Assegai no grip zone

6/18/2026 10:21am
RageingDH wrote:
I had a couple sketch moments on my 29 Assegai maxgrip dh casing front tire on my dh bike last weekend riding loose over hard. The...

I had a couple sketch moments on my 29 Assegai maxgrip dh casing front tire on my dh bike last weekend riding loose over hard. The dead zone between the center grip and the side knobs almost got me twice. Any recommendations for a front tire with more consistent grip? I’d like to try a dhr2 or maybe the new highroller. 

You should try the Continental Kryptotal front and rear DH supersofts. I’ve found that the grip lasts throughout the whole tires life vs maxxis seems to lose the grip after a few park days 

1
2supple
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Denver, CO US
6/18/2026 6:21pm
RageingDH wrote:
I had a couple sketch moments on my 29 Assegai maxgrip dh casing front tire on my dh bike last weekend riding loose over hard. The...

I had a couple sketch moments on my 29 Assegai maxgrip dh casing front tire on my dh bike last weekend riding loose over hard. The dead zone between the center grip and the side knobs almost got me twice. Any recommendations for a front tire with more consistent grip? I’d like to try a dhr2 or maybe the new highroller. 

It’s probably not the tire. A lot of other variables:

fork pressure, fork damping, tire pressure, bar roll, stem length, rear shock sag, chainstay length, stack height

Any of these can mess up your front end grip. 


 

3
SylentK
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6/18/2026 10:11pm

Dead Zone? That's the Drift Zone.  Know it, live it, love it. 

Lean it over just a bit more, and trust me, it'll hook up. You just went from a slide to a carve! Good times. 

 

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mamath7
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6/19/2026 2:24am

I hate assegai, absolutely no confidence at all in this.
Butcher, Argotal (in proper casing etc.) are for now the best front tyres I tried.

2
1 day ago

I hated the Assegai.

It would inconsistently wash a couple inches to the outside mid turn when leaned over. It made it hard for me to commit to weighting the front end.

On the same trails I've never had that happen with a DHF, Magic Mary, or Tacky Chan.

I don't have an issue with tires with a big channel like the DHF. I want a tire to be consistent and the Assegai was not. 

 

3
1 day ago
RageingDH wrote:
I had a couple sketch moments on my 29 Assegai maxgrip dh casing front tire on my dh bike last weekend riding loose over hard. The...

I had a couple sketch moments on my 29 Assegai maxgrip dh casing front tire on my dh bike last weekend riding loose over hard. The dead zone between the center grip and the side knobs almost got me twice. Any recommendations for a front tire with more consistent grip? I’d like to try a dhr2 or maybe the new highroller. 

2supple wrote:
It’s probably not the tire. A lot of other variables:fork pressure, fork damping, tire pressure, bar roll, stem length, rear shock sag, chainstay length, stack heightAny...

It’s probably not the tire. A lot of other variables:

fork pressure, fork damping, tire pressure, bar roll, stem length, rear shock sag, chainstay length, stack height

Any of these can mess up your front end grip. 


 

While it's true that other parts of setup can cause the same issues, I had issues with the Assegai but not with other tires.

The Assegai clearly works for a lot of people, but there are also a decent amount of people who it doesn't work well. 

2
rbsack
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I do not receive any money from nor am I in any way affiliated with Vee tire corp.😎

2
2supple
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1 day ago
While it's true that other parts of setup can cause the same issues, I had issues with the Assegai but not with other tires.The Assegai clearly...

While it's true that other parts of setup can cause the same issues, I had issues with the Assegai but not with other tires.

The Assegai clearly works for a lot of people, but there are also a decent amount of people who it doesn't work well. 

Fairly surprised to read this. I've been running the Assegai for years, as well as many riding buddies. For the dry conditions we have out here on the Front Range, it has to be the most predictable tire I've ridden for any kind of Enduro/DH application. I've had no complaints with the MM Radial either. 

 

2
1 day ago

I ran the Assegai for years it was a great tire in the dry. Was really consisent and easy to lean over which is something I didn't find the Butchers did very well. It was quite wide feeling and may have benefited from a 2.4 width like the HR3 but that's splitting hairs. My only real complaint was how it got clogged up with mud in the wet. 

