Maxxis Minion DHR II Downhill Tire Review

Here in this review we are going to riding the Maxxis Minion DHR II downhill tire. The tire is the only component of the bike that makes contact with the ground and for that reason is a very important piece to the puzzle in feeling confident and in control of your bike. Feeling confident while riding means you get to have more fun! A good set of tires will give you traction in places you otherwise wouldn't, allows you to corner with more authority, and slow down with more control. 

It is important to note that the tire tested here is a downhill specific tire. The demands of a tire while riding at the highest speeds and over the most rugged and raw terrain are high. Maxxis downhill tires have proven to be one of the most puncture resistant and well rounded packages on the market. In this review, we are going to be focusing more on the tread pattern specifically, along with the size and shape of tire.  

Tire Specifications

• Maxxis Minion DHR II
• 27.5 x 2.4
• 3C MaxxGrip Rubber Compound
• Downhill Casing, Wire Bead
• Weight: 1,315 grams
• Tires mounted to Industry Nine Enduro 305 rims with 30.5mm internal width

Remember Maxxis offers the Minion DHR II tread pattern in a variety of sizes, with everything from 26", 27.5", 29", plus sized options, dual compounds, 3C compounds, EXO protection, Double Down casings, and more.

Maxxis Minion DHR II Tires Mounted And Ready For The Trail

Riding and Performance

Pros

• The Maxxis DHR II is a great package all in all. The name DHR, "downhill rear", signifies that this tire should be mounted on the rear wheel. While this is true, I prefer to run the DHR II in both the front and the rear. Everything that makes the DHR II a good rear tire, makes it a great front tire option as well.

• Pro Tip: A side note to running the same tires front and rear, it makes tire wear and swapping tires from the front to the rear nice and easy. When the rear tire is worn and needs to be replaced, get more tread wear life by replacing the front tire with a new tire and moving that used front tire to the rear. Now let's get to the specifics on the DHR II.

• The DHR II is overall a very composed and confident tire to ride. The large square edge on the back side of the center knobs provide a very stable braking platform. The DHR II excels most when the trail gets steep. When you get hard on the brakes, those center knobs dig in hard giving excellent braking performance. 

• The cornering knobs on the DHR II are the same cornering knobs used on the tried and trued Maxxis Minion DHF. The DHF has lead the way for mountain bike tires for many years so why change what you know works. The cornering knobs allow you make precise direction changes on the trail. That is key for me to feel confident on my bike!

 Max Morgan Riding the DHR II at the Fort William World Cup in Scotland 

Cons

• There really isn't much to complain about with the DHR II 2.4 downhill tire. If I had to come up with one flaw it with be the lack of lug spacing between the braking knobs and cornering knobs. Even though the DHF and DHR II use the exact same cornering knobs, because the DHR II center knobs are wider, there is a less of a "channel". Tire lug size, lug shape, and siping all contribute to tire traction. What some people seem to forget is that the lug spacing also plays a huge part in traction.

• The Maxxis Minion DHR II doesn't have as much lug spacing compared to other tires like the Minion DHF. I have found this to be less and less as noticeable with a larger volume of the same DHR II tread pattern. This may give the tire a round feel if paired with a rim that is too narrow. That being said, the DHR II is still my go to pick for just about any terrain, has plenty of bite, and digs in hard in a variety of conditions. 

• Some might say that the DHR II is slow rolling. This might be true for those running the DHR II on their trail bikes where rolling speed might have you farther up the trail after an hour long climb. For downhill, I would rather have more traction over less rolling resistance every day!

Max Attacking The Track at the Leogang World Cup - Photo by Dave Trumpore

What's The Bottom Line?

The take home message here is that the DHR II is a very composed and confidence inspiring tire. There are no surprises with this tire and that is exactly what you want while riding. The size and shape of the tire volume seems to work great with the 30.5mm internal width Industry Nine Enduro 305 rims. Great braking performance and seemless transfer from center knobs to cornering knobs. There is a reason this tire is chosen by some of the world's fastest racers like Greg Minnaar, Luca Shaw, and Charlie Harrison. The DHR II tread pattern can be found in a multitude of sizes, rubber compounds, and casing configurations.  

About Me

Max Morgan is 25 years old, and lives in Brevard, North Carolina. Max grew up in Atlanta, Georgia and started racing downhill at the age of 15. He has now been racing professionally for the last 7 years, competing in the U.S. Pro GRT series and UCI World Cup series. Check out Max's rider spotlight here! 
Instagram: @mxmorgan77