Opinion of the BIKE editorial team
With the new Minion DHX, Maxxis is clearly bringing a genuine gravity-oriented tyre to the trails. Its relatively high weight alone makes the tyre ideal for use in bike parks or on e-mountain bikes – and less so for trail-oriented rides. We’re keen to see how the Minion DHX performs in practice and how it compares to the DHR II and Assegai.
It has been in use on the Downhill World Cup circuit for some time now, and Maxxis’s new Gravity tyre is now going into production. The Minion DHX was specifically developed for use on both the front and rear wheels and is designed to perform particularly well on race tracks, in bike parks and on high-performance e-MTBs. The Minion DHX is definitely not a touring tyre – a quick glance at the weights makes that clear.
The DHX is based on a completely new tread design. Reinforced shoulder blocks are designed not to buckle even under extreme cornering loads, whilst fine sipes ensure that the tread conforms better to the road surface. According to Maxxis, this results in noticeably better grip and a smoother, more intuitive transition from the centre blocks to the shoulder blocks when turning – both characteristics that can make all the difference, particularly at high cornering speeds.
In a direct comparison with the tried-and-tested Minion DHR II, the DHX is said to offer equivalent rolling and braking performance, whilst significantly improving cornering stability and precision.
A heavyweight start
When it goes on sale on 29 July 2026, the new model will initially be available in limited numbers and in just one version. It will launch with the Race version, with which Goldstone and Shaw have already won several Downhill World Cup races in the 2025 and 2026 seasons. This version features the new Maxxis DH casing and sticky Maxxgrip rubber. This combination results in a hefty weight of 1,525 grams for the 29 x 2.5 tyre.
The new DH carcass, with its progressive sidewall stiffness, is designed to provide greater stability under high cornering and impact forces, whilst also allowing the tyre pressure to be reduced by around 0.2 bar compared with its predecessor – with positive effects on traction and handling stability, without compromising puncture resistance.
Further product range until early 2027
But don’t worry: the Minion DHX will also be available in more moderate versions for enduro riders and e-mountain bikers. The full range is set to be gradually expanded to include the Doubledown and Exo+ casings, as well as the harder Maxxterra rubber compound. The focus is on 29-inch tyres (6 models), though there are also four variants in 27.5-inch. As for width, Maxxis is sticking exclusively to 2.5-inch. Prices range from 80 to 85 euros. The following options are set to be available by early 2027 at the latest:
29 x 2.5 inches
- Minion DHX, Exo+, Maxxterra, 1240 grams, 79.90 euros
- Minion DHX, Exo+, Maxxgrip, 1260 grams, 79.90 euros
- Minion DHX, DD, Maxxterra, 84.90 euros
- Minion DHX, DD, Maxxgrip, 1405 grams, 84.90 euros
- Minion DHX, DH2, Maxxterra, 79.90 euros
- Minion DHX, DH2, Maxxgrip, 1525 grams, 79.90 euros
27.5 x 2.5 inches
- Minion DHX, Exo+, Maxxterra, 79.90 euros
- Minion DHX, DD, Maxxterra, 84.90 euros
- Minion DHX, DH2, Maxxterra, 79.90 euros
- Minion DHX, DH2, Maxxgrip, 1430 grams, 79.90 euros
Florentin Vesenbeckh
Editor CvD