2
23 hours ago
RageingDH wrote:
I had a couple sketch moments on my 29 Assegai maxgrip dh casing front tire on my dh bike last weekend riding loose over hard. The...

I had a couple sketch moments on my 29 Assegai maxgrip dh casing front tire on my dh bike last weekend riding loose over hard. The dead zone between the center grip and the side knobs almost got me twice. Any recommendations for a front tire with more consistent grip? I’d like to try a dhr2 or maybe the new highroller. 

OP do you think it was the dead zone or the loose over hard that got you? i have HATED my assegai in loose over hard...

OP do you think it was the dead zone or the loose over hard that got you? i have HATED my assegai in loose over hard. $30 base Dissector performs better in loose over hard than assegai. HR3/Hillbilly/etc are all better tires if youre dealing with loose over hard conditions. 

I ride in santa cruz and there are a lot of high consequence turns at the end of chutes. People drag all manner of duff and rock and sand and dirt down the chute with them and it piles up in the corners. Assegai performs amazing all-around until these catch berm slough pits. 

I’m pretty sure it’s the tire. To me it feels like I get trapped in a float zone if I’m not fully committed to a turn and I have to just ride it out and hopefully the tire will eventually catch. 

23 hours ago
slipa wrote:
Still waiting for this Maxxis Tire to be released. They‘ve been running it in the whole 25 Worldcup Season already:

Still waiting for this Maxxis Tire to be released. They‘ve been running it in the whole 25 Worldcup Season already:

wastesport wrote:

comes out in the next few weeks im told

Awesome! This is why I’m here. That tire looks rad. 

23 hours ago
owl-x wrote:

Damn I consider the Assegai as ann all-lean angles mega gripper, have you ridden a DHF? 

 

I will only ride a dhf on the rear. 

1
23 hours ago
Falcon wrote:
I tried an Assegai on my last bike and felt the same way; the cornering grip was a step down from the Minion DHF that I...

I tried an Assegai on my last bike and felt the same way; the cornering grip was a step down from the Minion DHF that I had on before that. I'm still stuck on the DHFs. I like the 3c MaxxGrip ones the best (softest compound).

how people can ride the DHF on the front is beyond me lol  - I Had so many near-death experiences on those.Been a big DHR2 on...

how people can ride the DHF on the front is beyond me lol  - I Had so many near-death experiences on those.
Been a big DHR2 on the front for years but on conti's now.

owl-x wrote:

Yeah I feel like this post is a setup for average dudes to admit they’re afraid of the DHF! 

I am afraid of the DHF.  
 

I’m very scared of a dhf on the front. Pretyfun as a back tire though. 

2
23 hours ago

What pressure are you running and how wide are your rims? Have you tried lowering the pressure in this tyre at all?

I run 24-26 when the ground is hard and 27 when the ground is soft. 

23 hours ago

What pressure are you running and how wide are your rims? Have you tried lowering the pressure in this tyre at all?

And DT Swiss 1500 wheels. So 30mm?

23 hours ago
AndehM wrote:
I used to not like DHF style tires but then I got better and prefer them now.  The Assegai's problem isn't a no grip zone, it's...

I used to not like DHF style tires but then I got better and prefer them now.  The Assegai's problem isn't a no grip zone, it's that it doesn't communicate to you where you are on the side knobs, and it also has too many knobs leading it to float over loose rather than dig in.  That float is probably what you're feeling as a "no grip zone."  Same thing with a Kryptotal Front for me.  They're great for hardpack and rocks, but really struggle in loose over hard, especially if there's small bits of gravel.

I am a much bigger fan of tires with a gap but wider spaced knobs that tell you what they're doing and punch down into loose over hard.  Thankfully there's several good options now: Argotal, High Roller 3, radial Tacky Chan, etc.

You definitely could be right. That’s just how it felt to me, sorta a float zone between just riding along and fully committing to a corner that I get trapped in and have to just ride it out until the tire hopefully catches. 

