The Minion DHF was designed for the often loose and muddy conditions of the norba downhill series. DHF incorporates ramped knobs for low rolling resistance and channel-cut knobs to increase gripping edges, giving straight-line control and precise cornering.
Submitted by
wonny
a Downhiller
from Mammoth lakes ca Date Reviewed: August 1, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Live wire northstar
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
Great traction, cornering, durable casing
Weaknesses:
Cost. Especially for 3c and supertacky
Similar Products Used:
Spec chunder, kenda nevegal, kenda blue groove, maxxis high roller
Bike Setup:
Spec sx trail w/66 marzocchi, Easton havoc wheels
Bottom Line:
This review is for the dhf 2.5 42a supertacky 2ply tire. This tire is superb in loose and soft conditions. The supertacky compound sticks to rock and wood like a spider to it's web. The 2 ply casing is very strong. Expect to run lower pressure unless you are a big boy. I haven't ridden a better dh/ fr tire in dry and loose conditions. These tires run narrow compared to kenda. Run 2.5 for fr setups and 2.7 for dh front.
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Submitted by
Haggis
a Weekend Warrior
from NZ Date Reviewed: April 11, 2009
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Superb braking traction, excellent cornering. Light weight (2.35 single ply is only 680g) and they roll well.
Weaknesses:
None, some might say the carcass is little small compared to Kenda 2.35 but the sidewalls are tougher.
Similar Products Used:
I rate these tyres above Nevegal, Blue Groove, Loco Lobo and Vertical.
Bike Setup:
Reign
Bottom Line:
I use the 60a DHF front and back. Haven't found a better set of treads for wide variety of conditions. They hang on beautifully on off-camber shale, grass slopes, clay, loose dirt. Tend to clog on heavy mud but so does any tyre 'cept the Wet Scream. The braking traction is outstanding. Climbing is good but not excellent as the knobs are ramped, (but this makes them roll well, much better than a Nevegal). The 60a wears well. 2.35 single is a great trail tyre.
(You can pretty much discount the review below which favours the DHR over the DHF - it's just wrong).
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Submitted by
Jhanney
a Weekend Warrior
from Az Date Reviewed: November 29, 2008
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$40.00
Strengths:
Grips best in medium/soft terrain.
Weaknesses:
maybe the weight but hey i got tons of grip
Similar Products Used:
16 different tires in 14 mths..
Bike Setup:
..
Bottom Line:
got the single ply wire bead 60A at the rear and the 42A super tacky for the front.
the front grips like no one's business. on hard tarmac and on medium/soft trails. on hard dusty trails it probably slips. On leaves, i wiped out once... holds its traction on hard climbs. excellent stuff. on the downs, it is amazing, leaning into corners, i was off my pedal on the inside leg about to kick the ground any moment but the tires held on.. truly amazing pedals.
for its grip and price and it all round ability, its the best.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
poozank
a Downhiller
from Denver Colorado Date Reviewed: November 4, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Techy fast with berms and jumps
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$40.00
Purchased At:
online
Strengths:
Great cornering in soft moist condition
Weaknesses:
drift all over on sand over hard pack, tons of pinch flats even at 5mph with 30 psi
Similar Products Used:
specialized chunder, the captin, enduro, moto raptor, huchtison scorpin or something, and maxxis mobster
Bike Setup:
2008 demo 7 1 sdg sunline
Bottom Line:
great in softer and more moist conditions they drift unreasonably for sand over hard pack even hardpack
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
andreexfr
a Downhiller
from Portugal Date Reviewed: August 7, 2008
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$40.00
Strengths:
Grip in various terrains, snake bite resistance
Weaknesses:
Bit heavy
Similar Products Used:
Maxxis High Roller
Bike Setup:
Nicolai UFO ST
Bottom Line:
I use Minion F in measure 2.5 super tacky. It grips well in corners and rocky trails and also roots. In mud is medium. I made a cut in the "L" pattern knobs to improve cornering.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
wyrm
a Downhiller
from Provo, UT Date Reviewed: July 6, 2008
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$50.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Weaknesses:
As mentioned- "pushes in the corners"
Similar Products Used:
This is my ranking of tires from best to worst. Highrollers (best tire to date), Nevegal, MinionR, BlueGroove, MinionF, Michelin (worse tire to date).
Bike Setup:
IH 7.7 and Tranny BR.
