What’s the current go to?

I’m looking to lighten my bike and the best option might be top swap the 2.4 Dissector/DHF 3 C Maxterra’s for something like a Rekon/Vittoria Syerra?

I’d like an all round tyre and am typically riding woodsy singletrack with roots, turning to slippy mud over winter – Epping & Swinley mostly.  I would like a confident tyre up front and prefer a rounder tyre as I’m not a “leaner”.

Thanks

I always found a 33c CX mud tyre works best for Epping in the winter!!!

I’m in a similar position of shopping around for my next tyre combo having used Wolfpack tyres for the last 20 months. Spent all summer on Speeds which are likely some of the lightest 29er 2.4 tyres out there, just chucked their Trail on the front which is a bit overkill for trail conditions. They seem to have stopped production now which is a shame.

I’m thinking Bontrager next, XR Team Issue XR3 F&R for winter.

Quite like an Ikon on the back and a Rekon on the front for XC/Trail.

Lighter end of things, but as it’s ‘only’ SE type stuff, I’d generally throw the Rocket Ron and Conti x-king into the pile of ’rounded XC, with a little grip’ contenders. I’ve generally been pleasantly surprised going back to either of those after some time on bigger tyres.

Wicked Wills seem to fit the bill perhaps?

Running Vittoria Aggaro front and Mezcal rear on my hardtail. Definitely a rounder profile and fast running with the Aggaro giving a bit more bite on the front.

Another vote for Wicked Wills – 29×2.4

Nothing works in Epping in the winter except dedicated narrow mud tyres, which are sub optimal for the rooty bits!

I’m not sure about going with xc tyres on trail bikes as you then can’t hit things as hard or get away with stuff like you can with a more supportive heavier tyre. If it was your only bike and you were doing big miles then maybe, but otherwise my thinking is to go grippy and supportive.

Wild enduros are good and there are lighter ones at c1/1.2 kg that probably are a good compromise without being too light.

Some of the local riders run a pair of wild enduro fronts for mixed/muddy winter stuff. I haven’t tried that but the wild enduro rear does pack up a bit when the front stays clear.. ish. It’s no mud tyre.

On the back a rekon is ok – just don’t buy the exo as it’s made of tissue paper. Go exo+ – I run the 29er one sometimes with a rimpact in there for good measure. I tried the exo version on my hardtail with a rimpact and put a hole in it 2nd ride on some local woodsy sort of stuff. Not really rocky – just a bit rooty. Shouldn’t be holing tyres there.

Rekon isn’t very good in the mud as you’d expect and I wouldn’t run one on the front. I’ve been running a 2.4” gum x wild enduro on the front of my hardtail and a 2.4” magi x wild enduro on the big full suss bike for most of this ‘summer’. As an all year rounder it’s better than a dhf as it grips better in the mud. Personally I’d rather have loads of grip on the front and give up some grip at the back for extra rolling speed.

The old Forekaster sounds like what you could do with tbh – not sure if you’ll find any stock or not. It was classed as aggressive xc and I find it does well on the back even in winter. I’ll be swapping one onto the hardtail to replace the rock razor for the winter soon.

I wonder if the Nobby Nic might do a similar job?

Dissector/Forecaster on the front, Rekon on the back.

Currently enjoying Bonty XR4 front and XR3  rear both in 2.4 for South downs riding. Much less rolling resistance than the previous Dissector/Rekon combo. Way lighter too if that’s a thing for you.

Forekaster Front, Rekon rear. Seems im not the only one doing it too.

Magic Mary 2.4 on the front, Nobby Nic 2.25 out back has worked for me recently. Not draggy but plenty of grip where you need it.

Hmm. I’m looking to lighten & speed up the current 2.5 DHF MaxxGrip and 2.4 Dissector on my FS bike (possibly on a second, lighter set of wheels) on my FS bike.

Still want something reasonably confidence inspiring on the front. Thinking Bonty XR5 / XR4 on the front and XR3 on the rear?

I’m another XR fan. New XR4 on the front and a slightly worn one on the rear.

XR2’s on my XC bike.

I run WTB Vigilante on the front on both my main bikes – good grip in all but the gloopiest mud, but still rolls well.

On the back I have a Rekon on one bike and an High Roller 2 on the other. I prefer the Rekon – it’s not as grippy as my old favourite (WTB trail boss) but rolls faster and is still surprisingly good even in really greasy conditions like yesterday.

