Maxxis Minion DHF [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. 

The Maxxis Minion DHF has been proven over and over again that it's a gold standard when comes to tires. The combination of grip and rolling speed makes it a great tire for a wide range of bikes and riders. Our friend, Kyle has been running it on his Orbea. See what they think!

Overview

Sometimes it is easy not to realize which compound and casing the tire you are ordering is equipped with. When surfing the web for the best deal or just searching for anything in stock, that last bit of information is often lost in the scramble to get your tire before you’re heading to a race or riding trip. Worldwide Cyclery makes it very apparent what tire you are ordering, which is very appreciated.

For Reference:

When thinking about the most important components of your mountain bike I’m sure several things come to mind. Suspension, drivetrain, brakes, etc… but what is often most overlooked is tire selection. I’ve been riding seriously for more than 10 years now and have gone from a 26er hardtail all the way up to full-blown 29er enduro rigs and everything in between. Tire setups have evolved from various machines but as I’ve grown and developed skills on the bike, I have realized that tire setup could potentially be the most effective component on the bike. For me, I choose the setup that compliments the type of riding I plan on doing. In this instance, I am reviewing the Maxxis Minion DHF 3C Maxx Grip 29x2.5 front tire paired with a Maxxis Aggressor DD 29x2.5 rear which I chose to run for an enduro race in Northwest Arkansas where the trails are loose over hard-packed, very dry, not too steep and generally have a lot of pedaling. For reference, I fitted these tires to my Orbea Occam with a Race Face Turbine R30 wheelset and cushcore installed on both front and rear. When I am racing the last thing, I want to worry about is anything to do with my bike. Like anyone else before a race, I make sure the bike is cleaned, tightened down and all parts are in working order. Since tires are the only actual component that touches the ground, I always make sure I choose a set that I won’t have to think about while focusing on riding. The DHF Maxx Grip and Aggressor DD give me that peace of mind while racing.

Maxxis Minion DHF 3CMaxx Grip EXO 29x2.5:

With a bit of reference to the terrain in mind, one of the most important things I needed for this race was front traction. The Maxx Grip compound has superior traction over a tire with the Maxx Terra compound. You can literally feel the grip on the tire when you take it out of the box. Running the 2.5 inch tire on a 30mm internal rim gives the tire a nice shape that allows it to retain a good balance between traction and rolling resistance. You can feel the beefy side knobs grabbing the ground as you lean the bike over in flatter corners. When pedaling straight forward at speed it never feels like you’re fighting the tire to maintain momentum. Along with the protection from the 3C casing you don’t have to worry about dodging every obstacle you come across, rather you can just plow ahead knowing you have the grip and strength to hold the line. Compared to Maxxis Assegei, a tire with much more profound side knobs and a bigger blockier center tread, the DHF seems to perform better in hard-packed terrain.

Maxxis Aggressor Dual DD 29x2.5:

The Aggressor with DD casing gives me plenty of reassurance that the rear end is not going to puncture. When it comes out of the packaging and you massage it to take its shape, the tire will just about stand up by itself. You do pay a small penalty in weight additions from the DD casing but with the smaller less blocky knobs on the Aggressor that weight penalty doesn’t transfer over when you are pedaling the bike. Like the DHF with Maxx Grip it doesn’t ever feel like you are fighting the Aggressor to gain speed. It moves forward efficiently while you mash on the pedals. The tire is also quite versatile when applying the brakes. The Aggressor has a tread pattern that grabs well when needing to come to a complete stop but also offers the ability to easily put the rear end into a controlled slide without too much effort. Unlike the Maxxis Minion DHR II, which has taller side knobs, the Aggressor is likely less effective under braking while pointed down steeper looser terrain.

Final Thoughts

Together these tires proved to be a perfect fit on the trails I was racing. They were fast rolling and easy to pedal up to speed. There was enough grip up front for me to push the front end into the moon dust over hard dry dirt and both had strong casing to inspire in me the confidence needed to blast into rock gardens without any worries of flatting. If I were racing in wetter conditions, looser dirt, or in terrain that was a pure rock I may be adjusting the tire selection but if you ride in similar conditions to those mentioned above, I would find it hard to pick a more balanced tire setup.