Maxxis Minion DHR II Tire: Rider Review

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

Choosing a new tire for your bike can be difficult considering there are so many options to choose from. Maxxis has maintained an elite status in the tire industry and riders know they are buying something they can trust when getting something from Maxxis. At the top of Maxxis' selection sits the Minion DHR II. A tire proven by many disciplines and one of our shop favorites. Brant recently upgraded to the Minion DHR II. Let's see what he thought of the upgrade.

Brant's Review

I needed some new tires for my Salsa Timberjack, and decided to go with Maxxis, front and rear. On the back end, I bought a Minion DHR II, and paired it with a DHF on the front. I had been between a few different tires for quite a while, going back and forth between these, Michelin Wild Enduro, and pairing a Schwalbe Magic Mary on the front and a Nobby Nic or Hans Damon on the rear. Ultimately I went with the Maxxis tires, since I was happy with them on my Pivot Mach 6, and hoped that would translate to me being happy with their plus sized counterparts. When I first got the bike, I set it up with WTB Ranger tubeless-ready tires, and while I enjoyed riding it, I always felt like I was going to wash out if I took turns with any type of speed.

After taking off the cross country style tires, and putting these more aggressive tires on, it had definitely helped inspire confidence while leaning the bike over into turns, even on the sandy trails that I have been riding lately, due to drainage issues on the majority of what is local to me. Installing the tires was painless, even with just a floor pump, and I have had no issues with them holding air. It has only been a couple of months since I put them on, but I haven’t had any problems with punctures, or tears in the sidewalls.  All of the knobs seem to be holding up, as well, without any premature wear, and none have torn off, as some brands have been known to do in the past.

These tires are on my hardtail and are predominantly used on relatively tame trails around central New Jersey. Most of the rides that they have seen have been at Allaire, with relatively short downhill sections, and only small jumps and drops. The terrain is mostly sand, with some rooty, technical sections, and minimal amounts of rocks. I have them set up with 18psi, and a Huck Norris insert in the rear. On the front, I am running the DHF at 16psi, and no insert inside of it. To give some more context, I’m six foot three and weigh about two hundred and fifteen pounds with all of my gear. While the tires are heavier than the ones that they replaced, I will gladly accept that as the trade-off for being able to count on the traction when I need it.

Conclusion

"In the future, I might decide to give one of the other combinations a chance, but for now, I am completely happy with my purchase, and would not hesitate to make it again. Shipping was amazingly fast between placing the order and having the tires in my hands. Thank you Worldwide Cyclery for a great shopping experience!" - Brant