Can-Am Maverick X3 Tires: Stock Vs. Aftermarket

Just like the various versions of the Can-Am Maverick X3 itself, the kind of riding you do will determine which type of tire is best. General tires, all-terrain tires, and mixed-use tires for the Can-Am Maverick X3 like the Terrabite line of tires by Tusk perform reasonably well everywhere, but not exceptionally well anywhere. And this makes sense if you think about it, as it’s impossible to get a tire that’s optimized for such varied terrain as mud, sand, rocks and asphalt. There are several factors that go into a tire’s ability to grip the ground, and other factors that go into a tire’s ability to wear evenly, ward off wear, and withstand pinch flats, puncture flats, and sidewall gashes. You might think that a thick, high-ply, tire is optimal, but there are always trade offs. With thick tires comes additional unsprung weight, and that extra mass makes it harder for your vehicle’s shocks and suspension components to keep each tire pressed against the ground. All this begs the question: What size, style, and brand of Can-Am Maverick X3 tires are right for me? Unfortunately, this is a nuanced question, with no right or wrong answer. There is, however, a basic rubric you can follow to determine which tires will perform best under which circumstances. So keep reading and you’ll find out if OEM Can-Am Maverick X3 tires are better, or if aftermarket Can-Am Maverick X3 tires are better!

What Tires Come Stock On The Can-Am Maverick X3?

Pre-2021 Can-Am Maverick X3s came stock with Maxxis Bighorn tires, but the tires that come factory on the 2022 and 2023 model years of the Can-Am Maverick X3 vary from one edition to the next. The following 2023 Can-Am Maverick X3 editions come stock with 30” by 10” Maxxis Carnivore tires on both the front and rear with 10” by 14” rims:

• Maverick X3 DS Turbo
• Maverick X3 MAX DS Turbo 64
• Maverick X3 X DS Turbo RR 64
• Maverick X3 MAX X DS Turbo RR 64
• Maverick X3 DS Turbo RR 64
• Maverick X3 MAX DS Turbo RR 64
• Maverick X3 RS Turbo RR 72
• Maverick X3 RS Turbo RR 72
• Maverick X3 X RC Turbo RR 64

Using the same tire but a couple inches bigger, the following 2023 Can-Am Maverick X3 editions come stock with 32” by 10” Maxxis Carnivore tires front and rear on 10” by 14” rims:

• Maverick X3 X RS Turbo RR 72
• Maverick X3 MAX X RS Turbo RR 72
• Maverick X3 X RS Turbo RR With Smart-Shox 72
• Maverick X3 MAX X RS Turbo RR With Smart Shox 72

The 2023 Can-Am Maverick X3 X RC Turbo RR 72 comes stock with front and rear 32” by 10” Maxxis Liberty tires on 10” by 15” rims, while the 2023 Maverick X3 X MR Turbo RR 64, the Maverick X3 X MR Turbo RR 72 and the Maverick X3 MAX X MR Turbo RR 72 come from the factory with aggressive 30” by 9” ITP Cryptid tires on 9” by 11” rims.

All of the tires that come stock on the Maverick X3 are highly regarded by riders, and they’ll almost certainly do the trick on casual terrain and everyday riding applications. But if you’re a mud ripper, a sand rider, a rock crawler or a street racer, you might want a set of aftermarket Can-Am Maverick X3 tires with a diameter, width, and tread pattern designed specifically for the terrain type you face. If you fall into one of these categories, the following tires are worth investigating at the very least!

Best Mud Tires For The Can-Am Maverick X3

Off-road mud tires for the Can-Am Maverick X3 are typically more aggressive, more knobby, and more mean looking tha all-terrain tires. And this is obvious when you look at the ITP Cryptids that come stock on the mud-ready Maverick X4 X mr. Other than Cryptids, however, what are some other good mud tires for the X3?

For light to medium mud, Terminator tires by SuperATV are more than proficient. When it comes to pool-size mud holes, however, it’s hard to do better than SuperATV’s Assassinator tires. Aside from SuperATV, UTV firms including QuadBoss with their radial mud tires, Sedona with their Mudda Inlaw tires, and DragonFire with their XM310 Extreme Mud Tires are also quality choices for the Maverick X3 that excel on muddy, low-traction situations.

Some riders go with Gorilla Silverback MT2 tires for mud, while others say that they’re overrated, and instead choose Sludge Hammer tires by CST Tires. Alternatively, if you want a tire that’s decent in mud but also pulls well in snow, Arisun Aftershock XD tires should do the trick nicely!

Best Sand For The Can-Am Maverick X3

Can-Am Maverick X3 sand tires / paddle tires like the Sandblast Paddle tires by CST Tires or the Kopa Paddle tires by DragonFire Racing will make a fine addition to any dune buggy… but are they a must for sand riding? Whether you’re ripping it up on a riverside sandbar, or cruising across a beach by the ocean, paddle tires do help, but they’re not prerequisite for riding on sand. Using sand tires will definitely make riding dunes more fun, but you can get by without them by simply airing down your tires (provided that you’re running beadlock wheels). Some riders drop their tire PSI down to 3 or 4 when riding sand, while others go a little higher at 7 pounds per square inch. You should be able to keep up with riders who are running paddle tires by deflating your tires, but we wouldn’t suggest doing any jumps or going too crazy without a proper set of Can-Am Maverick X3 sand tires / paddle tires.

Best Rock Tires For The Can-Am Maverick X3

Rock crawling tires for the Can-Am Maverick X3 need to have thick sidewalls to prevent gashes and lacerations, but they also need to be pliable to grip on everything from shale and basalt to quartz, granite, and limestone. Maxxis Liberty tires are pretty awesome for rocks, and so too are Roxxilla tires by Maxxis. The stock Maxxis Carnivores can grip relatively well on rocks, but their lightweight build makes them a bit more susceptible to damage from sharper rocks. For polished river stones and soft sedimentary rock, Carnivores are great. But for harder and sharper metamorphic rocks like quartzite with sharp crystalline structures, you’ll want a thicker tire that is less prone to puncture. Other Can-Am Maverick X3 tires designed specifically for rocky terrain include RT Warrior Tires by SuperATV, Kanati Mongrel tires by GBC, and Roctane XD tires by STI.

Best Trail Tires For The Can-Am Maverick X3

Unlike rock tires that should have a flat tread, or mud tires with super gnarly lugs, the best trail tires for the Can-Am Maverick X3 should be capable of handling a mixed-bag of ground conditions. Trails with slick rocky sections can be dominated with Can-Am Maverick X3 trail tires like Kanati Terra Masters or Kenda Klevers.

For all-around performance when trail riding, ITP Blackwaters and their non-directional tread pattern will not only deliver unyielding traction, but also a plush ride and excellent handling. Similarly System 3 XTR tires are sure-footed on trails, and Intergo Sniper 920 tires perform great on trails when aired up to 12 PSI, and nicely on sand when aired up to 8 PSI. Finally, BFG KM2 tires are also good for trail riders and applications ranging from light mud to rutted-out roads.

Closing Thoughts On Can-Am Maverick X3 Tires

Circling back to the initial question we posed (which Can-Am Maverick X3 tires are better, OEM or aftermarket?), there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. The same companies that BRP uses for their factory Can-Am Maverick X3 tires also make other aftermarket tires for the Can-Am Maverick X3. And depending on the ground conditions, you’ll want a tire that not only grabs well, clears easily, and resists flats, but also a tire that lasts long and wears slowly. It can be a bit daunting to shop for new Can-Am Maverick X3 tires, but if you stick to any of the options we mentioned above, you’re sure to be just fine!