Maxxis

Ravager EXO/TR Tire

Great Gravel Tire For Dry Dirt

Familiarity:

I've put it through the wringer

I was coming off a very disappointing six months of riding on WTB Riddlers and wanted something with a bit more cornering confidence. Like many gravel riders, I wasn't about to give up any rolling resistance in order to get it because half of my rides typically happen on the roads to the trails. What to do? I looked around and there didn't appear to be anything on the market that was just right. It was either knobbies at the expense of road resistance or a tire obviously geared for roads with an afterthought of tread for dirt. Very dismaying. The Pirelli Cinturato seemed to be the standout but I wanted something a bit burlier on the edges for our dry, sometimes sandy Southern California fire roads, and our legendary singletrack. The Cinturato made me nervous, so I kept looking. Nothing seemed just right, and as my Riddlers rapidly declined and I started fishtailing all over Sullivan Ridge I knew I had to made a decision. Enter the Ravager. I don't know how I'd missed it, particularly since I've been a big Maxxis fan for years, alternating between the dependably fast Ikons, Aspens, and the burlier stuff I'd used on backpacking trips to Southern Arizona. The Ravager didn't come in anything wider than a 40, much to my dismay, but it just looked right. The shoulder knobs immediately stood out and even though the rolling resistance didn't look great I decided to try them. Once mounted they sure looked narrow, largely because I'm used to the wider Riddlers - something that worked well on Catalina's mixed roads. Then I hit the trails, and immediately knew Maxxis was onto something with this design. Even when the center beads were beginning to wear down the Ravagers delivered confidence in tricky corners and high-speed descents. A year and change later and I've just now replaced the rear tire, though the front still has plenty of life left. These tires literally lasted over twice as long as the WTBs and performed far better. My only gripe is the width. I really wish there was a 50 in the Ravagers, and may have to switch to the Ramblers, though I hate to sacrifice the shoulder knobs to get it. We'll see. Overall, I couldn't speculate on how this tire performs in wet conditions but I had no problem on the wetter SoCal days. If you're looking for a decent rolling road gravel tire that really shines on dirt, this is it. The durability, puncture protection, and overall confidence they inspire make the Ravager a great option.