So I went into one of my LBS today and took a look at the Spesh tyres the butcher and purgatory the tread pattern looked right up my street.

So I was wondering has anyone tried both the grid and control and noticed much difference?

I have a purgatory grid on the rear, and a butcher control on the front. The bead is significantly stiffer on the purgatory which should give you some help if you’re running it tubeless, the sidewalls are supposed to be stiffer to protect against cuts too. If I had the choice and wanted to run it on the rear (or just wanted more protection & less hassle) then I’d get the grid. The casing comes at a small weight penalty of course.

Never had any problems with the standard Control carcass myself but I know some people consider it a bit delicate.

Ripped 3 sidewalls on a purgatory control, I wont touch them again. Plus i’ve tried them tubless and kept burping them as well. Just too lightweight for me.

For 5 quid extra its a no brainer, the weight isnt that far off as well, certainly nothing like a maxxis EXO weight penalty. And it has a beefier sidewall.

I run them with the butcher conrol up front.

Would you say the grid has EXO sidewall stiffness?

Run 29er Purgatory Controls front/rear tubeless and never had an issue.

I am a mincer.

For me the stiffness thing is more about tyre stability at lower pressures.

No. EXO is thicker imo, and the weight shows that as well.

What pressure are people running out of interest when they are having problems? I’m about 25-30 psi.

I won’t run my Purgatorys under 25psi, I’m 13.5 stone. While I haven’t damaged a sidewall, they do squirm a bit when really pushed (or I’ve cocked up). Great tyres though.