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We didn't sell the Minion SS in large quantities, unfortunately. More than anything it became an option for our athletes to use in highly specific disciplines (slalom) or conditions. I saw plenty of comments along the lines of "why would I buy a pre-worn out tire?"
The sizing was also a little funky on that tread since it came out just before rims went super wide. The 2.30" had a good profile but obviously low volume, while the 2.50" was too squared off and more voluminous than most riders needed. I could see a place for a refreshed 2.40" version sized around a 30mm internal rim with a tough casing. Seems like a great option for peak summer bike park conditions or for e-bike use.
How does it compare to the Aggressor and how is that selling?
The Aggressor actually sells really well. Particularly in desert regions / Southwest US. I don't have a ton of time on that tire since I'm on the East Coast and need something more versatile.
Agressor's side knobs are a joke.
I am looking at a Slaughter/Butcher combo or Kenda Helldiver/Hellkat combo. Can't decide, but at least Kenda offers theirs in three casings. How would you describe the Slaughter casing?
Yes, a bit of extra width on a wider rim may make it better, but I am running a 25 width rim and keeping the pressure sort of low on the Minion SS. I am riding a mix of natural trails and hardpack. I can feel the casing squirm a little and it has burped on slow speed off-camber roots.
I'd 100% buy a Minion SS in something like this format, tough casing and proper 2.4 to 2.5 width. Probably somewhere between DD and DH casing perhaps? The OG Rock Razor Supergravity was the benchmark - I'd say the Kenda Helldiver is not far behind but maybe slightly bigger side knobs would be good.
I was an assegai front aggressor back dude for years, but something happened with the DD aggressor where punctures were too common, not even the big bacon bits could save them. Went back to a DD DH-R and all is well again.
I liked the aggressor as it lasted forever and was fast rolling, but as above the side knobs were decorative lol.
The aggressor is an odd tire - it might have worked better if they offered it in softer rubber but the cornering and braking traction kinda sucks for how slow it rolls (yes it's faster than a DHR but not by that much). It feels like the dissector is the tire they were trying to make when they designed the aggressor, though it has it's own issues. I used to run semi-slicks (rock razor was my favorite) but I think the introduction and refinement of in-betweener tires (Rekon / Forekaster 2, Syerra / Martello, ground control / Eliminator) give you fast rolling options that still grip pretty well when leaned over which was always needed with semi-slicks. But if I go back in time 10 years to 2015 when the Maxxis options are an ardent or minion SS then I'm picking the SS every time. I never used semi-slicks for proper DH riding where beefy casings were necessary - I never felt like rolling speed is what holding me back from going faster / having more fun.
The Grid trail casing is perfectly adequate for my spirited trail riding on trails with lots of ups and downs and roots and rocks. Unlike older Spesh tires with the Grid casing or anything Maxxis thinner than DD, I never pinch flatted those. Good support and not too stiff @ 23-25PSI. Gravity tires those aren't though.
Xynotal Enduro casing > Aggressor DD. The Xynotal continues to blow me away with how versatile a pretty good rolling tire can be. I've done a 40mi XCM race on a DH casing one and even ridden it in the snow with good results. Only thing that could pry it from my rim is a radial Hans Dampf.
Did anyone else recently hear the DH WC announcers mention prototype Specialized tires under Bruni or Finn?? I swear I heard something like this recently, but forgot if it was Poland or Loudenville.
I have brand new design Butchers and Cannibals on my workbench and they are very, very similar. Anyone heard chatter on updated DH Spec tires in the works? Specialized likes to prune and update their tread pattern lineup more regularly compared to other brands. Cannibals still not listed on their Canada website - they going away or getting update??
Specialized just updated the butcher a few months ago along with the eliminator. My guess is cannibal is next. I’ve rode the previous eliminator/ butcher and was quite happy with them. The updated versions seem to improve them even more. The cannibal is a very underrated tire that I rode all winter but didn’t quite have the braking bite I was expecting. but made up with more than expected in rolling speed. If you’re a “heavier rider” (190+lbs), you’ll like the specialized gravity casing.
I am over 190lbs kitted up and nothing is better than Specialized tires for the price, so always watching new developments closely on their side. Gravity casing has always been my choice on the rear, and I've never flatted a Grid Trail on the front. All the new pattern Butchers and Eliminators I've picked up are gravity casing, and I'm trying to wear out my current old Butcher/Eliminator combo to get the new ones on the bike.
I wish they had a few more choices of casing + compound pattern, but I understand a big part of that is the cost game and keeping # SKUs down.
They have been racing on prototype cannibals for a few seasons now. From what I have been told its just small tweaks to the casing as well as the compound. They, like Schwalbe have a, cold weather specific T9 compound, I wouldn't be surprised if they have some other FRO single run compounds as well.
