Ultimate Review Guide: Maxxis Minion DHF Tire

The Maxxis Minion DHF tire is the single tread design that almost all mountain bike tires are judged against. There is a reason the DHF tread design has remained for the most part unchanged for the last 15 years and still sits as the benchmark for new tread designs. Because your tires are the only part of the bike that comes in contact with the ground, they are arguably some of the most important components on your bike. There are plenty of different quality tire options out there from brands like Maxxis, Schwalbe, WTB, and Kenda to name a few. Here in this Ultimate Guide, we are breaking down the iconic Maxxis Minion DHF tire. From technical specifications, reviews, and killer custom builds, this is your one stop shop for everything on the Minion DHF mountain bike tire

Maxxis Minion DHF Tire - Worldwide Cyclery

Plenty of our custom builds are finished off with Maxxis Minion DHF tires!

Maxxis Minion DHF Technical Information

The Maxxis Minion DHF is offered in a huge variety of different rubber compounds, casing constructions, wheel sizes, and tread widths. It is traditionally used as a front tire but can be found on either the front or rear wheel on anything from a "down country" bike all the way up to a downhill bike. The Maxxis Minion DHF is without a doubt one of the most popular mountain bike tires in the world. Known for its aggressive cornering lugs, the DHF will shine in a variety of different trail conditions. 

Maxxis Minion DHF - Worldwide Cyclery

Ultimate Review Guide: Maxxis Minion DHF - Worldwide Cyclery

Worldwide Cyclery Review

What do we think about the Minion DHF? - "After riding the Maxxis Minion 27.5" x 2.5" WT tire for some time, we found more cornering performance with the Wide Trail design compared to the traditional 2.5" DHF in the same compound. While the differences are subtle, this just seems to be the evolution of the bike tire and is truly designed to be used with rims using a 30-35mm internal width. For most of us, the wheels we are riding right now have a wider internal width than what we would have been riding 5 years ago. Maxxis has stepped up and designed a tire for the wider rim trend, a trend that actually makes riding bikes more fun!"

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Worldwide Cyclery Customer Review

One of our customers breaks down his new Maxxis Minion DHF and DHR II tires - "Understand that of all the ways to control your bike on any given terrain, there are several factors at play. However, arguably the most important factors are the tires to connect you back to planet earth. You’ll want grip, efficiency, control, speed, durability, and predictability, ...right? That’s exactly why I chose to equip my Scott Genius 740 (which is more enduro than trail bike) with the Minion DHF and Minion DHR II setup. With both tires featuring easy rolling center lugs and matching shoulder knobs, these tires are fast and dialed. Picking up speed is efficient with the slightly taller central lugs, while still biting into the dirt under both pedaling and braking force thus allowing for safe and predictable speed management. On the shoulders, alternating shaped knobs provide more than enough traction for extremely hard cornering on even flatter terrain."

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Pinkbike Rates 6 Different Aggressive Trail Tires

"All-around: The Minion DHF has the widest range of operating conditions, remaining predictable in everything from mud to moon dust. The Magic Mary can be used as an all-rounder too, but those tall side knobs can cause it to be less predictable when cornering on hardpack."

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Maxxis Minion DHF Tire - Worldwide Cyclery

This beautiful Yeti SB100 is running a Maxxis Minion DHF up front and Maxxis Aggressor out back

Vital MTB User Reviews

A Vital MTB member' thoughts - "To me the most important part of a tire is predictability, and that predictability is why I keep running the DHF year after year.  It may be that there are tires more suited to a particular condition, that are lighter or roll better.  However, I don't change tires based on conditions except to switch to spikes when things are really muddy.  For me, the DHF works well enough in any condition, although I'd say its at its best in mixed loose over hardpack."

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Bike Radar Review

Bike Radar says the Minion DHF 29x2.5 WT has excellent grip in all conditions, provides damping control, has a user friendly fit, and offers reasonable rolling speed. The larger volume 2.5" width and Wide Trail (WT) construction is optimized for rim widths from 30-35mm. 

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Bike Mag Review

Bike Mag's thoughts - "The Minion DHF is a very good tire. While the High Roller II's shoulder knobs do a better job of hooking up in loose and dry soil and offers a bit more braking traction, the Minion DHF is a better all-rounder—a bit more predictable while cornering and a bit lighter on its feet, so to speak. The Minion DHF isn't famous for rolling up to speed quickly or for staying there. Fair enough: there's more rolling resistance here than on a lot of other tires, but there's also great grip over wet and slippery terrain."

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Maxxis Minion DHF - Worldwide Cyclery

Another custom build, this time a Yeti SB130 with a Maxxis Minion DHF mounted up front

Now all you have to do is pair your favorite rear tire up with the Minion DHF. The Maxxis Aggressor, Maxxis Minion DHR II, and Maxxis Ardent are some of our favorites!

Shop Maxxis Minion DHF Tires - Worldwide Cyclery


May 13, 2019

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