Maxxis Assegai/Dissector Combo: Rider Review

Our "Rider Review" article series features honest reviews from verified purchasers of Worldwide Cyclery. They contain the photos, thoughts, feedback & overall review you are looking for. 

Maxxis has a pretty wide reach over the cycling community and that is because they offer something for just about any rider. Although their line of tires did not need to be expanded upon, Maxxis introduced the Assegai and Dissector Tires recently and they have been all the rave. Riders of all skill levels and disciplines have been rushing to grab a set before they run out of stock. Dusty was lucky enough to get a set before they ran out and sent over this review on the duo. Let's see what he thought!

Dusty's Review

There were a few specific priorities on my list when I started searching for a new front and rear tire setup. Taking a few steps back, I was riding a Marin Hawk Hill with DHR II on the front and rear--a complete bike that I traded-up for an Evil Following MB in November of 2019, which came with its' stock tires. The stock tire setup was falling on its face in a few areas, possibly due to wear, but maybe due to design. Either way, I knew it was time for some Maxxis freshies to round-out this amazingly capable bike.

As for riding style/type, my son and I ride everything from grueling XC miles to enduro races, downhill and park...and everything in between. We love to ride, and we love a good challenge. Jumping back to my list of priorities for tires, it was created with my personal riding challenges in mind, and those specific deficiencies of the WTB tire setup that I was trading in. I was also keeping the DHR II setup in mind from my previous bike, a set of tires that I was generally happy with.

For the front, I was looking for a tire with incredible tracking through fast descents and cornering. I wanted a hungry tire with an appetite for any terrain. I also wanted something with laser precision through chunk and technical elements. ...I point and it goes. For the rear, the list was simple, really. I wanted fast-rolling, good cornering, and excellent braking ability. [emphasis on the part about braking!] It was "skiing" down a black diamond on my rear tire, which was a major factor in wanting to upgrade my tires.

Overall, I was looking for a sense of confidence in my tires. As the buffer that keeps me moving and smiling, I want a set of tires that makes me feel great about my rig. After sifting through the many pros/cons of all of the different Maxxis tire options, I settled on the Assegai upfront and the Dissector in the back. Worth mentioning, I'm somebody who likes to look down at my front tire and see something a smidge gnarly, and the Assegai does NOT disappoint. I swear the knob size and tread pattern are only shade away from being a proper moto tire. Because the Assegai is on the heavier end of the weight spectrum, my compromise was to stick with a basic 3C/EXO compound and casing.

Conclusion

"The Assegai (and this tire combo) does exactly what I set out to accomplish, and I can't see myself running anything less than the Assegai up-front at this point. The Dissector ain't too shabby either, and I definitely feel the improved braking ability. The bike corners amazingly well with this set, and I zip through tech and descents with confidence. Point and Go. […err Brake and Stop]" - Dusty