Extensive research and development in our labs and on professional race courses around the globe has resulted in the Minotaur 380-gram tire. Sharp edged knobs with wide spacing provide less rolling resistance and superior traction when compared to traditional tread designs. Superior predictability as a front tire, where traction and maneuverability are crucial. Also excels as a front-rear combination where loose terrain demands penetration for both tires. Self-cleaning tread also resists mud packing. For the ultimate in hard-pack performance, mount the Minotaur 380 up front with the Maxxis Wormdrive 430 in the rear. The Minotaur 380 was designed and developed by Maxxis International.
Submitted by
Ev
a Cross Country Rider
from Alberta Date Reviewed: July 26, 2007
Duration Product Used:
Tested or demo'ed only
Strengths:
+light weight +hooks up well on smooth, flat, straightaways +rails surprise corners with ease
Weaknesses:
-nervous/twitchy on anything technical -does not hold a line easily
Similar Products Used:
Hutchinson Python Maxxis Crossmark
Bike Setup:
Cannondale Rush 1000
Bottom Line:
These tires are obviously and XC racing tire. They hook up well on smooth straightaways. They work surprisingly good in the muddy sections that are encountered (but if you know a race or ride is going to be almost all muddy, switch to something else) When you drop the hammer, these tires respond! Unfortunately, at that speed the tire gets nervous/twitchy on bumpy/rooty trail.
It climbs decently, but on downhills I was scared for my life.
Basically, these tires are great for XC racers who run a different tire depending on the course. If the course is smooth, and fairly dry, then this is your tire. Overall, its a good XC tire..but it's not for you if you're bike has over 80mm of suspension or weighs more than 24 pounds.
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Submitted by
Roger Hart
a Cross Country Rider
from Gloucestershire UK Date Reviewed: August 2, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Afan Argoed
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$20.00
Purchased At:
Noahs Ark
Strengths:
Light weight
Weaknesses:
Wearing out
Similar Products Used:
Fire XC, Hutchinson Pythons, Specialised Team Control and Master, WTB Velociraptor, Michelin Wildgripper
Got these cheap and suprised how well they grip given the very open tread. Don't have the problems most people have mentioned and have ridden them through hard rooty single track, gravel and loamy soils and even rock gardens without a flat (yet).
The rear does wear out pretty quickly though but its a fast and light weight racing tyre which is much more grippy than you might suspect - compare well to all the tyres above.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Scott
a Racer
from Pickering, Ontario Date Reviewed: May 20, 2004
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
came stock on RM Vertex
Strengths:
Very Light, Good traction on soft surfaces
Weaknesses:
On hard packed single track tire drifts and squirms, SCARY
Similar Products Used:
Michelin Jet-S , Michelin Comp S lite, Kenda Karisma
Bike Setup:
Rocky Mountain Vertex Team,Shimano XTR, Spinergy
Bottom Line:
Early season races in wet/soft conditions this tire worked quite well. As trails dried and became smooth and fast this tire became hazardously twitchy, Felt like a loose wheel on ice. At 380 grams the weight is GREAT, but for a tire that is dependable AND light,I'll go back to the Michelin Comp S Lite at 460 grams skip dessert and break even.
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Submitted by
Robert Brink
a Cross Country Rider
from Rockville MD Date Reviewed: May 2, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Hardrock
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$50.00
Purchased At:
Performance bike
Strengths:
Light..weighs in at 380 grams!!
Weaknesses:
Not durable..alot of roll in the corners..unpredictable ride!
Similar Products Used:
Kenda klimax lite..
Bike Setup:
Access xcl..Full xtr..Manitou mars
Bottom Line:
Bought these tire looking for a good all purpose tire that hooked up well in all terrain...They looked good and came in at a weight that I could live with..The problem with the tires was felt immediately..the lugs on the tires are to soft..on hard corners they just give up..on the flats you seem to "squirm" along...After 2 rides on my favorite trail I had already torn the lugs off the back tire..Not the best tire for the buck..If you are looking for a good all purpose tire, look at the kenda...
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Clydesdale Dave
a Racer
from Atlanta Date Reviewed: September 18, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Tanasi
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$24.00
Purchased At:
maxxis.com
Strengths:
Only running this in the front. Very Lightweight. Rolls great. Grips extremely well in most conditions.
Weaknesses:
Pinch flats easily...has a narrow "sweet spot" between grippy and bouncy. For me it seems to be 42-44 psi. in the front which is enough pinch flat if you hit an unexpected rock...good riding technique will prevent this.
Similar Products Used:
Kenda Klimax Lite, Maxxis Wormdrive
Bike Setup:
Titus Racer-X, Chris King Hubs and Headset, Mavic 517, Thomson Seatpost and Stem, Maxm MX1.
Bottom Line:
NOTE: This review compares this tire to other ultralight XC race tires...sub 500g tires. In general, it's a great racing tire...especially for lighter riders. I'm currently running this in the front with a Maxxis Wormdrive in the rear. This setup replaced a pair of Kenda Klimax Lites becuase I wanted more grip. My rationale was that the Wormdrive would slip before the front...oddly, they both grip like 500+g knobby tires. The wormdrive only slips when it's wet and you are out of the saddle...it's a great setup. This is a nice combination. I don't think the front Minitour will ever slip. Other reviews which call this tire "squirrelly" are running their pressure too high...others claiming excessive pinch flats are running the pressure too low. I recommend pressuring them up to 52 lbs, ride through some technical, rooty sections then back off the pressure until it feels good. If you like low pressures...avoid this tire. The nice thing about the Klimax is that it is predictable at high pressure though it slips.