I managed to find an older spec Magic Mary 2.35 snakeskin Addix soft to run on the front alongside an Addix soft Super trail Nobby Nic on the back, it is a great combination, slightly more on the aggressive side of Trail tyres but not heavy and roll pretty well, unfortunately finding those earlier spec Magic Mary’s is becoming tough, but I believe there is a Super Ground Addix soft variant now.

I’ve just fitted some 2.6 WTB’s, Vigilante front and Trailboss rear to try but not sure they will stay yet, time will tell. This is on a Ragley Big Al Hardtail.

I switched last winter to bontrager xr4 front and rear. Great all-rounders for the UK mud, wet roots, rocks mix except the rear got a sidewall puncture on its first ride from a flint so I switched that to an se4 which is pretty much the same tyre with added protection. Very good all rounders.

Yep XR4/SE4 work really well.

On offer at Balfe cycles are mo as well

I run WTB Vigilante on the front on both my main bikes – good grip in all but the gloopiest mud, but still rolls well.

I just rode one in the Alps for a couple of weeks on some real gnarly trails, great tyre but OP is after something for Epping Forest.

I’d back up the Bonty suggestions here.

I’m another Bonty fan here; XR4 I think. They come up quite true to size in terms of width (ie may seem a bit big compared to other 2.1/ 2.25s). And I’ve found them an absolute bugger to fit on Stan’s rims. Otherwise, no complaints

New specialized Purgatory T9 in 29×2.4 is about 950g – but very sticker rubber

Specialized ground control out back in T5 for fast rolling – weighs about 800g.

£60 for both – less than one Schwalbe tyre.

Where are you seeing those for £60? I’m interested yet on the Spec. webisite I can only get a GC Grid in 2.35 T7, albeit both tyres will be £67.50 which is excellent.

I’m assuming I should get Grid despite moderate mincing and the occasional trail centre visit?

https://www.specialized.com/gb/en/purgatory-grid-2bliss-ready-t9/p/1000161406?searchText=00123-4203&color=1000161408-1000161406

https://www.specialized.com/gb/en/ground-control-control-2bliss-ready-t5/p/203432?color=331475-203432&searchText=00122-5073

to reach £60 you have to sign up to the Specialized newsletter for 15% discount.

the purgatory tread looks similar to a dissector, ground control sort of a hybrid between Rekon and new forekaster.

Ok thanks, I want the grid out back though.    I am concerned that the Ground Control out back may not have the best grip in the wet mud, anyone got feedback on that? And what’s the next Spec tire up in the range from a GC?

Therefore I’m thinking that a Purgatory F and XR4 R could be the choice.

Maybe the other way round, XR4 on the front with the Purgatory rear in T7?

Ha!

So I think its come to either Purgatory T9/T7 or a pair of XR4’s.      I’d like to try the Spec tyres, and they are cheaper this time around, and I get to play with compounds, so job done, thanks all!

The Purgatory looks like a rip-off of the Maxxis advantage. Ii think I’d also be sticking it out back with an XR4 on the front. I’m not sure you’d save that much weight over your current tyres doing that, but it would roll faster anyway, which may be what you really want rather than ‘lightening’?

I ran a XR4 up front for a bit and it was decent enough, but then we don’t really get proper mud round here, so mostly I just stick a Rock Razor on the back and something bitier up front, currently a DHR2. About to try some Wolfpack tyres on an alternative lighter wheel-set, but still waiting for a freehub body to turn up. They, the Wolfpack tyres, look promising in an old skool Schwalbe race tyres sort of way.

Only review on the New Purgatory I can find:

https://www.singletracks.com/mtb-gear/the-popular-specialized-purgatory-trail-tire-got-a-major-update-review/

Seems quite good in summary.

Certainly better than the old Purgatory that looks like a Maxxis advantage.

Aha, I just popped into say the same, I expect BWD is referring to the older tread pattern.

in the interim I’ve discovered the Dissector I have out back is about the same weight as the purgatory, so it’s possibly a waste of time replacing it.  I think I’ll get the one Purgatory in T9 up front to replace the DHF, which still saves 300g at the wheels.

Hmmm, I have got slightly confused on the purgatory v new purgatory. The older one would be fine on the rear. The new one looks totally different/better. Yeah, I imagine a T9/T7 pair of the new purgatories in grid trail could be a good trail combo.

Only one left, but a Grid Trail Purgatory T7 29 x 2.4 for £21 is a bargain

https://www.jejamescycles.com/product/9732442/specialized-specialized-purgatory-grid-trail-2bliss-ready-t7-tyre/option/