The Maxxis Reaver is a gravel tyre designed for faster riding, featuring slightly more tread on the edge than the brand’s ultra-low-profile Receptor model. It is a light and quick tyre but, with the growing gravel racing market and more brands offering premium fast-rolling tyres, can the Reaver compete with the best gravel tyres?
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Maxxis Reaver gravel tyre – Technical details
Maxxis’s range of gravel tyres has grown gradually and the brand likes the letter R. Maxxis suggests the Receptor is designed for a mix of road/gravel with an 80/20 split in favour of Tarmac. The Reaver pictured here has a suggested split of 50/50 road and off-road. The Maxxis Rambler is a great all-round tyre and it was one of the first tyres to push the width boundaries with widths of 45mm and 50mm. Finally, the most aggressive tyre in the line-up is the Ravenger, with the deepest and most open tread design.
The Maxxis Reaver sits between these two models and is available in either a 40mm width option that we have to test or a 45mm. Claimed weight for the larger 45mm is 495g, while the 40mm is 437g, with the actual weight being lower – 424g and 428g for our pair, which makes them among the lightest tyres available and, surprisingly, even lighter than the Maxxis Receptor 40mm tyre (432g and 433g). The Reaver has the Maxxis EXO sidewall protection with a tubeless-ready casing rated at 120tpi.
Maxxis Reaver gravel tyre- Performance
The tyres were easy to fit and inflate with a single tyre lever. They inflated quickly with a basic track pump. With such a low weight, this can sometimes indicate a tyre that will inflate under the quoted size, but when fitted to a pair of e*thirteen wheels with 21mm internal diameter rim, they inflated to a generous 42mm actual width.
In use, they feel as light as you would expect. As it has a 50/50 split on and off-road design, the humming noise it produces may be a problem for some, although it’s by no means the loudest gravel tyre around.
Maxxis is not renowned for making the fastest rolling tyres and is rarely seen at the top of rolling resistance tests, although lab-based testing won’t always give the true picture. It is hard to test in any scientific way, but the Reaver feels quick, on and off-road. With enough clearance and a choice between sizes, I expect the 45mm will be faster for any riding with rougher surfaces.
The levels of grip are limited on loose surfaces. Despite the slightly deeper tread on the edge compared to the Receptor, the actual grip doesn’t feel significantly better, especially through loose corners where they tend to drift wide. The thin carcass and 120tpi design contribute to a communicative feel, allowing the rider to sense when the tyre will start to lose traction – which helps maintain control.
The EXO protection is a welcome addition, making the low weight even more impressive considering the added sidewall protection. The carcass is thin at the sidewall and top section, so you should avoid rough and rocky, mountain-bike-type terrain.
Maxxis Reaver gravel tyre – Verdict
The Maxxis Reaver is a fast-rolling tyre. While it is good, I don’t feel it can match the best tyres for speed, grip or confidence. If budget is a factor, then the Reaver will come out on top.
The Schwalbe G-One RS is still my favourite race-oriented gravel tyre, offering more grip than you would expect and proven speed. It costs £75 per tyre, making it quite an investment. If that sounds expensive, the Challenge Gravel Grinder is £83 per tyre but also impressed with its performance. The Vittoria Mezcal Gravel is a better value option at £50 per tyre, delivering predictable grip and a fast ride that will suffice for all but the most competitive riders.
The Maxxis Reaver may be designed for racing and speed but it doesn’t seem to excel against some of the other gravel tyres available. It doesn’t feel as fast and lacks the cornering grip and confidence to stand out among the best gravel tyres on the market. While £55 per tyre is not cheap, it undercuts the competition by a considerable amount. Moreover, the tyre has delivered reliable and consistent performance throughout testing.
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Product purpose:
A fast-rolling, low-profile tread design and lightweight construction.
The tread design uses diamond knurling to reduce rolling resistance and enhance grip in dusty or loose conditions. Paddle knobs arranged in sets of three provide extra bite under hard braking, while the side knobs are spaced closely together and are staggered for consistent cornering performance. A sipe (groove) in each of the side knobs allows them to flex and conform to the terrain, improving traction.
Compared to the venerable Rambler, the Reaver is faster rolling, lighter and has higher puncture resistance in the tread area. In mixed conditions or deeper gravel, the Rambler is more versatile, but if off-road speed is priority number one, the Reaver is the clear choice.
Build extra:
• 120 TPI tubeless ready casing
• Dual compound
• EXO sidewall protection
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