It’s hard not to draw comparison with the ever-popular Maxxis Minion when you look at the Specialized Butcher DH, but that certainly isn’t a bad thing. Where as Maxxis once dominated this world, Specialized have now struck up a winning combination of tread pattern, rubber compound, stability and durability, as fitted out on Aaron Gwin’s works Specialized. Designed primarily as a tyre for drier conditions, we are more than happy with the Butcher’s performance in conditions from super-dry to medium. They only seem to come unstuck in slippery grime, conditions in which we would be switching to a more specific tyre.
“Even with a tacky 42a compound, the Butcher DH seems to outlast most rubber in this category”
Specialized spec a tacky 42a compound over a harder 70a base, giving good stability at a variety of pressures, as well as extra Butyl inserts just above the steel bead to help reduce pinch flats. This compound is the same used in many premium DH offerings yet the Butcher seems to outlast most rubber in this category, making it an affordable option, and certainly one of our top dry choices.
