My HR2s are (to me) good in most conditions, but recent weather had highlighted their shortcomings on hardpack/loose over hard. The back is OKish but the front just seems to suddenly let go when pushed, especially on flat corners.

So, chunky front for the above conditions please? I’m a scrawny but quite aggressive rider, mostly downhill/aggressive singletrack type stuff. I’d also like them to expand their range to Ard Rock type conditions as well. Will be on a Patrol, ARC30s, Fox36s (so heaps of clearance). Likely paired with a Minion SS on the back.
I was about to go for DHF 2.5 EXO WT dual compounds in MaxxTerra, but spent so long procrastinating that CRC sold out, and nowhere else seems to be able to get them at the mo.

Any alternatives, or is it worth just hanging on and waiting? E13 TRSr?

Hehe, Gnardpack. Portmanteau’d the crap out of that one.

Nooooobody? Have found the WTs for just over 50 quid. Anything better before I hit buy?

I haven’t tried any of these new WT-style tyres, but I was having the same experience as you with a Magic Mary on the front.

Switched to my Chunky Monkey for yesterday evening’s ride and noticed a big improvement on loose-over-hard sections.

It’s the one on the left:

They’re currently at the upper end of what On One ask for them, but you can still get two for the price of a Maxxis…
http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/TYOOCM65/on-one-chunky-monkey-650b-tubeless-ready-tyre

Chunky monkey are dreadful on anything muddy at all.

Is the HR2 maybe just a bit worn, ie side knobs have lost their edge?.

Chunky monkey are dreadful on anything muddy at all.

That’s an exaggeration, but the OP specifically asked for a hard/loose conditions tyre.

I consider the HR2 good for dry conditions, but if he/she wants something more specialist…

No really an exaggeration, Nice big confidence inspiring lump of rubber, I really liked it up front for Lakes riding, but on my local stuff it was super skittery, even from new.

YMMV.

Loose over hard is maybe the hardest conditions of all for most tyres, nothing to get their teeth into, at least mud sticks. Minion is definitely better at it than the HR2, I’m using the 2.5 (non WT) 29er 3C version and it’s heavy and slow but does grip in pretty much anything. But even that’ll fail once you’re riding on marbles…

Lots of smaller knobs can work well, I used to be a big fan of the small block 8 on the rear for this sort of thing, no one knob grips much but there’s loads of em. But I don’t know what can do that on the front- trailboss maybe?