Test: Cargo bikes are becoming increasingly popular. They are intended to fuel the mobility transition and are increasingly being classified in the mobility sector than in the classic bicycle. They also place special demands on the material, and Maxxis wants to meet this with a special tire: Raise the curtain on the Metroloads Pro.
You're seeing cargo bikes more and more often, and what they shine above all is their high utility value. Driving the children to kindergarten, doing some shopping, or going to the lake with a barbecue and luggage? A cargo bike can do that. Heavy bikes have always placed high, significantly greater demands on the material than a normal bike. With increasing quantities and growing popularity, more and more manufacturers are producing specific components. Maxxis now has a tire in its range that is said to be very puncture-proof, high-traction and extremely durable. Maxxis promises a full 10.000 kilometers. You have to cycle for quite a long time…
Maxxis Metroloads – the facts
The name says it clearly: Metroloads Pro means moving loads in an urban environment. This is clearly a cargo bike. It's actually no wonder that Maxxis has developed something like this. While cyclists primarily know the brand from bikes and e-bikes, the Taiwanese are actually at home in the entire world of mobility. Behind Maxxis is Cheng Shin, one of the top ten tire manufacturers in the world. With the Maxxis brand, the Asians have long been serving areas of application that differ from the average user: off-road motorsport, forklifts, trailers, motocross...
Metroloads is available as Metroloads and Metroloads Pro. The difference lies in the structure of the carcass. The Pro version has a double 60 TPI carcass and therefore has 4 layers of fabric on the sidewall and 6 layers of fabric on the tread. Maxxis calls this “Urban Casing Pro”. Both versions are suitable for e-bikes that support over 25 km/h, which Maxxis calls “E 50”. All versions have a 3 mm thick special rubber incorporated under the tread, which is called MaxxProtect and is intended to increase puncture protection by, for example. B. counteracts cuts caused by broken glass. An innovation has been used as a rubber compound: the “4 Season” compound is the all-weather compound from Maxxis. As a “4 Season Highmileage Compound”, it should have an average service life of 10.000 kilometers, which is a big promise.
The Metroloads is available in wheel sizes 20 and 26 inches, each with a width of 2,15 inches. It can then be loaded with 109 or 140 kilos. The Metroloads Pro goes even further in two respects. It is available in 20 and 26 inches in 2,15 and 2,4 inches respectively and carries 20 kilos in 121 inches and 26 kilos in 160 inches. Maxxis states the weight of the tires we had in the test, 20 inches with a width of 2,4 inches, as 1145 grams, which both test tires significantly undercut - they were just under 1100 grams.
What we have to talk about is the price: The cheaper Metroloads cost 31,90 euros and the even more valuable Metroloads Pro are 41,90 euros. If you now assume that the street price should be a little lower, that is a really fair offer for a tire that is so elaborately made and well thought out.
Maxxis Metroloads – in the test
We'll stay honest and say it right upfront: No, we didn't drive 10.000 kilometers with it. Since many different bikes want to be tested and driven, this is not feasible for us. We cannot answer that objectively as to whether the Metroloads can cover 10.000 kilometers. But what we can say: We trust him. In any case, there is no sign of wear. We've experienced it differently before, with one or two tires you can literally see them wearing away. Sporty drivers accept this if, for example, they B. are real MTB shredders.
Installation was easy, which is not a given with such a massive tire - it can be a bit tricky. Of course, this can only apply to our rim-tire test combination and can look different in individual cases. What is immediately noticeable: the bike stands well even without being inflated, which is certainly due to the extremely stable carcass. We experimented with the air pressure and found it. that even high loads can be driven with generally lower air pressure, which in turn makes the journey noticeably more comfortable - for example, if there are kids on board, this is not unimportant.
The rolling behavior is absolutely fine. Such a stable tire is usually mounted on a bike that itself weighs a lot, and a motor usually helps with moving forward. But of course, the stable carcass and the high weight are not for speed junkies. I wouldn't recommend the tire for a folding commuter bike, at least not in the wide Pro version, no matter how good the puncture protection may be. And that brings us to the next criterion. The puncture protection is great. As already written, we lowered the air pressure unreasonably and added a lot of weight. But the Metroloads also stoically ignored coarse gravel and edges.
What was also noticeable: the tire readily picked up fine gravel and then threw it around. The surface of the dirt road behind the editorial office seems to fit the profile of the Metroload perfectly. But that was only the case here. The tire's traction was absolutely good and predictable at all times.
Maxxis Metroloads – What you need to know
This is a very stable tire with a high level of puncture resistance, which is particularly recommended for motorized cargo bikes due to its high weight. It can increase peace of mind and also improve comfort. The quality is impressive, as is typical for Maxxis. Since we certainly trust the Metroloads to deliver the high mileage that the manufacturer promises, it is also a tip for bargain hunters and people who want to cycle more sustainably.