Now working with Carson Storch, Cécile Ravanel and Isabeau Courdurier (among others) for their gravity and EWS efforts, Hutchinson Tires is rolling out their Racing Lab program to develop treads for the latest crop of talent. Which should mean better tires for all of us, and the first out of the lab is the Hutchinson Griffus enduro tire. The design is intended roll fast on the straightaways, then use its taller, more aggressive side knobs for solid cornering traction.
They’ve had the Toro for wet conditions, but needed aomething for dry, dusty trails. And they were considering doing from and rear designs, but some of their athletes wanted to run the same thing on both ends of the bike. So, they made slight variations to the center tread profiles for each width. The 2.4″ gets slightly lower center knob heights, with shallower recesses and no siping. So, it’s designed to be the faster rolling option, which would be the rear if you were to mix and match.
The bigger 2.5″ gets taller center knobs with deep sipes on the larger ones, making it the grippier option. It would go in front, but both tires can work in either spot. Same rubber compound on both, using a triple compound with a hard 94A base rubber and 40A sides with a harder, faster 50A center tread.
Center treads are a bit lower than the side knobs and have a little bit of ramping to keep them rolling quickly, though at less of an angle than we’ve seen on other tires. The back sides of those knobs are sharply squared off for better braking performance. Side knobs have scalloped centers to help them deform around the terrain, but keep the deep shoulder support so they won’t collapse under hard cornering.
They get a thick 66tpi casing with a bead-to-bead Hardskin layer over top, designed to prevent punctures and sidewall cuts. It’s a tubeless-ready casing, too. They come in tan or black wall options, which are only cosmetic differences.
Two sizes will be offered, 2.4″ (57mm) and 2.5″ (58mm) in both 27.5″ and 29er. Claimed weights are 980g (27.5×2.5) and 1030g (29×2.4). Pricing will be $79.99 each and availability is June 2019.
