Customer Review: Maxxis Rekon 27.5x2.8 Plus Tires

In this customer review, Andrew Lovrich talks about his experiences with plus sized tires. With almost two decades of mountain bike experience, Andrew has seen plenty of new trends and fabs, some lasting more than others. With plus sized tires seeming to stick around, let's see what Andrew thinks of the 2.8 inch Maxxis Rekon tires!

--

Having over 16 years experience riding numerous styles and brands of MTB tires has given me insight into how much the tire industry has improved over the years. Progressing from a 26" X 2" tire in my early days to wider and wider sets, the improved traction is very noticeable. When the Fat Tire craze began I was skeptical to say the least, but Plus tires were something I really wanted to try. After watching multiple review videos, I decided to purchase a new Hardtail Cannondale with 3" WTB Ranger plus tires. The grip was amazing and so were the suspension qualities of the plus tire. However, I knew there were better tire options on the market.

This leads me to the Maxxis Rekon 2.8" Plus Tire. At first, I wanted to stay with the 3.0 width my Cannondale was initially fitted with. But based on Maxxis's research, they claim there is less sidewall roll with same levels of grip of a 2.8 tire. Plus tires are quite expensive, so getting this right the first time was very important to me. After many miles riding the Rekon,  I can safely say that they nailed it!

I ride the same 3C Compound Front and Rear and the grip levels are tremendous through Loose Dirt, Rock Climbs, and even on Hard Pack. The internal Width of my rims is 40mm and the shape of a 2.8 tire is perfect for leaning over hard. I ride the North East United States, where the terrain is very technical, rocky, wet and dry at times, and always challenging. These Rekon tires have not let me down once!!! The sidewalls are much stiffer than the WTB tires, but at the same time they are lighter. I have also yet to puncture, and am running tubeless with 14psi up front and 15 Rear, which seems to be perfect.

Overall, I feel this tire offers the best of an aggressive compound, aggressive grip knobs, but not too much that you cannot roll on flat ground. Maxxis always nails it, and making a specifically designed plus size tire has helped to engineer the absolute best tire I have ever ridden. Plus tires may not be for everyone, but those who enjoy riding technical terrain will always appreciate the added grip to clean those near impossible sections.