Maxxis Supermaxx Sport Review & Rider Experiences

Maxxis Supermaxx Sport Score

7.3 Solid!

The Maxxis Supermaxx Sport (MA-SP) is a surprise contender in the hypersport segment, making its official German debut in 2024. Developed in part for the KTM 790 Duke, it positions itself as a high-performance "budget hero." It sits between the top-tier premium brands and the entry-level budget tires, offering 90% of the performance for a significantly lower price.

The Good

1. Solid grip
2. Cheap
3. Good handling

The Bad

1. Mileage could be a bit better
2. No top tier performance
3. Long break in period

• Grip Dry 8
• Grip Wet 7
• Warm-Up 8
• Handling 8
• Mileage 5
• Value for Money 8
• User Ratings (1 Votes) 9

The Maxxis Supermaxx Sport MA‑SP is the sportiest tire in the Maxxis lineup and was introduced to the German market in 2024. Although the tire has been available in Asia and Southeast Asia for quite some time, the Supermaxx Sport has only now made its way to Germany – which immediately caught our attention. According to the manufacturer, the Supermaxx Sport promises extremely sporty handling for fast road riding and occasional trackdays. The attractive price point also makes the Maxxis Supermaxx an interesting option. How the sport tire performs on our GasGas SM 700 Supermoto under extremely sporty riding is what you’ll find out in our detailed Maxxis Supermaxx MA‑SP test.

Technologies of the Maxxis Supermaxx Sport

Let’s begin with the technologies used in the Supermaxx Sport. The Supermaxx Sport MA‑SP is a dual‑compound sport tire with high mileage potential and sporty handling characteristics, designed for both road use and even track use according to the manufacturer.

The MA‑SP features an advanced tread pattern and a 3‑zone spiral belt, which is intended to provide excellent handling and a large contact patch. The silica compound, formulated for optimal traction in both dry and wet conditions, enables cooler operating temperatures and maximum grip on the road or track.

Technology Highlights

• High‑performance radial design for optimal grip on road or track
• Dual‑compound construction for increased mileage and grip
• Advanced tread pattern with distinctive design
• New silica compound for optimal grip and safety in all conditions (wet, dry, cold, hot)
• Spiral Belt (SSB) for good damping and excellent stability
• Optimal Profile FEA for increased cornering contact area
• Dual Compound Rear for better straight‑line stability, wear resistance, and lean‑angle grip
• Progressive Spiral Belt (PSB) for maximum grip at varying lean angles

Info: The Maxxis Supermaxx ST was used as OEM on the KTM 790 Duke. That tire is a sport‑touring model and not ideal for the 790 Duke’s sporty cornering potential. The Maxxis Supermaxx Sport MA‑SP was also developed with and for the KTM 790 Duke – making it the sportier alternative.

Maxxis Supermaxx Sport MA‑SP Review

Maxxis positions the Supermaxx Sport at the very top of its tire range, bringing a true hypersport tire to the market. On paper, the Supermaxx Sport impresses with a range of well‑designed technologies that match its sporty ambitions. How the Supermaxx Sport performs in our test on the GasGas SM 700 is what we reveal in this detailed Maxxis Supermaxx Sport MA‑SP review.

Grip on Dry Roads

First things first: The Maxxis Supermaxx Sport MA‑SP needs a proper and lengthy break‑in period. During the first kilometers, the tire is extremely slippery until it roughens up and begins to show its true potential.

Once the Supermaxx Sport is ready, it delivers very good dry grip. At cooler temperatures and with aggressive riding, slight rear‑wheel slips can occur, but from around 20°C and up, the Supermaxx Sport performs very well.

The tire reaches operating temperature quickly and maintains it reliably. Front‑end grip was never an issue during our entire test. Rear‑end acceleration grip is also absolutely fine – nothing to complain about.

If you ride very abruptly and without smooth throttle control, you can unsettle the Supermaxx Sport, but this is also true for many other tires and is not a sign of poor grip.

The front tire inspired a lot of confidence and could be ridden to the edge without problems. Even under hard braking, we experienced no slipping or ABS activation.

Grip on Wet Roads

We generally avoid wet roads, so we only tested the Maxxis Supermaxx Sport on slightly damp forest sections. The tire can be ridden briskly even there, though we refrained from overly sporty riding.

The Maxxis Supermaxx Sport offers enough wet grip and confidence to continue riding comfortably and safely within legal limits.

Braking Characteristics

Under braking, the Maxxis Supermaxx Sport is very stable on the front wheel and always provides good braking grip. We could not trigger the ABS (NOT in sport mode) even under hard braking on the road.

Front‑end braking feedback is good, though not at the absolute top level of an Attack SM 2. At the rear, the tire tends to slide relatively quickly (only in Supermoto mode). It can break away abruptly and somewhat unpredictably. Riders who enjoy sliding the rear into corners can do so with some practice.
In normal riding, the rear is not a major issue, as most braking is done at the front and modern rider aids keep the bike stable.

Riding Comfort

For a sport tire, riding comfort is genuinely good. The Supermaxx Sport is not a harsh, wooden‑feeling tire and offers enough damping to handle poor road surfaces reliably. We have no real criticism regarding comfort.

