Maelstrom 

Maker - Maxxis
Comparible products - highroller and Tioga
Size - 2.1 (a real 2.1)
Classification - Freeride

As most know I tend to run square, wide, double thick freeride or dh tires. On my xc bike or my dh bike. My favorite tire has been the minion highroller combination. Usually super tacky. The terrain on the xc trails here is wet and rooty/rocky all the time without much letting up. My needs are pretty high. Burly tire that hooks up on wet roots AND skinnies/woodwork. It must be good at turning and be able to widstand drops, jumps and rock gardens. Ideally I wanted something that rolled fast and would climb well to. Until recently the minion highroller did 90% of what I wanted, but I really wanted something better for trails. Faster for xc to help my innate ability to suck-ass at climbing. 2.5 to2.7 front and back just doesn't cut it.

That brings me to the Hansadventure. I found them cheap, they had an interesting design, were round profile, double wall (yep I will never sacrifice that) and were TINY. Most maxxis tires run big. 2.7=2.9 for example. Not these. These were 2.1. Straight up and with a round profile look tiny. I put them on the bike and was concerned. Well the concern was unwarranted. I took them to my favoriate xc trail. Offers everything. Uphill and downhill skinnies, steep descents on roots AND rock faces and ascents on the same. This tire would see everything Icould throw at it and in the rain. The ultimate PNW test imo. I also ran signifigantly more pressure @ 43psi. This is a record for me, as I tend to run them underpressured.

Uphill this tire was a star. Rolling faster and hooking up better than anything I have ridden to date (not that hard but still impressive) It handled the wet skinnies and rockfaces like they had glue on them, with no slipping. I even did the ultimate test. I rode a log in parellel. Instead of working the bike to hit it just right I wanted to see what they could do. No slip, surprising for a high durometer tire. I actually climbed without dabbing and rode up 3 sections I traditionally have to walk because of ... well lots of reasons.

Downhill was impressive. Obviously not on par with a good dh tire. But still for an all round fr/trail bike these tires held up. There was some slippage and I did have to pick lines a little less rough than I can usually control but overall, impressive. I trusted the tire once I got a feel for picking the cleaner lines. On platforms and skinnies it even had the traction to slow me down from full speed.

Mud shed was impressive keeping in mind the mud here isn't that tacky. I usually get some caking but this tire threw everything off of it.

"hooking up" was VERY impressive. I was railing through turns mid puddle/mud pit. No slippage. I noticed signifigantly better steering at slow speed than my traditional square shaped tires. I think I might be converted for traditional trail riding.

For trail/xc I give it a 9/10. At this point it handles everything adequatly and impresses me most with its versatility. A key with freeriding. Not sure on durability as I have only had a couple of rides. If your idea of freeriding isn't pure hucking jumper style than this is a suitable tire.

harov3

Very interesting. Not really applicable to my current situation which is usually rocks and sand but that may change next year so good info.

Maelstrom 

Ironically they are supposedly for loose terrain and sand. I should have mentioned that.

Blazinall91

Perhaps the most versatile tire ever designed by Maxxis. Its unique tread pattern - designed by famed trials and adventure rider Hans Rey - allows the tire to roll fast, yet still hook-up well in myriad conditions. The Y-shaped pattern cleans easily in muddy conditions, yet provides great traction on harder surfaces.

sounds like a good tire to me

Maelstrom 

I rarely trust what sites advertise. I just happened to get these cheap and decided to try them. Front and back. Must say, that description basically covers it, for a change