Bottom Line:
I used the 2.5 3C. There are several other reviews on this tire that mention how it lacks confidence in corners by washing. When you're railing it you can really feel it. I have mostly felt it when I have been laying the bike down.... it would slip. Interestingly it recovered every time... except once.
On a positive note, they do have a really good sidewall. I could run lower pressures and tubeless systems on them. It never buckled on turns, g-outs, or landings. They did track really well. They do have great breaking characteristics. They are great in wet conditions too. Acceleration... as mentioned... is slower... mostly due to the taller tread design.
Over all... they are good but not good enough. The rear tire is much more confidence inspiring. I would dare to say that these tires are some of the most over rated tires on the market... not to say they are bad... with the raves you hear about them they don't quite meet my expectations.
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Submitted by
ohalrighthen
a Weekend Warrior
from Melbourne, Australia Date Reviewed: June 22, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Woodend, Forrest, You Yangs & Lysterfield
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$30.00
Purchased At:
eBay
Strengths:
Cornering grip, and cheap for such a good tire. 2.5" Dual ply version has strong sidewalls, and 2.35" single ply version light enough to be used as trail tyre. I use both versions, all in 40A compound.
Weaknesses:
Heavy to pedal, but then this tyre was designed for downhill and freeriding, therefore the compound and construction dictates use of softer butyl compound, therefore it had to be heavier & with all that extra grip & traction, it naturally has more pedalling resistance. Single ply version is bearable to ride uphills. Don't waste your time try riding a pair of dual ply version anywhere where extended uphill climb exists. You have been warned.
Similar Products Used:
Maxxis Highroller (equally brilliant), Larsen TT, Bling Bling, Kenda Nevegal Sticky-E, Tioga White Tiger, Hutchinson Coyote and On the Rocks II
Bike Setup:
GT Ruckus I-Drive (For Lightduty DH) & hardtail (for playing and jumping)
Bottom Line:
After reading the last review I felt compelled to write in and agree. If you want ride at fast XC pace on smooth to moderate terrain, stop reading, look else where, and get something like CrossMarks or Larsen TT, they do a better job than Minion DHFs in these conditions.
But if you are looking for a tyre that absolutely rails berms destroy high speed corners in dry conditions, look no further than the Minion DHF in 40A Slow Reezay compound. No tyre have I used before offered so much cornering grip in dry, and even if you do break traction, the break away is always very linear, so if you're quick, you can actually steer bike and drift through a turn. The tyre's predicatability have saved me from many sketch moments where a lesser tyre would have me on the ground in no time. Watch Sam Hill in Earthed 5 or F1RST DVD, during Mt St Anne World Cup - there's a shot of Sam getting the front wheel to understeer through a corner WHILE the back wheel is oversteering through the same corner simutaneously! Try that with a lesser tyre...
Only time the Minion isn't great is when the track is damp & moist where the soil is becoming churned up, loamy & soft. But that's where the Highroller excels.
I pair up a single ply version of Minion DHF 2.35" with a Larsen TT 2.35" at the back on my play bike and it's a very strong combination for general hacking about and bit of light freeriding. This combination is also light enough to be pedalled in XC tracks as a set of heavy duty trail tyres for a few hours without busting your lungs, and will leaves XC tyred bikes for dead once the terrain gets rough and technical like the rock rides in You Yangs and Mariner's Run in Forrest.
As final endorsement to how good Minions are, nearly every top World Cup DH racer runs Minion or HighRoller, or a combination of both in all world cup races where it is not wet or muddy. Sam Hill's been on Minions like nearly forever, the Athertons family all use them when rain stops in UK, nearly entire Maxxis USA and Europe teams are on them. Even the mighty Santa Cruz Syndicate team had to abandon Kenda sponsorship this year because their riders, instead of running Kenda Nevegals, have been seen many times running Maxxis tires in world cup events with the Maxxis logos covered up with black markers....!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
jramirez69
a Downhiller
from San Diego Date Reviewed: June 21, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Tijuana!!
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$50.00
Strengths:
aw man these tires are great. they're especially good with squirels!
Weaknesses:
nothing yet
Bike Setup:
lambo with rainbow stripes
Bottom Line:
buy these if you love to pin it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
bigfatadder
a Downhiller
from Wollongong, NSW, Australia Date Reviewed: June 11, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Hills
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Fast, stable, corners, jumps, drops! Grips on the rails on corners so well. Rails like no other (except the High Roller)
Weaknesses:
Not so good climbing on the rear, but I've used worse. I put up with the poor climbing because the excell everywhere else, and save my flesh regularly by keeping my bike upright in extreme situations.
