Maxxis Dissector V1 vs V2 Review: Which MTB Tire Is Better?

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Last year, Maxxis, which knows a thing or two about making tires, gave the Dissector a much-needed overhaul. I know this is a little late to the party, but I think the new Maxxis Dissector has been out long enough to warrant another look. While the original Dissector wasn’t terrible, it wasn’t the most common tire to see out on the trail from the brand. The Assegai and Minion still reign supreme on most trail networks, but the V1 Dissector was a tire I appreciated on faster-rolling trails that could still handle loose, less manicured sections, and I never really understood why it wasn’t more popular – it was a great tire.

The new Maxxis Dissector V2 is even better. The new tread pattern has made it more predictable in all aspects. Depending on where you ride, it might not be the ideal choice, but if you live somewhere dry, rocky, and fast, the Dissector V2 might be worth consideration.

Details

• Pricing: $104 – $116
• Casingoptions: EXO, EXO+, or DoubleDown
• Compounds: Dual, 3C MaxxTerra, or 3C MaxxGrip
• Weight: 950g – 1,205g

What’s New

When Maxxis decided to update it to a more familiar tread pattern, I was intrigued. The new DIssector looks a lot like a mini-Assegai, suggesting it’s a more versatile tire for trail riding for those who don’t want the aggression of the Minion or Assegai, but still want something with some bite. The new DIssector kind of slides in between the Minion SS and the Forekaster.

I’ve cooked through a couple of the V1 Dissector tires over the last 6 months and just mounted the new Dissector on a short-travel trail bike to see what they are all about. I decided to go with the Dissector front and rear, rather than a Forekaster or Icon in the rear, to get a good feel for Maxxis’s claims (better control, cornering, and braking). 

When people on the internet say it’s a mini Assegai, that is mainly in reference to the tread pattern, since both tires follow the ever-popular 2-3-2 center lug formula. This is a pretty common tread pattern these days, and there are plenty of other tires that follow in the Assegai’s footsteps, but the Dissector, being a Maxxis tire, is probably the best candidate for that nickname.

Overview

Maxxis’ Dissector comes in any size you could ever want, as long as that size is 29×2.4. The Dissector is offered in either a 60 TPI casing with EXO or EXO+ and the MaxxTerra or Dual compounds, or a 120 TPI casing with DoubleDown casing and 3C MaxxTerra or 3C MaxxGrip. Seeing the options, it’s pretty clear that this is a dedicated tire for a trail bike, but with a DoubleDown option, it bleeds into more gravity-friendly territory.

The major change from the Dissector V1 is the spacing of the knobs. The center knobs are now much more balanced with the shoulder knobs. In theory, this would make the tire much more predictable while cornering. The new Dissector also fully separates the trio of center knobs and features a new siping pattern that improves braking.

Testing Both Dissector Tires

Overall, the change is entirely positive. As the previous Dissector could feel a little loose on some terrain, especially in corners, the new Dissector feels composed and predictable in fast, dry, and rocky conditions, but can still find bite on more variable terrain thanks to the new tread pattern.

Going from the old Dissector to the new design has been a good way to get a feel for this refresh, and highlights just how much more predictable the tread layout is. The almost-foggy feeling of leaning into a corner with the V1 Dissector is gone on the V2 Dissector, but it still feels like a fast-rolling, very balanced tire for a wide range of riding.

I’ve been mostly putting it through some torturous XC-ish rides, but as we’re seeing XC become a spectrum that often creeps into more challenging sections of the trail, the Dissector V2 feels like a great bridge from long climbs on smooth trails and fire roads to loose, technical descents. Because it is less aggressive than the Minion or Assegai, but more aggressive than the Rekon or Forekaster, it feels like a tire that can do most things pretty well without making me feel like I’m “on the wrong tires”.

The Dissector V2 feels fast, cornering is really predictable, and braking is precise, but it can lose a bit of its sparkle on softer, loamier trails due to the shorter knobs and tighter spacing. It’s still a better pick for varied terrain than the previous Dissector, and a great pick for anyone living in drier climates.