FIRST LOOK

First Ride: Hutchinson's New Griffus Tires

Apr 11, 2019
by Mike Kazimer  
Hutchinson Griffus


Hutchinson's tires tend to fly under the radar in North America, but the French company is working to change that with the release of the Griffus. The new tires were developed to meet the needs of Hutchinson's EWS athletes, who were looking for a tire that could work well in a wide range of dry conditions. What's a Griffus? Well, Google says that it means "clawed" in French, which seems like a very fitting name for a mountain bike tire.

The release of the Griffus marks the start of a new range of tires that will be marked with the Racing Lab logo, which indicates that they're designed for the highest level of performance, whether that's on the Enduro World Series circuit, or gunning it for glory on your local trails.
Hutchinson Griffus Details

• Intended use: enduro
• Best for dry, mixed, rocky conditions
• Wheel size: 27.5" or 29"
• Width: 2.5" or 2.4"
• Hardskin casing reinforcement
• Tubeless ready
• Made in France
• Weight: 1060 grams (29", actual)
• MSRP: $79.99 USD
• www.hutchinson.com

The Griffus is available for 27.5” and 29” wheels in 2.4” and 2.5” widths, with the 2.5” option receiving a taller, more aggressive tread pattern. Hutchinson suggests running the 2.5” version up front, and the 2.4” in the back, but riders looking for lower rolling resistance can run the Griffus 2.4 front and rear, or take the dual 2.5” route for more traction.

The tires are constructed with a 66tpi casing, and Hutchinson's Hardskin fabric runs from bead to bead to provide additional puncture protection. The tread is comprised of three compounds – there's a 94a durometer base layer that provides support, which is overlayed by a 50a durometer rubber for the center tread pattern, and softer, 40a compound for the side knobs. Oh, and for all the tan sidewall fans out there, that's an available option, as long as you have 27.5” wheels.

The 29 x 2.5” Griffus has a claimed weight of 1100 grams, and the 2.4” models is supposed to weigh in at 1050 grams, but on my scale both tires weighed the same – 1060 grams.


Griffus 2.5

Hutchinson Griffus

Hutchinson Griffus
The 2.5" Griffus has taller knobs, with a decreased angle at the front of the center knobs compared to the 2.4" Griffus
Hutchinson Griffus
Hutchinson uses three rubber durometers on the Griffus - a 94a base material, 40a for the side knobs, and 50a for the center knobs.



Griffus 2.4

Hutchinson Griffus

Hutchinson Griffus
Hutchinson Griffus
Lower profile center knobs make the 2.4" Griffus work best as a rear tire, but it can still be called into duty as a faster-rolling option for the front.


Ride Impressions

Hutchinson bill the Griffus as a dry conditions tire, but I think that's underselling the range of usable conditions a bit. Yes, in really deep mud a taller, more open tread pattern will be the way to go, but my first few rides have all been in wet, squishy conditions, and the Griffus did just fine. The fact that they don't have a super tall, mud-spike-like tread profile actually helps on wet roots and rocks – there's less chance of the knobs collapsing and causing sudden slide outs.

The Griffus' overall profile is a bit more round than square, which gives them a very predictable nature – there's not the on / off sensation that a really squared-off profile can deliver when transitioning to the side knobs. I need more time on them (and some sunny weather) to really make the call on their rolling resistance, dry conditions performance, and durability, but so far things are off to a promising start. The rubber compound seems nice and sticky, the tread pattern is easy to get along with, and the casing has a nice supple feel to it that allows the tires to really conform to the trail.

The competition in the all-mountain / enduro tire world is heating up, which is good news for consumers - there are more trail-worthy options on the market than ever. The Griffus seems like it'll be a very versatile addition to Hutchinson's lineup, and it's going to be interesting to see what else emerges from their Racing Lab program.




