I did some digging and found a nice summary Maxxis Minion DHX — new gravity/DH tread aimed at dry, hardpack conditions:Bigger, blockier lugs than before for support...
I did some digging and found a nice summary
Maxxis Minion DHX — new gravity/DH tread aimed at dry, hardpack conditions: Bigger, blockier lugs than before for support and braking power at speed Tighter-spaced center tread for faster rolling on hardpack; bigger shoulder lugs for off-camber grip New L-shaped center-to-shoulder transition Positioned as a fast, dry/hardpack-focused tire — sits alongside the Assegai and DHR II, not replacing them New DH casing — reworked construction across the DH lineup: More rigid butyl bead insert (pinch-flat resistance) Wider casing overlap under the tread New sidewall cut-resistance material Claimed 20%+ gains in cornering support, sidewall/tread puncture resistance, and pinch-flat protection — at similar weight to the old DH casing Riding impressions (tester rode it at Leogang and Czech/Polish bikeparks): fast-rolling and stable in dry/hardpack corners and berms, reliable braking; ran pressures as low as 22psi with the new casing without losing control even in slightly wet conditions — but it struggled on a genuinely slick, rooty wet trail, confirming it's a dry-conditions tire. No flats after ~2 months of riding despite visible cuts/scrapes. Availability: August: DHX in New DH + 3C MaxxGrip, 27.5" and 29", 2.5" widths October: more DHX options (New DH or EXO+ casing, MaxxTerra or 29er-only EXO+/MaxxGrip combos) End of year: Double Down casing versions New DH casing also rolling out on Assegai (29x2.5 only), DHR II (27.5/29, 2.4 & 2.5), and HighRoller (2.4) — notably not on the DHF Pricing expected similar to current tires
Now why would the new Maxxis DH casing be more stiff/supportive if radials are purportedly the way to go for DH?
I did some digging and found a nice summary Maxxis Minion DHX — new gravity/DH tread aimed at dry, hardpack conditions:Bigger, blockier lugs than before for support...
I did some digging and found a nice summary
Maxxis Minion DHX — new gravity/DH tread aimed at dry, hardpack conditions: Bigger, blockier lugs than before for support and braking power at speed Tighter-spaced center tread for faster rolling on hardpack; bigger shoulder lugs for off-camber grip New L-shaped center-to-shoulder transition Positioned as a fast, dry/hardpack-focused tire — sits alongside the Assegai and DHR II, not replacing them New DH casing — reworked construction across the DH lineup: More rigid butyl bead insert (pinch-flat resistance) Wider casing overlap under the tread New sidewall cut-resistance material Claimed 20%+ gains in cornering support, sidewall/tread puncture resistance, and pinch-flat protection — at similar weight to the old DH casing Riding impressions (tester rode it at Leogang and Czech/Polish bikeparks): fast-rolling and stable in dry/hardpack corners and berms, reliable braking; ran pressures as low as 22psi with the new casing without losing control even in slightly wet conditions — but it struggled on a genuinely slick, rooty wet trail, confirming it's a dry-conditions tire. No flats after ~2 months of riding despite visible cuts/scrapes. Availability: August: DHX in New DH + 3C MaxxGrip, 27.5" and 29", 2.5" widths October: more DHX options (New DH or EXO+ casing, MaxxTerra or 29er-only EXO+/MaxxGrip combos) End of year: Double Down casing versions New DH casing also rolling out on Assegai (29x2.5 only), DHR II (27.5/29, 2.4 & 2.5), and HighRoller (2.4) — notably not on the DHF Pricing expected similar to current tires
I did some digging and found a nice summary Maxxis Minion DHX — new gravity/DH tread aimed at dry, hardpack conditions:Bigger, blockier lugs than before for support...
I did some digging and found a nice summary
Maxxis Minion DHX — new gravity/DH tread aimed at dry, hardpack conditions: Bigger, blockier lugs than before for support and braking power at speed Tighter-spaced center tread for faster rolling on hardpack; bigger shoulder lugs for off-camber grip New L-shaped center-to-shoulder transition Positioned as a fast, dry/hardpack-focused tire — sits alongside the Assegai and DHR II, not replacing them New DH casing — reworked construction across the DH lineup: More rigid butyl bead insert (pinch-flat resistance) Wider casing overlap under the tread New sidewall cut-resistance material Claimed 20%+ gains in cornering support, sidewall/tread puncture resistance, and pinch-flat protection — at similar weight to the old DH casing Riding impressions (tester rode it at Leogang and Czech/Polish bikeparks): fast-rolling and stable in dry/hardpack corners and berms, reliable braking; ran pressures as low as 22psi with the new casing without losing control even in slightly wet conditions — but it struggled on a genuinely slick, rooty wet trail, confirming it's a dry-conditions tire. No flats after ~2 months of riding despite visible cuts/scrapes. Availability: August: DHX in New DH + 3C MaxxGrip, 27.5" and 29", 2.5" widths October: more DHX options (New DH or EXO+ casing, MaxxTerra or 29er-only EXO+/MaxxGrip combos) End of year: Double Down casing versions New DH casing also rolling out on Assegai (29x2.5 only), DHR II (27.5/29, 2.4 & 2.5), and HighRoller (2.4) — notably not on the DHF Pricing expected similar to current tires
Now why would the new Maxxis DH casing be more stiff/supportive if radials are purportedly the way to go for DH?
my first guess would be rider feedback, particularly from dh and ews pros, regarding cuts and punctures. possibly about stability as well. but you make a tire heavier and more durable for reasons other than traction.