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Submitted by
Matt Stephens
a Cross Country Rider
from Llandrindod Wells, Wales, UK Date Reviewed: April 3, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Kona 100
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
The tyre is good if you only go in a straight line. Its quite good in a little bit of mud (in a straight line), low profile means that its easy to bike on the roads.
Weaknesses:
This tyre goes all over the place on the road, i've nearly crashed into lots of cars around fast corners, as is just doesn't want to turn. In the mud around corners is still rubbish. The worst place has to be in rocky dry conditions, i've already had a crash with them. They hate cornering, and just want you to go straight. They are truly evil tyres.
Similar Products Used:
Michelin Wildgrippers, Continentals, WTB tyres.
Bike Setup:
2002 Marin Mount Vision, with Hope M4 disc brakes (185 disc in the front), DMR V12 Magnesium pedals
Bottom Line:
These tyres are the worst tyres i've ever had, they too thin, have no tread, they always puncure. I wouldn't buy them, i've already sent an e-mail to marin saying how poor they are. I wouldn't buy them unless i was a slow rider and only go in straight lines on flat ground. Very very poor.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
ry
a Cross Country Rider
from LA, CA Date Reviewed: February 15, 2003
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$15.00
Purchased At:
eBay
Strengths:
Lite (380 gr), durable, long lasting knobs
Weaknesses:
Not so good while going downhill and cornering on SoCal fire roads with dry, loose, gravelly conditions.
Bike Setup:
Maxxis minataur front, Specialized Mt.Baldy rear.
Bottom Line:
Given the super light weight, the traction you get is still excellent. The rubber is hard and last long. This tire has increased my climbing ability big time. However, cornering in loose conditions will require more concentration and weight shifting to maintain traction...actually, this tire has forced me to learn better cornering technique. Bottom line: this is the lightest tire that I found that works well in most conditions. The weight benefit IMO far outweighs the the minor loss in traction.
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Submitted by
Robert
a Cross Country Rider
from SoCal Date Reviewed: May 22, 2002
Rode these tires as part of a new lightweight XC YETI that I built. Was never able to get used to them. Flatted more in the first week than I had the entire previous year on Velociraptors. Got tired of fixing flats. I started to think it was the bike. Then I switched to the Panracer FireXC and won't look back. Even with the additional pound of rotating weight.
These are defintely lightweight and for racing on flat, hardpack XC courses with no highspeed downhill, they will be great. (I will keep them for that pupose only)
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Darrell
a Racer
from Denver Co. Date Reviewed: May 11, 2002
Favorite Trail:
many
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$10.00
Purchased At:
Velo Bike Swap.
Strengths:
Uh, Uh, I learned how to be a better crasher, and how to handle a bike that was out of control. They are light though, if nothing else.
Weaknesses:
These tires add a whole new meaning to riding. I put them on and road them for 7 miles and took them back off when I got home. They wonder all over the place, suck in corners, and have bad rolling resistance. I now know why I found them at the bike swap.
Similar Products Used:
Michelin Comps, Specialized Rockster S-works, now there is a good tire...
Bike Setup:
Don't matter, they still suck.
Bottom Line:
If a light tire and great rolling resistence is what you are looking for. Look no further than the 1.9 Specialized Rockster S-Works, Not the Pro but the S-works. If you like riding out of control then the Maxxis 380 is the perfict tire for you!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
MountRealRider
a
from Montreal Date Reviewed: April 29, 2002
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
Light
Weaknesses:
Can get you killed! Expensive!
Similar Products Used:
all kind of race tires
Bike Setup:
Cannondale F2000SL
Bottom Line:
380 grams Minautor: I used it as a front tire like recommended, and it freaked me out. Makes all kind of loud popping noises when riding it, weird things happens, inexplicable crases, slips without warning, probably never gonna ride it again! Do not buy it, better have 50-80grams more on the front than ride this!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
paddy h
a Racer
from winnipeg Date Reviewed: April 16, 2002
Favorite Trail:
????
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$50.00
Purchased At:
Olympia
Strengths:
weight...clear mud well, corner well..fellow racer is on his second second season with his with little signs of wear
Weaknesses:
not sure how long they'll for the price
Similar Products Used:
quite a few from other brands
Bike Setup:
01 Norco Fireball....i work in a shop...you can count on the fact that its been modified heavily(and is feathery-light)
Bottom Line:
if your a reasonbly light-weight cyclist(150lbs or less)who appreciates serious performace minded compontents, these tires will serve you well
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jeff Wu
a Racer
from Boulder, CO Date Reviewed: March 6, 2002
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Purchased At:
Taiwan
Strengths:
super light! climbs faster than anything else
Weaknesses:
sketchy on downhills weak corning traction
Similar Products Used:
Panaracer Trailblaster
Bike Setup:
Dirtworks Cannibal w/ Mozo XMO fork
Bottom Line:
Lightest tire I've ever ridden. Makes me climb faster. Great for non-technical courses with lots of climbing.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John
a Cross Country Rider
from Sacramento, CA Date Reviewed: March 23, 2000
Favorite Trail:
Dirt ones
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
Super Light Super Fast Super Sweet
Weaknesses:
None
Similar Products Used:
Velociraptors
Bike Setup:
Ventanna, Mach 5, XT
Bottom Line:
Really good and fast tires. DO NOT buy the 380 gram version unless you just got money to burn. Thess tires lead me to a 5th place finish at Sea Otter.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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