The concept of a semi-slick mountain bike tire isn't exactly new - XC racers were using them over twenty years ago, and there were a number of DH oriented versions, including Maxxis' High Roller semi-slick in the early 2000s - but there's been a resurgence over the last few seasons, with the latest batch aimed at enduro racers, or anyone looking for a little extra speed. The idea is that the low profile center tread reduces rolling resistance, while the tall, aggressive side knobs provide cornering traction. Schwalbe's Rock Razor and Specialized's Slaughter have been the two most prominent options, and now Maxxis is entering the fray with their new Minion SS.
The Minion SS has the same alternating rectangular and L-shaped side knobs as the popular Minion DHF and DHR II, but the center tread is comprised of much smaller blocks, with ramped center knobs and a set of smaller L-shaped knobs. All of the folding bead models use Maxxis' dual rubber compound and include EXO sidewall protection, and for riders seeking extra puncture resistance Maxxis offers a version with their Silkworm protection. Silkworm uses an additional layer of material under the tread to help keep rocks and other pointy objects from poking through, and adds 20 grams of weight.
In addition to the 27.5" x 2.3" and 29" x 2.3" versions, there are also also two DH casing options that measure 27.5" x 2.5". What about a Minion SS for 26" wheels? Maxxis says they're on the way, and should be available in the spring of 2016. We tested the 27.5" x 2.3” non-Silkworm version, which weighs in at 740 grams and retails for $62 USD.
www.maxxis.com /
@Maxxis On the TrailThe Minion SS arrived just as the dry and sunny summer weather began to slip away, giving me the chance to try it in trail conditions ranging from bone dry to perfectly tacky and all the way to wet and greasy. Setting the Minion SS up tubeless didn't pose any problems, and I typically ran between 25 – 27 psi with it mounted to a 23mm internal width rim. I paired the Minion SS with the new Maxxis 2.5” Minion DHF in the front, creating the mullet of tire combos – business in the front and a party in the back. The more aggressive front tire ensured that the bike stayed on track in loose terrain, leaving the Minion SS free to shift and slide around when necessary. It's a very enjoyable tire combination, and even in the steeps there was more control and traction than I'd expected. The tall side knobs are what make the SS perform worlds better than a worn out 'regular' Minion would – they prevent it from breaking free too suddenly, and keep the wheel locked into the turns.
The most obvious benefit of a semi-slick tread pattern is the reduced rolling resistance, which was especially noticeable when spinning out the miles on a dirt road or smoother sections of singletrack. The Minion SS gets up to speed quickly and helps take the sting out of those long approaches, a welcome alternative to meatier tires that can make it feel like you're riding through molasses. I'd expected any shortcomings to arise on the descents, but it was actually on steeper climbs with loose dirt over hardpack that the Minion SS faltered slightly – that low profile center occasionally had trouble finding purchase, and it was easier to spin out compared to a tire with taller center knobs to dig in and grip the trail.
There are limits to the trail conditions that the Minion SS will perform well in, but even in slightly damp weather it was still reliable, as long as the mud didn't get too thick. That's when the tire's performance drops off, since the minimalist center tread can no longer grip when filled to the brim with glop, but deep mud is well out of the realm of its suggested usage.
As far as durability goes, even after a couple months of regular use the small center knobs, the area I expected to see the most signs of wear, are still holding their shape, and there hasn't been any cracking or tearing of the side knobs. The Minion SS's total lifespan will depend on terrain and riding style, but it doesn't seem as if it will be drastically shorter than that of a fully treaded tire.
Pinkbike's Take:
| The Minion is a specialty tire, but it's also one that's usable in a wider range of conditions than its appearance might suggest. Paired with an aggressive front tire it's an excellent option for riders looking for additional speed without sacrificing much in the way of control. - Mike Kazimer |
Visit the feature gallery for high resolution and additional images
Minion DH2 is in my mind the best tyre ever, closely followed by the Shorty and i'm sure the Minion SS will be added to this exclusive club of the only tyres I'll ever put on my bike.
www.bike-discount.de/en/buy/schwalbe-hans-dampf-evo-snakeskin-trailstar-27%2C5x2%2C35-tl-easy-folding-230765/wg_id-8913
www.bike-discount.de/en/buy/maxxis-highroller-ii-27.5x2.30-tr-exo-dual-60-folding-88243/wg_id-8913
Pretty sure those are more or less equivalent and its the same story on CRC too so I don't really get why people are moaning about schwalbe prices.
Cheers
Bailey also brings the passion he races with to the R&D table. Drawing on his years of riding experience and his design skills, Bailey teamed up with Maxxis engineers to design the Minion DHF, Maxxis’ best new downhill tire. -pinkbike 2003
m.pinkbike.com/news/article1130.html
If you've ever ridden a Maxxis Minion DHF--arguably one of these most popular gravity tire tread patterns of all time, then you have this man to thank for that sublime design: Colin Bailey. -pinkbike 2014
m.pinkbike.com/news/people-of-the-world-cup-part-3-2014.html
It's different in the us. A cheap schwalbe tire is like $95 in a shop. Plus they're terrible and not worth it.