You might want stiffer side walls, but more supple tread zone.
"Wider casing overlap under the tread" to me sounds like a less supple tread area. Isn't this also what Schwalbe did with the updated radial gravity casing in order to dial back some of the lack of support? I don't think its as easy as having 2 zones you can independently control that don't influence eachother much. My takeaway from radials is that there is no escaping the support/suppleness tradeoff
"Wider casing overlap under the tread" to me sounds like a less supple tread area. Isn't this also what Schwalbe did with the updated radial gravity...
"Wider casing overlap under the tread" to me sounds like a less supple tread area. Isn't this also what Schwalbe did with the updated radial gravity casing in order to dial back some of the lack of support? I don't think its as easy as having 2 zones you can independently control that don't influence eachother much. My takeaway from radials is that there is no escaping the support/suppleness tradeoff
I haven't ridden E13 radials yet but that is exactly what they depict, multiple types of reinforcements that do not extend into the tread area.
Unrelated to the DHX news, but I got caught in a big ol’ thunderstorm yesterday, which is one of the few circumstances in which I get to ride in wet conditions and holy hell the Schwalbe MM/TC radial combo is good when it’s wet. Really clicked for me why all the bog people instantly became Schwalbe stans.
I haven't ridden E13 radials yet but that is exactly what they depict, multiple types of reinforcements that do not extend into the tread area.
I haven't ridden E13 radials yet but that is exactly what they depict, multiple types of reinforcements that do not extend into the tread area.
Yeah some interesting choices. my read on the changes is as-follows:
60TPI > 120 TPI: smaller threads = thinner tire cross section meaning it's more flexible, faster rebounding, less puncture resistance
More overlap over tread: thicker cross section over tread for more puncture resistance, less flexible on tread, slower rebounding tread area
Additional sidewall protection: like EXO+ added sidewall layer helps prevent punctures, insignificant change to sidewall support but thicker cross section means slower rebounding too.
new casing material: no idea on details but likely stronger fabric to help prevent punctures, tears
different butyl insert: better protection against snakebite punctures but less flexible near bead
Shooting from the hip it looks like they mostly moved sliders around to get largely similar performance but with a more flexible sidewall. Seems that they think DD is enough casing support but needs more flat protection for DH racing.
EDIT: After going through some of the media from the launch it sounds like the new butyl / apex is adding a fair amount of support to the sidewalls which I find interesting.
New DH looks interesting to me even if I don't need that much puncture protection most of the time. My biggest hangups using radials so far seem to be related to the high rebound (from higher pressure). The New DH layup is similar to what I was dreaming of after trying radials and not loving them - seems to tick all the boxes for me personally.
I recall that earlier this year Jesse Melamed had a video about riding in the wet where he said he preferred the feel of DD, but needed DH puncture protection racing. Then he said he was riding new Maxxis DH casing that he couldn't get into the details but it felt similar to the DD when running lower pressures but still kept the puncture protection.
I'm kind of surprised how much the early DHX reviews point to it being a dry conditions only tire. I've felt like in the past the DHF did ok in moderately wet/loose conditions - better than the DHR which I feel clogged up a bit easier. Assegai definitely can get overwhelmed in wet/muddy conditions because of knob density. I want to try the DHX, but have a pile of front tires I gotta wear through first. I suspect that the HR3 will be better for my conditions though.
New DH looks interesting to me even if I don't need that much puncture protection most of the time. My biggest hangups using radials so far...
New DH looks interesting to me even if I don't need that much puncture protection most of the time. My biggest hangups using radials so far seem to be related to the high rebound (from higher pressure). The New DH layup is similar to what I was dreaming of after trying radials and not loving them - seems to tick all the boxes for me personally.
I recall that earlier this year Jesse Melamed had a video about riding in the wet where he said he preferred the feel of DD, but needed DH puncture protection racing. Then he said he was riding new Maxxis DH casing that he couldn't get into the details but it felt similar to the DD when running lower pressures but still kept the puncture protection.
I'm kind of surprised how much the early DHX reviews point to it being a dry conditions only tire. I've felt like in the past the DHF did ok in moderately wet/loose conditions - better than the DHR which I feel clogged up a bit easier. Assegai definitely can get overwhelmed in wet/muddy conditions because of knob density. I want to try the DHX, but have a pile of front tires I gotta wear through first. I suspect that the HR3 will be better for my conditions though.
