Maxxis Minion DHR II Tire [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. 

 Choosing the right tire can be a bit confusing and frustrating. A company that has been a staple for years is Maxxis. They offer a wide range of tires from Road to Downhill. The minion line is their flagship tire, and our friend Chad just threw a set on. See what they think!

Overview

One of the most important parts on your bike are your tires. It is also important to change tires out when they get too warn. I rode 10 years on the “as long as they have tread I am good” mentality. Turns out, you need to keep an eye on the side knobs. When your tires get worn you will notice that they get close to ripping off causing poor cornering. Keeping your tires fresh will make all the difference in the world on how your bike handles.

My sb 130 came with an aggressor 2.3 in the rear. While I liked the low rolling resistance, I would get a bit of burping with the thin side wall while cornering. I wanted a rear tire that would have a stiffer side wall as well as a little more grip. I contacted worldwide cyclery and they promptly responded with the suggestion of a DHR 2 and varified that the tire would fit on my bike. I even called them to varify the tire direction when I was installing the tire, the whole experience was like having a bike shop in my pocket. Turns out, there is a rotational mark on the tire that indicates the rolling direction of the tire. Unless otherwise specified, there is no difference in that rotational direction weather you mount the tire in the front or back.

Riding on the DHR 2 was great, I first noticed the grip that the DHR 2 provided in the loose.

These tires bite into the trail when cornering on hardpack or loose terrain better than my old aggressor that skipped across the ground when cornering.

The second thing that I noticed was that I didn’t have any burping at all with the EXO plus side walls. I do like that I have a little more protection against pinch flats now also compared to EXO.

The off camber riding was another problem for me with previous tires. When I rode tubeless I would get constant pinch flats. When I switched to tubeless on an EXO tire I had burping issues. I would recommend EXO plus with anyone like me, a heavier rider to help prevent burping.

Tips
Installation was super easy. The EXO plus wall thickness can make it a little harder to get the tire over the rim. As long as you keep the rest of the bead in the center of the rim, avoiding where the bead seats, you should be able to get the tire on by hand with no problem. When I dry seated the tire it held surprisingly well. Using a stans syringe I was able to fill tire sealant without having to try to pull the tire onto the bead with sealant into it. It is possible to seat with a floor pump but I got a cheap pancake compressor that worked great!

Final Thoughts

I have been riding on this tire paired with an Assagai and my bike feels super grippy and fast in the dry/ sandy/ rocky desert terrain. I would totally recommend this rear tire especially for the price and availability. It’s no wonder why the pros ride these tires, they are great!