When you note "dhr2" its most important that you include the casing. Exo, exo+, dd, and dh casings make all the difference. A dhr2 exo is not a "substantial dh tire". Exo's actually suck unless youre running extra psi and the terrain has little rocks and roots. The casings , as much or actually more, than the tread design apply to the type of terrain if you want to make it to the bottom.
Personally i like a full dh casing on the front with a flatter/edgier tread profile and a slightly wider rim. The sidewall is flatter and because its a dh casing sidewall its better for edging. You can push in the corners without the sketchy flex.
In the rear i like a little more rounded profile as the tire gets lent over more and a slightly flexier sidewall(a little bit , not a paper thin exo) like a dd equivalent with a tire liner and a touch narrower rim in relation to the tire size. Example would be 2.4-2.6 front tire on a 35mm inner rim dh casing and a 2.6-2.7 rear tire dd ish casing on a 32mm rim. More compliance in the rear doesnt get deflected in the rocks, roots and ruts.
The problem im finding is finding a good dh casing front tire in a 2.6. Magic Mary is all i can think of off hand.
I just put a michelin dh34 dh casing 29 x 2.4 on the front. My favorite tire thus far has been the michelin rockr2 2.35. It measures closer to a maxxis 2.45 so i thought the dh 34 2.4 would be wider like a maxxis 2.5 width. Its not. Its narrower than my 2.35 rockr2 and the same as a maxxis 2.4. That shit pisses me off. Michelin have the best rubber and sidewalls and patterns but their gaps in sizing , weights and sensible width measurements is frustrating. The dh34 is awesome in the bike park through berms and jumps. So much confidence pushing into corners without the sketchy flex. Just perfection. On super steep dirt and rock faces id like a wider profile more control based than race based . I think a 2.6 with full dh casing front is the sweet spot. A 2.8 with less casing is fine for complete control to go slow on steeps but its flexy and wallowy in the corners if youre pushing. Not very precise. Ive no interest in anything 2.8. Less than 2.5 doesnt offer enough braking traction, especially for emtb on the steeps.
Loic Bruni races on 2.4's but on those tracks i'd definitely favor more control than speed. I think we need to see more 2.6 dh casing tires.
It doesnt matter if you put max psi in the tire, its still not a substitute for a healthy sidewall and you actually be more succeptible to rock punctures in place of your previous tiresnake bites. An inflated balloon is much easier to pop kind of thing.
My dream set up would be a 2.55/2.6 rockr2 dh casing front(not made in dh casing or 2.55/2.6) and a 2.6 dh 34 bike park casing in the rear(they make a 1200g bike park casing dh34 but no 2.6). MagicX front compound on 35mm rim and gumX rear compound on a 32mm rim. Another 4 or 5 years and they may get around to it/end mega long rant
Ps
It was super fun in the park yesterday on the 2.4 dh34 and 2.6 ewild rear on the jump trails