Any questions about the DHX or updated DH casing let me know, both were my projects.
In general the DHX does everything our current dry tires do, but has more capability for high load high speed conditions. I designed it to excel in the bike park oriented World Cup tracks but still not give up performance in soft or natural sections compared to current dry tires. Ideally I wanted to simply the racers’ tire choice: if it’s dry and fast- DHX, if it’s soft or mixed- HR3, if it’s wet- mud spike.
The updated DH casing is pretty well explained in the press release. The goal is soft contact patch and high support sidelwalls. Lowering the pressure also helps the rebound and damping characteristics. This is the casing that pros have been using for the 25-26 season in the dry, so the average person can see what the pros want out of a casing.
Thanks @notseanday. 1. Are any pros running DHX front and rear vs. DHX F / DHRII R? 2. When are folks deciding to run an Assegai vs. DHX? 3. Any indication if the casing technology will filter down to EXO+/DD?
Any questions about the DHX or updated DH casing let me know, both were my projects. In general the DHX does everything our current dry tires do...
Any questions about the DHX or updated DH casing let me know, both were my projects.
In general the DHX does everything our current dry tires do, but has more capability for high load high speed conditions. I designed it to excel in the bike park oriented World Cup tracks but still not give up performance in soft or natural sections compared to current dry tires. Ideally I wanted to simply the racers’ tire choice: if it’s dry and fast- DHX, if it’s soft or mixed- HR3, if it’s wet- mud spike.
The updated DH casing is pretty well explained in the press release. The goal is soft contact patch and high support sidelwalls. Lowering the pressure also helps the rebound and damping characteristics. This is the casing that pros have been using for the 25-26 season in the dry, so the average person can see what the pros want out of a casing.
When Maxxis releases more trail friendly versions, how does this tire compare to a dhf exo that does great over most of the terrain I ride? Would it just clog a little easier comparatively and roll faster?
Thanks @notseanday.1. Are any pros running DHX front and rear vs. DHX F / DHRII R?2. When are folks deciding to run an Assegai vs...
Thanks @notseanday. 1. Are any pros running DHX front and rear vs. DHX F / DHRII R? 2. When are folks deciding to run an Assegai vs. DHX? 3. Any indication if the casing technology will filter down to EXO+/DD?
1- Some pros like the 2.4 DHR for looser conditions on the rear.
2- Most that have time on the DHX end up running it for most conditions. Some have very particular terrain conditions when they would go for Assegai, mostly when it’s really loose. Some just choose the Assegai because they don’t want to recalibrate tire feel.
3- DD and EXO+ should be in before the end of the year.*
*Edit- misread this. We are looking at touching up EXO+ and DD, but no definitive timeline. The end of the year estimates are for DHX in EXO+ and DD
Any questions about the DHX or updated DH casing let me know, both were my projects. In general the DHX does everything our current dry tires do...
Any questions about the DHX or updated DH casing let me know, both were my projects.
In general the DHX does everything our current dry tires do, but has more capability for high load high speed conditions. I designed it to excel in the bike park oriented World Cup tracks but still not give up performance in soft or natural sections compared to current dry tires. Ideally I wanted to simply the racers’ tire choice: if it’s dry and fast- DHX, if it’s soft or mixed- HR3, if it’s wet- mud spike.
The updated DH casing is pretty well explained in the press release. The goal is soft contact patch and high support sidelwalls. Lowering the pressure also helps the rebound and damping characteristics. This is the casing that pros have been using for the 25-26 season in the dry, so the average person can see what the pros want out of a casing.
When Maxxis releases more trail friendly versions, how does this tire compare to a dhf exo that does great over most of the terrain I ride...
When Maxxis releases more trail friendly versions, how does this tire compare to a dhf exo that does great over most of the terrain I ride? Would it just clog a little easier comparatively and roll faster?
Basically if you struggle with side knob roll the DHX is for you. If you don’t and the DHF works for you, keep enjoying the classics. The DHF is still a super fun tire in the right conditions, the DHX just delivers more consistency at high loads and high speeds, so if you don’t have these conditions the difference between the DHX and DHF would primarily be the smaller transition to the side knobs and a bit better braking for the DHX
I'd be curious to hear more on comparison of HR3 & DHX. Before the DHX, I noticed a lot of pros had switched to running HR3 up front for the blown out conditions. Now they seem to be only running HR3 a little bit. I'm sure HR3 does better when the track is a mix of dry and mud just due to wider spacing. I've basically switched to running HR3 full time for California conditions (very little moisture) because I feel like it does way better in moon dust and loose sand than Assegai-style treads. Has the DHX kind of poached HR3 territory a bit, moving it into a tight band slot next to the Shorty/Wet Scream?
I'd be curious to hear more on comparison of HR3 & DHX. Before the DHX, I noticed a lot of pros had switched to running HR3...
