When I get back home in a few weeks I'll be building up my Slackline, the wait is killing me. Anyway, I'll be on 27.5 for the first time; I've used Kendal Nevegal front and Blue Groove rear for ages and fancy a change.
I can't afford more than one set of tyres and my riding is 2 hour jaunts on Dartmoor (Widow maker sort of stuff) and trail centres and I generally feel more confident with a 'toothier' front. Also, I'm not a big powerful rider so lower weight is on the list and I don't tend to need reinforced sidewalls.
I've thought so far about High Roller on the front and Ardent rear but have read that they're quite heavy (hard to find reliable weight information).
Any advice much appreciated.
shorty 2.5 front high roller 2 rear set up tubeless, sorted!
The HR2 is a great tyre but I gave up on Maxxis after a secession of ruptured carcasses and moved to Specialized. Butcher up front with Purgatory following behind. Both 2bliss. I think they're a fantastic tyre equal to the HR2. They have good predictable traction easy tubeless set up with little drag and so far, no carcass failings.
I too often ride Dartmoor but also the Quantocks, Mendips, The Peaks and Welsh trail centres
Schwalbe Magic Mary front (light enough in snakeskin) and a Rock Razor rear is my favourite combo. Put a Maxxis DHR2 rear and a Maxxis Shorty on the front for proper winter filth. None are exactly heavy if you go for the lighter casing version, though obviously they're not as tough as the thicker versions.
Hmm, I've never forgiven Specialized tyres since they last dumped me on my face but that was in '93 so maybe I should have another look.
Gunz - my memory of Specialized was of rock hard compound tyres circa 1999....
I have run a couple of Specialized Enduro, now Butcher and Slaughter on our bikes and they seem ace. The carcases still do not seem as supple as some others (Bonty XR4 I am looking at you), but the grip vs rolling seems spot on the money.
Thanks all, I think I'll give the Butcher/ Purgatory combo a spin (only 4 weeks to wait, is the weather getting better in Blighty?).