Hi
Got a 29er Spesh Stumpy that has come with 2.3 T7 Butcher up front. Thinking of swapping the T7 Butcher to the rear and then putting a 2.3 or 2.6 T9 Butcher up front (currently has a T7 Purgatory rear - very fast rolling, but definitely not a winter tyre). T9 supposed to have more grip than the T7 compound.
Any experiences of a T9 Butcher? And is 2.6 overkill for a 150mm forked trail bike?
I'm keen to hear about the T9 rubber as well.
My experience is that 2.6in is great on the front in some situations but I prefer 2.4 or 2.5 for all-round use now.
I'm about to do the same.
I have a pair of older (i.e. not T9/T7) 2.3 Butchers in BlckDmnd casing and I was going to put on of those on the back with a 2.6 T9 Grid Trail up front.
I suspect there will be tons of grip in both good and bad ways...
Thanks all. I see that Spesh also do a HillBilly in T9 compound, which I am sure would be a decent winter grip option.
I haven’t tried the new T9 etc tyres but I remain amazed at how well the more recent Hillbilly works in a huge variety of conditions despite being a relatively hard compound (it must be because it wears v slowly compared to a MaxTerra Maxxis).
Used to run the 2.6 Butcher on the front but it never felt very planted to me and I always seemed to be losing grip. Replaced it with a Minion Dhf and it seems miles better.
Used to run the 2.6 Butcher on the front but it never felt very planted to me and I always seemed to be losing grip
Mine was constantly trying to put me on the floor.
I see that Spesh also do a HillBilly in T9 compound, which I am sure would be a decent winter grip option.
Could be a winner, but do they still only come in 2.3 or 2.6? Seems to straddle the sweet spot a bit.
Yep, my new (now few months old) Levo came with T9’s. Rode it once as I was being lazy before swapping wheels over, came home & gave them away.
Recently been out on a Kenevo SL with the same, and they ruin it also.
Absolutely no comparison to my usual setup of MaxxGrip Assegai / MaxxTerra DHR2.
"Could be a winner, but do they still only come in 2.3 or 2.6? Seems to straddle the sweet spot a bit."
The Hillbilly 2.6 is actually a 2.45" tyre (on a 30mm rim) - ideal front size! (Conveniently the Eliminator 2.3" is only 1mm narrower, so matches well on the rear).
Interestingly this just popped up on my FB:
https://www.vitalmtb.com/product/guide/Tires,48/Specialized/Butcher-GRID-TRAIL-T9,34995
It says they're made in a new factory, so I wouldn't assume casing sizes and durability will remain the same.
“ It says they’re made in a new factory, so I wouldn’t assume casing sizes and durability will remain the same.”
Unless they’ve moved factory twice in recent years, I thought the move from CST was in between this Hillbilly:
https://dirtmountainbike.com/bike-reviews/wheels-and-tyres/specialized-hillbilly.html
And this one:
https://m.pinkbike.com/news/specialized-hillbilly-grid-tire-review.html
But since that one came out they’ve changed the compounds twice, to Gripton and then T9, and added more casing choices.
I have a grid trail butcher in the gripton compound. You can still buy these, but I guess they have been replaced by the T7 and T9 versions.
https://www.specializedconceptstore.co.uk/product/16407/2020-butcher-grid-trail-2bliss-ready/
One does wonder if some of this is just rebranding though?
Im interested to hear peoples experiences. I recently swapped from a black diamond eliminator to a trail grid version and its useless in the wet. Had me off many times
Im interested to hear peoples experiences. I recently swapped from a black diamond eliminator to a trail grid version and its useless in the wet. Had me off many times
Just buy Maxxis. The spesh tyres are still far too hard, they claim the slower rebound is better than a stickier rubber. Even their gravity team use blacked out Maxxis...
TBF the Eliminator BlkDmnd is my current fave rear tyre.
It's hard but it still grips fine, rolls well and has held up great.
yea it was mine as well.
grid trail is same tred but absolutely shocking grip
Long term review up on Vital now....
Thanks for the feedback all. I’ve taken a punt on the T9 Gravity, 2.3. Would have gone for T9 Trail, but stock not available. Looking at the reviews the T9 Gavity version can cope with lower pressures, (I presume because of the stiffer casing).
Am a big Maxxis fan, so will see if I live to regret it…
I chucked a 2.3 T9 Grid Trail Butcher on the back of my Hightower, replacing a WTB Judge (Tough High Grip).
Weirdly even with the 300g less weight difference and, I'm assuming a slightly less sticky casing, the Butcher felt terrible! Felt like I was pedaling through treacle unless I had it pumped right up which meant it wasn't the best in "summer" slop. Would not recommend keeping it on for Winter!
Also managed to slice the sidewall - luckily wasn't deep enough to cause a puncture, but its the first time I've managed that in a while!
Ended up putting the Judge back on!
T9 and T7 on offer at Cyclestore with a further 10% off code SUM10 if you spend over £50
I swapped from Minion DHF (2.5 MaxxTerra EXO on the front and 2.3 Dual Compound EXO) to Butchers (2.6 T9 Grid Trail on the front, 2.3 Gription BlckDmnd on the back.)
The 2.6 comes up a bit narrower but a bit taller than the DHF in 2.5 though the DHF has had a fair bit of use. The 2.3 Butcher is about the same as the 2.3 DHF.
Rode on the new tyres last night in very "mixed" conditions last night, some nice loamy trails, some sloppy bits and lots of wet roots. They did better than the DHFs would have done for sure, when they did drift they were predictable and you could lean them over a bit more to engage the side knobs more.
They are "draggier" than the DHFs but I don't know if this is down to pattern, compound or weight. Probably all three.
I ran 20F/25R which was a bit less than EXO sidewalled DHFs and I might go even lower.
I'll be leaving them on for the time being but I'm also tempted to try a HillBilly on the front if it gets truly minging.
