REVIEW...sorta
Maxxis DHF - the Resurrection
Nothing feeds the piranha pool that is mountain bike content like a Maxxis Minion DHF review. After 21 years in existence, the winningest tire of all time has finally reached the age where it can proudly whip out its ID. When Colin Bailey scribbled the first draft of arguably the tire world's most successful pattern onto a napkin, he might have had aspirations as to how good it was going to be. But as the story goes, the outcome was not in his favour. He did however pave the way towards a tread pattern (and eventually the right compounds) that at one time would dress just about all bikes across shop floors in Maxxis colours. The DHF was so popular that even a semi-casual rider could pick out its tread pattern imprinted in the dirt at a glance.
That all changed when Maxxis' new, odd-sounding model was released - the Assegai. Billed as the successor to the DHF (and to a lesser extent, the DHR), the Assegai really could outdo everything the DHF was good at and more. Except for rolling fast.
This is where things got interesting.
On the slippery roots and granite of the North Shore mountains, the confidence the new Assegai provided was undeniable. Sure it was like riding through cold honey when it came to pedalling the bike up to the top, but the price was worth the admission. Slowly but surely, people started switching.
The Minion DHF was initially designed for rims with an internal width of 23-25mm. The tread pattern was tighter than the current tire's design, and the carcass was always round. As rims got wider and started hitting the 30mm mark, the tire too had to evolve. Tread blocks got bigger and wider apart so that wider rims wouldn’t square off the tire too much and expose the sidewall to the elements. The DHF had changed with the times.
Around 2018, Scott started selling its Genius with 29 x 2.6” DHFs that were sleepers. These higher volume tires gave the 150mm travel bike with conservative geometry an edge over the competition when it came to trail manners. The DHF was holding on to its reign on the OEM market as hard as it could but it wasn’t enough - people wanted more traction and tougher tires. At a width of 2.6” a DD or DH casing tire would tip the scales at well over 1,500 grams and that just wouldn’t fly with anyone. The 2.5" Assegai quickly started to win the spec and aftermarket civil war.
The DHF has always been on the back of my mind. Even when I made friends with the Santa Cruz Hightower and fell right in love with the front and rear DHR II combo, I kept wondering if there was still a place for the DHF and where that would be.
DHF always pedaled well - better than the DHR II, Assegai and Highroller. It wasn’t until the Dissector came on the scene that we had a better pedaling option from Maxxis that could also be run as a front tire in certain circumstances. What I found surprising was how the DHR II made a better front tire than the DHF. On faster, flowier trails it wandered around for traction but as soon as the bike was upright and trails got steep, the paddles would generate noticeably more grab than those on the DHF.
Poor DHF, its use cases were narrowing like a one-lane bridge. Not knowing who should go first, I wanted to keep the legendary tire relevant to my use case.
When the Scor 2030 was delivered to my door with a Dissector front and Rekon rear tire, I knew that combination wasn’t going to help the bike shine on the trails and surfaces where I wanted to take it. Being a tread that pedals well, the Dissector went on the rear and the DHF MaxxTerra Exo+ I had laying around took over the steering duties up front.
This gave me an idea to test out the performance of the DHF as a short travel bike tire. With its 140mm travel fork and 64.5º head angle, the Scor is not a classic short travel example, but as trail bikes move in the direction of slacker head angles, this experiment will only become more relevant. The DHF on the front made the bike sing with traction and stability and there wasn’t a huge weight or rolling resistance penalty to be paid for the tire swap. I wanted to see if the DHF made sense in a certain window of suspension travel or if the quality of riding it provided was consistence regardles of the intended use case of the bike it was mounted on.
So we got Maxxis to send out a DHF in 3C MaxxGrip DD to go on a We Are One Union wheel I had. The wheel got a 203mm rotor from Galfer and two bikes were set up to be able to accept the wheel without too much faffing. The Scor could use the rotor upgrade anyways as it liked to go fast and 203mm rotors would help tame that speedwagon.
The other bike was my very own Orbea Rallon - a longer travel test mule with a 170mm fork and 168mm of rear wheel travel thanks to a slightly longer shock than stock. The Rallon sits at a 64-degree head angle - just half a degree slacker than the Scor with its 140mm front and 120mm rear travel. With the reach and stack numbers extremely close to one another, the influence of the front tire should be obvious, I thought.