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77 Comments

  • + 51
 Looks like a minion
  • + 35
 That someone cut the knobs down on
  • + 39
 No it doesn't, it looks like a Butch... nevermind.
  • + 12
 @vtracer: so it will look like a minion, but grip less than a minion
  • + 3
 It does look like a worn down minion. I've seen some people artificially do this. Take a minion and then use a razorblade to cut down the center numbers for faster rolling while still have gnarly side knobs. I think that is kind of what spawned the Aggressor. I'm sure that's what these guys were going after.
  • + 5
 @vtracer: Agreed. In these pics the tires look half worn out!
  • + 0
 Also reminds me of a Purgatory
  • - 12
flag deli-hustler (Apr 11, 2019 at 9:42) (Below Threshold)
 @zede: I can't believe anything can grip less than a minion
  • + 12
 "less" I don't think that word means what you think it means.
  • + 6
 Fuck me, everyone's releasing the same tyre.
  • + 3
 @StevenJohn: I don’t think you’ve tried to ride a minion in Wales.
  • + 1
 Pretty much DHF and DHR2 clones, lots of similarities.
  • + 1
 Sounds like griffin too
  • + 3
 @thenotoriousmic: Neither this or a Minion was meant for mud. Minions work exceptionally well until the mud gets sticky or deep. Then you need to move up to Shortys or at least Magic Marys.
  • - 7
flag deli-hustler (Apr 11, 2019 at 13:31) (Below Threshold)
 @StevenJohn: the only tyre worse than a minion is a hr2
  • + 1
 @StevenJohn: it was a joke about it always raining in Wales as a minion would be a poor choice for there most of the time.
  • + 3
 @deli-hustler: whoa slow the f*ck down. You’re talking about Jesus favourite tyre right there. The side nobs on those tyres are a gift from god.
  • + 1
 @wowbagger: I agree with you on this.
  • + 4
 @ballardski: how dare y.. oh wait, sorry, was totally not prepared for someone agreeing with me, my bad.
  • + 3
 @thenotoriousmic: bullshit, it was hot and dry there for a 2-digit number of days in a row last year. They had jelly fish the size of Gee Atherton's helmet circa 2010 washing up on the beaches, thinking it was Queensland. Wales may yet turn into a Minion colony by 2050.
  • + 3
 @BenPea: always hot and dry here in Australia... Minions are awesome here, where it's hot and dry. And the heat really helps the tyre grip, and the sun feels good. So yeah, just move here man.
  • + 2
 @danlovesbikes: but...spiders.
  • + 2
 @danlovesbikes: I legged it off to the Alps many moons ago, we get more than our fair share of heat and dust, so I'm good. And I'm fully won over by the DHF. But Australia is in my top 3 countries. I'd happily move there, but y'aint got the same skiing options.
  • + 1
 @BenPea: I haven't tried the skiing here yet. Perth Hills top out at about 500m but over east I know they have some decent ski fields. I'm actually keen to try the Assegai on the local trails here. Winter is coming.
  • + 17
 Another tyre release with no inovative puncture / snakebite / rim protection keeping the pool noodle market afloat. Pun intended.
  • + 1
 or just saving the ad bullshit on those features. Who knows if they are actually worse or maybe even better?
  • + 13
 Harry gripped the edges of the stool and thought, Not Slytherin, not Slytherin. “Not Slytherin, eh?” said the small voice. ... You could be great, you know, it's all here in your head, and Slytherin will help you on the way to greatness, no doubt about that — no? Well, if you're sure — better be GRYFFINDOR!”
  • + 3
 He definitely shouldn't be slytherin on those. Besides, every Gryffindor knows that the others have much smaller knobs.
  • + 11
 Bigus Griffus
  • + 6
 Ah, a new entrant in the "how close can we get to a DHF without infringing on trademarks?" category.

I don't actually mind, the Butcher is is a straight copy, and is a great tire. Maybe this one is too.
  • + 4
 Substantial innovation here. Hutchinson seems to be the first company introducing two very different tires with the same name (only the size availability prevents complete confusion). Also the 2.5 Griffus (in contrast to the 2.4 one) goes against common tire logic by aligning the center knobs with the outer ones. Doesn't really seem like a great idea.
  • + 3
 Aligning the knob per row is the first request from Gwin when he helped designing its Aquila signature tire : better feeling on the transition and better braking.
I am no pro but it might be usefull for us too...
  • + 1
 @dedge-design: Oh yeah, I seem to have missed that. Certainly not a bad tire, the Aquila.
  • + 5
 Must be hard to get new tires on market, honestly I don't know anyone who would swap something with proven quality for something new when about tires
  • + 7
 Especially if you're not beating the proven manufacturers on price. $80 is way more than most people are going to spend to try a new tire out.
  • + 7
 Especially when no 26" option is available for those of us keepin it real.
  • + 1
 Agreed, most people buy a set of tires for a season and to risk having a shitty ride for a whole season just to try something new is a big ask for most of us when shelling out 80$ a pop...
  • + 2
 These look like Gomas, which are Minions optimized for dry, rocky terrain.

I like the Gomas a lot-these would probably work well for me as well.

However, nothing new here and the price is the same as any other decent tire.

I'd like to see an open standard that integrates tubeless tires, hookless rims and foam inserts as a system to provide better puncture and impact resistance and trim a few grams.

