Maxxis Zilla Tires - Everything You Need To Know

Features, sizes, user reviews, and alternatives for this mud-slinging ATV tire

Let’s dig in to this versatile mud-terrain tire from Maxxis.

The Maxxis Zilla was designed specifically for ATVs, with 6-ply construction resulting in a durable, lightweight tire. Rotating mass being a major component in acceleration and braking, the Maxxis Zilla’s lightweight construction helps optimize both. Its aggressive tread is designed to find traction even in extreme mud, while still providing a relatively smooth ride on the trail, with predictable high-speed performance.

Mud is where the ‘Zilla is most at-home, but it’s not averse to snow-covered trails, either. That said, the ‘Zilla is really a specialized tire, not a general-purpose all-rounder, making it an ideal tool for soft terrain, but only adequate on the firmer stuff. That said, its bias-ply construction makes it a somewhat pliable tire, meaning it can safely be aired-down if need be, without an outsize risk of puncture.

The Maxxis Zilla can be purchased in a wide array of different sizes, suitable for wheels measuring from 9 to 14 inches in diameter, with a range of 22 to 28 inches in overall height. See the chart below for detailed information about available sizes.

True to its mission, thanks to its 6-ply construction, the Maxxis Zilla is a lightweight ATV tire. A 25.2x9.4x12 ‘Zilla rear tire, for example, weighs just 17.9 to 20.5 pounds, depending on whether you opt for the shallower 24/32” tread or the deeper 38/32” tread. At the top end of the size range, a big 30x11x14 ‘Zilla tips the scales at 31.85 pounds – nearly two pounds lighter than an 8-ply 30x10x14 Maxxis Carnivore, despite having an extra inch of section width.

Here’s a sample of Maxxis Zilla tire sizes and their respective weights in pounds.

AT22x10-9 (rear) – 15.45 pounds

AT25x11-10 (rear) – 19.65 pounds

AT24x10-11 (rear) – 16.5 pounds

AT25x10-12 (24/32” tread, rear) – 17.9 pounds

AT25x10-12 (38/32” tread, rear) – 20.5 pounds

AT28x10-12 (38/32” tread, front) – 25.6 pounds

AT30x11-14 (38/32” tread, rear) – 31.85 pounds

AT28x9-14 (38/32” tread, front) – 22.6 pounds

There are a number of comparable alternatives on the market, if the Maxxis Zilla isn’t quite what you’re looking for. The ITP Mega Mayhem Mud-Terrain ATV tire, for example, has a similar design and 6-ply construction, but an “ultra-deep” 1.5-inch tread depth for tackling even muddier trails, with a range of sizes covering 12” and 14” diameter wheels. That said, the ITP Mega Mayhem is substantially heavier than the ‘Zilla; a 28x9x14 front tire weighing in at 30.7 pounds to the Zilla’s 22.6 pounds.

Another alternative to the Maxxis Zilla is the Sedona Mud Rebel RT. Built with rugged 8-ply radial construction, the Mud Rebel uses smaller lugs than the Mega Mayhem (1 1/8" lugs ), but that is plenty for traction through moderate mud while still offering a reasonably smooth ride on hard pack trails. The Mud Rebel's high grade rubber compound also helps with solid stability and impressive tread wear life.

Another option is the SunF Warrior AT Mud & Trail ATV/UTV tire, which again covers wheels measuring 12” or 14” in diameter. It, too, is a 6-ply tire with bias-ply construction, and a 38/32” tread depth for trudging through thick mud. The SunF Warrior’s composition and large void areas make it adept at self-cleaning, and it boasts a durable, extended-wear rubber compound that ought to deliver thousands of miles of riding enjoyment. Like the ITP Mega Mayhem, however, the SunF Warrior can’t touch the Maxxis ‘Zilla’s low weight.

Of course, a tire is only worth its weight in salt if it can actually perform, so we’ve taken a good, in-depth look at what real-life users have to say about the Maxxis Zilla.

The most common theme: reviewers rave about the ability of the ‘Zilla to find traction in the sort of deep, thick mud they were designed for. Owners reported a night-and-day difference between these tires and their factory ATV rubber in soft, wet conditions, with one owner even saying their ATV “can’t be stopped” in the mud.

Comments on the Maxxis Zilla’s ability to handle hard-packed trails were scarce, although at least one owner said it’s a “well-mannered” tire on such terrain. Another, who says they’ve put some 3,500 miles on the tires, claimed they perform well even on rocks and pavement. And of course, reviewers were enthusiastic about the tire’s light weight, which makes it a standout in the mud-terrain class.

If there is one common complaint about the Maxxis Zilla, it’s that the sizing appears to run small; one reviewer noted that his 26” tires actually measure 25” tall. But that small sizing also appears to extend to the tire’s width, with some owners reporting a slightly narrower section width than advertised.

Ultimately, though, the Maxxis Zilla has amassed far more fans than detractors, consistently earning top marks and effusive praise from real-life buyers.

Recent Updates

April 21, 2021: Added Sedona Mud Rebel RT as an alternative to the Zilla.

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