Spoiler: it was.
To even the playing field further, I also put a Dissector rear tire on the Rallon but later found out that this had far less influence on the overall differences than I thought. Although having a fast tire on the back of the big rig after lugging a DH casing Continental around was a treat. This might be a permanent change for the summer...
The SCOR is such an energetic pedaler that the additional weight of the DD MaxxGrip tires was not very noticeable. Paired with the WR1 rims, the total weight of the front wheel was within a few grams of the DT Swiss XM 1700 and the Exo+.
The actual change to pay attention to would be the DHF on the front of the Rallon. For the past year and change, Continental Kryptotals in Super Soft DH casing have been feeding the bike with an immense amount of capability. The support and mechanical traction has been unparalleled by anything in my previous experience. Sure, the Assegais were excellent, but the whole package of casing, rolling speed and traction made the Kryptotals an easy first choice.
As I didn’t notice the negative effect of the heavier and stickier tire on the SCOR on the uphills, I didn’t notice the lighter, faster rolling rubber on the Rallon either. The singletrack climbs were just as uneventful and road pedaling was as fun as it could be on a 35-lb bike with suction cups for tires. What I did notice was the way the bike wanted to spring out of corners. Carbon wheel to carbon wheel, Rallon ran the Union rims for a long time and is now on Reserve 30HDs. The difference is minimal between them on berms. When things get rough and chunky I find the Reserves a bit more forgiving. But the DHF had a way of storing kinetic energy and releasing it in a unique way. With front tires set to 19psi for the test period, it was nice to get some energy out of the Rallon with the DHFs.
The energy that was injected with faster rubber also came at a price: high speed entrances to corners, especially loose ones with steep run ins, became less...sure.
The skatey feeling was easier to detect with the DHF on the Rallon when compared to the SCOR. While the DHF felt like an upgrade to the DHR II on the front of the SCOR, it felt more like a compromise on the Rallon (compared to the Kryptotal) when it came to specific situations.
When things slowed down and technical moves were negotiated, the DHF did admirably on both bikes. Keeping the front end glued to rocks and roots, the DHF did what it says on the package. Micro corrections were no problem on both bikes considering the 30mm difference in front wheel travel numbers.
I always find it fascinating how the current geometry of bikes allows us to tackle geological puzzles as we make our way down some questionable trails. The confidence I have on the seemingly inappropriate (for the terrain) SCOR is interesting. Putting the bike down the same type of trails I would happily bring any big bike on really speaks to the 64-degree head angle and tall stack that is part of what makes modern trail bikes so amazing. Only when riding with a group of people down fast and rough trails would I be happier to be nestled on a bike with more travel.
The slow speed performance of the DHF is still very relevant and if your trails consist mostly of terrain like that, there is very little reason to carry heavier and slower rubber up the hill. I find the DHF also clears mud better than the more tightly packed knobs on tires from Maxxis and Continental. So if clay is on the menu, either wait it out until it’s dryer, or give the DHF a chance to shine.
If multi day epics in the backcountry are on the menu or your fast bike needs some more significant rubber, I think the DHF is still a great option. For the riding I do, the DHF works exceptionally well in this regard:making the trail bike perform better!
The tire that set the record straight is a low consequence step up on smaller bikes. The rounder profile lends itself well to smaller frame clearances too. You can still get the Maxxis DHF in 20+ different SKUs for all kinds of bikes and situations, and widths: 2.3, 2.5, 2.6, 2.8, not to mention wheel sizes (26 ain't dead - nor is 24, actually).
While I’ll move the needle towards burlier rubber for the bigger bike, I think the trail category is still well served by this veteran of a pattern here on the Shore and adjacent zones. On the front (and even out back) the DHF is still relevant even if there are better options for riding bigger and faster. We are lucky that Colin Bailey had a vision to pave a valuable path to side knob and siping technology. What is your DHF experience and ideal use case scenario?
5'8"
162lbs
Playful, lively riding style
Photographer and Story Teller
Lenticular Aesthetician
Comments
Cooper Quinn
6 months, 1 week ago
Make me chose one tire for the rest of my life? DHF, no hesitation.
