Need a new back tyre for my trip to Les Arcs in a couple of weeks. Choices are either Butcher GG T9, or a Cannibal GG T9.. will be paired with a HillBilly up front. Will be riding mainly off-piste trails.
Any thoughts for one over the other?
Any morning crowd input? 👍🏻
Butcher is good on the rear, Ive used them with a hillbilly front both in black diamond guise and they roll fast, have decent grip, I'm using a dhr 2 max terra DD at the moment on the rear which is very similar rolling and cornering.
Looking forward to trying a cannibal.
My only experience of Spesh tyres (Butcher and Purgatory I think) is them trying to kill me and me subsequently throwing them in the bin.
I believe they may have got better though
My only experience of Spesh tyres (Butcher and Purgatory I think) is them trying to kill me and me subsequently throwing them in the bin.
I believe they may have got better though
Same here. People swear they've changed but then they're the same people who used to recommend the old ones.
I used to get sucked in by the sale prices and my LBS had a BOGOF offer once so I stocked up on Hillbilly's and Butcher's before an Alps trip. Very regrettable purchase.
“People swear they’ve changed but then they’re the same people who used to recommend the old ones.”
They haven’t changed anything, apart from the casings, the compounds, the tread patterns, and the factory they’re made in, everything is the same! 😉
I haven’t tried a Cannibal as that’s only available as a DH tyre, but the Butcher is a good rear when you’ve got a Hillbilly up front. It feels kind of halfway between a DHF and DHR2 in how it behaves but it’s a bit easier to balance on the limit with a bit less ultimate cornering grip (almost certainly because the centre knobs are in line with the side knobs rather than being offset).
the casings, the compounds, the tread patterns, and the factory they’re made in
Well I suppose that's a start.
Does the Butcher Gravity T9 pedal OK as a rear?
I was considering it as a heavy duty option as well.
I was on a Butcher T9, Eliminator T7 combo in the Alps last week.
The Butcher was great, the Eliminator was good in the dry, borderline lethal in the wet.
Next time I'm going to try Hillbilly front, Butcher rear.
I've got lots of specialized tyres. I like them in the old and new versions. So many people on the internet seem to think I'm mad :-)
Same here. People swear they’ve changed but then they’re the same people who used to recommend the old ones.
waves
Old BLK diamond butchers in 2.6 are my choice for any uplift rides.
Current butcher t9 in 2.6 is super grippy, but super draggy. Not quite as draggy as a 2.4 max grip shorty, but not quite as grippy either. It's off for summer.
Both my MTB have a newish butcher in 2.6 f and brand new purgatory t7 in 2.6 rear.
The geometron is getting the blk diamond back for a couple of days at Afan followed by two at bike park wales. I don't fancy swapping them without a compressor.
There is a double down dhr in 2.4 that will be coming with me as a spare
If it's a butcher or cannibal, wasn't the cannibal designed to stop specialized riders riding with Sharpies out maxxis? I'd go for that.
Was on a butcher on the rear last week in Les arcs (with whiterooms) it is looking beaten up but it's now done two trips there and riding between.
Saw some of the DH racers in the French champs were using cannibals but I was never goind to be as hard or fast as them
Yep, cannibal was designed as a racer's replacement. If I was doing park laps then I'd go Cannibal F+R, but as we'll be more off-piste I'm running my Hillbilly front. Just not sure which would be the better braking tyre. I'm thinking its going to be the Butcher, but was curious to hear any Cannibal reports.
Thanks everyone!
" Just not sure which would be the better braking tyre. I’m thinking its going to be the Butcher, but was curious to hear any Cannibal reports."
Although I haven't tried a Cannibal, the centre tread looks better for braking than the Butcher, with wider blocks and more block area. And the side knobs are bigger so look like they'll last longer before tearing but might be a bit less progressive on the limit (but with more ultimate grip).
I'm still using a Clutch SX up front on my 26" bike, it has lasted absolutely ages (probably coming up to 10 years now) though I probably don't ride as regularly as most people. Sad they don't make them any more as I've found them the best all round tyres for me and have very predictable grip and traction for how I ride. Based on this I'd definitely have faith in their other tyres too.