Maxxis Minion DHF 29" 3C EXO TR tyre review

The Maxxis Minion DHF is a household name in the world of mountain biking. It’s been seen on many a podium yet it’s brilliantly versatile for all kinds of trail and descending use. At its greatest in the dry, it's still excellent in the wet and a predictable, capable performer right up until you're axle deep in mud. This 2.6" does blow up a little narrow, though.

The Minion DHF comes in at least 18 different versions for 27.5" and 29" wheels (it could be more – Maxxis don't even list the size we have on its UK site...). What we're testing is the 2.6” wide 29er version, with a tubeless-ready EXO casing and triple-compound 3C Maxx Terra rubber.

As always though, it's unmistakeably a Minion, characterized by the simple looking four-abreast tread, the Tetris-like angled shoulder knobs and that ramped, siped central band.

Mounted to a 30mm rim the DHF comes up good and round, with the shoulder knobs keeping well out of the way when you’re trundling in a straight line – great stuff for easy pedalling. However, for a 2.6" tyre it blows up noticeably narrower than some.

Lean the bike over and the shoulder knobs engage for confident cornering grip, and excels in the dry. The tyre works excellently in the wet too, though – granted there’s a bit of slip in the right places, but it copes until you reach mud spike territory.

While the EXO casing does a great job of keeping the tyre in one piece, it can get a bit floppy when the pressures get low. At 20psi or above, however, it holds onto the rim with ease. This casing is also nicely damped, and a good weight for its strength.

Get the DHF with a DoubleDown casing and you’ve got a brute of a tyre that you'll struggle to fold under at almost any pressure, but there's a weight penalty of around a 110g over this EXO version.

There’s very little to grumble about with the Maxxis Minion DHF – it’s long been a popular tyre for good reason. It’s tubeless ready, confident in a wide range of conditions and terrains, and top in its class in the dry. If you’re looking for an aggressive yet useable, fit and forget tyre that works well either end of the bike, the Minion DHF should be your first port of call.