Maxxis Minion DHRII 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. 

Maxxis mountain bike tires have become a gold standard within the industry due to their impressive rubber compounds and tread patterns. But do they stand up to the hype? Our friend, Kevin, has been running the DHR2. See what they think!

Overview

The DHR II tire has been my default rear tire for at least several years on my trail bike that I dedicate to more aggressive riding. It's not exactly the fastest rolling or lightest tire, but it offers the grip I desire. Some may want a tire that can drift a little when cornering, but I prefer a more planted feel. Braking and pedaling traction are great too.

I was running the 2.3 inch version with the DoubleDown casing for protection, along with the 3C Maxx Terra compound for grip, but decided to try the EXO+ casing not long after it was released. More specifically, I'm now running the 2.4 inch Wide Trail version with 3C Maxx Terra compound and, of course, the EXO+ casing. According to Maxxis, the EXO+ casing has a SilkShield layer from bead to bead and EXO on the sidewalls, providing better protection against tread puncture and pinch flats as well as improved sidewall durability compared to the EXO casing. The real question for me was whether it can replace the DoubleDown casing and still provide enough protection on rocky terrain and to deal with bad line choices.

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Final Thoughts

It's only been a couple of months, so it's too soon to say whether this will be the one l stick with, but so far, so good. For what it's worth, I've found a couple of notable differences. First, it's lighter at 986 g (measured weight) compared to the Maxxis claimed weight of 1040 g for the DoubleDown version. This isn't something I really notice or worry about, but it doesn't hurt either. Second, EXO+ doesn't have much support as DD making it feel a little squirmy when cornering hard so a little more tire pressure is required. For me, at about 165 lb, 25 psi works well..