I'd be curious to hear more on comparison of HR3 & DHX. Before the DHX, I noticed a lot of pros had switched to running HR3 up front for the blown out conditions. Now they seem to be only running HR3 a little bit. I'm sure HR3 does better when the track is a mix of dry and mud just due to wider spacing. I've basically switched to running HR3 full time for California conditions (very little moisture) because I feel like it does way better in moon dust and loose sand than Assegai-style treads. Has the DHX kind of poached HR3 territory a bit, moving it into a tight band slot next to the Shorty/Wet Scream?
The HR3 is still a great choice if it’s super loose like you see in California. Some riders will chose the DHX is even heinous conditions just because the confidence in the hard or high load sections is so good for them. It’s always a trade off when hunting for .1 seconds at the top of the sport with tire choice. If the HR 3 is good for the majority of your riding it may be the best choice. The rule of thumb is that if the Assegai struggles with knob engagement in your terrain, the DHX will as well.
related to the dhx release... I want to give a shoutout to the new 3c maxx terra that maxxis released. I just tried it for the first time on a 2.5 dh dhr2 as a rear tire and the longevity/wear is significantly improved. Previously, this same tire as a rear would be looking pretty shot after 5-6 full park days... but the new compound only just started to show wear ever so slightly after day 3. Suffice to say, it seems to me that it will last somewhere around 2x longer... maybe a bit less than that. Conditions were too blown out for me to comment on increased grip however.
"Wider casing overlap under the tread" to me sounds like a less supple tread area. Isn't this also what Schwalbe did with the updated radial gravity...
"Wider casing overlap under the tread" to me sounds like a less supple tread area. Isn't this also what Schwalbe did with the updated radial gravity casing in order to dial back some of the lack of support? I don't think its as easy as having 2 zones you can independently control that don't influence eachother much. My takeaway from radials is that there is no escaping the support/suppleness tradeoff
I haven't ridden E13 radials yet but that is exactly what they depict, multiple types of reinforcements that do not extend into the tread area.
I haven't ridden E13 radials yet but that is exactly what they depict, multiple types of reinforcements that do not extend into the tread area.
Don't have enough time on them to do a full write up on them, but this is something you really feel coming from the old Schwalbe radials. The tread feel is similar but corner support is way different.
New DH looks interesting to me even if I don't need that much puncture protection most of the time. My biggest hangups using radials so far...
New DH looks interesting to me even if I don't need that much puncture protection most of the time. My biggest hangups using radials so far seem to be related to the high rebound (from higher pressure). The New DH layup is similar to what I was dreaming of after trying radials and not loving them - seems to tick all the boxes for me personally.
I recall that earlier this year Jesse Melamed had a video about riding in the wet where he said he preferred the feel of DD, but needed DH puncture protection racing. Then he said he was riding new Maxxis DH casing that he couldn't get into the details but it felt similar to the DD when running lower pressures but still kept the puncture protection.
I'm kind of surprised how much the early DHX reviews point to it being a dry conditions only tire. I've felt like in the past the DHF did ok in moderately wet/loose conditions - better than the DHR which I feel clogged up a bit easier. Assegai definitely can get overwhelmed in wet/muddy conditions because of knob density. I want to try the DHX, but have a pile of front tires I gotta wear through first. I suspect that the HR3 will be better for my conditions though.
Yeah, I can't tell how much of the hype around the DHX as a "dry conditions tire" (whatever that means) is an accurate description of its performance window vs. talking points from Maxxis to create clear product differentiation within their lineup. Mammoth is dry, but it's so dry you want to run HR3's or full mud spikes. So what does "dry conditions" even mean?
I'm excited to try this tire at some point, because I live in the land of actual dry conditions year round. Can't tell if this will be a front Assegai replacement for me, a front HR3 replacement, or a great fast rolling and braking rear tire. Or some combination of the three, or none of the above, or something else entirely.
I will add, in sympathy to the journalists, that writing about the finer points of comparative tire performance is extremely difficult. It's easy for those descriptions to either be too vague to be helpful, too specific to be accurate, the result of placebo effect and/or confirmation bias, or just boring.
I would also add, after spending most of my last rides thinking specifically about my tires feel, subtelties in conditions, rider's energy and mindset can change how a tire feels.
For example, using the gen 1 Schwalbe Albert Gravity 2.5 US front/rear, mostly dry rides. Early in the season, not in the best shape, I was cautious but gaining confidence in the tires. I settled on the best pressure after 5-6 rides and just enjoyed them afterwards. Then I reached one ride where I was tired and the tires seemed skittish and less predictable. The ride after, they felt great again and I found the confidence back (I was less tired I guess).
So riding a tire only a few times doesn't give all the traits. I guess when you tests parts for a living you end up taking this in consideration when doing a "first ride" review.
As a side note, I still wish that the side knobs were bigger on the Albert 2.5, but after 15-ish 1.5-2h rides, they show almost no wear and are still some of my favorite tires ever.
New DH looks interesting to me even if I don't need that much puncture protection most of the time. My biggest hangups using radials so far...
