Maxxis Minion DHF tire ultimate review

Maxxis makes the best mountain bike tires of all time. Their tires have been used by many mountain bike racers in championships. This blog is about the Maxxis Minion DHF tire review, although the DHF tire is really old. It has been almost 3 years since its release.

Now there are even better tire models out there like the Dissector, Crossmark 2 etc. However, those tires are for mainstream racing. The DHF is a lot different and it is considered as the standard bike tire. It has been really famous ever since it came out.

Now, you are not here for any history lesson. You want to know whether you should buy a DHF tire or not. I am also going to tell you whether you should use it in the front or rear. So keep on reading.

Maxxis Minion DHF tire review

I will say this many times in my article and I will keep saying this that Maxxis has made a very strong position in the hearts of all mountain bikers. Especially the aggressive riders who want to go full on action mode with their mountain bikes.

Maxxis’s Minion series is probably the best all around, all weather sustain type of bike tire. They are mainly wide tires and they have sort of become a benchmark.

Today I am going to talk about the Maxxis Minion DHF Wide Trail 3C EXO 2.5 inch tire. Its weight is 980 gram and 62 mm in width. 

It has a ramped directional center tread. It has significant rolling resistance than other MTB tires. It has large cornering blocks for superior cornering support. The blocks have a nice float gap between center lugs and the outer lugs. This is where most riders feel that floating feel, which is a lot lower in Minion DHR II.

Maxxis has brought this tire to the store in 2 3c rubber compounds: the 3C MaxxTerra, 3C MaxxGrip and the super tacky. The 3C means the three separate rubber compounds that Maxxis used for tire casing, center lugs and outer lugs.

The DHR II was the second version of the old school DHR with the curved center lugs. Those tires bring back memories.

The Minion DHF is new and improved, although it has similarities with DHR II. Many people think of these two as the standard for trail bike tires. Some like to think one is better than the other.

Well, for that reason I have listed out the differences between these two tires in the next section.

What is the difference between Maxxis Minion DHF and DHR?

The Maxxis Minion tires are great. They are a renowned brand in the world of mountain biking. Their tires Minion DHF and Minion DHR II are the heat of the debate here. Which one is better? Well to be honest they are both similar in design except for a few differences here and there.

I am going to show you guys the factual comparison of the two tires and then I will tell you my opinion. 

Minion DHF	Context	Minion DHR II
The Minion DHF has a bit of a longer and skinnier sipped knob with a solid knob at alternating pattern.	Center Tread	The Minion DHR II has a slightly shorter and wider but center knob as compared to the DHF.
The center sipping direction on the DHF tire runs in the wheels direction.	Sipping Direction	The DHR II sipping runs from side to side.
The Minion DHF has a strong grip when cornering on rocks or loose dirt.	Grip	The side to side sipping on the Minion DHR II helps get better grip when braking straight.
The Minion DHF has more gap between the center knobs.	Gap between the center knob	The Minion DHR II has gaps in the center knob but not like the Minion DHF.
The Minion DHF is really good where there is loose dirt and rocks. Perfect for very rough paths.	Terrain	The Minion DHR II is good where there are pebbles and dust or sand on the path. The DHR II grips better on this kind of terrain.
The Minion DHF drifts better on rocky, gravel filled loose dirt terrains.	Drift	The Minion DHR II can literally float on loose rocks and debris giving a good drift.
The Minion DHF is heavy.	Weight	The Minion DHR II is lighter than DHF. There is almost always a 50-100 grams difference in weight.

The Minion DHF is not a bad tire and so is DHR II. If you have a rough, wet or rocky terrain, then Minion DHF will work perfectly fine. Now, that doesn’t mean that Minion DHR II can’t work on those kinds of terrains.

I think it is more of a person thing, where the favor varies person to person. I think both tires are great and just go with either one.

Similarities between Minion DHF and DHR II

The Minion DHF and the Minion DHR II tires were released one after the other. The DHF is the latest. However, there are a lot of similarities between these two tires.

First of all, these tires have the same side knob design. This design was the one that made the tire series so famous. The DHF and DHR II are considered as all time standards.