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Deniz Merdano
6 months, 1 week ago
Don't make me... Please don't.. I like shaking things up..
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Onawalk
6 months, 1 week ago
Thanks Deniz,
Tjis was a great test and comparison.
I run 2.5 EXO+ CC Assegai on the front on my Spire, it does the things well at that speed/gradient/level of grip that the Spire shines on. Its a slow billygoat on the climbs anyway.
I run a 2.3 EXO DHF CC-XC on the front of my short travel Fugee, its not going as fast, but its going in much the same places. Its also more enegetic on the climbs.
Man are bikes a tonne of fun!
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fartymarty
6 months, 1 week ago
Magic Mary for me.
If I was pushed towards Maxxis it would have to be a DHR2 - the slightly narrower width doesn't have the massive drift channel the 2.5 DHF is cursed with and you can run a faster rolling rear tyre due to the impressive braking of the R2.
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Cooper Quinn
6 months, 1 week ago
No. You don't get to run a faster rolling rear tire in this hypothetical... you get one tire. For everything.
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fartymarty
6 months, 1 week ago
It's gotta be a Mary or a 29x2.3 Vigilante Tough (except they don't make them anymore).
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RNAYEL
6 months, 1 week ago
You can still get light/high grip, or tough/fast rolling. Wish they had 2.3 tough/high grip. I'm running the 2.6 tought/high grip on the front of my Stumpjumper Evo and it's a great tire.
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Curveball
6 months, 1 week ago
The DHRII is not very fun on long climbs, but yeah that braking traction is unreal.
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Cr4w
6 months, 1 week ago
At least get the quote right. "If I could only have one food to eat for the rest of my life? That's easy. PEZ. Cherry flavor PEZ."
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fartymarty
6 months, 1 week ago
Pizza for me or would I go with chocolate... I do really like chocolate.
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Cr4w
6 months, 1 week ago
Am I the only one who saw Stand By Me?
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fartymarty
6 months, 1 week ago
Worship, that went over my head
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Dan
6 months ago
Nope, I got the reference right away. :)
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Jerry Willows
6 months, 1 week ago
Butcher for me... different casings, compounds and not $150 retail.
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Bruce Mackay
6 months, 1 week ago
Also, surprisingly versatile, WTB Verdict, Tough, high grip. Live in the Okanagan, so drierer, but front, rear good.
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pocketpieman
6 months, 1 week ago
I know what you may say, but I would choose the Assegai front and rear then. The DHF is amazing and have been riding this for ever and I like the healthy part of the tire letting you know you will loose grip soon. Compared to the Magic Mary where you get the warning when you washed out already.
The Assegai in the rear was a skeptical thing to me until I tried. the trick is to not use a new tire. Put your used front tire in the rear and hope you go. the braking is amazing, the grip uphill fantastic on climbing trails and cornering is confident. Yes it has a good window of use, then it's dead and drifting is the only way to corner so nope.
Deniz, you mentioned you will ride the Dissector in the rear. To this day, I haven't found a tire with that much control (braking and cornering) during summer dry seasons. The dissector is just amazing. And I thought I'd keep this tire for the whole summer.. the big flaw: it last 1 week of riding (and not a crazy intense week!). The knobs fall apart, the tire get slashed, it gets rounded so quick.. I found it wasn't worth what it provides.
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rolly
6 months ago
I thought I was a little crazy going with a Dissector/DHF combo, but the thought of lugging my 170r/180f travel rig up Into The Mystic and Lord of the Squirrels on a DHR2/Assegai was not my idea of a good time.
So I put the quicker rolling pair on. Wow. What a difference. Waaay faster rolling. At the end of the summer I kept my Dissector on and threw the Assegai back on for better cornering and control.
I still haven't put my DHR back on even though my Dissector is chewed up. The thought of grinding the climbs out again, ugh.
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Kenny
6 months, 1 week ago
I greatly preferred the 2.3 DHF. Lighter and less floaty. The 2.5 WT version feels too sketchy at intermediate lean angles. I really think the assagais raison d'etre was to combat that feeling.
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Deniz Merdano
6 months, 1 week ago
Now that a proposition! I may have to find a 2.3 DHF to try out!
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fartymarty
6 months, 1 week ago
The 2.5 was terrible when you were in the "drift" zone. A 2.3 would be been much better.
