Specifications
Size – 26”x2.3
Casing - 60 tpi, dual-ply
Bead – Wire
Compound - Base 70a/ Top 42a
Pinch Protection - Butyl insert at the bead
Weight – Approx. 1250g
The Ride
Imagine yourself bombing downhill on one of those days where every root, rock or slick surface you see routes you off your line and into the shrubbery. Now imagine you mount up some freshy tires and are suddenly ripping lines you previously thought only the billy goats could shred. This is the Hillbilly experience, inspired and created with feedback from world champions Sam Hill, Troy Brosnan, and Brendan Fairclough .
The Hillbilly DH was originally spawned in response to the numerous riders and mechanics cutting down their mud spikes. What this did was create a tire that handled better when on hard terrain such as roots, rocks, and hard pack sections but still would bite in on the loose or wet sections that have been thrashed after days of practice runs. Utilizing a similar design as the moto inspired tread pattern of the Storm DH mud spike, Specialized has stayed true to their motto “Innovate or Die” by creating a truly confidence inspiring, precut spike that takes you wherever you point it in a variety of trail conditions.
At first glance you will notice the Hillbilly’s width. At 2.3 the Hillbilly is on the slim side in the DH tire world. What this accomplishes, along with a spaced out tread pattern, is “bite.” These tires truly bite into the trail. Accompanying this, the softer rubber compound used for the tread of the Hillbilly excels once you get it on the rooty rocky gnar. For the truly dedicated racers out there, the Hillbilly comes with indicator lines on the center knobs for recommended cutting locations. Though we have yet to experiment with this feature, the idea is to open up the center of the tread to decrease rolling resistance while maintaining defined cornering knobs. Thus resulting in a faster tire with minimum or no loss of cornering performance. When these features are combined with the downhill-geared design characteristics of the rubber compound and casing utilized, all at a weight of 1250g, the Hillbilly holds its own when compared to other popular tires on the track.
Conclusion
For me being into the tech side of things, I really appreciate it when a bike company creates something that just makes you nod in agreement. The Hillbilly’s creation just simply makes sense. Though the moto inspired design won’t fit every rider’s style, for many I see it becoming the go to “tool” for widening the spectrum of line options and possibility. The Hillbilly DH truly inspires confidence and creativity when the terrain gets gnarly.
MSRP – $70.00
Check it here… www.Specialized.com
