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Currently very much a schwalbe man but have a spare pair of these kicking about.
What are they like in the real world? Mostly mud and gritstone riding
Mostly mud
I had one as a rear tyre some years ago and found it poor in mud, as it clogged up easily.
Quite nice in dry, loose over hard or rocky terrain though. A friend in the Lakes said it worked great there.
Yeah, I found them ok in the dry. Sort of a middle ground dry tyre. Don't do anything particularly well but not awful at anything. Not especially fast. I'd leave them until summer.
I'm currently running one on the rear of my trail bike in DD 2.5 flavour.
It's on there as I found it in a tyre pile in the garage and needs using.
It's OKish but I'd not rush out and buy one.
Doesn't seem to roll any faster than a Kryptotal and doesn't grip as well.
I'd definitely never put one on the front but if you already have one bang it on the rear and try it yourself.
Roll slower than a minion SS, but offer about the same braking grip, I don't rate them - but others disagree strongly, I think Chris Porter was a big fan of them
They're abit average in the 2.3" size but the 2.5" has such noticeably deeper tread, it's almost a different tyre. I use them on the rear for riding less hectic tracks, as soon as it gets steeper (riding abroad) or very muddy I'll put on something more meaty. They have a lovely natural controllable breakaway for rear wheel sliding, lots of fun if it's dry.
Yeah as above, I quite like them as a dry conditions rear tyre.
Could good on the front too, for summer xc, just as long as you don't ask too much of them.
Good as a rear, but possibly not in winter slop.
I think Richie Rude used DHR2 front, Aggressor rear in dry conditions to win EWS overall - so certainly stands up to agressive and fast riding in the right weather and trail conditions
2.3 was awful in any condition. 2.5 was good in the rubble of Scottish hill tracks and estate roads but not great in anything muddy.
I’ve only used the 2.3 - and still have one in the garage. Haven’t used it for a few years.
It’s rolls ok, grips ok - as long as it’s dry. Find them a bit drifty sideways in loose stuff. Braking grip is very average.
It’s not miles different to the Conti Xynotal - but the Xynotal does better when it’s a bit wet.
The 2.5 is alright, but it's not <that> much faster than a dhr2 and yet much less allround useful, it's not a good tradeoff. I just don't rate the 2.3 at all, it's like something from 2005.
But the 2.5 does come in some good carcass/compound mixes, I have a 2.5 Doubledown dual compound on the hardtail basically because that's a hole in a lot of ranges- decent size, fast rubber, light use tread, but good solid carcass. And for that specific job it's done well but I wouldn't use it for any other reason.
I quite like the 2.5, it's not the best mud tyre - but that's not it's design spec anyway and it does depend very much on your mud, it's actually ok in wet slop, not great in thick clay type mud admittedly - but again, what tyre is? I like the carcass and grip variations you can get with it, and it hooks up well, and despite @Northwind's assessment, I think it rolls noticeably faster than a DHR.
Been running one in some form or another on the rear for years (had 2.5 & 2.5 in DD 3c,currently 2.3 with no fancy rubber or carcass). They're generally cheaper than a DHR.
Predictable, a little drifty, but in a good way. Wear is good and they roll better on tarmac than a DHR which I appreciate on a long climb.
Current one has done a season of alpine bike parks, Finale and lots of more XC/big day trail riding through the Appennino mountains.
Edit.... Basically what everyone else said. Oh, and I run the same as rude.
nickc
Full Memberand despite @Northwind’s assessment, I think it rolls noticeably faster than a DHR.
Oh it is definitely faster, don't get me wrong. I just think it trades away too much in grip and versatility for the amount of speed you get back from it.
Worst tyre i have ever used in the UK.. (peak district riding)
one sniff of mud.. it packed full of mud and turned into essentially a slick..!
The bike would just sit stationery.. and the rear wheel would just spin and find zero traction on climbs..! havent ever had a tyre do that before or since.. (including riding a gravel bike through silly slippy muddy conditions!)
Other riders with other tyres on the same climb had no issues..
the little raised ridges between the lugs seemed to grab and hold on to the mud..
i did initially ride it in New Zealand in dry conditions where i would describe its performance as adequate..
I've got a double down 2.3 on the back just now - I quite like it. Steers really nice, rolls pretty fast. Not amazing braking grip but not had any terror moments as yet like a Minion SS.
choosing the Dissector instead
To highlight - sounds like the Dissector might be what some of you are after. Very impressive tyre in the right variant.
Used the 2.5 version on the rear of my hardtail for a couple of years. Was pretty happy with it but I'm not especially fussy and don't ride in mud too much. Grip was much better with lower pressures but then it was susceptible to pinch punctures which didn't always seal. I'm now running a Specialized Eliminator which has been good so far.