In my experience, considering days of effective grip to dollars spent the ranking is:
Conti Blackchill Protection Apex (BCPA - only this casing/ compound which is made in Germany) - best all round tyre compound/ casing I have found. They have had the occasional unbalanced casing on a tyre but warranty support from Highway Two is outstanding. Usual MSRP $90-95 tend to be on sale at the end of the season (in highly seasonal areas like Whistler) which is the best time to buy next year's tyre supply.
Bontrager - lasts almost as long as the Conti with 95% of the grip and rolls more slowly. Heavier tyre for same casing durability. Usual MSRP $90, often on sale for $70.
Maxxis MaxxGrip - high level grip lasts about 60% as long as the Conti and rolls more slowly. Way heavier tyre for same casing durability. Production consistency is impressive so you get the same feel all the time. Usual MSRP $120.
Schwalbe - matches (soft) or exceeds (ultra soft) level of grip as the Conti BCPA, wears faster than the knees on a toddler's leggings (20 hrs) and rolls about as well as a pyramid. Usual MSRP $120.
As discussed earlier the Conti tread pattern seems to be a love it or hate it proposition, and there was a period of 1-2 years where Conti were updating their casings from ERTO to ISO so the compatibility with tubeless and hookless bead rims was a bit erratic for while, but quite a few colleagues have dipped their toes (wheels) in the tyre change waters over the past two years (courtesy of my coffee for 50% used tyres program) and then become Conti converts and happy to buy their own tyres.
Oct. 16, 2020, 4:40 p.m. - AndrewR
In my experience, considering days of effective grip to dollars spent the ranking is: Conti Blackchill Protection Apex (BCPA - only this casing/ compound which is made in Germany) - best all round tyre compound/ casing I have found. They have had the occasional unbalanced casing on a tyre but warranty support from Highway Two is outstanding. Usual MSRP $90-95 tend to be on sale at the end of the season (in highly seasonal areas like Whistler) which is the best time to buy next year's tyre supply. Bontrager - lasts almost as long as the Conti with 95% of the grip and rolls more slowly. Heavier tyre for same casing durability. Usual MSRP $90, often on sale for $70. Maxxis MaxxGrip - high level grip lasts about 60% as long as the Conti and rolls more slowly. Way heavier tyre for same casing durability. Production consistency is impressive so you get the same feel all the time. Usual MSRP $120. Schwalbe - matches (soft) or exceeds (ultra soft) level of grip as the Conti BCPA, wears faster than the knees on a toddler's leggings (20 hrs) and rolls about as well as a pyramid. Usual MSRP $120. As discussed earlier the Conti tread pattern seems to be a love it or hate it proposition, and there was a period of 1-2 years where Conti were updating their casings from ERTO to ISO so the compatibility with tubeless and hookless bead rims was a bit erratic for while, but quite a few colleagues have dipped their toes (wheels) in the tyre change waters over the past two years (courtesy of my coffee for 50% used tyres program) and then become Conti converts and happy to buy their own tyres.