Maxxis Tires Review: Best for Trailers, ATVs, and UTVs
Maxxis tires are incredibly popular among trailer drivers. These tires can easily handle heavy loads, offer superior handling characteristics, and provide good grip and traction on various surfaces. This makes them an ideal choice for trailer owners who desire safe towing.
However, as with any brand whose name holds worldwide recognition, Maxxis has more than one trick up its sleeve. While its trailer tires get most of the press, it also makes high-quality tires for SUVs, light trucks, and other vehicles that are driven on rough surfaces.
In this Maxxis tires review, we’ll tell you everything you must know about this Taiwanese tire brand. We’ll kick things off by highlighting the brand’s most popular tires, their features, and technologies. Next, we’ll discuss the brand’s strong points and areas where it could improve.
Maxxis Tires Review
Here are the best Maxxis tires currently on the market:
#1. Bighorn MT-762 – Best Mud-Terrain
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The Bighorn MT-762 is a mud-terrain tire designed to enhance the handling and performance of SUVs, pickups, light trucks, and Jeeps on challenging terrains.
This model comes with staggered shoulder lugs to deliver reliable traction on mud, sand, gravel, and other off-road surfaces. The lugs’ offset design enables them to grab onto the ground before digging into the surface, helping this tire offer better forward traction.
Next come the large shoulder lugs, which shield the sidewalls and rim from damage. Various deep tread blocks ensure the automatic ejection of road debris, enhancing this model’s self-cleaning capabilities. As such, this tire can easily pull your vehicle through snowy terrains.
Pros
- Delivers reliable traction on mud, sand, gravel, and other challenging terrains
- Offers a comfortable ride for a mud-terrain tire
- Provides great value for the money
Cons
- May not be quiet on the highway
#2. M8008 ST – Best for Heavy-Load Trailers
Price Check
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One of the best tires for heavy-load trailers, the M8008ST has everything required to help you tow and haul heavy loads.
A double-belted steel construction and three nylon plies in its sidewall mean this tire would never give way regardless of how much weight you put on it. That is especially if you opt for the model available in the E-load range, which can handle 1,520 lbs. (per tire) at 80 PSI.
Despite the high load rating, this model won’t require your vehicle’s engine to output extraordinary amounts of power to keep it rolling. You can thus enjoy significant fuel savings. Plus, a full nylon cap helps minimize the risk of cuts and punctures on challenging surfaces.
Pros
- Capable of towing and hauling heavy loads
- Reduced rolling resistance for improved fuel economy
- Pulls much straighter than cheap trailer tires
Cons
- Doesn’t come cheap
#3. ML1 Carnivore – Best for UTVs
Price Check
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The Maxxis ML1 Carnivore is one of the best tires for your UTV if you like driving your utility terrain vehicle on sand, gravel, dirt, and other challenging surfaces.
A super-study 8-ply rated radial construction means the risk of this tire deforming is pretty much negligible. Additionally, this model features a puncture-resistant tread compound to stay cut- and chip-free on challenging surfaces as well as broken roads.
Multiple 28/32″ lugs help this tire easily carry your UTV from point A to point B in light wintry conditions. Another thing you may appreciate about this tire is that it doesn’t come in front or rear options – meaning you can rotate it anyway to ensure even wear and long tread life.
Pros
- Performs reliably on desert terrains
- Offers DOT-approved traction and stability
- Low risk of cuts, chips, and punctures
Cons
- Asking price may blow a hole in your pocket
#4. Maxxis Mudzilla – Best Mud Tire for ATVs
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Like every other vehicle’s tire market, the ATV tire market is flooded with options claiming to enhance the quad bike’s reliability and performance. However, most of them will find it hard to rival what the Maxxis Mudzilla has to offer.
An absolute winner when it comes to driving in mud, the Mudzilla also provides plenty of grip and traction over other rough surfaces. However, mud is where this tire performs at its best, with the placement, angle, and size of lugs all making it a reliable performer on mud.
Bear in mind, though, that this tire prioritizes longevity over comfort. You’d hear much of the road noise and feel much of the vibrations while driving over challenging terrains.
Pros
- Offers excellent performance in the mud
- Plenty of grip and traction for rock crawling
- Very sharp and responsive
Cons
- Not as comfortable to drive as other mud tires
#5. Maxxis Zilla – Best Mud Tire for UTVs
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Although many features contribute to this model’s excellent mud performance, three go above and beyond the others.
The first of which is its bias-ply construction, which has all but eliminated the flex from this tire’s sidewalls to enhance its mud-performance credentials. Next comes the aggressive tread pattern, which has boosted its traction on wet, slippery, and dicey surfaces.
Finally, the deep lug pattern joins forces with the aggressive lugs to help the Zilla easily plow through mud and snow (packed as well as unpacked). However, just like nine out of ten mud-terrain tires on the market, this model’s tread may wear quickly if you use it for rock crawling.
Pros
- Offers enhanced acceleration performance
- Comes with a mud-evacuating tread pattern
- Boasts solid traction and excellent versatility
Cons
- Tread may wear down quickly
#6. Maxxis Razr MT – Best for Off-Roading
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Despite the fact that it’s a mud-terrain tire to boot, the Razr MT has various features that distinguish it from other models in the same category.
The first of which is that this tire is more durable than its competitors. This is evident by the treadwear warranty (up to 40,000 miles) on offer. After all, most M/T tires don’t come with any mileage guarantee, let alone one as high as you’re getting on this tire.
