Do it all front tyre... Assegai or Magic Mary?!

I've got a Magic Mary on the front, 2.35 or 2.4 flavour, running wideish rims. I'm happy with the tyre profile as it is, tend to ride in conditions that could include muddy claggy stuff (Tweed Valley) so its less likely to clag up compared to the assegai on the front. If your trails are less muddy id say go with the smaller volume version of the assegai and you'll be laughing

I find the Mary tramlines a bit too much for my liking and prefer the Assegai or the Shorty.

I'm on the Argotal currently in. 2.6 which is good but not noticeably better than the Shorty

Thankyou both! Interesting points.

I forgot to mention the continental variants I'm happy to consider too.

How does the argotal measure up in the 2.6?

My go to is a Kenda Hellkat 2.4 AEC if you can find one.

It a great all season option that rolls fast for the summer, but is nearly as good in the slop as a Hillbilly. Great damping and soft, grippy compound for roots and rocks.

Still prefer 2.6 michelin wild enduro ebike flavour

I don’t think the Argotal is a year round kind of tyre - would have thought the Kryptotal front would be better for that. Argotal is more like a shorty kind of competitor.

If you don’t get claggy mud where you ride then the Assegai is probably the better all rounder. I’ve just picked one up for the trails when they dry out (although FOD was almost dusty in places today - really dry vs everywhere else I’ve ridden recently).

I’ve got a mate on an Assegai and on 2 recent rides his tyre has clogged up and slid where my magic Mary on one bike and hillbilly on the other have just gripped and gone. The hillbilly having the edge on the Mary in biblical mud.

Magic Mary has the edge over the Assegai when it’s muddy - it doesn’t clog up as easily. It’ll do a reasonable job on hardpack - but not as good. Everything is a compromise.

I’ve tried the wild enduro in 2.4” / 29er / magi-x format in the last 6 months - it’s better than the dhf in mud but not as good as a Mary. Probably makes it a pretty good all rounder too.

Think we’re spoiled for choice on tyres these days.

I have run an Assegai in 2.5 WT on the front of the Rise for the 12 months since I have owned it. Been a great allrounder fit and forget tyre. Getting very rounded and worn now though so have just bought a Magic Mary 2.5 to replace it. So ask me again in a few months time 🙂

Assegai 2.5 on the front. No problems for the last 7 months. Grips on everything I've ridden and it's very muddy round here

Haven’t tried the Assegai because the tread doesn’t look open enough for our local clay - but am a big fan of the Magic Mary 2.35 (which is think is the same size as the newer 2.4).

Another one to consider is the newest Hillbilly 2.4 T9 which is a bit less of a spike than the previous model and seems great on harder ground. And the new T9 compound is sticky!

MM: 2.4. Move on… 👍

I'm confused why everyone's running downhill or full on enduro tyres as all round tyres now. I'm way out of the loop, but surely a trail tyre would be better all round? High roller 2, or Bonty XR4

jonesyboy
Free Member
I’m confused why everyone’s running downhill or full on enduro tyres as all round tyres now. I’m way out of the loop, but surely a trail tyre would be better all round? High roller 2, or Bonty XR4

Depends what you’re riding regularly I suppose 🤷‍♂️

“ I’m confused why everyone’s running downhill or full on enduro tyres as all round tyres now.”

Maybe because of this?

“I’m generally a fan of steep, techy natural tracks to be honest.”

Also, a Magic Mary or Assegai or Argotal or Hillbilly isn’t a downhill or full-on enduro tyre unless you’re getting it in a heavier casing and stickier compound. In their lighter casings they’re just great front tyres that work all year round on natural trails that get muddy and need serious grip for control on the steeps.

Magic Mary 2.6 Super Trail Soft up front has been stellar all year.
Grips, clears, cushions…..

Although I’ve slapped a Shorty Gen2 MaxTerra Exo+ on the analogue bike and it’s a railer in the Aberdeenshire wet loam….