New DH looks interesting to me even if I don't need that much puncture protection most of the time. My biggest hangups using radials so far seem to be related to the high rebound (from higher pressure). The New DH layup is similar to what I was dreaming of after trying radials and not loving them - seems to tick all the boxes for me personally.
I recall that earlier this year Jesse Melamed had a video about riding in the wet where he said he preferred the feel of DD, but needed DH puncture protection racing. Then he said he was riding new Maxxis DH casing that he couldn't get into the details but it felt similar to the DD when running lower pressures but still kept the puncture protection.
I'm kind of surprised how much the early DHX reviews point to it being a dry conditions only tire. I've felt like in the past the DHF did ok in moderately wet/loose conditions - better than the DHR which I feel clogged up a bit easier. Assegai definitely can get overwhelmed in wet/muddy conditions because of knob density. I want to try the DHX, but have a pile of front tires I gotta wear through first. I suspect that the HR3 will be better for my conditions though.
Yeah, I can't tell how much of the hype around the DHX as a "dry conditions tire" (whatever that means) is an accurate description of its...
Yeah, I can't tell how much of the hype around the DHX as a "dry conditions tire" (whatever that means) is an accurate description of its performance window vs. talking points from Maxxis to create clear product differentiation within their lineup. Mammoth is dry, but it's so dry you want to run HR3's or full mud spikes. So what does "dry conditions" even mean?
I'm excited to try this tire at some point, because I live in the land of actual dry conditions year round. Can't tell if this will be a front Assegai replacement for me, a front HR3 replacement, or a great fast rolling and braking rear tire. Or some combination of the three, or none of the above, or something else entirely.
I will add, in sympathy to the journalists, that writing about the finer points of comparative tire performance is extremely difficult. It's easy for those descriptions to either be too vague to be helpful, too specific to be accurate, the result of placebo effect and/or confirmation bias, or just boring.
in conditions where the Assegai does well, this tire will do well and has the added benefit of better stability in high speed, high load conditions. Essentially no downsides compared to Assegai. It rolls a bit faster as well. If you have a bunch of high load sections, DHX front and rear can be beneficial as at times a DHR rear will lose stability and step out.
In times when it’s dusty or muddy enough for the Assegai to be overwhelmed, the DHX will be overwhelmed as well. It’s not a HR3 replacement by any means.
in conditions where the Assegai does well, this tire will do well and has the added benefit of better stability in high speed, high load conditions...
in conditions where the Assegai does well, this tire will do well and has the added benefit of better stability in high speed, high load conditions. Essentially no downsides compared to Assegai. It rolls a bit faster as well. If you have a bunch of high load sections, DHX front and rear can be beneficial as at times a DHR rear will lose stability and step out.
In times when it’s dusty or muddy enough for the Assegai to be overwhelmed, the DHX will be overwhelmed as well. It’s not a HR3 replacement by any means.
so with those heavily ramped center knobs, is the DHX the fastest rolling Maxxis in a DH casing? related: when the Dissector v2 was released, why did it lose a DH casing option?
in conditions where the Assegai does well, this tire will do well and has the added benefit of better stability in high speed, high load conditions...
in conditions where the Assegai does well, this tire will do well and has the added benefit of better stability in high speed, high load conditions. Essentially no downsides compared to Assegai. It rolls a bit faster as well. If you have a bunch of high load sections, DHX front and rear can be beneficial as at times a DHR rear will lose stability and step out.
In times when it’s dusty or muddy enough for the Assegai to be overwhelmed, the DHX will be overwhelmed as well. It’s not a HR3 replacement by any means.
so with those heavily ramped center knobs, is the DHX the fastest rolling Maxxis in a DH casing? related: when the Dissector v2 was released, why...
so with those heavily ramped center knobs, is the DHX the fastest rolling Maxxis in a DH casing? related: when the Dissector v2 was released, why did it lose a DH casing option?
Rolling speed is a balance of a few things, can’t give the secret formula away. Depending on conditions 2.4 DHR and DHX will roll about the same.
Dissector v2 is now available in 27.5 MaxxTerra, DH casing
New DH looks interesting to me even if I don't need that much puncture protection most of the time. My biggest hangups using radials so far...
New DH looks interesting to me even if I don't need that much puncture protection most of the time. My biggest hangups using radials so far seem to be related to the high rebound (from higher pressure). The New DH layup is similar to what I was dreaming of after trying radials and not loving them - seems to tick all the boxes for me personally.
I recall that earlier this year Jesse Melamed had a video about riding in the wet where he said he preferred the feel of DD, but needed DH puncture protection racing. Then he said he was riding new Maxxis DH casing that he couldn't get into the details but it felt similar to the DD when running lower pressures but still kept the puncture protection.
I'm kind of surprised how much the early DHX reviews point to it being a dry conditions only tire. I've felt like in the past the DHF did ok in moderately wet/loose conditions - better than the DHR which I feel clogged up a bit easier. Assegai definitely can get overwhelmed in wet/muddy conditions because of knob density. I want to try the DHX, but have a pile of front tires I gotta wear through first. I suspect that the HR3 will be better for my conditions though.
