Love a tyre thread, everyone immediately posts the combo they run, convinced that they’re the best, OP ends up with 30+ suggestions and is even more confused than before.
Only an idiot would put tyres on they don’t like though wouldn’t they? Most people riding regularly probably wear out three ‘XC’ rear tyres a year (Ignoring supertacky DH tyres which are ruined in a week), so assuming a 5 year model cycle for most tyres, may have tried upto 15 tyres and found a few different models they like and now just buy those.
My money goes on:
Winter – Purgatory (wet, but far better than storms or mud-x on the 95% of the ride that isn’t hub deep mud)
Summer – Eskar (dry, but still works in the softer stuff)
Summer – WTB Bronson (if there’s no mud)
The first two are quite tough, not sure I’d take the Bronsons to the Lakes or North Wales though. Either of the first two would work all year, just work better in different seasons. I’ve also liked High rollers, high roller semi slick, and even DMR Moto-R 2.2 and Maxxis Holly roller 2.4’s, but none of those really worked in mud.