To help this model last as long as it does, Maxxis has equipped it with its unique rubber compound, reinforced sidewall, and chemical fillers. The goal of these features is to make this tire more durable and enhance its traction and grip in mud and snowy conditions.
Pros
- Backed by a 40,000-mile treadwear warranty
- Resists damage in off-road scenarios
- Decent performance on dry and wet roads
Cons
- Could perform better on snow and ice
#7. Maxxis Escapade CUV – Best for CUVs
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An all-season high-performance tire for crossover utility vehicles, the Escapade CUV deserves more public attention than it has received since its release.
Mainly because this model offers the kind of handling you expect from tires in this category while being much smoother than rivals. Its outstanding wet performance and the fact that this model shows zero hints of aquaplaning in the rain are other reasons why I trust this tire so much.
A tread rating of 520 may be low compared to premium all-season, high-performance tires, most of which have UTQG ratings ranging from 500 to 700. However, juxtaposed with the treadwear rating of similarly priced models, the Escapade CUV should be able to last much, much longer.
Pros
- Boasts superior handling characteristics
- Offers reliable performance in the rain
- Much quieter than rival all-season high-performance tires
Cons
- Low treadwear rating compared with premium tires in this category
#8. Maxxis Razr XT – Best for Desert Racing
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Winner of the 2021 King of the Hammers Desert Challenge competition, the Maxxis Razr XT has what it takes to tackle desert and hard-pack terrain comfortably.
A high-density steel-belted radial construction allows this tire to retain its stability at high speeds, while rounded shoulder blocks ensure its cornering grip never brakes. Plus, a center tread block makes sure that it isn’t only on desert terrains; this model comes in handy.
Also, in contrast to some desert tires that have a flat tread profile, the Razr XT is round. You’d thus find its steering to be accurate and light. Additionally, with a steel-belted carcass in its interior, you’d have to be extremely unlucky to have a flat or cut with this tire.
Pros
- One of the best tires for desert driving
- Can handle anything except mud
- Offers superb resistance to cuts, chips, and punctures
Cons
- Ride quality may take a hit at lower speeds
Maxxis Tires Buying Guide
What is there to like about Maxxis tires? What is it that distinguishes these tires from the chasing pack? Are there areas where Maxxis tires could or should have done better? Any shortcomings that could potentially be deal-breakers? This section has all the answers.
Why Should You Buy Maxxis Tires?
Here’s why Maxxis tires should be on your short list of tire brands to buy next:
1) Excellent Value for Money
Maxxis tires are renowned for providing excellent value for money. Anyone who has ever bought a set of these tires could attest that they offer excellent performance at a reasonable price. As such, you won’t have to break the bank to afford them.
2) Superb Traction Across Various Surfaces
Thanks to Maxxis’ use of high-end technologies and advanced rubber compounds, its tires offer superior tractions across various surfaces and conditions. That is why Maxxis tires are a reliable option for driving through mud, slush, gravel, and even rocks.
3) Designed to Withstand Excessive Use
Maxxis tires are built to last a long time. The company’s use of high-quality materials results in tires being more resistant to wear and tear than rivals.
Need proof? Take the example of Maxxis Exo Protection Technology. This technology utilizes a thick woven fabric to reinforce the tires’ sidewalls against cuts and abrasions. The results in tires that are less vulnerable to cuts, chips, and punctures.
4) High-Quality Options for Trailers, ATVs and UTVs
Go through our separate guides on the best tires for trailers, UTVs, and ATVs, and you’d see that there is at least one Maxxis tire in all three. This is because the company’s tires boast high load-carrying capacities and could thus withstand rough use without breaking apart.
Why Should You NOT Buy Maxxis Tires?
Here’s why Maxxis tires might not be right for you:
1) Not Many Great Passenger Car Tires
While it’s true that Maxxis offers many great options for light trucks, trailers, ATVs, and UTVs, its presence in the passenger car tire market is limited. You’d thus be better off with the likes of Hankook, Kumho, and Falken if you’re seeking pocket-friendly tires for your car.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who makes Maxxis tires?
Maxxis tires are manufactured by Cheng Shin Rubber Industry Co., a Taiwan-based company that also manufactures CST tires.
Where are Maxxis tires made?
Maxxis tires are manufactured in facilities located in Taiwan, China, Thailand, Vietnam, and India. It also has multiple distribution facilities across North America, including Atlanta, Los Angeles, Dallas/Fort Worth, and Indianapolis.
How long do Maxxis tires last?
Maxxis car tires are expected to last between 40,000 and 60,000 miles (depending on usage, weight rating, and various other factors).
Is Maxxis a good brand?
Maxxis is a world-renowned brand that offers high-quality tires on a budget. Its radials are often the first choice of trailer owners for towing and hauling heavy loads. ATV and UTV owners also prefer Maxxis tires due to their durability and performance.
Are Maxxis tires noisy?
Just like every other brand’s tires, Maxxis tires become noisy as the tread wears down. That is because as the tread wears down, the pattern becomes shallower. This, in turn, leads to increase noise generation when the tire meets the tarmac.
Are Maxxis tires good for snow?
Although Maxxis produces a wide range of winter tires for passenger cars, the truth is that I’d always pick models from Bridgestone or Michelin for driving on snow and ice. Michelin’s and Bridgestone are market leaders for tires in this category and, as such, have my trust.
Conclusion
Maxxis tires are an excellent option for trailer owners as well as ATV and UTV drivers. However, other brands offer better options if you’re seeking high-quality tires for your passenger car, SUV or pickup truck. Examples of such brands include Michelin, Bridgestone, and Continental, to name a few.