I’m thinking a Shorty Gen2 may be awesome year round up front…… up here……

Tried an Assegai EXO+ MaxxGrip for the first time today on the eBike… wow! …I’m familiar with the Assegai in MaxTerra compound but this is a whole new level of grip.

Hold on. The old MM was kind of versatile but the current one is a heavier draggier tyre. The "lightest" one is 1250gr I believe. This might work for the OP needs but they are not do it all trail tyres anymore IMO.

I've replaced a Magic Mary 2.6 with an Argotal 2.6, I think the Argotal is slightly better as a winter front, I've paired it with a Kryptotal rear. Not really had it running in dry conditions yet but I might be tempted to move to a Kryptotal front/Xynotal rear once it dries out.

“The old MM was kind of versatile but the current one is a heavier draggier tyre.”

The current one is a heavier tyre - but is it a draggier tyre?

How well a tyre rolls comes down to hysteresis loss. You can over-simplify and say that a heavier and thicker casing tyre will generally roll slower but it isn’t a hard and fast rule - it’s absolutely possible to make a heavier tyre that rolls faster than a lighter tyre by making the casing more flexible and with less self-damping.

I’ve heard a lot of people saying the newer Schwalbe tyres are too heavy but I’m not sure I’ve actually heard anyone say that they roll too slowly.

Rode an Assegai most of last year in all weather and it was awesome
Then picked up a cheap set of wheels and got wild enduro Raceline cheap and it was awesome
Changed bike and tried the Mary and hated it
Then went mullet and my mate gave me a wheel with 29” with DHF
So far I’ve rode DHF is slop,Snow,Frozen and everything else in between and as much as I want to say it’s sh1te
It’s just not,It’s done me proud,My only issues have been my errors and not the tyre

Tried an Assegai EXO+ MaxxGrip for the first time today on the eBike… wow! …I’m familiar with the Assegai in MaxTerra compound but this is a whole new level of grip.

after using the maxgrip, maxterra becomes maxterror.

not a great compound for an all rounder, though.

To a degree, tyre preferences vary on location/rider but FWIW my Pennine-based ordering of the key tyres mentioned is...

1. Schwalbe Magic Mary Addix Purple

2. Maxxis Minion DHF MaxxGrip

3. Massix Assegai MaxxGrip

I'd actually rate the Assegai lower than a Maxxis Minion DHR II MaxxGrip (Assegai just clogs up too much IME)

But none of these tyres are actually BAD are they? Just fine-tuning what suits you best init.

I was a die hard Magic Mary fan until I tried an Assegai. The Assegai is nearly as good at the MM in slop but I find it is significantly more predictable in the dry or hard pack, which for me makes it better as a do it all front tyre.

Do consider the WTB Verdict light/high grip as well OP.

It's my favourite do-it-all front tyre and does the same job as the MM or Assegai, but with better edge knobs than the MM and way better mud ability than the Assegai.

Bit of a square profile, so may not suit everyone, but you can really push the edges.

(Assegai just clogs up too much IME)

Yeah, I found it very disappointing in this regard. It might be the best dry-to-slightly-wet tyre you can get, but I need more versatility.

Does anyone actually wear out their front tyres? Míne seem to last years...... Maybe I'm not riding enough.

I find an assegai a bit meh. It feels more of a "floater" than a "cutter" than a magic mary. So in a practical sense, where i don't really need to load up for grip, the assegai is good, it's like 8/10 grip most of the time, but never better. Where a mary is probably a 7/10 for grip most of the time, if i want to load up for grip, or ive its soft and wet, it can achieve a 9/10. It kind of comes down riding style i think.

@didnthurt I think it totally depends on how much braking you do. And/or how much steep stuff you ride. I probably brake too much! Having said that, Schwalbe Purple Addix has impressed me in terms of lifespan (compared to Maxxis MaxxGrip at least).

Good point, I'm more xc/trails than steep stuff.