Yeah, I can't tell how much of the hype around the DHX as a "dry conditions tire" (whatever that means) is an accurate description of its...
Yeah, I can't tell how much of the hype around the DHX as a "dry conditions tire" (whatever that means) is an accurate description of its performance window vs. talking points from Maxxis to create clear product differentiation within their lineup. Mammoth is dry, but it's so dry you want to run HR3's or full mud spikes. So what does "dry conditions" even mean?
I'm excited to try this tire at some point, because I live in the land of actual dry conditions year round. Can't tell if this will be a front Assegai replacement for me, a front HR3 replacement, or a great fast rolling and braking rear tire. Or some combination of the three, or none of the above, or something else entirely.
I will add, in sympathy to the journalists, that writing about the finer points of comparative tire performance is extremely difficult. It's easy for those descriptions to either be too vague to be helpful, too specific to be accurate, the result of placebo effect and/or confirmation bias, or just boring.
in conditions where the Assegai does well, this tire will do well and has the added benefit of better stability in high speed, high load conditions...
in conditions where the Assegai does well, this tire will do well and has the added benefit of better stability in high speed, high load conditions. Essentially no downsides compared to Assegai. It rolls a bit faster as well. If you have a bunch of high load sections, DHX front and rear can be beneficial as at times a DHR rear will lose stability and step out.
In times when it’s dusty or muddy enough for the Assegai to be overwhelmed, the DHX will be overwhelmed as well. It’s not a HR3 replacement by any means.
Any questions about the DHX or updated DH casing let me know, both were my projects. In general the DHX does everything our current dry tires do...
Any questions about the DHX or updated DH casing let me know, both were my projects.
In general the DHX does everything our current dry tires do, but has more capability for high load high speed conditions. I designed it to excel in the bike park oriented World Cup tracks but still not give up performance in soft or natural sections compared to current dry tires. Ideally I wanted to simply the racers’ tire choice: if it’s dry and fast- DHX, if it’s soft or mixed- HR3, if it’s wet- mud spike.
The updated DH casing is pretty well explained in the press release. The goal is soft contact patch and high support sidelwalls. Lowering the pressure also helps the rebound and damping characteristics. This is the casing that pros have been using for the 25-26 season in the dry, so the average person can see what the pros want out of a casing.
Did you and your team consider inserts during your design and testing of the DHX?
Any questions about the DHX or updated DH casing let me know, both were my projects. In general the DHX does everything our current dry tires do...
Any questions about the DHX or updated DH casing let me know, both were my projects.
In general the DHX does everything our current dry tires do, but has more capability for high load high speed conditions. I designed it to excel in the bike park oriented World Cup tracks but still not give up performance in soft or natural sections compared to current dry tires. Ideally I wanted to simply the racers’ tire choice: if it’s dry and fast- DHX, if it’s soft or mixed- HR3, if it’s wet- mud spike.
The updated DH casing is pretty well explained in the press release. The goal is soft contact patch and high support sidelwalls. Lowering the pressure also helps the rebound and damping characteristics. This is the casing that pros have been using for the 25-26 season in the dry, so the average person can see what the pros want out of a casing.
Did you and your team consider inserts during your design and testing of the DHX?
We design our tires to be a standalone product. We do some testing to ensure instal is reasonable, but performance of tire + insert isn’t a priority for us.
I would also add, after spending most of my last rides thinking specifically about my tires feel, subtelties in conditions, rider's energy and mindset can change...
I would also add, after spending most of my last rides thinking specifically about my tires feel, subtelties in conditions, rider's energy and mindset can change how a tire feels.
For example, using the gen 1 Schwalbe Albert Gravity 2.5 US front/rear, mostly dry rides. Early in the season, not in the best shape, I was cautious but gaining confidence in the tires. I settled on the best pressure after 5-6 rides and just enjoyed them afterwards. Then I reached one ride where I was tired and the tires seemed skittish and less predictable. The ride after, they felt great again and I found the confidence back (I was less tired I guess).
So riding a tire only a few times doesn't give all the traits. I guess when you tests parts for a living you end up taking this in consideration when doing a "first ride" review.
As a side note, I still wish that the side knobs were bigger on the Albert 2.5, but after 15-ish 1.5-2h rides, they show almost no wear and are still some of my favorite tires ever.
Yeah, its so hard to disentangle all the variables that go into it. Trail conditions, power output, line choice, is Mercury in retrograde, etc. After going through multiple setups over the past few months I've found I can ride a fairly consistent speed on most any tire (as long as it's matched to conditions) and the rest just comes down to personal preference.
But hot damn the TC radial corners so well. Pretty addictive.
related to the dhx release... I want to give a shoutout to the new 3c maxx terra that maxxis released. I just tried it for the...
related to the dhx release... I want to give a shoutout to the new 3c maxx terra that maxxis released. I just tried it for the first time on a 2.5 dh dhr2 as a rear tire and the longevity/wear is significantly improved. Previously, this same tire as a rear would be looking pretty shot after 5-6 full park days... but the new compound only just started to show wear ever so slightly after day 3. Suffice to say, it seems to me that it will last somewhere around 2x longer... maybe a bit less than that. Conditions were too blown out for me to comment on increased grip however.