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Lu Kz
6 months, 1 week ago
After exploring the range of minions from 2.3 all the way to 3.0, I've now found myself quite happily settled in the 2.3/2.4 range on my aggressive bikes. Big floaty tires on the short travel clown bikes are all fun and good, but the predictability from the lower volume is appreciated on the smash bikes. With this in mind I am still running the Assegai but it's honestly interchangeable with a DHF at these widths, I'd probably get used to the difference in half of a run and not really think about it.
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tashi
6 months, 1 week ago
Specialized Butcher is a great alternative if you like your DHFs from the lighter side of their range. Possibly a little less grip when leaned super far over but VERY similar. Probably higher volume at a given size.
T9 rubber, grid casing, 2.6 skinwall version for me. I currently rotate front to back, but will probably start using Eliminator T7’s in the back for more speed and longevity as the traction of the soft Butcher is nice but I think a lot of that comes from the volume, which is the same for the Eliminator.
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Mike Ferrentino
6 months, 1 week ago
The T9 Butcher is getting a lot of love from a lot of different riders in a lot of different environments. It has become my go-to "no idea what the conditions may be, best err on the side of caution" tire. I am two rides into a pair of 29x2.4 T7 Purgartorys down here in the place where soft rubber goes to die. Don't have much to say yet except they roll faster and let go sooner than Butchers, and roll slower but grip way more than Rekon Races. How's THAT for some blinding insight?
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Luix
6 months, 1 week ago
Completely agree! The Butcher T9 is an awesome alternative to the classic DHF!
I jumped from the original Schwalbe Hans Dampfs in Speedgrip compound my trail bike brought to a Butcher T9 front/DHF Maxxterra Exo+ rear, and against my prejudice, I produced a couple personal KOMs.
I expected the taller knobs and softer rubber to at least slow me down a bit, but the tighter knob spacing and more reactive compound seems to help the bike both rolling faster and better hugging the ground.
Also, they can be had really cheap almost new because most guys buying Specialized ebikes immediately take the T9 Grid Trails off and replace them with meatier tires.
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Jerry Willows
6 months, 1 week ago
@tashi I run T7 Butchers in the rear... year round.
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tashi
6 months, 1 week ago
Probably a great option but doesn’t meet my sartorial standards - skinwall if at all possible please.
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Curveball
6 months, 1 week ago
I've found that Grid Trail T9 Butcher works a treat on my enduro bike here in the PNW. It doesn't suddenly lose grip in a corner like the DHF would invariably do to me.
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ShawMac
6 months, 1 week ago
I have fallen in love (lust) with Specialized tires. All the performance for 20-30% less cost. I put a Cannibal on the front of my DH bike and it has been outstanding.
I am in a love hate relationship with Continental right now. My favourite tire for my trail bike was the Der Baron, especially for wet/muddy conditions. They stopped making it with the new line up and also jacked up the prices to Maxxis levels. I somehow ended up with a version of Kryptotals that were made in China rather than Germany, and the casings are warped terribly.
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AndrewR
6 months, 1 week ago
@ShawMac The Der Baron Projekt APEX protection would be my life time one tyre for each and every bike. 990 grams of all round awesome-ness and a reasonable life for the price. They kept me (mainly) upright over the past five years of guiding, the 2016 Trans-Provence and the 2018 Trans-Madeira (albeit at back of the pack speeds).
But as you said Continental had a SKU and retail price blow out during the recent update. And managed to miss making the tyre that everyone wants "Enduro Super soft".
My go to since Covid started ( as Conti availability seemed to dry up in North America) has been Michelin Enduro WILD FRONT and REAR models (but I run FRONT on the back wheel in autumn and early spring or when there is more loam than hard pack). Also chose the GUM-X, as Michelin design their tyres based on rubber rebound speed, and I know that I am not fast enough all of the time to get the best out of the Magi-X compound and I also ride a lot in cold weather which also reduces the 'extra grip' of the Magi-X.
The Michelin Enduros are the first 900-1000 km tyre that I have ever used (most of my tyres are dead at the 600 km mark).
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Kenny
6 months, 1 week ago
+1 to both you guys. I mentioned it elsewhere in this thread, but man I miss the der baron Projekt.