I cringed when i bought the dhf in my garage for just under $80 but they last and they're the mtb tire designed by god and you can't put a price on devine tire design/engineering.
The minion ss silkworm i have was like $65 and at that price, it's reasonable.
Butchers aren't great tires unless you get the grid casing but then they're heavy. But, for the price i havent found a better tire. Front and rear in grid for less than 120 out the door is a good deal in my mind. When I'm done chewing up this pair maxxis tires, i might stick to maxxis if the wear is good.
The guy I refer to is just that, an engineer who happens to be a pro rider on the side, not the opposite.
@Alias530 - Butcher's side knobs are as close to HR ones as a knob can get. Start HR vs Minion discussion and you may as well prepare yourself to face angry mob
Keep in mind the butcher is like 60$ and the 2 others are over 100$. The MM is better overall if price isn't a factor but if you're looking for the best value/money ratio, the butcher outshines the other options.
I really have no clue of what would be best as a rear tire for what I'm doing. It feels like there is no happy medium for me.
www.pinkbike.com/photo/12970894
A lot of us are still riding 26" at the moment but whenever someone buys a new bike now the majority are going 650b/27.5" and some 29".
Personally I'm not bothered as I'd not want to run such a tyre but even if I did I could always trim a normal one
reading comprehension is a wonderful thing....................
"What about a Minion SS for 26" wheels? Maxxis says they're on the way, and should be available in the spring of 2016."
reading the entire article is also an amazing experience. try it sometime.
lol.
Why else do the rear brake pads wear out before the front every time? It's like someone took what happens to cars (70front/30rear) and said "wow, mtb must be the same". The truth is that we can't often put much force on the front brake because we are using it to turn corners for much of the time.
This style tire works fine until the edging knobs stop working.
The Slaughter rubber has be very durable with minimal wear over several months and around 800 miles, and in my experience it is similar to Maxxis "dual compound" that I have run on other tires and they have on the Minion SS. The Rock Razor trailstar rubber was much less durable and this made a big difference since when the center knobs wear down they get small fast and braking and climbing traction suffers from an already tenuous state. I felt cornering traction was about the same, but climbing and braking traction a little better on the Slaughter. Anyways, this type of tire works really well where I live and ride the most in the intermountain west. As stated in the review, it's going to suck in the sloppy wet and suck when you really need a lot of rear braking.
And the cracking of the side knobs on your Highroller2 3c isn't normally anything to worry about as the cracks should only be through the top layer of soft rubber(40a) and there is a harder 70a layer underneath that should support the knob until the tyre is worn out.
It's also a high performance tyre and yes in some cases you will be able to destroy them in a short period of time.
Reminds me of running an XC tyre on high speed groomed descents on the rear except you know once you get to the sideknobs it's gonna really corner unlike the sideknobs on an xc tyre.
You do have to modulate your braking a little more but I was coming off a DHR2 3C rear so you'd expect that
Also, once again Canadians get boned, or it's the bike shops getting pretty liberal with the markup. $110 retail at most shops in North Van---GET bent! Than you to North Shore Bike Shop for having the best prices, 30 bucks cheaper!
I've got some maxxis minion dhf for the front and one of the minion ss for the rear. Going to wait until the end of winter before i throw them on, but im super curious to compare.
I like the exo casing, as it's lighter than the grid casing, but beefier than control. I've shredded a few grid casing tires but been ok on grid/exo. Also like the traction from the beefier sidewalls.
www.mtbr.com/cat/tires-and-wheels/tire/maxxis/kraken/prd_358303_151crx.aspx
I usually run a Minion 2.5 front and 2.3 rear. I'll be buying the Minion DHF WT 2.5 for the front. I have two questions regarding the rear:
1. Will the non WT Minion 2.3 be ok on the 35mm rear?
2. How will the non WT Minion SS perform on a 35mm rim? Will the side knobs become so pronounced that you are riding on them all the time?
"The most obvious benefit of a semi-slick tread pattern is the reduced rolling resistance, which was especially noticeable when spinning out the miles on a dirt road or smoother sections of singletrack.
...
I'd expected any shortcomings to arise on the descents, but it was actually on steeper climbs with loose dirt over hardpack that the Minion SS faltered slightly – that low profile center occasionally had trouble finding purchase, and it was easier to spin out compared to a tire with taller center knobs to dig in and grip the trail. "
What was the bike used for the tryouts? Was this DH tire used for XC? Fire roads and steep climbs??
Please explain
For going up and down
Well done Maxxis for giving us the option.