Gator Hardshell vs Minion DHR II review

Features

• Hardshell

  More is what you get

  Puncture protection and mileage are the strengths of Hardshell-ProTection. A wider PolyX Breaker®, the specialist against punctures under the tread centre and shoulders provides for great reliability. The threeply – each layer with 60 TPI – carcass covers the entyre tire and makes it a real bastion against urban detritus. The outer sidewalls of the tire are reinforced with DuraSkin® fabric providing even more reliablility due to the casing being so well protected. Hardshell tires are the puncture-resistant flagship amongst racing tires – produced exclusively in Germany.

Features

• Single, dual compound, 3C MaxxTerra, 3C MaxxGrip, or Super Tacky options

• Select specs are Tubeless Ready (TR), confirm in table below

• Wide Trail (WT) sizes optimized for 35mm inner width rims

• EXO, EXO+, DoubleDown (2×120 TPI), or Downhill (2×60 TPI) casing options

Usage

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Usage

Technologies

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Technologies

• Downhill (DH) Two layers of casing material are used from bead to bead, providing additional protection and sidewall stiffness for downhill applications.

• 3C MaxxTerra An intermediate compound configuration used in select mountain tires. 3C MaxxTerra is softer and offers more traction than 3C MaxxSpeed, yet provides better treadwear and less rolling resistance than MaxxGrip.

• Super Tacky (ST) Super Tacky (ST) is a special low-rebound, high-traction compound used in select mountain tires.

• EXO+ Our EXO+ construction combines two of our best puncture protection materials: SilkShield and EXO. The SilkShield layer runs from bead-to-bead with a layer of EXO along the sidewalls. Combined, these two materials create EXO+ which improves tread puncture protection by 27%; sidewall durability by 51%; and resistance to pinch flats by 28%.

• Tubeless Ready Tubeless tires provide the rider with many benefits: the ability to run lower air pressures, which improves traction; lower rolling resistance when compared to a tube-type tire; and less chance of flatting because there is no tube. Liquid sealants should only be used in the following types of tires: tubeless road, tubular, and tubeless ready. The use of liquid sealants in any other Maxxis tire will void the warranty.

• Wide Trail Wide Trail (WT) construction optimizes the tire’s tread layout and profile on today’s modern, wider rims. Traditional tires are designed around older, narrower rims and can create an overly square tire profile, leading to less than optimal performance. WT tires are optimized for a 35mm inner rim width but are proven to work over a range from 30-35mm inner rim widths, depending on the rider’s preference. Maxxis Wide Trail XC tires are optimized for use with 30mm internal width rims, but they will perform well on rims as narrow as 25mm. Maxxis does not recommend rims wider than 30mm or narrower than 25mm

• Double Down (DD) DoubleDown (DD) is the next step in the evolution of the dual-ply tire casing for enduro racing. Two 120 TPI casing layers reinforced with a butyl insert provide the enduro racer with the support and protection of a downhill tire, but in a lighter package.

• EXO An extremely cut-resistant and abrasion-resistant material added to the sidewalls of select mountain tires. This densely woven fabric is also lightweight and highly flexible, ensuring that the performance of the tire remains unaffected. Choose EXO Protection for exceptionally rocky, treacherous trails where the chance of sidewall cuts and abrasions is high.

• 3C MaxxGrip 3C MaxxGrip uses the softest rubber compounds to offer the ultimate in grip and slow rebound properties for unparalleled traction in downhill applications.

Specifications

"27"

"28"

Specifications

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27.5

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