I’ve always been impressed with Specialized tyres until I’ve used them. They’re cheap, which is a plus, and they don’t seem to wear.
They also are canny grippy; the 2.6 Grid Slaughter at £12 from Spesh direct was great for the brief period I had it. But it had to be cock-on with pressure – a couple of psi too high and it would ping off every rock and root with no compliance, a couple of psi too low and it would squirm like mad even ridden conservatively. Managed to hit the sweet spot a couple of weeks ago, just as I hit a rock on a trail, and ended up with a hole in the tread (which would have been fixable) and a hole in the sidewall just above the bead (which wasn’t). An that was with running an insert. Also had a Black Diamond 2.6 Butcher go at the sidewall.
Now got a Michelin Force AM2 on the back which is loads tougher and rolls better than the Michelin WE.
I’d far rather have a decent tyre that costs more than a cheap, fragile tyre.