I've been running (and swore by) my Specialized Butcher/Slaughter combo' but i've been looking for a bit more grip on the centre of the back end. Basically a rear tyre with the same big chunky directional grip on the outer edge of the Butcher but a slightly taller grip profile down the middle.
These Mavic tyres look like they might fit the bill but there's not many reviews other than on older versions where there may have been issues with them wearing quickly.
Any experience anyone ?
.... or a Maxxis Minion SS ?
The Charge is one of the best front tyres out there. On the rear it´s a bit draggy but it has fantastic grip. The new Quest which were mentioned on here during the press launch (which I guided) of the XA carbon wheels are fantastic tyres. On the back they´re great all rounders but on the front they are good on stuff that isn´t very muddy or dusty. I really rated them. I´ve been running the Charge up front for ages and it´s my favourite tyre. Sure a Magic Mary is grippier but I`d rather not have to change my tyres every single week. I´d not tried the Quest before but after the press launch I´ve just ordered some and all my guides have done the same. With our own money!
Wearing? They´re reasonable soft but last a lot, lot longer than schwalbe for instance. That´s based more on the Charge as that´s what I´ve used most.
Some quick feedback for anyone who's interested...
Picked up a Charge and Quest XL and rode out yesterday. First thing to say is that they went on very easy. No tyre levers on a tall carbon rim.... unheard of. I used plenty of washing up solution and planted both beads deep in the centre well expecting a hard time given the side walls but they went on and inflated straight away with a track pump.
The Mavics are taller than the specialized tyres so you notice some lift when you get on the bike. The Charge at the front looks no wider than the Butcher but comes up quite round so it rides up on the centre tread more in a straight line using the edge tread more for cornering. The Quest certainly looks wider than than the Slaughter and doesn't come up as round as the Charge, consequently it's centre tread has more contact with the ground in the same way the Slaughter does.
I went with 30 psi out back and 28 up front and the conditions out were wet and sloppy, but we were doing a trail that had a mixture of everything. Techy climbs, big boulder descents, woodland slop and roots, Peak district grit.
The Quest at the back was great. Soooo much more grip than the Butcher. Wet rocky edges where I'd sometimes spin out were no problem and it certainly helped on the techy climbs. Fast descents where I'd be expecting a twitch from the back end also disappeared, and then in the deep slop it cut through fine and didn't seem to pick up much to question its ability to shed.
The Charge up front was a little twitchy in the fast sloppy downhills through the woods, but then so would most tyres in that, but I think it would be better at a lower pressure to get the side tread working a bit more, but other than that I had no complaints with grip through the drier techcy stuff and across the boulders and short wet grass. At no point did I feel it might wash out from under me.
Overall I think there was only a marginal increase in drag, which you'd expect with the change in width and grip profile but it's certainly not a draggy set up. I'd say that the Charge up front has less drag and seemed lighter on it's tread than the Butcher whereas the the extra drag came with the extra grip on the back.
In short, the Quest is everything I wanted it to be... as fast as the Slaughter but with more grip. The Charge is good but I'm reserving judgement before I say if it's better or as good as the Butcher. If the wear on them is good they'll be good value too at under £80 for a pair and with them going on and off easily they shouldn't create the false economies the Specialised tyres do (I've found they tend to buckle easily).
The Quest at the back was great. Soooo much more grip than the Butcher.
My editor has pointed out that this should have read ' sooo much more grip than the Slaughter' (at the back).