Decide my life (front tire)

I'm more of a BC-XC/Trail hardtail kind of hooman with a new 30mm internal width wheel up front. I'll likely go Maxxis as per usual.

Pretty sure exo-plus is enough for this hughman. Narrowed it down to:

DHF 2.5WT 3c MaxGripp vs DHR2 2.4WT 3c maxGripp vs Assguy 2.5WT 3c Maxgripp

Coming off 2.3 DHF Maxterra and I've also run DHR2 2.3 Maxterra up front too. On the skinnier rim (22 mm) I slightly preferred the DHF for it's more razor like precision over the DHR2 and maybe found it grippier on off camber kind of stuff.

But since I'm going wider rim, wider tire and more grip it's kind of an apples vs orange comparison when considering my past experiences.

What's grippy and confidence inspiring but won't bum me out too much on the climbs? Also I might want to get something that will work in these upcoming dryer months (max terra?) and then switch to something grippier after summer.

At the moment I'm thinking DHR2 maxgripp 2.4wt exo plus...but thinking maybe I should try out the assguy.

I see your Maxxis and raise you a Schwalbe Magic Mary SG or ST. They are 2.4 and run true to size in my experience on 29mm ID rims. WT tires are optimized for 35mm rims, but Im sure many people use them on narrower rims with success.

the bike came with assguy/ minion in DD and they have worked fine so i just keep buying them, I try to get them on sale

Yeah, I suppose if I step outside the Maxxis realm the Schwalbe Magic Mary in the ultrasoft compound may be the way to go.  Interested in the Specialized Butchers with T9 compound too as they are priced well and I had a butcher years back that I thought was pretty good overall.

another thing is that IME the Maxxis are well made, go on the rim easy and inflate with a floor pump,

make sure the tire is room temp and if need be use a strap or rope to squeeze the tread which spreads the beeds

Posted by: tashi

Big fan of the 2.6 T9 Butcher, it’s better than it used to be as well. Possibly less bite from the side knobs vs a DHF but verrrrry similar to the 2.5WT DHF.

This human does well on EXO tires as well as whatever Specialized calls the Butcher construction.

I've done fine with Exo front too...but run DD rear, because no finesse. Like being able to drop a couple of psi too.

Vittoria Mazza is another option. Weighed mine at 990g.

Been running a 2.3 Butcher for last few months, old model was a step below, but this new one is on par with a DHF. Probably buy this again when it wears. Mazza is up there at DHF grip level too. 

Widely praised and popular BC/XC front tires are Specialized Eliminator and Maxxis Dissector, having run both I'd personally take a Mazza, Butcher or even a 2.3 DHF instead for the more solid side knob confidence, and at only <100g weight penalty.

Btw, pretty big weight difference between those 2.3 Maxxis you ran and the 2.5's, especially the DHR, that thing is featherweight in 2.3.

BC-XC/Trail - Minion DHF Maxxgrip. Or, if you're keen to venture WTB Vigilante 2.6 light, high grip - as a front. I ran it on my hardtail for two seasons and loved it. The Vigilante is Andrew Major Approved!!!!

No assguy recommendations I see. Too slow rolling even for a front?

I have the Assguy on the front of an e-bike which is the normal config  and every thing is a berm so it doesnt matter to me if its slow or heavy

Posted by: BC_Nuggets

No assguy recommendations I see. Too slow rolling even for a front?

I use it for a front. I find the rear is more the concern for rolling efficiently while climbing. Switched to a DHR on the back and that's better.

Posted by: rnayel

BC-XC/Trail - Minion DHF Maxxgrip. Or, if you're keen to venture WTB Vigilante 2.6 light, high grip - as a front. I ran it on my hardtail for two seasons and loved it. The Vigilante is Andrew Major Approved!!!!

Andrew major approved!!  That’s high praise!

Thinking butcher grid trail t9 2.6.  Price great too.  Good on 30 mm ir rim I assume?

In my experience 2.6 butchers do well on 30-35mm internal rims. Wider or narrower and the profile gets weird.

Tossing a hat in from the Continental Kryptotal FR 2.4 in Enduro Soft. Rolls quick, Long wearing, hooks up and grips incredibly well.   If you are eyeballing an Assguy, the Conti' equivalent, the Argotal fits the bill and comes in a 2,6 (measures at 2.56 knob to knob at 30psi)