The new Hutchinson Griffus tires were developed to meet the needs of their EWS athletes, Cécile Ravanel and Isabeau Courdurier, and was designed to work in a wide range of dry and loose conditions. The aggressive Griffus is an Enduro and gravity tire that is at home in rocks, roots, and loam and is meant to go faster, further, with exceptional grip and performance. Additional gravity based athletes that helped develop the tires included Kilian Bron, Carson Storch, Rémy Métailler, Yoann Barelli, Kevin Miquel, and Theo Galy.
With the Griffus, the brand excels against a significant challenge: keep a central band that ensures performance and raises, while providing excellent grip on bends with high side knobs.
For further information refer to hutchinson.com.
The introduction of the Griffus is also the start of their new Racing Lab lineup of tires, which is the best know-how of the brand and the highest level of performance, resulting from its work in the competitive segment and made in France.
The Griffus comes 27.5” and 29” sizes, and 2.4” and 2.5” widths, with the 2.5” model getting a more aggressive and taller tread pattern. Hutchinson recommends using their 2.5” version in the front of the bike, and the 2.4” in the rear, but I like more traction instead of improved rollability, so I am testing a 2.5” in the front and rear. By developing these two models, the goal is to be able to offer the best combo to get a maximum of performance.
It utilizes a 66tpi casing and their Hardskin textile fabric on the sidewalls and under the tread, for protection from punctures, cuts, and tears. It features a three compound design, with a supportive base of 94a durometer, a center of 50a rubber, and finally a softer, 40a compound for the side knobs. For tan sidewalls groupies, it’s an available option in the 27.5″ size.
First Impression
I tried out a set of the 29er 2.5″ Griffus tires (front and rear) on my Ibis RipMo, and the tires weighed in at 1050 grams each. They were mostly tested out in dry and loose conditions, that consisted of loose loam, sand, and gravel, though there were some spots of spring snow. The tread pattern bit into the loose conditions with aplomb and provided excellent traction and braking, though in the deepest gravel the rear could pop loose if your balance was off slightly. The front end didn’t wash out, and when it did give out, it was controllable and very predictable. The round profile and soft side knobs would connect up if you gave the handlebars just a smidge of pressure, providing a precise cornering sensation. The three compound rubber design was grippy and sticky, and the 2.5″ versions tread pattern seemed very functional in the dry loose conditions, and the carcass conformed nicely to the terrain. I’ll need a lot more ride time for a better impression of traction, braking, cornering, and durability, but my initial opinions are that the new Griffus is an exceptional tire that offers plenty of unique attributes.
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