Same experience for me, i am so happy that 27.5 x 2.5 dh casing maxxterra dhrii exists now it is the perfect rear tire between the slightly higher volume than 2.4 (i like to think this helps prevent rim strikes) and the durable but grippy-enough compound.
Excited to see the amount of dh casing maxxterra options available in the new dh casing too.
Big knobs, big volume, big speed! And new casing.
Now why would the new Maxxis DH casing be more stiff/supportive if radials are purportedly the way to go for DH?
You might want stiffer side walls, but more supple tread zone.
my first guess would be rider feedback, particularly from dh and ews pros, regarding cuts and punctures. possibly about stability as well. but you make a tire heavier and more durable for reasons other than traction.
"Wider casing overlap under the tread" to me sounds like a less supple tread area. Isn't this also what Schwalbe did with the updated radial gravity casing in order to dial back some of the lack of support? I don't think its as easy as having 2 zones you can independently control that don't influence eachother much. My takeaway from radials is that there is no escaping the support/suppleness tradeoff
I haven't ridden E13 radials yet but that is exactly what they depict, multiple types of reinforcements that do not extend into the tread area.
Unrelated to the DHX news, but I got caught in a big ol’ thunderstorm yesterday, which is one of the few circumstances in which I get to ride in wet conditions and holy hell the Schwalbe MM/TC radial combo is good when it’s wet. Really clicked for me why all the bog people instantly became Schwalbe stans.
Yeah some interesting choices. my read on the changes is as-follows:
Shooting from the hip it looks like they mostly moved sliders around to get largely similar performance but with a more flexible sidewall. Seems that they think DD is enough casing support but needs more flat protection for DH racing.
EDIT: After going through some of the media from the launch it sounds like the new butyl / apex is adding a fair amount of support to the sidewalls which I find interesting.
New DH looks interesting to me even if I don't need that much puncture protection most of the time. My biggest hangups using radials so far seem to be related to the high rebound (from higher pressure). The New DH layup is similar to what I was dreaming of after trying radials and not loving them - seems to tick all the boxes for me personally.
I recall that earlier this year Jesse Melamed had a video about riding in the wet where he said he preferred the feel of DD, but needed DH puncture protection racing. Then he said he was riding new Maxxis DH casing that he couldn't get into the details but it felt similar to the DD when running lower pressures but still kept the puncture protection.
I'm kind of surprised how much the early DHX reviews point to it being a dry conditions only tire. I've felt like in the past the DHF did ok in moderately wet/loose conditions - better than the DHR which I feel clogged up a bit easier. Assegai definitely can get overwhelmed in wet/muddy conditions because of knob density. I want to try the DHX, but have a pile of front tires I gotta wear through first. I suspect that the HR3 will be better for my conditions though.
I mean, compared to the HR3…
Any questions about the DHX or updated DH casing let me know, both were my projects.
In general the DHX does everything our current dry tires do, but has more capability for high load high speed conditions. I designed it to excel in the bike park oriented World Cup tracks but still not give up performance in soft or natural sections compared to current dry tires. Ideally I wanted to simply the racers’ tire choice: if it’s dry and fast- DHX, if it’s soft or mixed- HR3, if it’s wet- mud spike.
The updated DH casing is pretty well explained in the press release. The goal is soft contact patch and high support sidelwalls. Lowering the pressure also helps the rebound and damping characteristics. This is the casing that pros have been using for the 25-26 season in the dry, so the average person can see what the pros want out of a casing.
Thanks @notseanday.
1. Are any pros running DHX front and rear vs. DHX F / DHRII R?
2. When are folks deciding to run an Assegai vs. DHX?
3. Any indication if the casing technology will filter down to EXO+/DD?
When Maxxis releases more trail friendly versions, how does this tire compare to a dhf exo that does great over most of the terrain I ride? Would it just clog a little easier comparatively and roll faster?
1- Some pros like the 2.4 DHR for looser conditions on the rear.
2- Most that have time on the DHX end up running it for most conditions. Some have very particular terrain conditions when they would go for Assegai, mostly when it’s really loose. Some just choose the Assegai because they don’t want to recalibrate tire feel.
3- DD and EXO+ should be in before the end of the year.*
*Edit- misread this. We are looking at touching up EXO+ and DD, but no definitive timeline. The end of the year estimates are for DHX in EXO+ and DD
Basically if you struggle with side knob roll the DHX is for you. If you don’t and the DHF works for you, keep enjoying the classics. The DHF is still a super fun tire in the right conditions, the DHX just delivers more consistency at high loads and high speeds, so if you don’t have these conditions the difference between the DHX and DHF would primarily be the smaller transition to the side knobs and a bit better braking for the DHX
I'd be curious to hear more on comparison of HR3 & DHX. Before the DHX, I noticed a lot of pros had switched to running HR3 up front for the blown out conditions. Now they seem to be only running HR3 a little bit. I'm sure HR3 does better when the track is a mix of dry and mud just due to wider spacing. I've basically switched to running HR3 full time for California conditions (very little moisture) because I feel like it does way better in moon dust and loose sand than Assegai-style treads. Has the DHX kind of poached HR3 territory a bit, moving it into a tight band slot next to the Shorty/Wet Scream?
