Why We Like The Ardent Race Tire
Not one to leave a stone unturned in your favorite rock garden, Maxxis looked upon its family of capable off-road tires and noticed a space between the XC-oriented Ikon and the trail-focused Ardent. Determined to fill the gap between these two beloved tires, they went back to the drawing board before unveiling the Ardent Race Tire—an updated version of the classic Ardent but with a lighter and faster tread that provides maximum speed and cornering on hard-packed or mixed trail conditions.
While the tread pattern is almost the same as the original Ardent, Maxxis removed some of the depth from the knobs while also condensing the entire pattern. Shoulder knobs combined with ramped central knobs create a tire that rolls fast while doing a great job holding its grip in corners. The Maxxis 3C compound features a blend of three rubber densities arranged across the width of the tread, with harder rubber in the base layer for longer tread life, and softer layers on the top and sides for maximum braking and cornering traction.
Details
- Quick-rolling MTB tire for XC courses and endurance events
- Ramped center knobs reducing rolling resistance
- Angled side knobs provide greater biting traction in corners
- EXO protection reduces sidewall cuts and tears
- Wide Trail design is optimized for rims with 30 - 35mm internal width
- Item #MXX003L
- Compound
- 3C Maxx Speed
- Size
- 29 x 2.2in, 29 x 2.35in
- Type
- tubeless
- TPI
- 120
- PSI
- [max] 60
- Bead
- folding
- Claimed Weight
- [29 x 2.2in] 1lb 9.3oz (718g), [29 x 2.35in] 1lb 11.4oz (778g)
- Manufacturer Warranty
- limited
- Activity
- cross-country
- Manufacturer Part Number
- TB96726100, TB96742100
Reviews
Q&A
Overall Rating
4.5 based on 4 ratings
Review Summary
Fits True To Size
Screen reader users: the following list provides a visual scale to illustrate the product fit. Please refer to the heading above for the fit type in text.What do you think about this product?
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Selecting an option will reload the available reviews on the pageMarch 26, 2023
Great tires!
- Familiarity:
- I've used it several times
I ordered these to ride True Grit. Glad I did - wouldn’t have finished the race without them. Definitely slower than Ikons or Aspens, but Ardent Race have traction that the faster tires lack. If you need more grip, but still want to move fast these are the tires.
Originally reviewed on Competitivecyclist.com
February 21, 2021
Excellent option for Salsa Cutthroat
- Familiarity:
- I've put it through the wringer
Great option for the salsa Cutty - rolls fast and quiet. No issues with sidewall leaking like mentioned below.
December 28, 2020
29in, 2.2: Not great for tubeless
- Familiarity:
- I've put it through the wringer
- Size Bought:
- 29in 2.2
I don't normally leave reviews but thought my experience could help others. I've ridden with this as a rear tire for the last 6 months and many, many miles and rides across Arizona, Utah and Colorado. 1) This was the hardest tire ever for me to get on the inside of the rim. No issues seating tubeless after that though. 2) Sidewalls are VERY thin. So thin sealant constantly leaks through them everywhere (see photo). I have to constantly add more sealant than I've added on other tires to keep them from going flat or very low on a regular basis. 3) Grip was noticeably improved over my warn Bontrager XR2s but the tire is narrower. But that's what "race" is going for I guess.
November 12, 2020
Go to front tire
- Familiarity:
- I've put it through the wringer
- Size Bought:
- 2.35
Just the right amount of grip and rolling resistance I pair it with the Ikon rear.
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