Currently running Purgatory 2.2 front, Ground control on rear. Just returned from CodYBrenin, and very impressed. Found the Ground control can slip out when really pushed, but controllable. Great on the rock gardens.
Run Maxxis Ardent 2.4s on the singlespeed. Great tire. Lethal on wet roots though.
Cant beat bonty mudX for surrey winter slush.
Rim wise, I found the Shimano 29er rim to be great, and well priced. Easily taking the 2.4 Ardents tubeless, on and off without tools. But frustratingly, no 135m QR (yet).
2nd bike has Crest ZTR 29ers, so far so good, but damned hard to load tyres. Would not like to have to do a trailside job. Took me best part of an hour and 2 broken levers before I managed to get them on.
Cant say I have had a genuine puncture in two years. I have had tires ‘burp’ after a hard landing, but nothing a quick blast of gas couldn’t fix. Wont go back to tubes.