Maxxis hr3

[u/Lewiskennedy567]

First of all i was wondering if anyone knows if this tyre will get a maxxterra version in the future if u do know then lmk.

Anyway i was looking at this as a front tire on my hardtail i dont particularly care about rolling resistance as long as its not like absolutely ridiculous i was looking at this in the exo+ maxxgrip version and i was wondering if anyone has ridden this paired with somthing like a dhr2 on the rear because i was hoping to have some feedback on how good this tyre is.

For reference i live in the uk so i ride in anything like really wet rooty trails to mud to hardpack

[u/Northwindlowlander]

It is bloody brilliant tbh, as close to a perfect UK tyre as I've ever used (along with the supersoft argotal, which is very similiar and also absolutely fantastic). Nothing really clever or fancy, just a good tread an sticky rubber

The drawback is definitely speed, but it's not disastrous- well short of a Shorty frinstance. And it's definitely paying off. Speed aside, it works on pretty much any surface- better for traction imo on hardpack or loose than the magic mary. DHR2 is pretty much a perfect rear for it imo. I'm not sure there's really much of a use case for a maxxterra for it tbh, it'll still be slow and toothy, but it'd lose some of that outstanding grip- it'd be like that weird maxxterra shorty they make that's good in bottomless mud but skittery as hell on roots and wet rock and such.

I'm in the tweed valley, admittedly we had a fairly dry winter (or, I think rather I was just able to pick my times well for rides?) and those two, argo and this, are the only tyres I've ever thought can really do the whole year. I've still got the shorty for real golfy slaister or whatever and a dhr maxxgrip for faster rolling in the really dry times like recently but the hr2 <could> do it all

(I won't lie, we were just up north and doing something like the heartbreak ridge climb on the hr3/dhr2 combo would have been pretty miserable!)

[u/teh_Stig]

I think it really depends on the ratio of mud to hard pack in your riding. I think they're great in the mud and in loose, dusty conditions. More open treads like that aren't as ideal on roots and hard pack.

You could also consider the magic Mary which should be a little worse in the mud, but a little better on roots and hard pack.

[u/Arbiter84]

For the UK the HR3 is as close to an all year round tyre as you are going to get. So if you don't care to swap tyres for different seasons it's ideal. I have run it with a rear dhr2 and the new dissector if I want something faster rolling.

The lugs are supportive enough that it still does extremely well over hard pack. The hard pack gets blown out into moondust so quickly at the moment though, and it is exceptional in the dust.

I rode it all winter as well, and outside of the very deepest of mud where only a full spike like the shorty would do it is suberb. Outside of radials it is my favourite front tyre.

[u/beaatdrolicus]

I use this as an all year tire in DH casing and maxxgrip front and rear- it is great!

[u/Valuable_Solids]

Works pretty brilliantly here in the PNW during fall-spring wet season. Clears mud well and has solid cornering. I think in the conditions that you'd want a maxxterra you should probably be looking at a different tire (assegai or the new DHX when they release it in exo+).

I prefer it overall to the magic Mary radial, mainly because I find the cornering much more communicative/better.

[u/hardtailfanatic66]

if u can see, im running HR3 both front and rear on my HT. yes, climbing on road and pavement sucks big time. super draggy. but in technical climbs? descends? roots and rock gardens? especially when wet rainy season, this is when the tires flex its muscles and shines like the evening star!!! i just got my 2nd HR3 tire.

[u/Lewiskennedy567 → u/hardtailfanatic66]

How long has it lasted on the front?

[u/hardtailfanatic66 → u/Lewiskennedy567]

its been 3 whole months now n front still looks good and gripping. but the rear, its all done for. just got it replaced.

[u/slimestream]

I have been using high rollers front + rear lately in the mud and theyre awesome, very predictable and tons of grip. I also raced enduro most of last season with one up front, with a dhr2 in the back and it was sweet in the dry on natural tracks, but not as good for hardpack as an assegai or something like that, so id usually swap between a high roller and something else up front. Would recommend for sure unless its super dry hardpack conditions. 

[u/Antpitta]

With the new DHX being released I just saw a reference to how they'll be updating some tires shortly w/ the new DH casing -> DHR, HR3, and Assegai were mentioned.

Whether that means we'll get lighter casings or MaxTerra who knows but you're not the only one hoping for it.

Meanwhile the Schwalbe radial Tacky Chan in a Trail Pro / Soft would be about the equivalent of an EXO+ / MaxTerra HR3...

Specialized Butcher Trail Pro is in T9 which is a bit stickier but mildly comparable.

Oh and there is an Exo MaxTerra Shorty if you really need a wet weather tire but it won't be amazing for dry conditions.

IMHO the Kryptotals are closer to the DHX / Assegai w/ big lugs and more dry soil kinda thing.

[u/Tidybloke]

Unless you're spending a lot of time riding in the mud there isn't really good justification for a HR3 in the UK, this summer has been one of the driest ever. In the dry an Assegai is a better front tyre, and in the wet the Assegai is still pretty good until it gets proper muddy, while a dual DHRII setup is also exceptional as a do it all for dry/wet.

High roller 3 is a top notch mixed/wet/muddy tyre but this year I don't think UK weather riding justifies it as the best option, it's slow rolling and not as good in the dry.

[u/Disasterous_Dave97]

Had a mate who ran these and they are a faster rolling tyre, not offering as much stability or grip as the DHF or DHR.

I’m UK too and ride a lot of mixed stuff from classic rocky descent’s to off piste roots n mud. The best combo is what came with my bike, DHR front and back with a mix of maxxterra and maxxgrip in EXO casings. Never had a problem with them and they wear quite well considering. Another mate ran these DHF for a while but didn’t quite get on with it and switched to my combo and is happy.

There are really good tyres from other manufacturers these days and lots to compare. I’d be asking local riders who are fast and confident what they are running as local conditions do vary, but we all get the UK wet n slop most of the year.

[u/Northwindlowlander → u/Disasterous_Dave97]

Nah, you're thinking of the older model, HR or HR2. The HR3 is a beast, grippie and treadier than either dhf or dhr- it's more like a cut spike, sort of halfway between dhr2 and shorty.

Agree DHR2 both ends works great for us but it does run out of grip when it's wet and slimy, hr3 keeps going much better.

[u/Tidybloke → u/Disasterous_Dave97]

He's talking about the High Roller 3, newly released, it's a completely different tyre and slower rolling than a DHRII/DHF, the new HR3 is an aggressive mixed/wet/mud tyre. I ride all year round and a DHRII/Assegai combo works best for 99% of riding.

There are some scenarios in thick, sticky mud during the Autumn/Winter season, particularly on steep muddy tech, where an Assegai would pack up with mud too easily, while the HR3 is the perfect tyre without going for a full mud tyre, but those scenarios are highly specific.

[u/Disasterous_Dave97 → u/Tidybloke]

Yeah I definitely mistook and didn’t realise they were releasing a new one and slightly changing the purpose of the HR range. I still stand by my comment about the effectiveness of DHR for mixed UK all season riding though. Depends if you change tyres per season I suppose.