instantly clear that the new version was built with a different set of intentions, being a much more aggressive pattern and really all the two generations have in common is the name. 

Built on a 2.4’ casing, the High Roller 3 has a completely different tread design to the Assegai. A simple ‘moto style’ 2-2 pattern it uses a set of mid height centre knobs with more space between them to create a tire designed to clear mud and trail debris and bite into soft surfaces, while the larger and well supported side knobs are intended to maintain cornering stability on harder surfaces. Squarer in profile than the Assegai it’s also a little smaller in volume, again with a focus on maximising performance when the conditions turn soft or loose, with the slightly smaller tire more able to cut into the ground rather than float on top.

Taking the new High Roller 3 out on trail, it becomes immediately clear that the Assegai finally has some competition on its hands. As you’d expect, the open pattern bites into dirt, mud and any surface with a bit of give exceptionally well, making what might otherwise feel like treacherous sections relatively secure. Muck and mud clear well, so the tire is able to maintain grip where an Assegai might clog and with a defined edge it handles off cambers with confidence. For fresh cut trails, winter grease and slippy sections it’s very impressive indeed. If you've never tried a proper intermediate tire like the High Roller, then it's eye opening how much of a difference it makes when the ground softens for winter.

It doesn’t quite have the same penetration in the very foulest conditions as a full mud tire like the Shorty thanks to the slightly shorter centre knobs, but where those tires become skittish as soon as conditions dry out, there’s no major loss in performance with the High Roller. It’s a true all conditions tread, able to take on pretty much anything you might find anywhere and still perform well. The Assegai does have the edge in dry and firm conditions, with the larger volume and extra rubber contact giving a slightly more cushioned and calm ride, but the High Roller is still very good, providing plenty of grip and confidence. 

Both tires come in the well regarded super sticky Maxxgrip rubber (don’t buy a Maxxis tire in anything else for the front of a longer travel bike in the UK), which is especially good when grappling with rock and root or in damp conditions. Like most Maxxis gravity patterns, they are also both available in a range of casings, from Exo+ all the way to a full DH version. The lighter casings roll faster, add pop and save weight, while the heavier options add stiffness and puncture resistance for harder or heavier users and create a more damped and stuck to the ground feel, albeit at the expense of rolling resistance. There's no real hard right and wrong when it comes to casing choice, rider and bike weight, speed and terrain will all dictate which one will end up working best for any given person.  

How to pick between the two then? If you want a single tire you can leave on your bike, knowing that no matter where you go or what you find that it will work well, then the High Roller 3 is that tire. In fact both our EDR racers chose it last year for exactly that reason, as they could show up to a new race venue in any weather and not have to worry about switching setup as it will work on everything from a fresh cut enduro stage to well established trails. It’s pretty much the ultimate jack of all trades. For a country like the UK with our variable weather, that's a great quality.

(High Roller 3 tread keeping the knobs clear)

On the other hand, if you prefer a larger volume and cushioned tire, ride mostly on harder or machine surfaced trails or are lucky enough to live somewhere that’s mainly dry, then there is still no beating an Assegai in the conditions for which it was designed. It may not quite be one tire for all, but as a hardback or dry conditions tire it is still very much the one to beat.

Never tried either? You’re missing out and we stock both, so give yourself the gift of some extra traction next time you are passing or pick one up online.