[Closed] Best Specialized 29er tyre combo.

I've had two sets of modern Specialized tyres, and hated them both. The Butcher/Purgatory combo were ok in terms of grip but the carcass was poor, meaning that at 25psi they bounced and squirmed so much I had to put the pressure back up to 3o or 35psi - on a rigid bike. For a 2.3 this is way high. Having replaced them with Racing Ralphs in the same size I could go down to 25 or 20 without bouncing or squirming, presumably due to more supportive sidewalls, giving me a much smoother ride and better grip.

The 2.1 Ground Controls currently on my FS are so slippery on anything wet that it slows me down significantly. They are cheap mind, for a kevlar beaded tyre, but I'd still avoid.

Bring back Eskars is what I say !!

Slaughter 2.3 is a great 3 seasons rear tyre.

I quite liked the butcher/slaughter combo that came stock on my E29. When it got wet and muddy swapped the butcher to the rear and rain a magic mary upfront as couldnt find another butcher locally. Found the rear butcher wore quite quick and lost the braking edges quite quickly, now run magic marys front and rear.

not 100% sure about the butcher on the rear of my stumpy. its good but bouncy. the purg it replaced was probably better but rubbish in mud.

mary on the front is good.

Not full suss but I've got butcher front/slaughter rear on my 29er hardtail and it works well for me all year round.

I did have a purgatory rear but found it a bit draggy and wasn't that good at anything really, in comparison the slaughter rolls better and seems to corner better once you get it leant over on the big side knobs.

2.6 butcher front, 2.3 Ground Control rear if you can get ‘em in Grid casing.

I'd go Grid casing for XC trail riding & beyond, personally I'd try the Eliminator / Slaughter combo next.

I'm going for Hillbilly Grid 2.6 F and Eliminator Blk Dmnd 2.3 R on my new build.

Hoping I like them but they do seem to get a strangely wide range of reviews from brilliant to crap (as demonstrated well by this thread).

Usually running Butcher 29 2.6 front 2.3 on the rear in the Blck Dmnd casing as have had alot of sidewall damage an slits on the Gripton Grids. Trying out the Hillbilly 2.6 front Eliminator 2.3 rear in Blck Dmnd casing on one bike just to see what the difference is. Eliminator seems to roll faster but not as grippy. Slaughter on the back is good but waiting for the Blck Dmnd to come out.

GC on the rear if you like drifting 🙂

2.6 Butcher is really good imo- just a slightly better DHF, because that's literally all it wanted to be.

Rear, the 2.3 Slaughter isn't that good imo, it just feels like hard rubber, straightline traction is way way worse than a rockrazor and mud traction is worse than a minion ss. Hopefulyl there's a revised (bigger) one coming along.

650b Slaughter comes in wider sizes. Not heard anything about a wider 29er

Running 2.6 Hillbilly BD front which has great grip but draggy and 2.6 Eliminator rear, fast rolling and surprisingly good grippy, might try Eliminator front once it dries up

I swear by the 2.6 hillbilly, got it on my 29er capra, and my winter hack.
Also run the 2.6 butcher out back.

I cant fault them, seating on rim is the best I've had, and so is the tubeless sealing. Never a weap out the side walls

wasn't massively impressed with Butcher 2.6 Grid. seemed to squirm all over the place unless it was 30psi+ and not fabulous performance in the slop.