Similar Products Used:
Many
Bike Setup:
Ventana La Bruja
Bottom Line:
THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST TYRES AVAILABLE FRONT AND REAR FOR FR/DH USE.
THIS IS A FR/DH TYRE
Would the people (rock apes?) buying it for XC type riding please stop doing so and then saying it's sketchy? Of course it drops to the rails quickly, thats how you get around corners quickly. If you can't ride the tyre, don't blame it. Realise you don't need such extreme tyres and get a pair of Rancheros, like my girlfriend has and loves. The Minion saves me with its stable cornering/railing ability on every ride, and lets downhillers fly in an array of conditions with confidence-inspiring handling and braking.
DON'T BUY IT FOR XC
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Vallie Atkinson
a Weekend Warrior
from Tucson, AZ Date Reviewed: May 28, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Brown Mountain
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$35.00
Purchased At:
Price Point
Strengths:
See previous review
Weaknesses:
See previous review
Similar Products Used:
Rampages
Bike Setup:
Titus Motolite,Crossmax SL, Stans
Bottom Line:
Wanted to add to previous review.
It needs to be noted that rim width may greatly affect this tire. On a narrower rim it may have a too round profile, accentuating the "dead spot" in the transition area.
A wide rim might allow the tire to sit flatter and get to the side edges easier, so this is something to consider, but if you have cross country width rims, I would stay away from this tire on hardpack.
Rampages have transition knobs that grip even if the tire gets rounded out by a narrower rim.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Vallie Atkinson
a Weekend Warrior
from Tucson, AZ Date Reviewed: May 28, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Brown Mountain
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$35.00
Purchased At:
Price Point
Strengths:
Rolls fast, Stans compatible
Weaknesses:
Made bike twitchy, not good on moderate turns. Horrible on AZ loose over hard.
Similar Products Used:
Too many to mention, last tires were Rampages.
Bike Setup:
Titus Motolite,Talas 140,Crossmax SL wheels
Bottom Line:
Hate these for our terrain!!(AZ) I am a tire junkie and have tried a lot of tires. I thought my Motolite was the best steering bike I ever had with the Rampages.
It feels like they are riding on a hard center ridge, and the bar flips from side to side way too easy. Bike feels twitchy as @#$% at all speeds, I am all over the trail. And this is with 27psi with Stans. Girlfriend has 24psi with Stans and feels the same.
They have a dead zone when steering. You have to get them over onto the side knobs to corner. In between upright, and way over, they slide. OK if you are stuffing it into a corner, but on moderate corners they slide until you get over more(and are then almost off the trail) They need softer terrain to get the shoulders down better. Not good for hardpack at all. Ordered some Rampages for both our bikes, these are going bye bye ASAP!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Grant
a Downhiller
from B-ham Washington Date Reviewed: May 4, 2008
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$60.00
Purchased At:
jacks bicycle center
Strengths:
its everything everyone sasys it is!
Weaknesses:
almost corners too well but a little expensive
Similar Products Used:
some wtb thing
Bike Setup:
suped up 04 norco a-line
Bottom Line:
buy it if you need a front tire
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Planchazo
a Weekend Warrior
from Quito Date Reviewed: March 3, 2008
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Good greeping, good cornering, no flats, wears ok.
Weaknesses:
any yet
Bike Setup:
Kona coiler 06, semi stock, sram x9, 8" f disc.
Bottom Line:
At extreme conditions (mud, fast cornering in loose terrain) this 2.35 front tire had respond quite good, in opositte with the rear minion, that had cause me lots of bad momments.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Eric
a Weekend Warrior
from Henderson Nv. Date Reviewed: January 25, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Bootleg Canyon
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$45.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
It isn't designed as a rear tire, but thats what I use it for, in mixed dry conditions, with great success. It's been very durable with no tears or knob losses. It has worn very well; I'm using the 60 compound. It has low rolling resistance for a 2.35 tire.
Weaknesses:
None when used as an "all mountain" tire.
Similar Products Used:
Continental 2.3 tires. Kenda 2.3 tires.
Bike Setup:
Mountain Cycle San Andreas DHS, with Rhyno lite XL wheelset.
