[Closed] Spesh ground control for the peak?

Your thoughts re grip are 100% accurate. It's awful in the wet/anything other than dry hardpacked trails. Plus the purgatory is very draggy for its level of grip.

I'm using one on the rear of my camber 29, mostly riding in the peak. I've been using my winter hardtail so it's not had many outings in the proper winter slop, but when I have been out it I've been surprised by the traction it's provided in poor conditions. I think it should be decent for summer/autumn, but I'd want something with a slightly more aggressive tread for winter/spring. Mine is the control, not the grid. I'm not sure it would be a sensible choice for the front. Probably best paired with a butcher.

Maybe not ideal then! It would be paired with a butcher front but I'd be concerned about grip on wet rocks and mud.

What would you recommend instead Tom? DHR2?

2.4 ardent seems to work everywhere for me

If you want fast, the Schwalbe Rock Razor works really well in the Peak ime. Super rapid and when it does get soft, the big side-knobs give you a bunch more grip than you'd expect. Not as grippy as a full knobbly particularly under braking and I wouldn't ride it in the White Peak in winter, but it's a great tyres in the grittier, less muddy Dark Peak stuff.

It's all relative I guess and if you want your rear tyre to have limitless grip it's probably not the tyre for you, then again limitless grip tends to equal lots of drag, so it's all about balancing your priorities. No idea on the Specialized front though. Ardent Race is quick and reasonably grippy, though again not a tyre for proper mud.

Having run GC and Purg on the back of my Anthem I prefered the grip of the purg over the speed of the GC for trail riding in mixed conditions. I'd imagine the GC would be a good rear for dark peak in the summer. Also grid casing over control for rear, especially with rocks.

Considering a Maxxis Aggressor as an alternative to the purg come the summer if I want to go a bit faster rolling than the DHR2.

I've been massively underwhelmed with my Purgatory and Ground Controls, and both have been consigned to rear tyre duty. I can't wait until they wear out to be honest, but I'm too tight to bin a tyre with some life left...

I find them both lacking in grip and durability.

Hmm, it sounds like that might be going back then! I've read up about the ardent but it isn't much of an all round tyre, so I might have to put up with the purgatory, which apart from being a little draggy has been great. A mate is getting a DHR 2 at the weekend so I can compare that. I did look at the aggressor too but apparently not great in then wet.

I did look at the aggressor too but apparently not great in then wet.

That's a matter of opinion. I've had an aggressor on the rear since September and think its ace. Yes, just like all non-mud specific tyres it'll let go at some point and can get overwhelmed when its really claggy, but whats not to like with a bit of slip and slide here and there.

For the natural stuff round The Peak, The Lakes, all over North Wales and round Shropshire that I ride it isn't draggy, has plenty of corner grip with a predictable slide, wears well and are only about £38.

Oh and I much prefer it to the Purg on the other bike

It's more capable than the tread pattern gives credit for

Obviously that's my opinion

Hmm, it sounds like that might be going back then! I've read up about the ardent but it isn't much of an all round tyre,

The 2.4 Ardent is a pretty decent all-round tyre on the back fwiw. the 2.25 has a shallower tread pattern, but the 2.4 is a fair bit toothier and still reasonably fast rolling. It wouldn't be my choice as a year-round front tyre, but on the rear it's pretty good ime. Anyway...

Yeah the 2.4 Ardent is a totally different tyre to the 2.25 imo. Its not just the size, but as said its definitely got larger and deeper tread and seems pretty good in sloppy conditions for me. I have it paired with a High Roller 2 up front. Use it all year round no complaints.

I've got GCs on my SS and my hardtail. Riding alongside my mate who is on Nobby Nics, the GCs have noticeably less grip in the mud. My impression is that they are also draggier than Nics. I'll be trying something else - or going back to Nics which I've used for years - when these wear out.

OK, so it is clear that tyres are very subjective. After all of the above feedback I think I will wait till this weekend and have a go on the DHR 2 and based on that will compare to the feedback on the aggressor (seems I was a bit wrong here) and decide from there. I'll still keep the butcher front though - until my OCD becomes too strong with the brand miss match...

thanks all.