I'm a little over a month in on the new Butchers, I have them at the top of my favorite tire pile now for Nor-cal conditions. Seriously debating on keeping them on for racing this summer. The only thing that I have noticed is that the butcher in the rear has a tendency to break loose when pushing the tire into the apex of a berm, not in a bad way though! It's like a quick slide that I can recover just by releasing some brake lever pressure, only happens on catch berms on flatter corners when the bike is leaned over. Might also be a result of pushing the bike harder since I still havent found the limit of grip on the front yet.
Hi tirechat. Im looking for tires for the bike park. I only get to the bike park a few times a year, so i take my trail bike. I have a spare wheelset and want to put some tires on there. Im on the east coast, im a wheels close to the ground most of the time type rider, and im pretty light (150 with gear). Assegai's i suppose are like the default choice. i also have heard such good things about the conti tires, but ive also heard that the casings are super stiff, perhaps too much so for a lighter guy? and then the new schwalbe radials are very interesting too, and thats a choice between MM and the albert i think. The HR3 and tacky chan i have heard take alot of commitment, probably more than i have. idk. Im overthinking it and having decision paralysis i think.
It's easy to overthink with so many options. Assegai/DHR is the classic go-to combo. I would disagree about the HR3 taking a lot of commitment though. That was true of the HR2, but the third generation is much more user-friendly in my experience. I typically run a dual DHR setup but HR3 front / DHR rear is sick, and I prefer that to the Assegai.
Thank you for the response! What is the reasoning that you choose between the dual DHR vs the HR3 on the front? And what is it about those tires that you prefer them to the assegai? Im trying to wrap my head around what factors would lead me to choose one tire vs another. I wish i could back to back them all, but i cant, and i dont honestly have enough experience with gravity tires to really know what i want.
Agreed, HR3 is awesome, especially in loose or loose over hard. I'd describe it as the best of an Assegai and DHF, without the downsides.
My one hesitation for recommending Maxxis or Schwalbe for a bike park setup is just how damn fast their tires wear down compared to others. A set of Conti Super Softs will easily last 3x as long as MaxxGrip or Schwalbe Soft.
You're welcome!
I like the Assegai okay, but I much prefer the very distinct edge and on/off feel with the DHR. To me, the Assegai feels a little sluggish getting from one edge to the other when you need to change direction quickly. That's a highly personal preference.
I run the dual DHR because of the extra braking bite you get vs a DHF. I'm a big dude and like to ride steep stuff so I need all the help I can get. I also run dual DHR because that's already mounted on my long travel bike! I'll be switching the front to a HR3 before I head to Whistler later this summer though.
Do you prefer 2.4 on th dual dhrs or the 2.5?
Honestly, I've had limited time on the 2.50" up front and when I did, it was on a DH bike that wasn't mine. That was on a Commencal Supreme in Whistler last summer. No issues with that setup whatsoever, but can't relate it to regular trail riding.
Always run 2.40 front/rear on my enduro, but that's also because I've been working my way through a stack of old protos we had laying around. The last set is on my bike at the moment.
I’m currently loving the Kryptotal Fr/Xynotal combo for the bigger bike, but I’ve had such a good time with the Spesh Eliminator/Butcher in the past that I’m curious to try the new-ish version of the treads. We just got our first bikes in with the new Butcher, and in addition to having larger tread blocks, the distinct lack of siping on the cornering knobs stands out - I don’t think I’ve seen anything quite like it. Anyone have time on the new versions to compare?
I had a couple of rides on the new ones — Grid Trail T9 Butcher, Grid Trail T7 Eliminator — but I didn't like them enough to stick with it. The casing is pretty good, the compound is great, but something about the tread design just doesn't feel right on the trails around here. It felt like they were breaking loose on turns and straight-line braking in unpredictable ways. I think folks who like DHFs would love them, though, but it ain't me.
This echoes my experience with the Purgatory Grid T9. Good casing, great rubber, and generally impressive performance but the side knobs just aren’t quite right, to the point that I’ve crashed without warning while cornering three times since fall.
Dang, but good to hear, thanks guys! That’s enough to keep them off the “really want to try” list for now.
do you have experience with the previous generation butcher/eliminator to compare?
Why would you compare the Butcher and Eliminator with the Purgatory? The side knobs on the Purgatory are just not in the same league, by design.
Haha my thoughts exactly. The Purgatory is not in the same league as the new Eliminator (or Butcher), nor do the side knobs have the same design.
Also @codahale What tires were you running previously? Assegai+DHR2?
I'm well aware that they're not in the same class of tire. All I was pointing out was that I shared the same experience of liking the casing and rubber, but not tread design on the newest round of Specialized tires.
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