Assegai vs Butcher / DHF / Mazza etc

“Chief – out of curiosity – 2.4 or 2.6 and what are y’all running on the back for those same conditions?”

I think we’re all on 2.35 or 2.4 – not sure how the 2.6 would fare (or rotate) when the mud here gets sticky. Often DHR2 or Hans Dampfs on the back (I’ve not tried the HD) or Rock Razors for more speed. I’m going to try Magic Mary + Rock Razor on my new Moxie to start with as that’s what I’ve been running on my Zero AM and if there’s a better time for fitting a semi-slick in England than a dry April then I don’t know it!

I swear by the Vittoria Mazza, got a 2.6 and a 2.4 up front. Good luck finding any in stock though…

The 2.6s do seem to be rather more voluminous.

I’ve been quite impressed with Schwalbes new super trail carcasses on the Mary/Nic combo I have on the HT. Still on maxxis for the FS though.

In 650b size the magic Mary is totally better than the Hillbilly. I found the latter good in mud but squirmy as hell on hardpack like the Cwmcarn marked trails.

In 29er the Hillbilly seems to be a much better allrounder than the 650b one was. Less squirmy and much more like a magic Mary, only better in the mud.

I’ve not tried a 29er Mary yet though – stock was an issue. Now the Hillbilly is doing the job I don’t need to spend out on a Mary.

Makes sense.

Also a stealth advert I’m selling a barely used Specialized Butcher Grid Trail T9 29 x 2.3” 🤣

Just stuck an advert in the classifieds – got a few 27.5” tyres I may as well sell too – Wild Enduro / Hillbilly / Trailboss etc

Am quite liking the magic Mary front,big Betty rear combination. both soft compound, I did have super trail carcass front and rear,but the rear punctured too easily so have gone super gravity big Betty on the rear now.

But this is on an ebike so less concern with rolling resistance, although I still don’t want too much of it because it can be noticeable on downhills and when pedalling with the motor off/over the assist limit.

I quite fancy trying an ultra soft magic Mary on the front,but they’re only available in super gravity carcass which is overkill for me,but might be worth the weight for the extra grip.

Ultra soft Mary’s are good, but do weigh a bit and drag, probably closest to the maxxgrip assegai.

I’m not a huge fan of the soft Mary’s though, still harder and less grippy than the maxxis alternatives.

I avoid Wild enduros, pretty much run of the mill and lighter due to the flimsy sidewalls

I do like a soft compound mary – it’s in-between a maxxterra and maxxgrip on a maxxis for me. Copes better in the mud than a minion/assegai and doesn’t squirm as much as a shorty on hardpack.

If I had to have one tyre all year round on the front it would be that, except the side knobs dont last too long in the summer.

A dhr 2 on the front is also excellent in the drier months, rolls faster than an assegai and has better braking traction ime, but doesn’t feel quite so on rails in corners.

Assegai maxxgrip DD front, Dhr2 DH rear is my most of the time tyre combo on my sentinel. Works almost everywhere. It doesn’t clear that well in all out mud as it struggles to clear if it’s proper low speed stuff. I managed most of the winter though, resorting to a gen 2 shorty for a few weeks in feb. Another class tyre, wanted to try a DH22 but couldn’t get one and was pleasantly surprised by the new shorty. Also run a dh assegai up front on the hardtail with a knackered former front magic Mary on the rear.

I just ordered a 29×2.5 assegai from merlin for £49.

just fitted + some cushcore swearing. 1050g on the scales. exo max terra, not exo+

That’s not too bad a weight them really. The Maxxis website has the wrong weight quoted on there – it was listing both the exo and exo+ as 1260g when I looked I think. Have to update how you find it.

My DHf I ordered is in the post – exo casing and going on a front wheel so won’t be getting an insert. Will fit the Rekon on the same time on the back with a Rimpact and see how it goes next ride out. Hopefully ready for this weekend 🤞