I do have my Hello Dave for steeper enduro type trails but it doesn't ridden a huge amount. I have gone through a few back tyres from tears but that's to be expected on a hardcore hardtail. Still waiting to wear out the Hand Dampf on the front before I look for a replacement. Think I'll be steering towards a Magic Mary or whatever big treaded tyre with a decent compound I can find on sale.

Michelin Wild Enduro 2.4's with a Mag-X up front.

Tweed Valley mucho steepness.

One thing I'd say is if you just run the same tyre all year round then you know its characteristics in each condition and can ride accordingly- i think this is one overlooked aspect. Unless you are a seasonal tyre changer (i cant be bothered tbh- just run the same till its dead)

Also for the OP I've had consistent performance on the front with a DHF- another good solid performing tyre all round imho.

i have yet to find a better all round front tyre than the 2.5 assegai, its a near all seasons excellent front tyre, only time it really struggles is in thick/winter mud - it doesnt clear great, but thats only on steep loamy/mud type descents (where a shorty comes in) for everything else its the most confidence inspiring tyre ive ever used

I find the MM very schitzo... and definitely not a general use for me.
It's awesome on anything soft... "And in some corners it’s catching me out… " anything it can't dig into it feels REALLY unpredictable.. you hear and feel each side tread scrabble stick it in soft loam and its like glue.
(2.35 on 30mm rim)

Currently on Assegai / DHF (will probably replace existing DHF's as the wear out) ..

MM actual compound seems to vary a lot, never got on with the tread pattern either.

I don't believe there is a year round tyre, so I've ended up with the following than rotate on 3 front wheels
-DHR when its dry and hardpack (FOD and shropshire is currently), would be great if they did a slightly toothier version.
-Assegai when its steep and loose, find that I can push a DHR more as the feedback is better
-Shorty when its muddy
-Wet scream when its deep mud/loam

All of the above are DD, maxxgrip, as anything else on the front is just rubbish, life it too short for maxxterra up front!

Does anyone actually wear out their front tyres? Míne seem to last years…… Maybe I’m not riding enough.

I take great satisfaction taking off a front tyre with nailed side knobs and fresh centres!

Mostly a wild enduro front. But recently I have temporarily been back on 27.5 and picked up a barely used 2.6 hillbilly. This was surprisingly good and despite not being t9/maxxstickystuff/etc was really good through the filth without being awful over the roots.

Yak
Full Member
Mostly a wild enduro front. But recently I have temporarily been back on 27.5 and picked up a barely used 2.6 hillbilly. This was surprisingly good and despite not being t9/maxxstickystuff/etc was really good through the filth without being awful over the roots.

Hillbilly is the best filthy conditions tyre I’ve ever used. The gripton grid version (sounds like what you have) doesn’t work so well on hardpack etc though - it’s better the wetter it is - not as good as a Magic Mary as an all rounder as the knobs bend too much and it gets vague.

I’ve got a T7 Grid Trail 29er version which is updated vs that 650b one but not the newest T9 version with the massive side knobs. I find it a decent all rounder during the winter - it bites into mud amazingly - so much that where other tyres slide under braking (wild enduro / 2.35 Mary / 2.5” Assegai) you can barely unstick the Hillbilly even if you deliberately bang on the front brake as hard as you can. It makes a better fist of hardpack like Cwmcarn reds and does a good job in the Risca off piste. It’s on my fs bike at the moment (2.6” Magic Mary on the hardtail) although things are beginning to dry out now so considering getting the Assegai or wild enduro on soon.

E13 Grappler is good as an allrounder, similar weight to the tyres mentioned.

I have a 2.6 Butcher on one bike and a 2.6 Hillbilly on the other. Once the Butcher wears a little more, I will be running Hillbillys on both. The Butcher is better in bone dry conditions. But bone dry conditions are quite unusual in this part of the world. And honestly, I just love the hillbilly as an all-year, all-rounder.

I did try an Assegai for a while, but the level of grip was noticeably lower than the Hillbilly, so I got rid of it after quite a short period of time.

