When your idea of a good time is hammering hardpack backroads until your legs go molten, you need rubber that’s got hustle in its DNA. Enter the Maxxis Reaver—the tyre that rolls like a roadie, corners like a trail dog, and shrugs off punctures with a sly grin.
We strapped a pair of 40c Reavers onto our test wheels and pointed the bike toward the ragged horizon. Here’s what we found.
Speed Merchants, Rejoice
Let’s start with the obvious: the Reaver is built for flat-out velocity. The slick centre tread practically begs you to stay in the drops and keep your foot on the gas. It’s the fastest gravel tyre Maxxis has cooked up—think Receptor-level speed, but with a bit more insurance when you hit patches of loose marbles.
If your riding is 80% hardpack and you live for that swoosh-swoosh sound as you carve through sweeping corners, these tyres are your ticket.
Grip Where It Counts
Don’t mistake “semi-slick” for “sketchy.” The Reaver’s side knobs are subtle but surprisingly tenacious when you lean it over. No frantic understeer here—just a confident, predictable bite that holds your line even when the surface goes off-script.
And if you’re the type who likes your rear wheel to surf around a bit in corners (we see you), the Reaver’s balanced profile still leaves room for a little playful drift.
Setup So Easy It’s Almost Boring
Some tyres make tubeless setup a ritual sacrifice to the gods of frustration. The Reaver isn’t one of them. We seated ours with a floor pump and a gulp of sealant—no levers, no cursing. The EXO sidewalls are robust without feeling like concrete, and we’ve yet to slash them on the nastier stretches of fire road.
Mix and Match to Taste
Maxxis knows no two gravel riders are wired the same. If you’re after a setup that’s fast in the back but a touch rowdier up front, pairing the Reaver rear with a Ravager or Rambler up front makes a killer combo. You get monster truck grip up front and a drag strip in the rear. What’s not to love?
The Verdict
If your gravel life is a constant chase for more speed, the Reaver should be on your shortlist. It’s quick, surprisingly composed, and practically dares you to ride further and faster.
Just be warned: once you taste that Reaver roll, you might not want to slow down.
Unbound Velo: Because life’s too short to ride boring tyres.