What is the DHR II?
From Maxxis, the DHR II is:
???? A high-grip rear tyre for aggressive riding
Designed for:
This is NOT a gravel or road tyre—it’s built for serious off-road riding
Tread Design (what makes it special)
Side knobs (from Maxxis Minion DHF)
- Large, aggressive cornering knobs
Result:
- Extremely confident cornering
- Holds lines even on loose terrain
⚡ Center tread
-
Ramped knobs → better rolling + acceleration
- Paddle-style braking edges
This is key:
- One of the best braking tyres out there
- Great control on steep descents
Transition knobs
- Smooth shift from center → side knobs
Prevents that “sudden slide” feeling when leaning
Compound Options (important)
-
Dual Compound → durable, faster rolling
-
3C MaxxTerra → best balance (most popular)
-
3C MaxxGrip / Super Tacky → maximum grip, faster wear
Real-world:
- Trail riders → MaxxTerra
- Downhill → MaxxGrip
Casing Options
-
EXO → lightweight trail protection
-
EXO+ → stronger, still reasonable weight
-
DoubleDown → very tough (enduro)
-
Downhill casing → super heavy-duty
Choice depends on how hard you ride
Wide Trail (WT)
- Optimized for ~30–35mm internal rims
Improves:
- Tyre shape
- Cornering support
Recommended Setup
- Rear: Maxxis Minion DHR II
- Front: Maxxis Minion DHF
This combo is basically the gold standard for aggressive MTB riding
Real-World Performance
Strengths
- Incredible braking traction
- Superb cornering grip
- Predictable handling
- Works in almost all trail conditions
Weaknesses
- Heavy
- Slower rolling
- Overkill for light trails or gravel
⚠️ Important for YOU
Based on your earlier setup:
- You’re riding gravel tyres (700x40–45C)
This tyre:
❌ Won’t fit your bike
❌ Completely different category (MTB vs gravel)
Bottom Line
The Minion DHR II is:
One of the best rear MTB tyres ever made
Built for control, grip, and aggressive riding
But:
It’s totally irrelevant for gravel riding
