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review

Maxxis Rambler Folding SS TR tyre

9
£49.99

VERDICT:

9
10
Comfortable, tenaciously grippy and still reasonably fast, so long as you have the clearance
Huge volume gives great comfort
All-weather, all-surface grip
Good puncture protection
Only 60TPI
Weight: 
648g

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This Maxxis Rambler in a 50mm width – just under 2in in imperial – ups the volume of gravel tyres, taking it close to mountain bike territory. Perhaps unsurprisingly, it offers a comfortable ride, but it also manages to still be reasonably quick.

It doesn't seem like that long ago that a 2in tyre was considered 'normal' for mountain bikes. Why gravel tyres are always quoted in metric sizes whereas mountain bike tyres are imperial is a mystery to me... but anyway, the Maxxis Rambler in this size pushes the boundary of gravel tyres. Tyre clearance will almost certainly be an issue for most bikes, though, and unless you have a gravel bike with very generous clearance, it probably won't fit.

> Find your nearest dealer here

I fitted the Rambler to a Ritchey Outback which only just had enough clearance to fit them in safely. Installation was brilliant and so easy: easy to install on the rims and they pumped up with a basic track pump without a fuss. Bravo.

2020 Maxxis Rambler SS Clearance On Outback.jpg

Jumping up from a 700x40 tyre, the difference and increased ride height was immediately noticeable. It shouldn't pose a big issue, although if you are tight on top tube clearance then it is something to be aware of.

2020 Maxxis Rambler SS 2.jpg

After installing, first impressions are just how comfortable the tyre feels, with the extra volume undoubtedly having an effect. The extra volume means your tyre pressures might need to be adjusted if you are more used to smaller tyres. I am used to running 35-40psi in 40mm or 45mm width tyres, but started with pressures of just 30psi in the Ramblers. For the rear it was fine, but I ended up running a few PSI lower in the front, which was better at times and on certain tracks and trails. Of course, tyre pressures are personal, but as a guide you will probably want to drop several PSI compared to a 40mm tyre.

> How to choose the right tubeless tyre pressure

Do the increased volume and lower pressures affect the riding? On the road they are a little slower, although not as much as I initially expected, and unless you are racing or very competitive it doesn't hamper the ride much at all. I did notice the weight, though – at 645 and 650g, they are heavier than the majority of narrower tyres, and I did notice that when climbing. 

Off-road and on rougher tracks they're really fast, with the extra volume giving them the ability to just roll over rocks and rough sections – it's most noticeable downhill, where the difference compared with narrower tyres really is huge.

While the volume might be the biggest benefit, the tread on the Rambler is key to its performance and control. The design has several different areas and overall the design is quite busy, but it seems to work. The central tread with near-continuous central section is part of the reason why it's so smooth and why road performance is decent.

2020 Maxxis Rambler SS 5.jpg

Move out and there are much wider gaps in the tread and these help grip in softer and even reasonably muddy conditions. Through testing I found it got up climbs that looked far too muddy and steep; it gripped tenaciously and far beyond what the low profile looks might suggest, getting up tracks that I didn't expect it to. It isn't a specialist mud tyre, but as a gravel tyre for the occasional bit of mud, it copes.

2020 Maxxis Rambler SS 4.jpg

On firmer trails the grip is really good, and although dry weather is almost now non-existent, on standard forest roads that drain well it gives confidence through the bends and has enough feel that you can get some feedback. This version of the Rambler, with the SilkShield, has a 60 threads per inch (TPI) carcass, which is lower than many similar performance gravel tyres; a higher TPI is likely to give an even better ride, although given the comfort already on offer here it isn't as big an issue as with smaller tyres, where tyre carcass will have a more noticeable effect.

If you like to head off forest tracks, which I assume many of you will do if you are able to run a 50mm tyre, the only real weakness in grip seemed to be wet tree roots, which to be honest are a nemesis to all tyres. The Rambler coped well with rocky tracks, dirt and loamy tracks and trails.

The SilkShield puncture protection is a full bead-to-bead material layer that gives more confidence when riding in rockier or puncture prone areas. I found I was riding much faster downhill, mostly because of the extra volume and comfort the tyres give, so the puncture protection is something worth having.

2020 Maxxis Rambler SS 1.jpg

Tyres this big that are specifically designed for gravel bikes are still relatively rare, but WTB now makes the Venture in a 50mm width. The Hutchinson Touareg is a little smaller at 45mm, and also cheaper at just £33, although it doesn't offer nearly the same performance. Another reasonably wide tyre is the 43mm Panaracer GravelKing SK, but this lacks the all-conditions riding ability of the Rambler.

> Buyer’s Guide: 26 of the best gravel bike tyres

The Rambler is also available in smaller sizes, but neither the 38mm nor the 40mm I've ridden impressed me in the same way as this huge volume 700x50 does. It rolls well, grips well in all the conditions and trails I was able to test it, and gives big confidence downhill. It won't fit many gravel bikes, but if you have the clearance and want a big tyre, it is fantastic.

