I have tried a lot of different tyres out over the last couple of years. Where I live we have a lot of different types of track, from really loose pea gravel (which is like riding on marbles) boggy track, to your hard compact track, to your slippery rooty muddy track.

Each type of track really does require a different set of tyres.

For the gravelly sandy tracks I primarily use Hutchinson pythons, but if the corners are really sketchy I put a Hutchinson Scorpion on the front just for a little more control.

For the hard compact tracks I love my Schwalbe Racing Ralphs.

Then for the muddy tracks I like the Michelin XCR Mud tyre.