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Flats
6 months, 1 week ago
Vittoria Mazza works well as a lighter DHF clone for trail bikes.
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Timer
6 months, 1 week ago
In terms of tread design, yes, but that’s about it.
The Trail Mazza is EXO weight but harder, less grippy rubber than Maxterra. No light or even medium weight version available with soft compound.
The single compound enduro Mazza is sticky but weighs as much as Maxxis DH casings.
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Luix
6 months, 1 week ago
Until the surface layer wears off and the harder base compound gets exposed. They become ice skates in the wet when that happens.
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PowellRiviera
6 months, 1 week ago
I also really like the DHF. I also enjoy riding a variety of terrain and find riding DD Assegai on adventure rides to be soul sucking.
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Deniz Merdano
6 months, 1 week ago
I think the bottom line is most folk would be served well for using DHF on their bikes instead of trying to maximize the downhill grip with Assegai. More fun overall is, just more fun..
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Curveball
6 months, 1 week ago
I've had more wipeouts on the DHF than any tire since the old Tioga Farmer John. If I buy a bike with a DHF, it comes off and gets replaced by a Butcher T9 immediately.
I found the DHF to suddenly let go without any warning on trails where I don't have room to really lean it over.
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fartymarty
6 months, 1 week ago
I drifted, clipped a tree and broke a few ribs with the last 2.5 DHF I had. I gave it to a mate after that and haven't used them since. I'm on MMs up front now. Those are great tyres.
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Pete Roggeman
6 months, 1 week ago
"Here, mate, this tire damn near killed me. Give it a shot." Savage!
Kinda like "this is f@cking awful, here give it a taste".
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fartymarty
6 months, 1 week ago
My mates love them, that was before my "mishap" so gladly took it.
They've probably got better bike body separation than me.
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Curveball
6 months, 1 week ago
I've heard nothing but good things about the MM. It's a local favorite here in Washington.
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Cr4w
6 months, 1 week ago
I always loved the DHF even though it inadvertently slid to second place on my bikes. Still love it. It's funny how overall what was once so extreme is now trail bike territory (150mm of travel, 200mm rotors, 64' head angles, 2.5" DHFs, Code RSC/xt brakes).
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Deniz Merdano
6 months, 1 week ago
Have you seen how fast the folks are going?? I agree though, the perceptions have shifted slightly.
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Cr4w
6 months, 1 week ago
This spring I took a gamble. I'm hanging up my dual DD soft Assegai/DH2 combo for dual Schwalbe Tacky Chans for summer. I think they're going to be amazing.
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Kenny
6 months, 1 week ago
I am curious about this setup.
I switched from assegai/DHR2 to Magic Mary/Big Betty for winter this year.
It's probably splitting hairs, really quite similar.
I feel like a tacky chan setup, super soft front, soft rear, might be close in overall grip but roll a little faster. Or go super soft on both so I can rotate the front to the rear.
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Cr4w
6 months, 1 week ago
I'm going to run the Tacky Chan in trail/soft on the rear and trail/ultrasoft on the front. I think that will be amazing for summer. Lots of cornering grip and braking grab but low rolling resistance for this summer's boneyard conditions. It's got some DHR2 vibes about it. I haven't been off Maxxis in a long time. I'm curious to see. Excited to try something new.
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Kenny
6 months, 1 week ago
Yeah should be sweet. I've felt like a tire orphan since continental stopped make the der baron 2.4.
Those are my desert island tires, assuming tires no longer in production count.
fartymarty
6 months, 1 week ago
Let us know how it goes. I've been running a Mary Hans combo over winter and have been liking them.
If there is a tyre forum thread I need to subscribe.
Timer
6 months, 1 week ago
Going by design and Schwalbes description, the Tacky Chan should be relatively similar to the DHF. Huge cornering lugs, rolls quite fast and works best at high speeds and lean angles.
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Alex
6 months ago
Very happy with Tacky Chan 2.4 Ultra Soft/Soft F/R in Super Gravity casing. Really impressed actually coming from Assegai/DHRII combo in DD casings. They just feel so damp and smooth on the trail and initiate into corners much better than the Maxxis combo. I was worried they would feel like a DHF with the dead-spot mid-lean angle but nothing like that happening so far, only great confidence-inspiring grip. After being underwhelmed by my last go-round with Schwalbe I'm liking these.
