Nike Air Max Plus TN: the techno-queen sneaker since 1998

Step into the world of the Nike Air Max Plus, better known as TN, the silhouette designed by Sean McDowell in 1998 that has become, over more than 25 years, one of the most tribal and iconic sneakers of European culture. With its sculpted mesh upper with wavy lines inspired by Florida palm trees and ocean waves, its signature Tuned Air unit at the heel (the famous "TN" for Tuned Air), and its flashy colourways that have marked two decades of streetwear, the Air Max Plus has become the unofficial symbol of an entire European generation. MTHOR brings together more than 165 authenticated Air Max Plus TN references — from the OG Hyper Blue and Tiger colourways to contemporary drops and special collabs. Every pair passes through our authentication experts before shipping with the MTHOR seal worldwide.

The story of an icon: Sean McDowell, Florida 1998, and the European invasion

The Air Max Plus adventure begins in 1996 when Sean McDowell, young Nike designer, sketches the silhouette during holidays in Florida — inspired by palm trees, ocean waves and Atlantic coast sunsets. The sneaker launches in 1998 with a major innovation: Tuned Air technology — an Air unit segmented into two independent pockets at the heel, allowing cushioning adapted to different foot zones. The "Tn" on the upper stands for "Tuned Air". The founding Hyper Blue / Black Tiger colourway with its vertical lines evoking tiger stripes becomes instantly iconic.

The Air Max Plus has a peculiar commercial fate: initial flop in the USA, where the sneaker struggles to find its audience, but commercial explosion in Europe from 1999-2000 — particularly in France, Belgium, UK, Netherlands and Germany. The TN becomes the tribal sneaker par excellence of European banlieue and hip-hop culture, massively worn by youth in French city outskirts (where it's nicknamed "Requin" — "Shark" — due to its pointed silhouette), by London grime scene, and by all northern European urban youth. Today, more than 25 years after launch, the TN remains one of the best-selling sneakers worldwide at Nike — particularly in Europe where it crushes AM1, AM90 and AM95 sales on the lifestyle segment. Contemporary drops (TN Triple Black, TN Triple White, TN Hyper Blue OG, TN Tropical) keep the silhouette at the top of Nike sales.

A unique technology: Tuned Air, sculpted mesh, lateral support

At the core of the Air Max Plus TN sit three technical innovations defining the silhouette. First, Tuned Air technology — an Air unit segmented into two independent pockets at the heel (front and back), each with its own air pressure, allowing cushioning optimised at each step phase. Second, the sculpted mesh upper with overmoulded TPU wavy panels forming the famous vertical "waves" — not only a signature design, but also a lateral support system holding the foot at the heel while staying flexible at the forefoot. Third, the TPU arch plate under the plantar arch propelling the foot at every stride.

Three clear benefits for the wearer: (1) exceptional cushioning thanks to the double Tuned Air (one of the best "bouncy" feels on the Nike market), (2) premium lateral support making the TN comfortable even on long urban walks, (3) tribal status in all of European culture — wearing a TN immediately signals belonging to a certain street aesthetic.

The standout colourways of the Nike Air Max Plus TN collection

The Nike Air Max Plus TN collection at MTHOR covers all cult drops. On the OG classics side, you'll find founding colourways: Hyper Blue / Black (the original 1998 "Tiger"), Voltage Yellow / Black, Hyper Pink / Black, Sunset, Tropical Twist. Classic variations: Triple White, Triple Black, White Black, Wolf Grey.

On the contemporary colourways side, MTHOR brings together: TN Sunset, TN Hyper Blue OG (the faithful 1998 re-release), TN Black Volt, TN Cool Grey, TN Olive, TN Bordeaux, TN Wheat, TN Hyper Crimson. On the collab and capsule drops side: TN x Travis Scott, TN x Skepta, TN Supreme (rare capsule drops), TN Tuned Max, TN "Just Do It". On the women's (W) side: TN Pink, TN Chrome, TN Iridescent, TN Pastel. An exhaustive coverage of the TN silhouette making MTHOR the authenticated Air Max Plus reference in France and Europe.

Why buy your Nike Air Max Plus TN at MTHOR

MTHOR Shop specialises in the sale of authenticated sneakers. Every pair in our Nike Air Max Plus TN collection goes through a rigorous quality control: we check the Nike box and size label consistency, the sculpted mesh quality (density, finish of TPU wavy panels), the Tiger panel precision (vertical wave alignment — a fake TN often shows poorly moulded or misaligned panels), the visible Tuned Air unit at the heel (transparency, integrity, functional double pocket), the "Tn" logo on the tongue (embroidery, position), and the TPU arch plate under the plantar arch. For Travis Scott, Supreme, Skepta collabs: UV lamp and microscope. Every order ships with an MTHOR seal. Learn more about our authentication process.

We offer worldwide signed-for home delivery in 2 to 8 days, real-time tracking via email/WhatsApp, 4x interest-free payment via Klarna or Scalapay, France-based customer service Monday to Friday 9am-6pm, 14-day return. No customs fees on your end.

FAQ — Nike Air Max Plus TN at MTHOR

How can I verify the authenticity of an Air Max Plus TN?

Every pair is authenticated by our team: (1) the Nike box with exact side sticker, (2) the inner label with barcode matching the official SKU, (3) the mesh and wavy TPU panel quality (alignment, moulding, density), (4) the "Tn" logo embroidered multi-layer on the tongue, (5) the visible Tuned Air unit at the heel (double pocket, perfect transparency), (6) the TPU arch plate under the plantar arch. For collabs: systematic UV lamp and microscope. Full details here.

Why is the TN also called "Requin"?

The nickname "Requin" ("Shark") comes from French banlieue culture in the 2000s — the TN's pointed silhouette with vertical panels forming an aggressive forward line evoked a shark's dorsal fin. The term took hold in French rap culture (Booba, Lacrim, La Fouine, Niska have all worn TN called "Requins") and became the quasi-official designation in France and Belgium for talking about Air Max Plus.

What size should I pick for a TN?

The Nike Air Max Plus TN fits true to your usual Nike size. If you have wide feet, take half a size larger (the TN is known for fitting narrow feet well). For SE / SP versions with premium finishings, fit identical to the standard TN.

Which Air Max Plus is the most coveted?

The TN Hyper Blue OG "Tiger" remains the founding icon. The TN Travis Scott is ultra-collector on the collab side. The TN Voltage Yellow, TN Sunset, TN Hyper Pink dominate lifestyle sales. The TN Tropical Twist and TN Black Volt are the most coveted recent drops.

What box does my pair ship with?

Original Nike box with Air Max Plus marking specific to the colourway. For collabs (Travis Scott, Supreme, Skepta), dedicated packaging with signature hangtags.

What's the delivery time?

Worldwide signed-for home delivery in 2-8 days, real-time tracking via email/WhatsApp.

Will I have to pay customs fees?

No, you won't pay any customs fees. MTHOR covers everything.

Can I return my pair?

Yes. 14 days from receipt in original condition.

Going further

Discover also our Nike Sneakers, Nike Air Max 90, Nike Air Max 1 and Nike Air Max 95 collections. To learn everything about quality, check out our authentication process.