Tires Maxxis or MRF

Assegai is very good but be aware it can be very cloggy with mud and needs speed to clear. From what you say of your riding it might not be a problem for you but wet clay especially on slower tech trails can pretty much just turn them into a slick.

I've ran the DHF for years and currently run it, but I've ridden a few bikes with the Assegai and I think it is in every way a better, more predictable tyre than a DHF.

I run a DHR II and an Assegai for downhill. I love the hookup of the Assegai for varied conditions. The DHF and Assegai are both great tires but I find the Assegai more aggressive with better traction overall.

I’ve ridden both for many years. The DHF was designed and made when tires were 2.3 wide. As the front tire has generally moved to a 2.5 width the space between the centre and side knobs opened up quite a bit and there is now a vague area of less traction at certain lean angles before you get onto the side knobs.

Assegai is my favorite front tire but it is a little slow rolling. If you don't mind that then there aren't many better front tires.

I have ridden the DHF exclusively since getting my bike. I fell in love with the grip when cornering, literally feels like the bike is on rails. I have never lost the front tire in any conditions.

I don’t have enough experience on Spesh tires other than the Sworks Fasttrack/Renegade I bought last year on a similar sale. They weigh in at around 620g each in the 2.35 size, which is much lighter than my Rekon Race 2.4WT at 780g. Feels nice to lose that much rotational weight and the grip I found to be similar. Also similar efficiency. What I didn’t like was the flimsy sidewall. There’s a reason they are so light. Lots of tire squirm and feeling of folding over in turns unless I ran high PSI (+5PSI compared to the Rekon Race). This is on a 30mm IW rim. Also, I had to use my tire plug for the first time on the front tire (Fasttrack). I’ve gone back to a slow XC setup of Rekon/Rekon Race this year but with a race or two coming up I’m debating what to do. I’m intrigued by the Aspen/Rekon Race combo but Aspen’s weigh about the same as my Rekon Race.

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.

Maxxis have become worse and worse in my experience. I switched to Conti tires, they are soooo much better.

This is one of the reasons I stopped buying Maxxis tires. Really, all tires will do it to a certain degree but Maxxis seem to be the worse IMO.