Tire Wear

The Maxxis Supermaxx Sport MA‑SP is extremely durable and wear‑resistant. Even long, sporty sessions on twisty roads barely affect the tire. The surface remains smooth and does not tear. When touching the tire after riding, we could feel that it reached a good operating temperature.

The Supermaxx has been available in Southeast Asia for quite some time – and was primarily developed for that market. This means the Supermaxx Sport is extremely heat‑resistant and can be ridden hard throughout the summer without issues.

Mileage

We did not ride the Maxxis Supermaxx all the way down to the wear limit during our test. Over a distance of around 750 kilometers, we calculated the wear rate in mm/km, which allows us to provide a theoretical mileage estimate.

With around 5,500 km on the front and 3,000 km on the rear, the Maxxis Supermaxx Sport is genuinely a solid and durable tire in this segment. The high front‑tire mileage surprised us, especially since the SM700 is ridden very front‑heavy. Rear‑tire durability is absolutely fine, though we suspect our “extreme” test conditions may have skewed the numbers slightly. The low rear tire pressure likely contributed to increased wear as well.

Riders who ride more moderately or in mixed conditions should easily achieve around 4,000 km+ on the rear.

The Maxxis Supermaxx Sport MA‑SP has a new tread depth of 4.0–4.5 mm front and 5.0–6.0 mm rear.

Riding Stability / Cornering Stability

The Maxxis Supermaxx Sport MA‑SP is wonderfully stable and requires almost no steering effort, even in fast, sweeping corners on a high‑center‑of‑gravity Supermoto. In direct comparison, the CST Ride Migra comes to mind – a tire that required significantly more steering input and was more tiring to ride.

The Maxxis Supermaxx, on the other hand, follows the intended line with absolute precision and offers confidence‑inspiring stability in all riding situations. Only at very deep lean angles did we notice a slight tendency to tip in, though it was not pronounced.

Agility / Turn‑in Behavior

At low speeds, the Supermaxx Sport is pleasantly stable and offers a smooth, easy turn‑in that requires little effort. It is certainly not the most agile tire on the market, but it provides a well‑balanced mix of agility and stability.

Uprighting Tendency

We noticed a slight uprighting tendency when braking at lean. Trail braking into the corner also results in a small tip‑in moment when releasing the brake lever. While not ideal, this behavior is easy to override and is not a major issue during sporty riding.

Tire Pressure

We rode the Maxxis Supermaxx Sport MA‑SP with the recommended GasGas factory pressures.
In general, 2.0 bar front / 2.0 bar rear works very well on a lightweight Supermoto.

During extended sporty riding, the rear tire became quite warm. A slight increase in pressure would help reduce heat buildup and improve mileage.

Since the warm tire did not negatively affect grip on our test day (approx. 26°C ambient temperature), we made no further adjustments. Before long highway or high‑speed sections, we would recommend increasing the pressure slightly.

Maxxis Supermaxx Sport Tire Pressure Recommendation

• Front: 2.0 bar
• Rear: 2.0 bar

(For GasGas SM 700 or other lightweight Supermotos. Values without guarantee — use at your own risk.)

Maxxis Supermaxx Sport Experiences

When we mounted the Maxxis Supermaxx Sport, we started the test with zero expectations. After a relatively long break‑in period – which initially suggested the worst (many rear‑wheel slips) – the tire quickly proved itself and showed its true potential.

The Maxxis Supermaxx Sport MA‑SP is genuinely very good, especially considering its low price. Of course, you shouldn’t expect top‑tier performance like a Power GP 2, Attack SM 2, or Battlax S23 – the Supermaxx Sport simply doesn’t compete in that price class. But it combines very good sporty performance with solid durability and essentially does everything right.

Riders who don’t want to spend €300–350 on a tire set can definitely get along with the Supermaxx MA‑SP. It’s also ideal for Supermoto riders who practice a lot on parking lots or ride mostly straight roads due to a lack of twisties. Even in very sporty riding on curvy roads, the Maxxis impressed us and was well‑liked by our test team.

Another big plus is its appearance. The sporty tread pattern looks great, and the 160 rear tire looks impressively wide in person – a great look on Supermotos.

Overall, the Maxxis Supermaxx Sport is a very good sport tire for all types of riding – the only important thing is to break it in gently and thoroughly.

Although we reserve our “Highly Recommended” seal for truly outstanding tires, the Supermaxx Sport still earns our rating of “Recommended”, as it is one of the best budget sport tires available.

Alternatives to the Maxxis Supermaxx Sport

Here are suitable alternatives — including top‑tier products and comparable or better budget options:

• Maxxis Supermaxx ST (sport‑touring)
• Avon 3D Supersport
• Bridgestone Battlax S22
• Bridgestone BT016 Pro Hypersport (budget)
• Dunlop Qualifier Core
• Michelin Pilot Power 2CT (budget)
• Mitas SportForce+ EV
• Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV
• Metzeler Sportec M9 RR
• Continental SportAttack 4
• Continental Attack SM 2 (top choice for Supermotos)