Maxxis aims to stack the deck with new High Roller III

Maxxis is back at the table and betting big on downhill. The iconic orange brand is refreshing, redesigning, and reviving its venerable High Roller tire. A classic tread name that’s already been through two, long-lasting versions, going back to the drawing board with such a well-loved tire could be a risky move. And this isn’t a slight update. Maxxis completely redesigns the High Roller for its third go round.

Does it pay off? Well, it’s already won numerous World Cups under Jackson Goldstone (Mont-Sainte-Anne, 2023), Ronan Dunne, Marine Cabirou and Ellie Hulsebosch. So it’s going well so far.

Maxxis High Roller III

To say Maxxis has an extensive range of tires would be understating things slightly. This new version of the High Roller is intended to squeeze in somewhere between the aggressive Assegai (Greg Minnaar’s signature tire) and the wet-weather specialist Shorty, which also saw a recent refresh.

High Roller III has a very square tread pattern with strong-looking side knobs

High Roller II with its heavy ramps

And again High Roller III

The third generation of High Roller is similar, but very different. There’s an open centre to the tread pattern and large, spaced out lugs. Gone, though, is the heavily ramped lug design. Instead, large, square lugs are designed to dig in deep for traction in loose conditions, whether that’s wet or blown-out, dry and dusty downhill tracks. The side lugs are also beefed up, with the aim of allowing the High Roller III to hold up to high-speed cornering in drier conditions.

As Maxxis puts it, the High Roller III is “a hybrid tread design that provides the soil penetration of a wet weather mid-spike while retaining the cornering control and hard surface traction of a dry conditions tire.”

Essentially, this version of the High Roller is designed for the demanding scenarios found on World Cup courses: steep, wet, mixed and blown out tracks. The ultra-sticky MaxxGrip compound adds to High Roller’s downhill traction, while the 2 x 60 TPI downhill casing (with an updated butyl insert and tread extrusion), Maxxis’ most durable, helps to muffle trail obstacles and impacts. – Maxxis

At launch, the High Roller III will only be available in 2X60 TPI downhill casing, MaxxGrip rubber and be tubeless ready. It’s available in 29″ and 27.5″, with the wagon wheel rubber weighing in at a hefty 1,400g and the fun-sized 27.5 at 1,335g. More options will be following this initial launch though, including DoubleDown and EXO+ casing versions.

Not just a downhill tire, the High Roller III will support your enduro (or just riding) goals, too

Wet? Yup.

Dry and loose? Yup.

Orange goes green: New tire packaging

There’s not a lot of packaging on a tire, but Maxxis is working to make its presentation greener. The High Roller III will ship in fully recyclable packaging. That includes a cardboard hanger made from 75 per cent post-consumer recycled paper instead of the old plastic hanger. Zip ties are also replaced with recyclable plastic strapping. Maxxis also says it’s working to expand its use of recycled materials into construction of the actual tires in the future.

We’re headed out to ride the new tire today at Crankworx Whistler. We’ll report back soon if it is lives up to the High Roller reputation (and magically makes us ride as fast as Goldstone).