Their alternating knob pattern of one L shape knob with a square knob with a sipe greatly helps in cornering. In a sport like mountain biking where you are constantly drifting and sliding, this tire pattern holds its grip on the road. This keeps the rider from not falling off or sliding off.

And second, both of these tires have a center tread and side knob set that have no alignment. This boosts performance for both tires. As the center tread starts to slide during the drift, the side knobs grab the road and bring back control.

Can you run a Maxxis DHF in the rear?

Although the Maxxis Minion DHF is not meant for being the rear tire, it certainly doesn’t hurt to try. In fact a lot of riders have said that it works great as a rear tire. Even though the name implies that it should be in the front, which is Down Hill Front, it works fantastic as a rear wheel too.

The Minion DHF has a very strong grip on loose dirt and rocky terrain. The rougher the path is, the better it works. The DHF tire simply doesn’t stop for anything on its path. Since its strong capabilities helps the rider make the perfect drift, it is recommended by Maxxis themselves that the DHF should be on the front.

Maxxis and a lot of pro riders will suggest that the best mountain bike tire combination would be a DHF in the front and a smaller DHR II in the rear.

However, a smaller DHF in the rear will not break the balance. In fact it will provide the same performance it will give as a front tire. The reason why there is a confusion about this is because of the gap between the lugs on the corner on a DHF tire. That gap gives the rider a sort of a floating feeling for a time when drifting.

Many riders don’t feel comfortable with that. That is why many riders would suggest keeping the DHF in the rear. Then again you might feel different about it.

So my advice would be to go with your feelings or guts. Ride whatever you feel comfortable with. Most riders would agree with it as well. Some people would use a DHR II on the front or a double DHF front and back.

Alternatives

Are Maxxis minion tires worth the money?

Maxxis Minion tires have created a great brand for themselves. They have truly gained industry wide recognition with their tire models like the Aggressor, DHF, DHR, DHR II etc. Most of their tires have become a standard for a good mountain bike tire.

Other mountain bike tires are judged in comparison to Maxxis’s tires. It’s like Maxxis tires are a must have for a complete mountain bike setup.

They have gained this much popularity through their consistency, high efficiency and continuously serving premium quality. They are devoted to providing high quality tires and work into bringing innovative designs.

Well, we kind of get it that Maxxis is a really good company, but their tires are really expensive. To be honest most people can’t even afford their tires after buying a full mountain bike. There’s no doubt about Maxxis’s tire quality, but the tires are so hard to get a hand on.

Now even if you manage to get one, the question is, are they worth it? Are Maxxis tires worth the cost? And from my experience I will say, yes they are super worth it.

It’s hard to explain to someone who has not tried their tires. However, literally all the riders in the world and on the internet would say that their tires are pretty much the best out there.

Now, there are other brands for mountain bike tires too, but Maxxis stands out. It is probably because of their high reputation. Other brands like Schwalbe, Continental and Michelin are also pretty good brands.

F.A.Q.s

What does Maxxis minion DHF stand for?

The Maxxis Minion DHF stands for “Down Hill Front”. As said by Maxxis themselves, DHF means down hill front and this tire is meant for being in the front wheel. However you can still change things up.

Is Maxxis minion DHF tubeless?

Maxxis minion DHF is tubeless compatible. Any Exo/3c minion tires are compatible with being tubeless.

What does Maxxis minion DHR stand for?

This is also said by Maxxis that the DHR stands for “Down Hill Rear” and according to them this tire is supposed to be on the rear wheel.

Conclusion

You just can’t go wrong with the Maxxis minion DHF tires. They are absolutely fantastic with their great traction capability. A lot of racers have recommended this bike tire. Everyone you know in mountain biking will also definitely recommend this.

Whether it be your first time or second, DHF tires will always be a standard. It can run on any terrain and weather. It can be in the front wheel or in the rear wheel, it will always work fine. So after all these praises I am pretty sure you will want to get it and who wouldn’t?It is a great tire for literally anyone who is into mountain biking. With that being said, I hope my review on the Maxxis minion DHF tire was helpful. Please let me know what you think in the comments.