After eight years, the "Five Friends" test format is now retiring. There is a new, exciting concept for 2026. For once, the five products tested have no common denominator. Or perhaps five "friends" that don't fit in anywhere? But that would be misleading, because they are all exciting products that have proven themselves.

The original High Roller tire from Maxxis first saw the light of day in the bike parks back in 2001, followed by the second version in 2011. Now the third generation is rolling onto the trails, with the ambition of being an all-rounder tire.

A little over two years ago, the downcountry category was created by the bike industry. In the meantime, a number of tires aimed at this segment have come onto the market. Now Maxxis is following suit and is presenting a tire specifically for this sector with the new Forekaster.

The shorty has a large fan base, especially in the cold and wet season. Many ride it over the winter months to have maximum grip on deep ground and snow. Now Maxxis has given it a complete overhaul. We were able to test it on a few rides before the launch.

From light and narrow to wide and robust: the choice of tires in cross country has changed dramatically over the past ten years. Widths between 1.9 and 2.1 inches were common, the carcasses thin and light. With the high demands on rolling resistance, grip, stability and damping, tire widths are now being ridden that were only used in downhill racing.

These two tires achieved cult status many years ago and are still among the most popular treads on the market today. Now they are also available in Plus format. Whether Maxxis has managed to transfer the advantages of the classics to the new tire dimension - the test reveals it.