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chiefgrooveguru
I think the Hillbilly is an outstanding tyre. For me it’s an all year round front tyre, it’s better on hardpack than a Shorty but still good in the mud – and critically much better than typical summer tyres on the loose after hard that plagues our local trails whenever we have a dry spell.
This is good news I've ordered one based on the STW review for if/when I do some non-rocky winter riding. Also bought a Slaughter for if we get a summer this year, not looking promising at the minute 🙂
Im based in Yorkshire and in true Yorkshire tradition I never pay full for anything and ALWAYS go for free postage.
I have the 2.8 Butcher Blck Dmnd on the Levo. Cant fault the grip.
Only one person in our family has persevered with the Slaughter on the back this year with the conditions we have had but at least it gives us a laugh. It will be removed this weekend for the Alps trip which should then guarantee us good dry conditions
I was thinking Purgatory rear/Eliminator front for the summer, Butcher rear/Hillbilly front for winter. Surrey Hills so no rocks but roots. All in a 27.5x2.6, coming from DHR II/DHF 2.3 combo on 30mm internal rims.
Have I got that about right?
Maybe the new ones are better but I didn't think that much of the Purgatory I used briefly (sidewall got sliced) If I was going to stick with Specialized I'm going Eliminator front Slaughter rear for the summer and as long into autumn and winter as possible then I'd think about switching the Eliminator to the back and putting a Hillbilly on the front. Butcher is OK but I'm hoping the Eliminator is better
My pair of Butchers have arrived, that was quick! (1pm yesterday to 17:30 today, good for free delivery!). 🙂
Cheers OP - grabbed a couple of Butchers 2.8. Excellent price!
idiotdogbrain
Member
I was thinking Purgatory rear/Eliminator front for the summer, Butcher rear/Hillbilly front for winter. Surrey Hills so no rocks but roots. All in a 27.5×2.6, coming from DHR II/DHF 2.3 combo on 30mm internal rims.
I haven't used the 2.6 Purg but the old one was basically rubbish. Worked alright, but it was slower and less grippy and less predictable than a Butcher.
My 2.6 eliminator (from a more expensive pre-PSA source) arrived today. It’s less gnarly a tread than I was expecting from the Specialized blurb tbh. Was planning to use this front and a part worn 2.5 butcher dh on the rear in the alps. Just wondering if I should mount the eliminator at the rear now though.
Anyone got good experiences of it as a front ?
Only ever run one on the rear. Butcher is always our go to front tyre.
Minefield. Please can I tap into the expertise.
Going to buy spares for my Spec Enduro 29er. It currently has 2.3 Slaughter grid and butcher grid.
Anyone know if the 2.6 is any better, and would it likely fit in the rear?
Also, any recommendations for slightly more durable tyres for the Alps for that bike.
AND THEN
for my giant anthem 29er, the tyres are shit in the mud. What specialized tyre would have a bit more grip but still be pretty light?
Also, what does grid signify?
Many thanks
I think spez casings are in increasing order of toughness
Standard tbliss
Grid
DH
The normal storm is a decent mid tyre but the butcher is not to bad for more of a mix. I used 2.5 butcher DH on my last alps trip. Good but heaviest casing.
2.6 Butcher Blck Dmnd front. 2.3 Butcher Blck Dmnd rear. Been on for just over a rear and done quite a lot o competing since then. Replaced after last weeks Transcend Epic with the same ready for the next PMBA and then straight to the Italian round of the EWS. Old front will go on another bike.
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2.6 Hillbilly Blck Dmnd front 2.3 Eliminator Blck Dmnd rear on her Uni bike, gets used for everything
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Thanks both
What does the Black Diamond signify?
Oops missed that. It’s a casing that sits between grid and DH
It's the compound they developed that has a lot thicker and stronger side wall than the Grid. I don't think they do a DH tyre version in 29.
Balls, Butcher Grids all gone.. Ah well, will just order Maxxis then I guess!
idiotdogbrain
Balls, Butcher Grids all gone.. Ah well, will just order Maxxis then I guess!
All sizes are showing in stock for me, though I haven't tried going to checkout.
https://www.specialized.com/gb/en/butcher-grid-2bliss-ready/p/133549?color=228667-133549
Still working for me as well
These have now come in the sale,
Butcher BLCK DMND 2Bliss Ready all sizes £39, must resist
Just me being technically inept then..!
Impressed with the speed of delivery.
What do people think as an all-round combo for UK stuff? I have used Butcher 2.6 front 2.3 rear combo and was pretty happy - no experience with the Eliminator though.
Needs to clear mud, work well on the shiny pebbles of cannock and off-piste stuff in the Shropshire trails like Hopton etc.
Should I try the Eliminator F&R or mix them up, Butcher front Eliminator rear?
Despite someone up there not getting on with them, I still really like Purgatory's for pretty much that. They used to be marketed as the trail tyre for soft/loam conditions (the Eskar2 was the dry equivalent) and they worked well for the British winter on well drained trails where you wanted something quick-ish that wasn't going to be a complete anchor, but still survive in the muddy sections. Whereas the Butcher looks like it prioritises the loose bits at the expense of being a bit of a beast. I'm tempted to get a set just to have options!
