Maxxis Ardent Review: King of XC Tires?

Maxxis has long been a standard-bearer for mountain bike tires, and every few years, they come up with the “it tire” that everyone wants.

At a time when momentum was growing behind pushing the definition of “cross country” riding to the fringes, they produced the Ardent, a tire of massive volume, thick casing, and chunky center tread that seemed out of place for only a short time. The Ardent set the bar for aggressive, fast-rolling tires (lower rolling resistance).

Where to Buy Maxxis Ardent Tires?

These can be a bit difficult to find in store, but I've had great success finding the Ardent 2.4 (and variations) over at CompetitiveCyclist. Typically the best prices and frequent seasonal discounts!

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Its reputation as a good all-around tire has made it Maxxis’ number one top-selling tire, with multiple wheel sizes, a skinwall version for the NAHBS crowd, a lighter “race” version (Ardent Race) and even an e-bike specific version.

Maxxis Ardent Skinwall Folding Bead Tire | Amazon
$47.68

An aggressive tread in high-volume casing, designed with great traction in mind. The Ardent doesn't forget the racer with large block-style side knobs offering numerous edges for high-speed cornering. The center tread, while ideal for braking and acceleration.

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08/23/2022 05:22 am GMT
Maxxis Ardent Race 3C Exo TR Folding Tire | Amazon
$67.44

With its medium-height tread, the ardent race bridges the gap between the xc-oriented Ikon and the trail-oriented ardent. The center knobs are ramped to reduce rolling resistance, and the side knobs are angled and stepped to provide great biting traction.

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08/23/2022 12:02 am GMT

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