DHF or HR2 up back?

Cut to the chase, DHF max grip front, very worn DHR up back, its now horrible

Primary concern is for grip on dust over chalk on potentially steep stuff, the DHR used to work, this year… its too far gone i think

I have a load of spares

couple of different HR2’s, couple of shortys, and a lightly used dhf maxterra (i think)

Shorty doesn’t sound ideal for the back in this scenario, what would you go for primarily for these conditions?

Personally my go to combination is DHF front with HR2 rear on most things. Only exception is on the xc bike as they drag a bit

Depends on the size / compound / casing of each!

I love a DHF on the back for everything but steeps. It’s a poor performer compared to DHRII on the steep stuff. Faster than a DHRIi on more flowy trails.

In a similar situation I put an HR2 on the rear because I had one, it’s OK though I wouldn’t buy another and sticking it on the rear is a way of using it rather than leave it in the shed.  DHF I would save for the front and the Shorty wouldn’t be used in summer (I hope)

I like a DHF on the back in summer.

Keep the HR2 for the damper months.

(Shortys work really well in Dust, just saying)

I don’t rate the dhf much as a rear, it’s got OK grip but it’s slower than it should be and it’s got pretty terrible slidey manners for a tyre like that- unpredictable and hard to control when it does break free (which is basically imo why the dhr2 just completely kicks its arse)

HR2 isn’t great either tbf, again not enough grip for the amount of drag but it’s imo much better behaved. If I had one, I’d stick it on and wear it out for sure and that’s not true of the dhf, I’m stingey and I hate not getting all the life out of stuff, but life’s too short for iffy tyres, it’s not 2010.

TBH though I’d choose even a pretty worn dhr2 over either!

yup, also stingey, and don’t like waste, so trying to actually use the stuff up that i have

So, unanimously I’m taking the DHF on the rear as not going to be what i am looking for

Shorty sounds like a good option, but potentially outbalanced by a DHF front?

HR2 has mixed recommendations… i have tried it before, and noticed it being draggy, but right now I’m prepared to test it. If i don’t have a use for the HR2’s i have then perhaps i will need to fork out for a new DHR… or whatever the modern evolution of it is? an aggressor?

Thing is, HR2 isn’t a great tyre but its main drawback is just that it’s draggy for the amount of grip. Not ideal but easier to live with than most tyre drawbacks I reckon, I’d rather be tired on the climbs than flatting all the time or riding into a tree.

If you want to stick with the brand Maxxis still don’t have anything better than the dhr2 as a rear imo, it’s just really good. Aggressor is OK but way less grippy and not really that much faster. Outside of Maxxis, not sure, conti kryptotal is really good but expensive.

If buying a new rear tyre then for max grip on steep slippery stuff then I’d be looking at DHR2 / Conti Kryptotal / Schwalbe Big Betty. Maybe a WTB Judge too – but I’ve never run one.

Never used a DHF or HR2 on the rear.

Aggressor is a little quicker rolling than a DHR2 but it’s a lot more slidey sideways in the corners (fun to drift) and it gives up drive forwards / braking grip. Same for the Dissector – I had one but didn’t love it.

Rekon is materially faster than both of those – but again the braking grip isn’t great.

Honestly I’d try the dhf on the back if I were you.

It might not have the braking grip of a dhr2 but it’s really not gonna kill you.

A few of us ride them on steep stuff and are still here to tell the tale.

I’m not a fan of either, just replaced that exact combo with a:

Magic Mary on the front
Pirelli Scorpion S for £20 from Evans on the rear.

Bike feels so much better on mud, steeps, roots etc for little penalty on rolling speed.

I have an old 29*2.6 DHF on the rear of my hardtail. I’m happy with it. But I don’t overthink things.