Tried the Assegai (2.5WT) on the front last year after all the hype. It was fine but in the end I decided it was too DH for me. My feeling is it suits high speed tech rather than my (very) low speed tech. Probably a good fit for the OP's description.
I've gone back to a DHR2 on the front (same as rear). Instantly felt a better match to my ride style.
Was tempted to try the new Conti range but you cant just go mixing tyre brands on a bike now can you? Big Fat No.

I've got a Big Betty with enduro casing on the rear and a Magic Mary front with Trail casing. Loving the combo as the magazines would put it "confidence inspiring", not tried an assegai but I guess it all depends on where most of your riding is done. Most of mine is done on unofficial woodland trails, lots of pine needle bedding and clay like sticky mud underneath so the magic mary is perfect, its not very often these trails are bone dry but when they are it's a fine dusty particulate and grips just as good with the MM as in the wet. Wouldn't be so perfect in rough gravelly rocky man made trails from the reviews I've read about the MM though, but it's rare I ride trail centers and even when I do unless its a brand new trail there is usually hardpack earth and rocks in the center line of the trail and I think in those situations most tyres will perform relatively the same unless running something like semi slicks which when that was a fad a good few years back I felt I got more grip on hardpack trail centers with those than nobby tyres especially on hardpacked berms

Happy with my DHF DHRII for all riding. If it's more XC - we're planning on Pennine Bridelway in summer, I'll pop on some lighter Nobby Nics I have (although their grip isn't as good, they roll well).

I`ll be trading my MM/BB for an assegai F and maybe rear too when it dries up a bit. the MM/BB is SLOOOOOW (coming from butcher/eliminator) 2.6 orange stripe version - bloody grippy and i've no complaints but i'll retain them for winter duties.

my MM/BB are on an eeb. i`d not want to pedal the buggers myself! ok for uplift

Is the Assegai any less slow than a Magic Mary? Not tried one but I thought they were similar, if not Assegai even slower!

chiefgrooveguru
Full Member
Is the Assegai any less slow than a Magic Mary? Not tried one but I thought they were similar, if not Assegai even slower!

Will let you know after the weekend I expect - just whipped off my 2.6” Hillbilly T7 (old design) and put on a 2.5” Assegai 3c exo. Typically it’s then immediately started raining 🤣

I've been running several different models of Maxxis, and the 3C/maxxterra is the minimum I'd be riding. If it doesn't have that, it's too hard compound, not sticky enough. Unpredictable breaking loose situations, and then utter lack of grip and braking as you slide, and slide, and slide. Assegai 3c/maxxterra is way better!

My tyres never wear down, they get the dreaded Maxxis Wobble. Knackered beads. So, I've been experimenting with other brands/models

I tried CST BFT tyres, but can only get hard compound wire bead versions where I am. They need 44psi+ or collapse.

Just put on some Continental Ruban 2.6", folding version. 44psi max, recommended 29psi. They look like they run the same size as Maxxis 2.5". Where I ride its roads, and hard pack hiking trails generally. Rocky, some gravel/loose, some snow in the mountain folds and dips in the forests. These tyres aren't supposed to be much cop in loose/wet/mud. Short treads. Zero reviews online..... For where i live, they're stated as a 50/50 allround tyre. It's cold, windy and rainy right now, so we will see over the next few months.

But none of these tyres are actually BAD are they? Just fine-tuning what suits you best init.

Preach Benji!

I like Specialized Butcher 2.6 T9s and Minion DHF 2.5  Maxxgrip on the front of my Banshee Prime with something harder/faster rolling but slightly narrower with possibly thicker casing on the back.

DHR both front and rear...

3C upfront, DD on the rear.

Ride the alps, Finale, anywhere else am through the year and I find the DHR to be a solid choice.
Currently in Spain, having ridden in French slop and now dry and rocky Spain. Tyre is doing OK.

@vanhalen I'm surprised at that, I'm running that combo and finding they roll better than the spesh slaughter/butcher combo I replaced them with