Until then.....it's Minions or Minion-like tires with burly casings (1100g a pop or so) with a Huck in the back for me.
  • + 1
 LOL, based on the comments, I am not the only one that thinks all tires are beginning to look the same. Pretty much every tire for the stated conditions looks the same. Would be cool to do a side-by-side tread comparison on all the major brands.
  • + 1
 Any of you remember those Hutchinson Cayote,s from the 90's. Legendary 2.1 x 26in DH tyre that we used to run in reverse on the front and they gripped liked there was no tomorrow. They did'nt look like a Maxxis, but had one of the best casings on the market. So tough and made your hardtail feel like it could do anything...
How about a redo in the modern sizes Hutchinson?
  • + 1
 The Coyote didn't impress me at all. It just looked like it would work, but not really. Only in soft grippy terrain, otherwise they just skid. That's from the time of experimentalism, before they figured out what really works in a tire or doesn't. Halfway decent tires only started appearing by the new millenium. The Squale was good and Hutchinson did revive it later.
  • + 1
 I can see in future years true companies developing a bald tire base with skin "attachments" that fit over the tire with different tread patterns on each skin. Like a rim strip fits around a rim. Of course they would have to figure out how to keep the skin from shifting from side to side forces, but I'll leave that up to them. So if you get to the bike park and it's raining, you can change your tire tread to mud tires and when it dries out towards the end of the day, you can run your favorite park tread for the last few runs. Or whatever scenario you like best.
  • + 1
 *tire companies...not true companies^
  • + 3
 This is already a thing for commuter bikes I read about it the other day.

It just zips on with a zipper. Ok well it's a Kickstarter but here you go..
www.kickstarter.com/projects/870651719/retyre-one-the-worlds-first-zip-on-bicycle-tire-sy
  • + 1
 Already a thing for commuters and road bikes. Zip on a winter tread with tiny studs. My neighbor has a set and it actually seems to work pretty damn well. Greatly increased the tire height and diameter though.
  • + 9
 @reverend27:Hahaha Amazing! If someone had those tires plus the pants where the legs zip off into shorts they would be unstoppable!
  • + 1
 Yeah there could be some kind of air bladder around which you fit the tread and you could even choose different casings.
  • + 1
 I'd like a clicking dial system where you dial in the height of the lugs you want that day.
  • + 1
 I've always been a fan of Hutch tires.
I've been riding on a set of fr-TORO and rr-SQUALE and I really like them.
Not a single puncture in one year (ok, many people can say the same with other tires) and very predictable grip.
I love their rounded shape.

I want to try a full TORO set, before deciding to go back to MagicMary ... ... or not !

I've never been a fan of DHR or DHF ; it takes all sorts to make a world ...
  • + 2
 Another $80usd Minion. Basically. Thanks! At least Hutchinson used to be priced less. Now they are priced the same. Innovation is dead and price fixing is in!
  • + 2
 I’ll keep my sub 1200g WTB’s ❤️❤️

Minion needing replacement where someone carved out the outer lugs with a an exacto knife.
  • + 3
 some folk would never eat a skunk. but then again some folk'll, griffus the slack jawed yokel...
  • + 3
 Minion nearing replacement ?
  • + 1
 Lol exactly.
  • + 2
 Looks like a ________. (Fill in blank)
  • + 34
 watermelon ?
Im good at this game
  • + 8
 session?
  • + 4
 Kevin?
  • + 2
 Another tire not released in size 26"
  • + 0
 @brncr6: I'm surprised they're bothering to release a 27.5 since thats on the way out too
  • + 1
 @nordland071285: got a 26" ragley that is a ripper on my local trails, getting harder to find decent tires. Build my son a 26" because it the best fit for him now. Don't want to upgrade my ht but it looking like I will have no choice
  • + 1
 The promo vid suggests that it is good for sliding the rear end and jumping???? youtu.be/No7zLYzaOKs
  • + 2
 Those WTB tires a few articles down is kinda a tough act to follow
  • + 1
 Does the 94a, 50a and 40a refere to Shore A hardness?
  • + 1
 Look like a tire with no grip.
  • + 1
 Does not Maxxis make a tire called the Griffen already?
  • + 9
 Naw, that's the Griffin. This is the Roman version, Griffus. No similarities whatsoever.
  • + 8
 As an aside, I can't wait to see the different model/casing/compound names... Griffus Maximus Grippus IIIC... etc. The Optiminium… Razz
  • + 1
 I don't think they make it anymore.
  • + 2
 @mtbikeaddict: yes master?
  • + 0
 @optimumnotmaximum: Well played. Salute
  • + 0
 @mtbikeaddict: father to a worn Minion, husband to a murdered Assegai...
  • + 2
 no 2.6?
  • + 1
 no big tires when you got big..... bike Wink
  • + 3
 2.5 is plenty big enough and will measure the same if not bigger than other brands 2.6.
ive ridden these tyres and they are excellent and uk RRP is £45.99 so a lot better pricing than some brands.
  • + 0
 they should call it the Incest, it really looks like the love affaire between a DHF and a DHR II...
  • + 1
 A perfect fit for anyone who wears pre-worn jeans.

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