Stand Out Product Of The Year: Specialized Hillbilly

Ran one at Fort William this year on the lads DH bike. Worked perfectly well… Ran it in the mud and slop at Rheola DH racing where again, it worked well… yeah, we like a Hillbilly T9 here.

I think it’s still fitted to one of his wheels now actually.

Loads of people out here in the Alps running a Hillbilly/Butcher combination.

Speccy tyres have come on leaps and bounds in the past few years. Been running a pair of the latest Ground Control Grid T7’s this year. Just as good as Maxxis / Schwalbe and half the price. What’s not to like?

Loads of people out here in the Alps running a Hillbilly/Butcher combination.

can i take it from that they are better as a rear tyre? Doesn’t say if its F/R specific…?!

We ran Hillbilly on the front yeah for the grip as it’s quite a big tread.

Hillbilly front, Butcher rear.

I really like the older Hillbilly and these new compounds sound like they address the main issue which was grip on wet roots / rocks.

It is a shame the carcass on the Trail isn’t a bit more supportive as I’d probably try a new one on the front, but I’m now using the Kenda Hellkat in enduro casing which is the best year round tyre I’ve found. The carcass has the feel of a much heavier weight tyre, and seemingly similar levels of protection.

The new tread pattern makes it a better dry/hard conditions tyre but doesn’t seem to be any worse in the mud/loose. The T9 compound (which was briefly available on the old tread pattern) is sticky and really well damped – super calm feeling compared to T7. I’m sure it rolls slower but it’s not noticeable on the front. It wears a lot faster than T7 (aka old Gripton) but at least as well as other sticky tyres – T7 is almost everlasting on the front!

I’ve been running Hillbilly F / Butcher R for a few years on my Levo – and also on my hardtail in the wetter months.

I’m running the Grid Trail casing – but I do run Rimpact inserts for extra stability and toughness (standard front, pro rear).

P.S. Benji – the old T7 one makes a ton of sense for my very niche use of commuting on a Levo but also doing proper riding on it – drop the pressure down to around 20psi and it works fine in the mud and wet, even doesn’t kill you on wet roots (is quite good at catching itself), pump it up to 30psi and I can pedal it past the limiter on tarmac without my legs dying. I’m keeping the new tread pattern T9 for next winter now.

I’ve had older Hillbilly front / Butcher rear as a “leave it on” combo for a few years now (not the same physical tyres I hasten to add) and they’re great in that guise. Enough in the winter without being too much in the summer.

And if you shop around you can often get them for pretty keen prices — not that full RRP is especially bank-breaking in the first place.

I am currently uhmmming and ahhhing about Mary v.s. Hillbilly as a new front tyre, the new T9 sounds quite convincing.

My Enduro came with old (2 generations old) Hillbilly Gripton on them and they lasted exactly one ride. I tested the same tyre on the Stumpy Evo, and it was still shocking.  Glad they’ve (finally) wrestled a half-decent tyre out of the tread design

The comparisons with other tyres people would be considering, is much appreciated – keep up the good work.

@ben_haworth Any interest in writing some kind of tyre atlas, something like this thread? https://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/equivalent-or-similar-tyres-in-different-brands/

Hey Ben, Great review. Since you’rs Singletrack’s resident rubber addict, I hope a couple of questions are OK.

I see you used the T9 Beverley Hillbilly both ends on the KSL.

Lucky me I have a KSL too and love it set up 29/275.

Given the assist, I feel it’s feasible to run “proper” well damped “calm” tyres, my fronts are generally extra soft Mary, Bontrager G5 and I plan to try the DH22.

– I’ve a 275 Aggressor on the back and sometimes run an earlier gen. 275 Maxxterra Shorty back there. Would your choice be T9 Hillbilly Gravity rear for when it’s too slimy for the Aggressor? Or a DH22 maybe?

Just those 2 tyre options – year round?

I did try a Mary rear which was OK in loam but seemed to fold the edge knobs on hardpack berms. Big Betty tempts but I read about issues on wet roots / rock. Its very rooty here in the South East Forests.

Do you have an opinion on tyre life? I read that the rubber deteriorates and loses its grip but if the knobs “feel” OK I wonder if they are. Some say 3 years and most of my tyres are past that (kept in a dark-ish garage) as I had 18 months off with a spine injury.

Thanks lots

The Specialized Hillbilly GRID T9 tyre is the product that we wonder how we ever lived without. Useful, functional, and just what we needed.

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By ben_haworth

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Stand Out Product Of The Year: Specialized Hillbilly

Been riding one as a front tyre in the recent frozen then sloppy conditions.

Bloody great tyre and a deserving winner.

Cannibal front and hillbilly rear for me both on T9 gravity casing.

Basically went with the spesh shops recommendations 

Only done one 15 mile trail centre on the above combination but well happy so far.

I have also used the old one and the t9 hillbilly on the front and have been very happy with them.

Reviews keep quoting this £80 price tag for tyres – that may be RRP, but who pays that?

Pretty much all Maxxis tyres can be had for 45-50 Euro online, ditto Schwalbe

Shop price is £50. My last two came cheaper with some signing up discount.

I got a couple for £35 each, it’s just like the good old days 🙂

Hillbilly been on the front of various bikes for a good few years now usually with a butcher on the back.

KSL has a hillbilly t9 on the front and a Hillbilly t7 on the back. It takes a lot to upset the bike, with those types and the extra mass.

Halfway house between MM and a shorty, but what compound ? purple or orange, maxxterra or maxxgrip.
I’m sure cannibals are also a great tyre but it didn’t stop Bruni slipping on a Sharpied Conti, much to BK and Ronan Dunne’s amusement earlier this year 😀

“Halfway house between MM and a shorty, but what compound ? purple or orange, maxxterra or maxxgrip.”

T9 feels softer and slower rebound to the thumbnail test than orange or maxxterra and when riding it feels noticeably stickier and calmer. I actually had to speed my fork rebound when I swapped a MM soft to a Hillbilly T9 this winter.

£25 at leisure lakes at the moment for the grid gravity one.

I might get a pair :⁠-⁠)

https://www.leisurelakesbikes.com/parts/tyres/specialized-hillbilly-grid-gravity-2bliss-ready-t9-29×24-tyre-black__389006