29er tyres for mixed conditions.

I found the Dissector a bit lurchy as a front tyre, there's a big gap between the edge knobs and the centre tread and the effect is a lot more pronounced than with a DHF, I ended up fitting a 2.4 DHR up front, which is good and dependable instead as there's no 2.4 DHF. I tend to run either a Rock Razor or a Rekon out back most of the time, but the Dissector will probably end up there at some point.

Might be worth looking at something like the Bontrager XR4 as a competent all-rounder maybe.

On my HT I've a pair of Minions, DHF on the front & SS on the rear - works well in wet/rooty/rocky Scotland, and even in the snow.

Yeah XR4 comes in both 2.6 and 2.4 so they are another option to look at.

Probably more allrounder than the DHR/Rekon combo? I’m not great on tyre knowledge or what’s good bad!!

Another shout for the XR4 on the front.... I would say in 2.4 though as the 2.6 is woeful in mud.

Glad you mentioned 2.6 is not good! Sounds like 2.4 front and rear would be ok.

Vitoria Agarro maybe another one to look at.

I have an Agarro front and rear on my rigid singlespeed and they both roll pretty well and I really like it as a front tyre.

I think it is a little draggy as a rear tyre, as on a previous bike I had Agarro front, Barzo rear and that felt a lot faster, but it was a 2.25 Barzo rather than 2.35, so not a direct comparison.

All of the above depends on your local dirt though!

Dissector is imo a pretty bad front tyre, it's too "all or nothing". Can work well on the back but it's still a bit unpredictable.

The DHR2 is a superb allround front tyre, it's not too draggy, works well in the dry, works well in the wet right up to the point where nothing but a mud tyre works. Assegai is very good if you want just a bit more mud capability too but I think the dhr2 in maxxterra is probably the one for you

Rears depends a lot on you tbh, the dhr2 in the dual compound is good but might be draggier than what you want. It makes up for it for me by being much better than anything that's just a bit faster.

On the other hand, semislicks can be really effective. It sort of defies logic but I use a rockrazor for much of the year, and I don't think it's worth switching off it til I'm in dhr2 conditions. It's partly that they're both absolutely brilliant tyres, but also it's just 2 sweet spots. The rockrazor has an amazing amount of grip when it's soft but not bottomless, as it sinks in enough for the side knobs to really dig in. Useless in a real swamp but that's not your requirement I think?

TLDR; for almost exactly what you describe I have dhr2 front, rockrazor rear. For a bit more grip, I have assegai front, dhr2 rear. Sadly not the same dhr2 as the jobs want different compounds and carcasses for me.

Dhr2 is always a great all rounder in the rear for me. If you want fairly fast rolling go for the 2.3” version as the 2.4” one is a lot draggier with bigger knobs.

On the front…I don’t know. Dhf or dhr2 in 2.3” could do the job if you aren’t pushing the limits / don’t want something chunky there and want to keep same brand front and rear.

I didn’t love the dissector I had for the front - was better in the rear - but wouldn’t run it as a winter rear tyre.

Currently got a 2.6” rekon on the rear and it’s managing so far - but it’s not properly muddy. Going to run it until it get get enough braking grip then the 2.3” dhr2 will be going on

Would like same brand. Not sure why! So would you say DHR 3C front duel rear both 2.3? Or would the 2.4 work up front? But it’s WT - not sure what the narrowest rims are recommended for WT versions. Mine are 29mm internal.

What’s the main difference in DHF and DHR?

Because you’re a tart perhaps? You aren’t alone mind…..

In the front I’d run 3c Maxxgerra but on the rear you could run dual compound for your purpose. It’ll last a bit longer on the back and still get enough grip.

If you want you could run the 2.4” one up front - it’ll be fine on a 29mm inner rim. Just be aware it’s a bit bigger and draggy.

Dhr2 has almost middle paddles so it has better drive and braking than the dhf. I’ve found the dhr2 is more squared off than the dhf so tend to run a dhf at the front and dhr2 at the rear mostly.

In the winter I run a much more aggressive front tyre though for more grip on steep tech. Either a magic Mary or hillbilly. But it sounds like they are a bit more aggressive than you’d want.

Nobby Nics or Wicked Wills, or one of each.

New forekasters? Look pretty good. Dunno if you can get them anywhere mind...

Forekasters are excellent for mixed conditions. Minions are overkill for anything flat and much more draggy than Forekasters.