There's also the evergreen choice of ground controls!
Eliminator 2.6 fitted to rear to replace the Slaughter. It will now get sunny😎
Went with Abigales old Buthcher 2.6 Blck Dmnd on the front as will get at least the Summer out of it and put the new one in the camper as a spare.
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I tried the purgatory but its a bit lacking in the softer stuff, the butcher was slower but was better for me.
Tracey - You seem to have experience with both - would you go Butcher front and Eliminator rear for an all-round combo? Any reason for not putting the Eliminator front too?
Used to have the 2.3 Butcher front/Purgatory rear combo on my old Pitch and loved that, so I've gone with 2x Butcher, 2x Eliminator, 1x Purgatory and 1x Hillbilly - all 2.6 Grid. Should give me enough choice!
Always run Butchers on the front. Our daughter has a Butcher rear on one bike and an Eliminator rear on another. Both bikes are Enduros set up the same. She prefers Butcher 2.6 front 2.3 rear for competing as she feels it has a better grip when its needed. The sacrifice is that it doesn't roll as fast as the Eliminator. She is also running Blck Dmnd for the extra protection.
Pretty sure the Hillbilly DH is available in 29er if anyone wants a more substantial casing.
Got Butcher and Purgatory in 2.6 / 29er spec. Now all I need is wider wheels to fit them! This may not turn out to be such a bargain after all.....
Boost or non boost wheels
4 Seasons:
Excellent PSA: thanks!
Bought a random selection but still keen to know if anyone spotted anything light and trippy for my Anthem.
Can anyone give any guidance on what might be roughly equivalent to a nobby nick or one of the new Hans dampfs?
Delivery was fast!
I also bought a track pump and water bottle - so Specialized decided to use a box big enough to fit both my children into and to fill it with enough of that air cushion packaging to carpet my living room. I mean, WTAF?!!
However, I’ve just noticed they do free returns. So I’m going to send the packaging back to them in the hope of changing their behaviour.
In our house we would save the packaging and send the kids back.😂
“In our house we would save the packaging and send the kids back.😂”
Well, they have their uses - I hope... Not yet though!
In other news, the Eliminator 2.3 is a really nice size. On a 30mm rim it’s at 60-61mm on both tread and carcass after a night at 35psi or so to seat. So that’s about 2.35” to 2.4” - only fractionally smaller than the Hillbilly 2.6 I have up front.
I think they size up good. I also think and hope that the great discounted deal that we are getting will be on the back of probably a re think on the Grid casing back to the older type Grid sidewalls but not as full on as a Blck Dmnd.
Hmm this is going to cost me money. Found one of the knobs on my current purgatory 2bliss has ripped into the case a fair way so dont trust it now. Thinking of a butcher 2.6 and eliminator 2.3 rear as don't think I've the space for bigger. Both in grid casing.
How does the butcher 2.6 size up (could anyone measure one please)? The reviews seem to suggest more like 2.4. Currently running a on-one chunky monkey 2.4 in 30mm internal rims so don't want the 2.3 butcher but concerned the 2.6 may no fit my forks (marzocchi 350 NCR, non boost).
The Butcher 2.6 is about 62mm at the knobs, maybe a bit wider on the carcass, quite tall so it’s a fairly high volume tyre. That’s on a 30mm rim.
Thanks @chiefgrooveguru, I make the chunky monkey 61mm on my rims so hopefully ok.
2.8 butcher grid up tubeless fairly easily, certainly easier then the 3.0 purgatory it replaced.
Ordered Wednesday, arrived Friday.
Ace PSA and stellar service from Specialized.
Ordered an eliminator and butcher in 2.6 for my remedy, looking forward to trying them out with eliminator front, butcher rear.
Only thing confusing me is several people on this thread saying that they're running butcher front and eliminator rear and was wondering why?
I thought the eliminator was a more aggresive tire than the butcher, as specialized themselves say the eliminator is an intermediate between the hillbilly and the butcher so this sounds an illogical set up IMO?
Isn’t the eliminator heavier than the butcher too?
“Only thing confusing me is several people on this thread saying that they’re running butcher front and eliminator rear and was wondering why?”
I had the same thought! I guess the Butcher is more like a DHF and the Eliminator like a DHR2. I was running a Butcher 2.6 on the rear which the Eliminator 2.3 is replacing. I have a Hillbilly 2.6 on the front.
I find the Butcher on the back a bit of a strange one - it’s not the fastest tyre but it doesn’t seem to brake or turn as well as it should, however it is very progressive, not at all snappy, easy to drift. I’m hoping the smaller Eliminator will be quicker rolling and at least as good at the other stuff.
The 2.3" Butcher and Purg size up markedly narrower than the DHF 2.35 and HR2 2.3 they replace.
On my 21mm rims, the Butcher is 2.17" and Purg 2.14".
Very quick postage though! 👍