Verdict

Comfortable, tenaciously grippy and still reasonably fast, so long as you have the clearance

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Maxxis Rambler Folding SS TR tyre

Size tested: 700x50

Tell us what the product is for and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Maxxis' distributor Extra says: 'Maxxis' first gravel-specific tire, the Rambler is designed with the volume you need for comfort and the tread you need for speed and control. Tightly packed center knobs are ramped for rolling efficiency on hardpack roads, and spaced-out side knobs provide predictable cornering in varied terrain.'

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Extra lists:

Gravel-specific tread pattern

Dual-compound for longevity

Specification

Conditions: Hardpack, Looser Over Hard

Cornering Control: 1 2 3 4

Rolling Efficiency: 1 2 3 4

TPI: 120 or 60

Bead: Foldable

Ply Construction: Dual

Compound: Dual

Max PSI: 75

Tech: Tubeless Ready, SilkShield

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
9/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
10/10

No faults. Excellent performance in a range on conditions.

Rate the product for durability:
 
9/10

No issues seen. SilkShield should help against punctures and to date, no punctures while using.

Rate the product for weight (if applicable)
 
7/10

While not light, this is a high volume tyre with full puncture protection so the weight is reasonable and acceptable.

Rate the product for comfort (if applicable)
 
10/10

High volume of the tyre gives fantastic comfort.

Rate the product for value:
 
5/10

On a par with most other premium gravel tyres.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Very little to fault. It installed easily, rode a full range of conditions with no problem, and gave extra confidence on rougher downhills.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

The extra confidence given by the large volume.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Nothing.

How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

Very few others to compare with that are the same size, although the WTB Venture is one at £44.99. Looking at tyres with a little less volume, the 45mm Hutchinson Touareg is good value at £33 but doesn't offer the same performance. Smaller again, and a similar fast paced tyre, the 43mm Panaracer GravelKing SK is also a little less at £44.99.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes, if tyre clearance wasn't going to be an issue.

Use this box to explain your overall score

The Rambler in 50mm size is a brilliant tyre to use. I was really surprised that it did not take anything away from the previous, narrower and lighter tyres that were fitted. Overall grip is brilliant in the dry and better than expected in the wet. It gives extra performance and confidence to rides and, overall, delivered more than I would have expected with an extra 10mm of width on a tyre.

Overall rating: 9/10

About the tester

Age: 35  Height: 168  Weight: 62

I usually ride:   My best bike is: Cannondale SystemSix

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, cyclo cross, sportives, mtb,

Matt is an endurance nut who loves big rides and big events. He's a former full-time racer and 24hr event specialist, but now is also happy riding off-road on gravel bikes or XC mountain bikes and exploring the mountains and hills of Mid Wales.

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5 comments

Avatar
davechopoptions | 2 years ago
0 likes

They do a 700x50 120TPI Exo version too.

Avatar
pavlo | 3 years ago
0 likes

Here we go again.....Reviewer marks down 60tpi version of tyre for being 60tpi, smh.

We're coming to see this as a trend across the review sites, with things like aero bikes being critised for not being light weight enough, and light weight bikes being criticised for not being aero enough. Most products are sold into a space in the market and it seems rather unfair to knock things down because they don't fulfill the requirements that they are not aimed at. Perhaps I'm being unfair to the review website market place here?

The problem for me as a reader is I see that 9/10 rating, and a big X for being 60tpi, so my instinct is to conclude that the 120tpi version will be a 10/10!

Still a good read though, great review, i give it 9/10.

Avatar
Sriracha replied to pavlo | 3 years ago
0 likes

It's like when reviewers of (identical) instant coffees described ones packaged in red as being robust, whilst those packaged in blue are described as mellow. Tests should be done as blind as possible. Who knows, maybe it was, and the 60TPI thing just chimed in after the review was written?

Avatar
mdavidford replied to Sriracha | 3 years ago
1 like
Sriracha wrote:

Tests should be done as blind as possible.

That sounds rather impractical / dangerous for reviews on a cycling website.

Avatar
Blackthorne | 3 years ago
2 likes

I've been through many, many 'gravel' tyres prior to these. The WTBs have curated an image of gravel expertise but their tyres are just awful if you expect to run them tubeless. Panaracer is good, but the tread is rather basic and wears unevenly. Clements/donelly felt squirmy. Then I remembered my mountain biking days and  thought about how Maxxis absolutely rules the off road tyre industry. Surely that know- how transfers over? So I purchased a pair of 47mm Ramblers and had a go with installing. They were the first tyres I've ever mounted that went on without too much effort (too little is not a good sign either) and inflated and sealed with a normal pump without any sealant. I went for a ride and noticed no difference in rolling resistance from the wtb nanos--the rolling resistance champ--that we're installed prior. So kudos to Maxxis, not an in-trend hipster brand for the gravelistas out there, but they know how to make a damn good tyre. 

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