Maxxis unveil lightweight tyre designed to be 'fast, not to last'

We've got a set in the Cycling Weekly office and we're keen to see how many rides we get in before the first puncture

(Image credit: Michelle Arthurs Brennan)

Maxxis has released a new lighter weight version of its Maxxis High Road tyre - the Maxxis High Road SL.

The High Road tyre was already designed for racing, it was ridden by the Canyon Eisberg team in 2018 and received a 9/10 in our Cycling Weekly review. 

>>> Best road bike tyres reviewed

Our tester concluded that it was "a very capable best day-tyre that inspires confidence and provides a good level of comfort. They’re not the cheapest but they pack a solid punch."

With Maxxis sponsoring Israel Startup Nation, the team which will house Chris Froome in 2021, the new High Road SL aims to provide the same grippy, supple rubber - but at a lighter weight.

The tyre does have some puncture protection, with K2 material used as a breaker, but Maxxis says: "As an extremely lightweight tyre with limited puncture protection, the High Road SL is recommended for race use only. It’s designed to be fast, not to last.

"The High Road SL is suitable for racing time trials, on the velodrome, or any  situation where a rider wants the lightest setup possible."

Cycling Weekly has a pair in on test, and we'll be reviewing them to see how long they last before puncturing.

Whilst racers do want lightweight rubber, most amateurs face a long walk back to HQ over a wheel change from the team car - so we'd hope there's at least a couple of races' milage in them.

The pair we have in the office came in at 172g and 176g respectively.

Currently, there are only clincher models available, these come in at £49.99. A tubeless version is coming later in the year, according to the brand.

The standard High Road tyre has a TPI of 120, vs 170 for this SL version, this should make for a more supple ride. Maxxis has used its HYPR-S compound, which reportedly offers the same grip as the previous model, but with a 12 per cent reduction in rolling resistance.

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Michelle Arthurs-Brennan

Michelle Arthurs-Brennan is a traditional journalist by trade, having begun her career working for a local newspaper, where highlights included interviewing a very irate Freddie Star (and an even more irate theatre owner), as well as 'the one about the stolen chickens'.


Previous to joining the Cycling Weekly team, Michelle was Editor at Total Women's Cycling. She joined CW as an 'SEO Analyst', but couldn't keep her nose out of journalism and in the spreadsheets, eventually taking on the role of Tech Editor before her latest appointment as Digital Editor. 


Michelle is a road racer who also enjoys track riding and the occasional time trial, though dabbles in off-road riding too (either on a mountain bike, or a 'gravel bike'). She is passionate about supporting grassroots women's racing and founded the women's road race team 1904rt.


Michelle is on maternity leave from July 8 2022, until April 2023.