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Offrhodes42
6 months, 1 week ago
Right now between the two wheelsets I have for my Stumpjumper EVO I have the option of a Specialized Butcher Grid Trail T9 in 2.3 width or a WTB Verdict Light High Grip 2.5 to choose from. The Verdict is great when it is wet and loose, but it is a slow rolling tire. Same with the WTB Judge Tough High Grip in the rear. For New England fall or spring they work great if rolling speed is not a worry. When things dry out and firm up I really like the Butcher, with an Eliminator in the rear.
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Pete Roggeman
6 months, 1 week ago
Agree with you on all counts! I had a Judge/Verdict set up on a wheelset I used to run and the performance in loam was outstanding. Otherwise slow and heavy though.
Butcher in T9 is worthy in almost all situations - casing to suit the application.
Deniz, this has inspired me to go back and do some riding on a DHF - it's been a while but I ran that tire up front on all kinds of bikes for years and loved it. Assegai has taken over for me but it's definitely overkill for some of the riding here on the SSC.
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Deniz Merdano
6 months, 1 week ago
Pete having just pushed the DHF around corners in your neck of the woods, its an outstanding option there! I'd run dual DHFs or a dissector out back all day long!!
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Pete Roggeman
6 months, 1 week ago
I admittedly haven't run DHF as a back tire all that much, but I have always felt the DHR II was predictable, effective, and pedaled well enough. Haven't logged enough time on Dissector either although I have one ready to go for when we get a little bit further through the wet part of spring over here.
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rolly
6 months ago
If tires weren't so expensive of a consumable, I'd be more keen to try different ones.
Please help! :
Love the braking and cornering of the Assegai/Dhr (both exo+, maxgrip fr / maxterra r). Don't love the rolling resistance or the price.
Was going to try Krypto's but the tires are significantly heavier (rotational weight matters, right? . . . right?).
What're some options for me in the Shore/PNW?????????????
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Tjaard Breeuwer
3 months, 2 weeks ago
You could look at a Onza Ibex.
It rolls as fast as a Nobby Nic, but comes close to a Shorty Maxxterra in traction. And, very light. Trade off is puncture protection, but, you didn’t mention that.
Up front, anything that matches the cornering grip of a Maxxgrip Assegai will roll as slow, or slower. Magic Mary Supersoft rolls a fair bit faster, but it seems most people don’t rate it as good in cornering as the Assegai. (Unless it’s muddy). Braking traction might be better though.
On the other hand, with 2/3 to 3/4 of your weight on the rear, a bit slower rolling up front isn’t a huge issue in the total rolling resistance.
fartymarty
6 months, 1 week ago
I'm currently running Judges (tough 'n' grippy) front and rear on my HT. They're surprisingly good as a front tyre.
My fav all time trying was the 29x2.3 Vigilante Tough but they stopped making it. That thing just worked all year round.
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Curveball
6 months, 1 week ago
The Vigilante on front was awesome. I mainly went with a Butcher T9 because it was cheaper by a good bit.
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Tjaard Breeuwer
3 months, 2 weeks ago
They are also pretty opposite tread patterns:
Vigi: super wide spaced, small blocks, tons of negative space. Intermediate knobs
I choose it for loose/soft soil, roots or mud
Butcher: medium spaced, wide blocks, moderate negative space, no intermediate knobs.
I choose it for hard pack and rock slabs.
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Tjaard Breeuwer
3 months, 2 weeks ago
Unfortunately the Butcher T9 is also slow rolling.
Vigi 2.5 was 47 W and Butcher 2.3 was 42W in the Bike Magazin test last year. Unfortunately it doesn’t say which compound the WTB had.
For reference: a Shorty Maxxterra in that test rolled at 29 W.
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Sebov
6 months, 1 week ago
I came back to the DHF 2.5 WT MaxxGrip in front when I started to riding more back country stuff instead of bikepark… I liked the energetic way it felt while climbing compared to the Assegai. And on the down I feared the sketchy moments.
Moved on to Butcher T9 Trail/ Eliminator T7 Trail combo for allround all year riding. Really like it
Assegai/DHR II for shuttle days and on the Heckler SL.
