Maxxis Minion DHF & DHR II: Rider Review

Our "Rider Review" article series features the honest reviews from verified purchasers of Worldwide Cyclery. They contain the photos, thoughts, feedback & overall review you are looking for.

Tires make all the difference on your ride. With so many models and variations, it can be debilitating to make a selection. Luckily, we're here to guide you in the right direction. Our friend Eric put some fresh rubber on his ride and gives us his review. Check it out! 

Maxxis Minion DHF & DHR II 27.5x2.6: A true 2.5 inch tire!

To start, I am biased. I absolutely love Maxxis tires and have exclusively run them on all my bikes for the most part. They tick all the boxes for me: they’re reasonably priced, exceptionally durable and are expertly designed for the task at hand: Rolling over whatever comes to it. Bonus: They mount to my rims so much easier than another major brand that won’t be mentioned here.

Fitment

Let’s get down to measurements. To preface, when the tires were brand new, I mounted them on Santa Cruz Reserve 37 rims with Orange Seal Endurance sealant and inflated the tires to the maximum PSI listed on the casing: 40 PSI. I left the tires at max inflation for 24 hours to stretch the casing to the max and then adjusted the pressure to about 18 psi for trail riding. At riding PSI, the DHR II measured 2.37 inches at the knobs and 2.5 inches at the sidewalls.

The Minion DHF measured 2.43 inches at the knobs and 2.52 inches at the sidewalls.

I was a tad disappointed to see that they didn’t measure out to be a full 2.6 inches, but then again, none of the Maxxis tires that I measured to what they were advertised at.

The tires fit well on my 2017 Devini Troy Carbon 27.5. Both the RockShox Pike boost 27.5 fork and rear had diminished clearance compared to a 2.3 or 2.4 inch tire, but there was still plenty of room for mud and debris clearance.

Performance

Out on the trail I had a few months to ride these tires and they are great for what they are. Obviously the DH in DHF and DHR stand for Downhill, and these have all the benefits of being a downhill tire, but without having the weight penalty to chug up hills. These tires paired with a full suspension mountain bike equals a lot of traction. Going up some of the steepest climbs, my legs were the only limiting factor here. Pointing downhill, however, is when these tires really shine! Having the increased footprint of the 2.6 inch tires compared to the 2.4 or 2.5 inch counterparts, nor rocks, nor roots, nor loose piles of leaves will succeed in pointing you in the wrong direction. You’ll float better on mud and soft dirt from autumn and early spring also. Now, I must say that you shouldn’t get these tires if you’re looking for retaking that king-of-the-mountain from your spandex donning brethren. These tires are for traction and fun, not speed and spandex.

Conclusion

Overall I’m very happy with yet another pair of offerings from Maxxis tires. They put out a well thought out product that works for the purpose I bought it for!