The HR3 is still a great choice if it’s super loose like you see in California. Some riders will chose the DHX is even heinous conditions just because the confidence in the hard or high load sections is so good for them. It’s always a trade off when hunting for .1 seconds at the top of the sport with tire choice. If the HR 3 is good for the majority of your riding it may be the best choice. The rule of thumb is that if the Assegai struggles with knob engagement in your terrain, the DHX will as well.
related to the dhx release... I want to give a shoutout to the new 3c maxx terra that maxxis released. I just tried it for the first time on a 2.5 dh dhr2 as a rear tire and the longevity/wear is significantly improved. Previously, this same tire as a rear would be looking pretty shot after 5-6 full park days... but the new compound only just started to show wear ever so slightly after day 3. Suffice to say, it seems to me that it will last somewhere around 2x longer... maybe a bit less than that. Conditions were too blown out for me to comment on increased grip however.
Don't have enough time on them to do a full write up on them, but this is something you really feel coming from the old Schwalbe radials. The tread feel is similar but corner support is way different.
Yeah, I can't tell how much of the hype around the DHX as a "dry conditions tire" (whatever that means) is an accurate description of its performance window vs. talking points from Maxxis to create clear product differentiation within their lineup. Mammoth is dry, but it's so dry you want to run HR3's or full mud spikes. So what does "dry conditions" even mean?
I'm excited to try this tire at some point, because I live in the land of actual dry conditions year round. Can't tell if this will be a front Assegai replacement for me, a front HR3 replacement, or a great fast rolling and braking rear tire. Or some combination of the three, or none of the above, or something else entirely.
I will add, in sympathy to the journalists, that writing about the finer points of comparative tire performance is extremely difficult. It's easy for those descriptions to either be too vague to be helpful, too specific to be accurate, the result of placebo effect and/or confirmation bias, or just boring.
I would also add, after spending most of my last rides thinking specifically about my tires feel, subtelties in conditions, rider's energy and mindset can change how a tire feels.
For example, using the gen 1 Schwalbe Albert Gravity 2.5 US front/rear, mostly dry rides. Early in the season, not in the best shape, I was cautious but gaining confidence in the tires. I settled on the best pressure after 5-6 rides and just enjoyed them afterwards. Then I reached one ride where I was tired and the tires seemed skittish and less predictable. The ride after, they felt great again and I found the confidence back (I was less tired I guess).
So riding a tire only a few times doesn't give all the traits. I guess when you tests parts for a living you end up taking this in consideration when doing a "first ride" review.
As a side note, I still wish that the side knobs were bigger on the Albert 2.5, but after 15-ish 1.5-2h rides, they show almost no wear and are still some of my favorite tires ever.
in conditions where the Assegai does well, this tire will do well and has the added benefit of better stability in high speed, high load conditions. Essentially no downsides compared to Assegai. It rolls a bit faster as well. If you have a bunch of high load sections, DHX front and rear can be beneficial as at times a DHR rear will lose stability and step out.
In times when it’s dusty or muddy enough for the Assegai to be overwhelmed, the DHX will be overwhelmed as well. It’s not a HR3 replacement by any means.
Maxxis is the Powell Peralta of MTB.
so with those heavily ramped center knobs, is the DHX the fastest rolling Maxxis in a DH casing? related: when the Dissector v2 was released, why did it lose a DH casing option?
Rolling speed is a balance of a few things, can’t give the secret formula away. Depending on conditions 2.4 DHR and DHX will roll about the same.
Dissector v2 is now available in 27.5 MaxxTerra, DH casing
This is great info, thank you.
Did you and your team consider inserts during your design and testing of the DHX?
We design our tires to be a standalone product. We do some testing to ensure instal is reasonable, but performance of tire + insert isn’t a priority for us.
Yeah, its so hard to disentangle all the variables that go into it. Trail conditions, power output, line choice, is Mercury in retrograde, etc. After going through multiple setups over the past few months I've found I can ride a fairly consistent speed on most any tire (as long as it's matched to conditions) and the rest just comes down to personal preference.
But hot damn the TC radial corners so well. Pretty addictive.
Same experience for me, i am so happy that 27.5 x 2.5 dh casing maxxterra dhrii exists now it is the perfect rear tire between the slightly higher volume than 2.4 (i like to think this helps prevent rim strikes) and the durable but grippy-enough compound.
Excited to see the amount of dh casing maxxterra options available in the new dh casing too.
Post a reply to: Tire chat (nerds only)