I’ve been really impressed with my Wolfpack tyres. Not a brand many have heard of, but the guy behind them has a good pedigree. Been running a Trail front and Cross rear on my light wheels. Feels like is a completely different bike to when it’s on the burly ones.
Much cheaper than Maxxis as well.

https://kidsracing.co.uk/collections/types?q=Wheels&sort_by=title-descending

Forekasters look good. I see there is stock of the 29x2.4 at Wiggle but just dual compound. No idea what I would be looking for. I’m useless.

For 29mm internal rims should I be looking at the normal or WT versions?

Will have a nose at the Wolfpack ones.

What sizes are you using?

I’m using the 2.4’s. Nice amount of volume but still fast rolling. Quite refreshing you don’t have to negotiate a plethora of compound and carcass options, just choose from the two sizes.

Review of them here.

https://www.bikeperfect.com/reviews/wolfpack-trail-speed-and-cross-mountain-bike-tire-review

Maybe I’m just old and scared and prefer grip to speed, but I was happy last winter bimbling around with a shorty up front and a DHR2 in the back, both 2.4 Maxx Terra.

I put the DHR2 on a little while ago (replacing a Dissector that isn’t good in the clag) and I’ll swap the DHF (which I don’t much like) soon.

I’ve got the old style Forekaster on the back of my hardtail - just put it on for the winter to replace the slaughter that’s been on for the summer. It drives and brakes better but is surprisingly loose in the corners.

Wouldn’t run it on the front personally - but if you don’t push much in corners it’s be fine.

XR4 is a great option, not as yet been refreshed as with SE5 & SE6 but still works well, using XR4 29x2.6 on my hardtail.

I just run Minion DHFs all year around nowadays (or always the last 10 years). I got fed up with changing tyres/wheels all the time. Although currently have a Minion SS on the rear which I’m liking.

I recently put the Mk1 Forkaster Front and Rear 2.35 and 2.25 respectively, they’ve shocked me at how good the are for wet root woods single track.

I was looking to replace all of the tyres on my bike recently. Maxxis on the Enduro as they're old and wearing and sidewalls cracking. Vittoria on the xc race bike as the compound goes after about 200k.

Research has thrown up Hutchinson griffus for the Enduro, and either the Michelin xc2 or specialized range for the xc bike.

I hate schwalbe tyres and maxxis xc tyres are crap.

Still stuck for an intermediate tyre for the xc bike in the winter tho and am a nerd so hate mixing brands.

Purgatorys?

Looking for some combo for mixed conditions. Light trails with more roots than anything else combined with longer flatter rides over smoother grass/hard pack. Things can get a little wet and muddy but nothing horrific.

I'd suggest something more like an Assegai 2.5 3C front, Aggressor 2.3 dual-compound rear for that use (or Ardent 2.4 rear for a further shift from grip to speed). My 'normal' combo is that for general trail riding as I like the grip, but will shortly be swapping on my winter combo for better mud grip/clearing: Shorty 2.5 3C front, DHR 2.3 dual rear - likely overkill for the use you describe though.

I’ve been really impressed with my Wolfpack tyres

I keep eyeing these.... what is puncture resistance like?

@mccraque not had any, but only had them a few months. Mate of mine has a year and a half on his and hasn’t mentioned any issues. Only problem I could foresee is if you live in a flinty are slatey area. They’re pretty light and not sure how the sidewalls would fare in those conditions. For trails the OP mentions I can’t see any problem. Lots of the combos above are sheer overkill for what he describes as “light trails.......longer flatter rides over smoother grass/hardpack”

All year round on my full suspension enduro bike I will run Magic Mary Front and Big Betty Rear, both in super trail, highly recommend the combo

I’ve had an Aggaro on the front with a Mezcal rear for a few months now and in the dry it’s been an awesome fast combo. The Aggaro is IMO what the dissector wants to be but is better. I really like it. The mezcal is sketchy as in the wet though so I’ve picked up a Mazza (R2 bike have them pretty cheap) and going to try Mazza front and Aggaro rear now the weather is turning. Reckon that might be a good all conditions combo. Becoming a big fan of Vittoria’s.

My Sniper T came with Forecaster's, their my go to general purpose tyre now. Only come of for a couple of months at the hight of summer.

My Sniper T came with them too. I found them addictively fast and very good puncture resistance for a light tyre. But mildly terrifying on the front. I wouldn't run during winter (Thankfully the Sniper is just so Californian that it hibernates from Halloween to March).

Kryton57
Full Member
I recently put the Mk1 Forkaster Front and Rear 2.35 and 2.25 respectively, they’ve shocked me at how good the are for wet root woods single track.

Probably ideal for the winter Gorricks on the loamy soil... but nothing more sloppy than that.