Maxxis Aggressor 29×2.5", 2C EXO+

Owen here. I've been running the Maxxis Aggressor 29x2.5 (2C, EXO+) on the rear of my trail bike for the better part of four months — mostly Pisgah and DuPont, with a long weekend at Tsali and one trip out to Bentonville for the dry-rock comparison I needed. Front tire stayed a Minion DHF the whole time, which is the pairing Maxxis has been pushing for years and the one I'd recommend most folks start with.

What it is

The Aggressor sits between the Minion DHR II and the Rekon in Maxxis's lineup. It's a rear-specific tread with paired center knobs and ramped, supportive side blocks. The 2.5" WT casing seats wide on a 30mm internal rim and measures right at 2.48" on my calipers after a week of break-in. EXO+ adds a butyl insert layer to standard EXO sidewall protection — it's the casing I'd pick for chunky east-coast riding without going full DoubleDown.

The setup

• Rim: DT Swiss EX511, 30mm internal
• Pressure: 22 psi rear (I'm 175 lb kitted up)
• Sealant: 4 oz Orange Seal Endurance
• Bike: 150/140mm trail bike, ~32 lb

Seating was uneventful with a floor pump — one of the easier Maxxis mounts I've done recently. No burping at trail pressures.

On the trail

Rolling speed

This is the headline. Coming off a DHR II rear, the Aggressor feels noticeably quicker on climbs and sustained pedaling sections. On Pisgah's long fire-road approaches — Bradley Creek, the Black Mountain climb — I'd estimate I'm getting about 3-5% better rolling efficiency by feel, which matches what BicycleRollingResistance lab numbers suggest. It's not a Rekon, but it's close, and you keep substantially more cornering bite.

Dry rock and hardpack

Where the Aggressor genuinely shines. The center tread pattern locks onto dry granite slabs the way a DHR II does, and the side knobs are tall and supportive enough that you can lean into a hardpack berm and feel the tire load up predictably. Bentonville's flow trails and rock gardens were a non-event. On Pilot Rock's slab descents in dry conditions, I had no slip-out issues at speeds where I'd normally be more cautious.

Wet roots and mud — the catch

Pisgah is wet a lot of the year, and this is where the Aggressor gives up ground to the DHR II. The center knobs are lower and more closely spaced, which is what makes it fast — but it also means mud doesn't clear as well, and on slick roots you get a brief window of "is it going to grip" that you don't get with a more aggressive rear. I washed out on Black Mountain after a rain in a corner I'd cleaned a dozen times before. Rider error, but the DHR II would've forgiven me.

Braking

Solid on dry surfaces, average in wet. The squared-off center blocks bite into hardpack well under hard braking. In loose-over-hard, you'll feel the tire skim before it digs — fine if you're used to it, worth noting if you're coming from a more open-tread rear.

Casing and durability

EXO+ has been the right call. Four months of Pisgah rock, no cuts requiring a plug, no sidewall slashes. I did pick up two thorn punctures in DuPont that sealed instantly. The casing has enough support at 22 psi that I'm not pinging the rim on square-edge hits, but it's still supple enough to track well over chatter. Riders over about 190 lb or those running really chunky terrain might want DoubleDown; for most trail riders, EXO+ is the sweet spot.

Wear

The 2C dual compound (harder base, softer shoulders) is doing fine. After roughly 350 miles, the center knobs show measurable but not dramatic rounding. I'd estimate 800-1000 miles of useful life depending on terrain — typical for a rear tire in this class. The DHR II in MaxxTerra wears comparably; the Aggressor might give you slightly more miles because it's running faster and squirming less.

Who it's for

If you ride mostly dry, hardpack, or rocky terrain — Sedona, Bentonville, summer in Colorado, the dry months in the southeast — the Aggressor is a smart rear-tire choice that gets you most of the cornering grip of a DHR II with meaningfully better rolling speed. Pair it with a DHF or Assegai up front and you have a quiver-killer for trail and light enduro.

If you ride PNW loam, mud, or wet roots more often than not, the DHR II is still the better answer. The Aggressor's center tread just doesn't bite into soft, wet surfaces as confidently.

Price and value

$80 is right in the middle of the premium-tire market. Compared to a DHR II EXO+ at the same price, you're choosing rolling speed over wet-weather grip. Compared to a Rekon, you're choosing cornering bite and casing support over outright speed. Nothing here is a value play — it's about picking the right tool.

Bottom line

The Aggressor does exactly what Maxxis says it does: it's a faster rear tire that keeps you confident in dry, hard, rocky terrain. I'll keep one mounted through the dry months and swap to a DHR II when the trails turn. If you only own one rear tire and you ride the southeast year-round, the DHR II is probably still the safer pick. Everywhere else, the Aggressor is worth a serious look.