Tires Firestone or Maxxis

Firestone Indy 500 tire? What level are you running at and on what car? What is your psi? It's a great novice (to intermediate-ish)tire, but you have to know when to back off. Run them too hot and they'll get a little greasy feeling. Although I can't see that happening after 1 lap.

The only thing I’d add is I’d suggest them in Maxxspeed, but they are only available in 2.35. Rode them front/rear last season and they were excellent.

I've been really impressed recently with the Conti tires (Cross Kings or Race Kings depending on how XC you want to go with it), specifically the ProTection versions with the Black Chili compound. Coming from Maxxis stuff I've been surprised by the amount of grip they have given how fast-rolling they are, at least for my local conditions (New England, so rocks, roots, more roots, a few roots, some roots, roots, rocks, roots, some more roots, a lot of roots, and roots.)

2.4 Rekon Race Front 2.4 Aspen ST. This is the fastest combo I have ever run. Same type of trails hard pack.

Rekon Race is super fast if it has enough traction for you. If not, Rekon isn't a bad tire to try. Not as fast, but it won't give out when you push it too hard.

I thought the rekon race front and rear was amazing on hard pack rocky mountain dirt.

I have used the Rekon/Rekon Race combo and it is good for xc. I’m currently on Vittoria Barzo/Mezcal and I like them a little bit more than the Maxxis combo

They are definitely not twice as good. I was riding a Rekon/Ardent race combo and replaced them with Fast Track/ Renegade while those were on sale and I don’t feel like I’ve had any drop in performance.

I had a sidewall get punctured pretty badly on the EXO casing tires that came with my bike riding in Southern California.

Exo and exo+ in my area will reliably puncture right through the top of the tire within three rides or less typically.