23 hours ago
Eae903 wrote:
The Assegai in my experience is all the grip for a while, but then no grip with no warning. It's super consistent, and there is no...

The Assegai in my experience is all the grip for a while, but then no grip with no warning. It's super consistent, and there is no transition slip area to the side knobs, but then you over tax it, it just let's go with no warning. I run conti now, the Argotal on the front and Kryptotal Re on the back, but if I had to stick with maxxis it would be High Roller 3 front and rear because I hate the DHR II

That’s exactly what I was feeling on the Assegai. Thanks for the input. 

23 hours ago
TEAMROBOT wrote:
The original post feels like a prank because there is no front tire with more consistent grip than the Assegai because it was specifically designed to...

The original post feels like a prank because there is no front tire with more consistent grip than the Assegai because it was specifically designed to eliminate the dead zone between the center grip and the side knobs.

Before the Assegai, the primary Maxxis DH front tires were either the DHF, DHR2, or the High Roller 2, each of which featured a large gap between the side knobs and center knobs. As others have mentioned, it's that gap that creates the "dead zone" between hooking and sliding on the DHR2 and High Roller 2, and especially on the DHF. In comparison, the Assegai has knobs everywhere and grips pretty evenly as other lean angles (as others have mentioned). Because the Assegai knobs are tall, soft, and everywhere, it kind of feels like a tractor tire: slow rolling, a little numb, and grippy as hell on most surfaces.

The flip side is that a tire with lots of knobs everywhere can't punch into soft or loose conditions as well as a tire with fewer knobs that are more spaced out (like a mud spike, a DH22, or a High Roller 3). It sounds like this is what the OP is experiencing- an excessive feeling of float in loose conditions at certain lean angles due to the crowding of knobs on the Assegai. There is still a small channel between the side knobs and the intermediate knobs, so there is still a little bit of bite into loose conditions when you go past the middle of the road lean angles and lean all the way on the side knobs, but in loose conditions it's never going to be anything like the bite of a true loose conditions tire.

This is simply the way of the universe. It's like choosing between flavor or calories in food, or choosing between speed or fuel efficiency in a car. You can have one or the other, but not both. So the question is: which one do you want?

I’m definitely not pranking. I think the Assegai grip feels really good right until it doesn’t, on loose over hard at least. I really like it in the spring time when the dirt is softer. I’ve just been caught out on it where it feels like it’s floating away from me and I can’t catch it. It’s probly just my skill level thoughWink  

seanfisseli
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Santa Cruz, CA US
22 hours ago Edited Date/Time 22 hours ago
TEAMROBOT wrote:
The original post feels like a prank because there is no front tire with more consistent grip than the Assegai because it was specifically designed to...

The original post feels like a prank because there is no front tire with more consistent grip than the Assegai because it was specifically designed to eliminate the dead zone between the center grip and the side knobs.

Before the Assegai, the primary Maxxis DH front tires were either the DHF, DHR2, or the High Roller 2, each of which featured a large gap between the side knobs and center knobs. As others have mentioned, it's that gap that creates the "dead zone" between hooking and sliding on the DHR2 and High Roller 2, and especially on the DHF. In comparison, the Assegai has knobs everywhere and grips pretty evenly as other lean angles (as others have mentioned). Because the Assegai knobs are tall, soft, and everywhere, it kind of feels like a tractor tire: slow rolling, a little numb, and grippy as hell on most surfaces.

The flip side is that a tire with lots of knobs everywhere can't punch into soft or loose conditions as well as a tire with fewer knobs that are more spaced out (like a mud spike, a DH22, or a High Roller 3). It sounds like this is what the OP is experiencing- an excessive feeling of float in loose conditions at certain lean angles due to the crowding of knobs on the Assegai. There is still a small channel between the side knobs and the intermediate knobs, so there is still a little bit of bite into loose conditions when you go past the middle of the road lean angles and lean all the way on the side knobs, but in loose conditions it's never going to be anything like the bite of a true loose conditions tire.

