Magic Mary v Maxxis Shorty v Spesh Hillbilly

I’m looking for more bite in the current greasy, sloppy conditions. I normally run a Mary all year round but I’m finding somewhat lacking in bite this winter. Admittedly, it had been on for about a year and 1500 miles so it may just be past it’s best but if I’m going to buy a new tyre, I’ll buy one that’s right for the conditions now as they are likely to be sloppy for a while.

Does anyone have direct experience of any or all of the above tyres?

Mary a bit better all-round than the Shorty, but the Shorty better if it’s predominantly mud you’re gonna ride, IMO. If there’s lots of roots and rocks too, I’d be tempted by the Mary.

As with all tyre threads, though, carcass and compound are as much defining factor as anything else. A harder rubber on a skinny carcass is going to feel very different to a sticky rubber on a well-damped carcass.

With both, I’d go pretty much as soft and strong as you can for the best performance, IMO.

Hungry’s spot on. Shorty is the best of those 3 for really nasty conditions. The 2.5 maxxgrip is like voodoo.

Hillbilly seems decent too but from the few rides I did, I didn’t feel like the compound was as good. Nice and spiky though, the grip in absolute slop is a bit better than either of the others I reckon but it’s the sort of mixed mess of roots and wet rocks and mud and slime that the Shorty does best, which is also pretty much when I want the absolute most from my tyres…

I haven’t used a shorty but I have used the other 2. Mary in 2.35 addix soft snakeskin and Hillbilly in gripton grid 2.6”.

The Mary is the best allrounder of the 3 you list – but in soft mucky slop the Hillbilly is better. It’s been on the front of my bike since about October I think and just find it is mega on natural stuff. Does as good as most things with wet roots and on slick steep stuff it finds braking grip where the Mary didn’t.

Northwind +1

The Shorty will tolerate trail centre surfaces ok too, although the Mary is better at that.

I run a 2.6 Mary Apex soft on the front of my ebike, it’s very good generally but still not much grip on wet roots so turns covered in them are a challenge. Anyone tried the ultra soft as well and can compare? Suspect that might be ideal for me in winter

Just put a Suger Gravity Big Betty on the back, looking forward to trying it out in the slop tomorrow night

Anyone tried the ultra soft as well and can compare?

Don’t think you can get the Mary in ultra soft, apart from DH carcass, sadly.

OP – If you want a winter-specific tyre, do consider the WTB Verdict Wet in high grip form. It’s a big step up from even a fresh Mary in the slop and handles better than a Shorty on hardpack and rocks.

OK, it’s very draggy, but it’s worth it for the grip and it’ll get you stronger.

Admittedly, it had been on for about a year and 1500 miles so it may just be past it’s best but if I’m going to buy a new tyre, I’ll buy one that’s right for the conditions now as they are likely to be sloppy for a while

I thought my front Mary had loads of life left in it, but when I ordered a new one for the rear with another tyre I realised how much it had worn. Fitted the other tyre to the rear and the Mary to the front and haven’t had any real issues this winter now.

2.5 maxxgrip double down shorty all day long. so good its like cheating.

As above, i switched out my Mary 2.6s super gravity’s for the DD Shorty Maxxgrip and they work better in serious mud, which is all that there is just now around FoD and so on, not the best on flat stuff or roads, but offroad they seem to handle everything well enough, as with all tyres though, they hate snyper roots and they do have a limit to what they can get through i find, but that’s just riding technique and they get through a good bit more than the mary’s did without so much spin out.

I use all 3 and agree with the above;-

MM – best allrounder, for me my ‘summer’ front tyre
Shorty – best wet rocks and roots not quite as good in mud as the HB
HillBilly – best in mud, not so good on wet roots or rocks, but I’m using them on the front now until March(ish) as they are cheap and I had the 2.3 shorty which would be bettered by the 2.5 but I only have narrow rims so haven’t tried one.

Used a MM 2.35 for the last few winters on the front and it’s bloody hard work on the Stoney climbs and even tarmac….good work out though! 😏

I have a shorty 29 2.5 maxx grip dh casing for sale if anyone wants to buy it. Unused and still in its plasticy casing. Drop me a message

I use a shorty, but what I do notice in the early wintery rides is I dont lean the bike over as much as Im generally going slower, so the side knobs dont bite in as much. Once I re-remember about this and make leaning the bike over more of a habit, corner grip is much better.

Worth noting that the 2.5 DD Maxxgrip Shorty is hideously expensive (and out of stock most places). I expect you could get two Hillbilly’s for the price of one Shorty. I would hope it grips twice as much.

Worth noting that the 2.5 DD Maxxgrip Shorty is hideously expensive (and out of stock most places). I expect you could get two Hillbilly’s for the price of one Shorty. I would hope it grips twice as much.

Given the choice, if it was free Specialized or pay full retail for Maxxis, I would happily pay full retail not to have to use Specialized tyres.

I’ve used Maxxis Shorty 2.5 WT (Maxx Terra), Magic Mary 2.6 Soft Compound and Specialized Hillbilly 2.6 in fairly horrid conditions.

I agree with the majority of comments in that the Mary is the best all-rounder and gets used most of the year, although it can clog in proper filth. The Shorty is great in filthy mud, but I find it a bit slidey on rocks and roots (I suspect the Maxxgrip is better, but haven’t tried it). I find that the Hillbilly is a decent compromise across the patch, but not exceptional in any one area. I agree that the other Spesh tyres aren’t much cop, although I am running a Butcher on the back in the mud.

Michelin Wild Enduro in Magi-X2, 2.4″? The Hill Billy 2.6″ Gripton just felt a bit vague in comparison to even the Gum-X version of the WE.

chakaping
Full Member

Don’t think you can get the Mary in ultra soft, apart from DH carcass, sadly.

And Supergravity, but that’s still a pretty chonky tyre now. (old supergravity was a sensible trail tyre really but now it’s like 1350g for the 29er)

niceandy
Free Member

Worth noting that the 2.5 DD Maxxgrip Shorty is hideously expensive (and out of stock most places). I expect you could get two Hillbilly’s for the price of one Shorty. I would hope it grips twice as much.

It does not. But, consider next time you’re mid-crash how much you’d pay to have say a 20% chance to stop it before you hit the ground 😉

I’m usually really keen to save money on bikes (I have expensive bikes, but every penny is hard fought), but considering the lifespan of a tyre and the price difference, it’s not a place I save pennies ever. But yes if money’s a major concern then specialized can be amazing value.

I have a hillbilly 2.6 running tubeless at 20 psi on my ebike. Fitted last winter and never took it off. It just seems to suit my riding style. Love the way it gently slides a tad in the mud then grips when powering through the slop.

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