No Hill Billy?

Summary says “nothing bigger than 2.4” but the best gen 1 shorty by far is the 2.5 maxxgrip.

The article definitely has a picture of the butcher, but yeah, makes more sense to test the hillbilly and throw in something minioney like the butcher for “not a mud tyre but does pretty well”. But at that point, you’d still not choose a butcher because it lacks the sticky compound for mixed-mud. DHR2 is better at literally everything ime

To the person who discontinued the Bontrager Muds…..you are a knob.

*nods*

Having ridden Butcher’s they are fair to middlin in the wet, I’m not convinced they are any better than a High Roller 2, DHF, Nobby Nic, or many other trail bike tyres designed for a mix of conditions though.

As has already been mentioned the omission of the Hill Billy is a bit weird as it’s designed for wet and or loose conditions, it’s also really good. If you can still find them the Spesh Storms are pretty good if a bit undersized (29 x 2.00) for modern trail bikes.

The Wet Scream is a beast of a wet conditions tyre but is only really for the muddiest conditions when going downhill and is too much as a general winter trail tyre.

So for general winter trail riding I would add to the list in the article Spesh Hill Billy, pretty light (about a 1KG) and can be had in the new T9 compound as well. Vittoria Mota, I rate these really highly, grippier in the wet than a Magic Mary but not heavier and not noticeably more draggy.

I’ve not tried them, but Bontrager fans may like this review:-

https://www.singletracks.com/mtb-gear/mud-traction-bontrager-g-spike-mtb-tire-review/

Last winter I finally got to properly test my Surly Dirt Wizards, 3 inch but come up about 2.8, panicked and fitted them in November,should have waited until the filth really started as they are heavy and VERY hard work without mud or on tarmac. But when in the slop they really come into their own. Still have some control and traction when the pedals are full in the mud. Run them with 1 psi more than my fair weather maxxi chronicle, 11 in the front and 15 in the rear. One winter of dirty commuting and I think I’d burned about 1/2 off the rear. They surfaced the really filthy bit of the tow path this year so won’t be putting them on early.

Mud X was alright but the Beaver 2.25 was better at everything except for bottomless mud. And bottomless mud is horrible regardless of tyres. RIP 2.25 Beaver, inexplicably Maxxis has space in the range for 400 different enduro tyres but not for one superb xc mud.