Maxxis finally delivered the perfect trail tire. Ok, maybe perfect is a bit much. But, as an all-rounder, the Dissector is exceptionally good. It’s capable of tackling most trails in most conditions while still rolling sneaky-fast enough that you don’t hate climbing to drop in. It just took a couple tries to get there. With the new Dissector, Maxxis released what I think is its best trail tire yet.
Second time’s the charm: Maxxis Dissector II
When Maxxis first released the Dissector, it was a promising tire. A somewhat skittish transition from center knobs to the side lugs, and poor mud performance, held that tire back from being an all-rounder, though we still enjoy it as a back tire in the right conditions. But it wasn’t enough to put the Minions away.
With the second take, Maxxis nailed it. Released at Crankworx this summer, the new-look Dissector rolled into a world of deep dust. It’s Assegai-lite tread pattern immediately found grip far beyond what I expected, considering it has slightly shallower knobs than the Assegai. It was also far faster than I expected. That gives the new Dissector a much broader appeal than the beefier Minion options or the old Dissector.
*Note: Maxxis isn’t calling this the Dissector II. This second version is replacing the original, which will slowly go away. So we’re following that lead and just calling it the Dissector.
Review: Riding Maxxis Dissector (and others) through the seasons
Since the release, Dissectors have stayed on my bike, occasionally in combination with chunkier tires, well into the wet riding season. While they don’t have quite enough bite for full-on mud, they stayed confident into damper conditions than I expected.
In one word, the key to this new tire is consistency. Traction is predictable across a wide range of conditions. Cornering is impressively predictable as you roll from the center to the side knobs. And braking is predictable and consistent. The Dissector doesn’t let go until you get into really deep and loose dirt, whether that’s dust or mud.
The cherry on top is the unexpectedly-fast rolling speed. I think that’s what makes this tire a killer. Maxxis has other tires with plenty of grip. The duo of Minion DHF/DHR are staples on trail bikes for a reason: they’re tires riders trust to bite when you need it most. Beyond that, the Assagai and High Roller give DH grip and…
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