Bottom Line:
I'm using the single ply 2.35 Minion DHF 60d, on the rear of my San An and am very happy with it. It has great balance with a Maxxis Advantage 2.4 on the front. Both tires slide evenly together, giving two wheeled drift in high speed turns. The point at which it begins to slide is very predictable. It rolls well on hardpack, but still offers very good traction when climbing out of loose drop-ins. It's also exceptional on off camber sections of rock. It is wearing very well and has very good traction, despite being a 60 compound tire.
I recommend this tire to All Mountain riders and XC riders in extreme environments like the desert. This tire does very well in dry conditions, when mounted on the rear.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ben
a Downhiller
from Bozeman, MT Date Reviewed: December 14, 2007
rolling resistance isn't extremely high, but more than some other tires I've ridden
Similar Products Used:
Hutchinson Barracuda MRC, Kenda Nevegal
Bike Setup:
'07 Giant Reign X
Bottom Line:
Wow! What a great tire. I'm running this tire in the front as a replacement for a Hutchinson Barracuda MRC that I was not pleased with.
I'm running the 2.5 3C version of the Minion DHf. It corners like it's on rails, with very predictable and controlled let-off. I've had very few problems with pinch flats as well. Rolling resistance is no different than any other tire meant for FR/DH.
This tire is on the upper end price-wise, but you get what you pay for. eBay is your friend if you're looking for a deal.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
hoserr
a Weekend Warrior
from chula vista, ca Date Reviewed: August 11, 2007
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$40.00
Purchased At:
Zumwalts cycling center
Strengths:
cornered well, high speed control good, strong case
Weaknesses:
seemed to push in corners, not bad enough to crash but you could feel it slipping.
Similar Products Used:
WTB Motoraptor, Intense 909 DCKennda Blue Grove
Bike Setup:
04 Ellsworth Moment, 07 Nixon, Fox DHX 5.0, all Saint
Bottom Line:
this is a competent tire. used it hard for 10 rides. at first it cornered like it was on rails but slowly it began to push in tight corners. did well on rough trails. strong carcass that didn't tear or lug out.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John
a Downhiller
from Munich Date Reviewed: July 18, 2007
These tires are the best around for a dry or slightly wet terrain, i normally never go biking when it is wet as i've had enough accidents due to that^^ its given me more confidence in corners ;) my old ones were crap
BRILLIANT TIRES ... BUY THEM
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Steven
a Weekend Warrior
from Wellington Date Reviewed: December 23, 2006
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$30.00
Purchased At:
torpedo7
Strengths:
Great grip, it gives you bundles of confidence. grips better than anything else I have used on clay. its also good on gravel and compacted dirt
Weaknesses:
sorta heavy but so is the rest of my bike.
Similar Products Used:
lots
Bike Setup:
gt avalanche 1
Bottom Line:
if you haven't used this tire yet go out and get one!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mike Hudson
a Weekend Warrior
from Phoenix Az Date Reviewed: September 11, 2006
I freeride and downhill. Phoenix trails are typically rock, loose rock, hard packed gravel and loose gravel over hard... thro in some sand and some more rock and gravel. I am running a 2.5, 60 compound version of this tire and only on the front. (2.5 HighRoller out back... excellent combination) For freeride and downhill, in the Phoenix area, I am very happy with this tire. I will buy another when this wears out.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Doug
a Downhiller
from Denver, CO Date Reviewed: August 22, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Anything downhill
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$50.00
Purchased At:
don't remember
Strengths:
great traction in all kinds of conditions, NO pinch flats (yet)
Weaknesses:
none so far (unless you ride xc, then look elsewhere or get the single ply version)
Similar Products Used:
michelin, tioga, wtb
Bike Setup:
GT DHi, Monster T, Mavic 321, Hadley, Chris King
Bottom Line:
If you can only afford one tire for riding and racing, this is the one. It has great traction on every surface I've been on, including mud, hard pack, gravel, rock. go soft to see the max. benefits. Plus, it has a strong side wall! i've never seen a pinch flat on mine (though i am rolling on motorcycle tubes). works great as a back tire, too.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Captain
a
from Southern Oregon Date Reviewed: June 20, 2006
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
grip, use in a wide variety of conditions, grip, works extremely well with stans no tubes, grip, predictable in the drift, grip, wears well, grip and more grip.
Weaknesses:
none so far
Similar Products Used:
high rollers, comp 16, nevengals, timberwolfs, wetscreams, mud x, weirwolfs
Bike Setup:
bmw
Bottom Line:
the best all-around tire i have ever used. highly recommend using them for both a front and rear tire. minion r is a good rear tire, but the minion f is so much more predictable in a wide range of conditions.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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