MXA TEAM TESTED: MAXXIS MAXXCROSS MX IT REAR TIRE

WHAT IS IT? The Maxxis Maxxcross MX IT 110/90-19 rear tire is an intermediate tire with dual-compound technology that offers a softer compound in the center and a firmer compound on the shoulders.

WHAT’S IT COST? $138.00.

CONTACT? www.maxxis.com or your local dealer.

WHAT STANDS OUT? Here’s a list of things that stand out with the Maxxis Maxxcross MX IT rear tire.

(1) Technology. Dual-compound tires have been popular in the street bike world for some time now. The benefits are greater durability and better performance. Maxxis has introduced this same technology to the offroad market. The Maxxcross MX IT rear tire’s shoulder knobs feature the standard compound, while the center knobs are softer. The goal is stability when leaning over in the corners and improved traction on starts or acceleration.  

(2) Mounting. The Maxxcross tire is an intermediate tire by design, but the sidewalls are stiff compared to some of the competition. This makes it challenging to mount the tire. We suggest setting the tire out in the sun for 10 minutes so that the rubber heats up and is more pliable.

(3) Performance. The MXA wrecking crew rode the tire in many different conditions. The tire’s dual compound allowed for a balanced feel when transitioning from corners to straightaways. It hooked up well on starts, making it easy to keep the rear end straight on acceleration. Our test riders stated that when coming into a corner and letting the rear end drift out under braking, the stiff sidewall stayed consistent and did not fold over. The tire stayed planted in hardpack conditions. The knobs of the tire are quite tall, which is a definite plus in deep loam.

(4) Durability. The Maxxcross MX IT tire is designed for performance over longevity. If you ride primarily in loam, you can get your money’s worth out of it. If you ride mostly in hardpacked or intermediate terrain, the tire knobs will start to develop cracks and will eventually fold over and break off.

WHAT’S THE SQUAWK? Dual-compound tires are a great idea, and the technology has a bright future in motocross; however, as with any new concept, there will be some hiccups in the beginning. The Maxxis Maxxcross MX IT rear tire performs well, but has a short lifespan if used on the wrong terrain. If the knobs did not start to break off, this would be a great tire.

The Maxxcross MX IT rear tire is a good tire with one big flaw: the knobs will start to get hairline cracks at the base of the knob and eventually break off if the tires hits hard dirt. This is easily be a four-star tire on soft terrain.