This is simply the way of the universe. It's like choosing between flavor or calories in food, or choosing between speed or fuel efficiency in a car. You can have one or the other, but not both. So the question is: which one do you want?

RageingDH wrote:
I’m definitely not pranking. I think the Assegai grip feels really good right until it doesn’t, on loose over hard at least. I really like it...

I’m definitely not pranking. I think the Assegai grip feels really good right until it doesn’t, on loose over hard at least. I really like it in the spring time when the dirt is softer. I’ve just been caught out on it where it feels like it’s floating away from me and I can’t catch it. It’s probly just my skill level thoughWink  

The vast majority of people in this thread (and other threads) are pointing to the need for tires like HR3 for loose over hard. The float you’re experiencing in those conditions is from not having large enough/spaced out enough knobs to “punch” through. Assegai is incredible in pretty much all other conditions but loose over hard it definitely “floats”

1
22 hours ago
I ran an assegai max grip DD for years, but tried a kryptotal super soft DH last year and won’t be going back. I was experiencing...

I ran an assegai max grip DD for years, but tried a kryptotal super soft DH last year and won’t be going back. I was experiencing so many front wheel washouts and the sensation of skating through corners with the assegai, and couldn’t believe how much more confidence inspiring the kryptotal feels. So much more trust in that tire due to its predictability. 

Thank you, I appreciate your input. I’m glad I’m not the only one with this experience. 

22 hours ago
Nik Dommen wrote:
In my experience there isn't a tire that will make loose over hard feel good, imo its one of the hardest conditions to ride well. Loose...

In my experience there isn't a tire that will make loose over hard feel good, imo its one of the hardest conditions to ride well. Loose over hard is a condition I ride a lot and have found the assegai to be pretty good for it, Im not a fan of it in mud. There could be other set up things that can cause front end wash outs but ill stick to tires. IMO the dhr 2 is a decent front tire but I have found it lacks bite on turn in lean angle, it does feel incredible in berms and brake well. I am a big fan of the DHF in dust or hardpack, it absolutely hooks cornering but requires assertive riding and getting the bike leaned over, if you don't it has a really pronounced transition slip zone. 

I actually really like riding loose over hard. It’s majority of my summer and fall riding season. I love a good 2 wheel drift session. The Assegai has scared me a few times though. 

2
22 hours ago
rbsack wrote:
https://www.vitalmtb.com/features/whats-best-mtb-front-tire-vital-mtb-roundupI believe Schroeder liked the Vee attack hpl. I absolutely love it just swapped out a kryptotal front for the above and it’s night and...

https://www.vitalmtb.com/features/whats-best-mtb-front-tire-vital-mtb-roundup
I believe Schroeder liked the Vee attack hpl. I absolutely love it just swapped out a kryptotal front for the above and it’s night and day…they’re relatively cheap and back in production!

Sweet! Thanks for the info. 

mamath7
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106
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6/17/2014
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FR
7 hours ago
RageingDH wrote:

I’m very scared of a dhf on the front. Pretyfun as a back tire though. 

Dhf is indeed fun as a back tire! Just not on wet grass.

5 minutes ago
While it's true that other parts of setup can cause the same issues, I had issues with the Assegai but not with other tires.The Assegai clearly...

While it's true that other parts of setup can cause the same issues, I had issues with the Assegai but not with other tires.

The Assegai clearly works for a lot of people, but there are also a decent amount of people who it doesn't work well. 

2supple wrote:
Fairly surprised to read this. I've been running the Assegai for years, as well as many riding buddies. For the dry conditions we have out here...

Fairly surprised to read this. I've been running the Assegai for years, as well as many riding buddies. For the dry conditions we have out here on the Front Range, it has to be the most predictable tire I've ridden for any kind of Enduro/DH application. I've had no complaints with the MM Radial either. 

 

I find the Magic Mary to be a big improvement over the Assegai until the trails get super dried out and hard in the summer (might as well be pavement hard). I have folded the side knobs on the MM in those conditions. I usually switch to a Tacky Chan for late spring and the summer and go back to the Magic Mary when the leaves start coming down. 

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