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GB
6 months, 1 week ago
I am lucky? I suppose that I have difficulty feeling how a tire performs .
What I enjoy about the Maxis DHF is the predictably of how the tire performs . It is my go to tire . I don't have to think how my tires are performing and can't blame DHF tires for my mistakes .
Nothing performs better to improve the feeling of your old steed like a fresh pair of rubber . Maybe a fork overhaul .
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XXX_er
6 months, 1 week ago
so I wondered what the diff was between a new tire and a thrashed tire so I weighed tires when I changed out the DD DHR II, it was about 10% I wish I could remember the exact difference in gms but thats how much rubber we wear off of a tire
instead of trying to find a tire as good as Maxxis I just use Maxxis
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Caspar Beronius Christensen
6 months, 1 week ago
DHF or Ass guy , as long as theyre both 2,5 Maxxgrip , Ill grab whichever is cheapest and run it till its worn down.Some German site had DHF 2,5 Maxxgrip at 37 euro last month so thats it for now....
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Lowcard
6 months, 1 week ago
I like the DHF better than the Assegai. It has a predictability in how it drifts then catches in corners. The Assegai pushes in corners a little too much, probably because of the tight knob spacing. The centre knob should have its braking edge reshaped.
I also sketched out 2 tires on paper - the High Roller 2 and the DHR2. The HR2 was released with with knob height too low. It was supposed to be at least a millimetre taller, making it a truly great front specific tire in soft/intermediate conditions. The DHR2 was a response to how bad the original DHR was with its open channel that ran down the middle.
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mnihiser
6 months, 1 week ago
Tioga Edge 22 is a solid front tire for dry conditions. Tread pattern similar to DHF and rolls fast. There is a soft version that I haven't tried; may be hard to find.
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Guy-Charles Valois
6 months, 1 week ago
This comment has been removed.
Maximum Radness
6 months, 1 week ago
Still THE tire.
Absolutely.
Tried others including Assegai, don’t live in the northwet anymore and you know????
……
Yup, still THE tire.
Maybe it’s me.
DHF rocks.
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Andy Eunson
6 months, 1 week ago
I think the thing that makes the DHF in its various iterations popular is that it’s pretty good at a lot things. Kind of boring in a way and I mean that as a compliment. When it’s wet and soft I quite like the Shorty max grip. DHF in those conditions not so much. But those conditions don’t exist that often in Whistler. And riders know what to expect from a DHF so why experiment with an unknown tire that costs the same. Like Taylor Swift’s popularity, she’s popular because she’s popular.
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Abies
6 months, 1 week ago
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DMVancouver
6 months, 1 week ago
I've gone back to DHF on the front after a few years on the Assegai. The Assegai feels very direct in turns. As soon as you tip it over, it engages immediately. That little bit of drift before the DHF catches gives the ability to make small adjustments entering corners, similar to sliding a ski to gain a bit more direction at the start of a carved turn. The fact that the DHF rolls a bit better is also a bonus.
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JohnC
6 months, 1 week ago
After losing confidence from a number of nasty falls the past few years, and being north of 60yrs old now, I strapped on an Assegai Max Grip on the front of my Chromag (w 160 Lyric) by recommendation of LV Bikes. Must say it has helped to improve my mojo this winter; very predictable and grippy, but, honestly, can't wait for the dryer spring to throw a dhf back on....or i might just explode my heart on the climbs!
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Zero-cool
6 months ago
The 2.5 DHF EXO is still my tyre of choice for every bike I have. I think the old 2.3 was a better tyre but I needed more volume now wheels are wider.
I just find them to roll quicker, and are just very predictable. I used to swap them for cut down Wet Screams in winter but once I went tubeless I just CBA so for the last 12 years I’ve ridden them all year around and had great fun
My DH bike ran them (DH casing F&R), my old XC (more like a modern downcountry bike) ran them (F&R), my enduro bike ran them (F&R) and my current hardtail runs them (F&R in winter with a Minion SS on rear for summer). Only my dadcountry bike runs something else and its main use is pump tracks.
We have them in 26, 27.5, 29 and 20 for the kids) in our garage and I haven’t found a tyre I prefer yet. The Assegai came close but was too slow, I don’t get on with Schwalbe tyres. Every time I try a new tyre it ends up being swapped for a DHF.
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