Tires Maxxis or GISLAVED

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

I used to drive Gislaved studded tires in my Tuscon for 2yrs, great tires.

Rekon for the rear - Forecaster for the front. Super light - super fast - and good for all scenarios other than wet mud.

My favorite trail bike combo right now is a DHR2 front and dissector rear but I’m considering switching to rekon rear.

Maxxis Razr ATs. They handle great and served me well in winter driving.

I have Hakka R5 on my GTI and Gislaved on my Golf SW.  Both have been excellent for me and my needs.

Minimum ko is Maxxis.

I am not a fan of ardents. They roll fast but have a habit of loosing grip when you least expect it and suck at regaining grip once they start to slide. I'm running Recons front and back and really like the set up. They roll pretty fast and are usually very predictable.

I've had a good string of flats on my DTHs, but they're such a great tyre otherwise that I could never be mad at them. They're also so big and floppy they're a breeze to remove, unlike most "puncture resistant" tyres.

Specialized control tyres and it’s not even close.

No it’s not worth the “premium” as they’re not more premium. The spesh tyres are specced on their £14000 bikes, they are also racing and winning world cups, cape epics, short track races, marathons for years with the rest of them. Spesh has led the way with a couple others with FEA and camps set up for surely testing their tyres with a refresh every few years. There is no “premium”. The stickers are fancier on the maxxis. But they’re heavier. Higher rolling resistance. Higher weight. No noticeable gain in traction to account for those either. Spesh offers sworks 120 tpi, softer and harder (T7 and T5 respectively) control tyres. All you’re choosing is 120 vs 60 tpi determining a less or more robust carcass.

A life long sworks 120 tpi snob. I went maxxis aspen and hated life. That’s a gravel tyre. Tore through the Vittoria barzo. Went ikon and they’re a great once was a race tyre now a recreational tyre— but been left for dead with rolling resistance, grip and weight by the competition. Rekon race won’t get a look in from the tyre tests and price and weight. Nah ta.