on tires, please note all are 29er except where noted
The SB8 does remarkable well on dry hard surface and that is about it, its roll really fast but rolling fast is useless if you can not use momenteum to keep you in between turns. I had issues flatting them tubeless by tearing though tread on rocks so I stopped running them.
The Karma had almost the rolling resistance of the SB8, with some better traction on loose dirt. Still had problem with tires getting shreded so I stopped using them.
The ignitor IMO is a great tire, awesome rear tire, actually rolls pretty fast and has on great grip on tons of surfaces. IF you daughter finds them slow rolling take the tubes out of the rim run them at 20 psi they will roll faster for her with out tubes and at the proper pressure.. If I was on a 26er I would be running these at least on the rear for some races. They make a LUST sidewall verison in the 26er that mounts tubeless super easily, and is nearly indestructible. there is no 29er tubeless option and again I had issues with flats.
The pythons is a tire I have used and continue to use. I started using them when I won a set and mounted them on my 26er. they roll really fast, grip turns better than the SB8 or Karma, grip dry roots and rocks great and best off all like much hutchison they can take a real beating. I have never had one tubeless ready verison fail me of these fail me. they are my go to race tire for any race where its mostly dry, with alot of gravel road. They also make a cross verison that rocks on dry hard dirt/grass. Many people use these on the NUE series as they roll fast with out falling apart on rocks. I ran them tubeless I am sure it increased the grip of the tire on roots and rocks, in fact on dry roots and rocks its amoung the best tires I have ever tried. With that said I never use for just riding around because its simply is not as fun to ride and knobby tire and lack cornering grip compared to what I normally run. I think the ignitor is a better all around tire especially if you have a 26er.
I have never tried the Larsen, Exiwolf, or Saguro so I will not comment.
When things get 'varied" on my 29er I run Hutchison Toro. They roll fairly fast, but have great all around grip as long as you do not lean the bike over to far. they also do great in all but the muddiest condition and the Tubeless ready verison is nearly bulletproof.
I also run a Ardent on the front for dry hard to loose conditions. The open knobs just let the tire be leaned over and has great grip
while on edge.
An 700-800 gram tire run tubeless will weigh the same as a 500-600 gram tire with a tube. Given the same weight the tubeless tire will out roll, out last, out grip, and out corner the tubed tire while being more comfortable. The downside is set up but not doing the setup will continue to give you subpar performance on all accounts. Running tubeless makes people seemingly have more skill. I am not skilled enough to ride tubed tires.
Good one! Thanks for the advice. Your comments on the Ignitor mirror those of rider reviews on MTBR, so I am inclined to think that my daughter's comments on rolling resistance arise from something else on the bike. Although coming from the Python to the Ignitor I could see why she would feel a difference -- that solid center bead on the Python logically makes it roll better on hard pack. OTOH, she is noticing far better grip on off-camber slopes, rocks, etc. since the Ignitors went on. But that may be because the Pythons were getting worn out, and I wasn't playing with air pressure in them yet, and kept them at about 40psi. Now with the Ignitors, and all the tires on our other bikes, I am keeping them at 30 to 35 psi (with tubes).
I'm going to come back to your comments soon, as the tires on my 29er are wearing out, and I will need new ones soon. Will check out your recommendations when the time comes. I am impressed with the Maxxis products, as I am with Geax. My wife's bike has the Geax Arrojo (no longer made -- similar to the Saguaro), and they have performed excellently for her -- fast, grippy, light, good in dry and wet, wearing well....highly recommended.
Got to go....more chat later.....