AKA the new Minion DHF. Oh, and there’s a new DH casing too.
Press Release in full:
Maxxis Introduces a New DH Casing and Minion DHX
The all-new Minion DHX was born specifically from the demands of Maxxis’ top athletes to provide more support, more control, and more confidence on these next level modern DH racetracks. Their engineers have been hard at work taking feedback from our athletes, improving casing structure, improving compound compositions, and improving tread layout and stability to accomplish one goal: Give the world’s fastest athletes a tyre that goes as hard as they do.
- Next generation dry tyre providing unparalleled combination grip and support in fast and / or high load conditions
- More side knob support to keep knobs from folding at the base, with low depth sipes to allow for surface conformation
- Front and rear versatility
- Intuitive handling characteristics with smooth transition from centre to side knobs
- Comparable rolling speed and braking power as DHR II but with increased stability and a smoother transition to cornering knobs
- Great durability and versatility for modern harder use eMTB’s
- Dual ply 120 TPI casing
- MaxxGrip rubber compound
- Tubeless Ready
- E50 Rated
New DH Casing
This New DH Casing achieves improved compliance over chattery rocks and roots, better support under high cornering loads & impacts, and more durability…because flat tyres are never fast. For the rest of us, this all translates to increased confidence bombing through technical sections of trail, less risk of a tyre or rim failure, and getting to the bottom of the mountain feeling less beat up and ready do it all over again.
- Progressive casing stiffness that allows pressure to be set for performance versus sidewall stability or rim strike prevention
- Allows lower pressures (2-3 psi less than previous gen DH casing) which results in slower tyre rebound and more planted, damped feel
- Improved puncture protection
- Comparable weight to previous DH casing
- Dual ply 120 TPI casing
- MaxxGrip rubber compound
- Tubeless Ready
- E25 & E50 Rated
Singletrackworld Magazine’s early verdict?
I’ve not had enough time – and certainly not enough variation in trail types and condition – to give anything like a ‘review’ of this tyre. And I’ve only used it as a front tyre so far. BUT, for me, the Minion DHX is way better than a Maxxis Assegai. Faster, more accurate, more feel.
How much better is it than ye olde Minion DHF? It’s hard to say. I’ve not ridden a decent version of a Minion DHF for a very long time. I only ever encounter them on test bikes as OEM MaxxTerra EXO type versions. BUT, yeah, there’s still that classic DHF cornering predictability that comes through.
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So if it’s a “dry specialist" has the same rolling speed and braking grip as the dhr2 then what’s the point?
Aye, seems we are in new tyre for new tyre sake?
Not really. It’s very much what I wanted Maxxis to make for front summer use (where I use a DHR2 or non-Maxxis tyres at the mo).
1550g for a DH tyre
That seems insanely heavy
For comparison:
DHF 29×2.5 in the old DH listed as 1423g
Yeah, but did anyone ask for 10% heavier?
Conti DH tyres are 1300g.
“That seems insanely heavy”
Does it matter at all if you’re going flat-out down a WC DH track? Or even, is it arguably better if it helps carry speed through a rock garden? And we know it’s better if it means you don’t come last because you got a flat!
”So if it’s a “dry specialist" has the same rolling speed and braking grip as the dhr2 then what’s the point?”
I’ve found that tyres with broad centre knobs like the DHR2 can be really controllably drifty on the back but that also means they don’t stay pointed as firmly in direction when they’re on the front.
The centre tread looks to be far better suited to loose over hard (summer bike parks for example) on the front than the DHR2. And, for rear use, I don’t think the DHR2 really needs any changes, especially in the wider sizes.