What you want is called the "Magic Tire!" I hear this a lot.

I want:
0. Good traction in rocks
1. Good traction in dry/hardpack
2. Good traction in soft/wet
3. Fast rolling
4. Light
5. Cheap
6. Supple feel
7. Flat resistant
8. Long lasting
9. Cheap

It doesn't exist. You'll have to sacrifice something. I'd say pick about four from above but not both 1 and 2. Or 2 and 3.

Since, I presume (based on where you live) you ride primarily at Versailles, BCSP, and the like (same conditions pretty much) as well as race, I'd suggest the Maxxis CrossMark. It's fast since it has a pretty solid center ridge (with square edges so it slows down as well) and has decent spacing in the semi-section (between the center and the sides). The square edges will cause it to pack up a bit more when wet, and there's the rub.

Second, I'd say go with the schwalbe (something). Ralph? I think that's it. Good tire. Expensive (the rub)

The larson's are slow. Nevegals, slow. Ardent 2.4, lots of traction (slow).

One of my fave's -- Bontrager XR0, but nobody buys it unless they like Trek. Even though it's made by Kenda. They've always made awesome tires. If you like the SB8's, the Bontrager version is way better in pretty much all categories. But it's bontrager (the rub)...

If you have the time there is about 400 pages worth of tire design theory and history stored somewhere up there. Or can give you a brief history in about 10.

Me? I like Ritchey's V-force analysis tires. They're predictable. Lots of new generations in the last 5 years so I don't know what they're called anymore.
too much italian wine...

I Wish some company would just make the "magic tire". I checked out the crossmarks and theyre looking like a good option. But if i went with that, should I use it for front and back or just one or the other?

And i do ride a trek, but im not a fan of bontrager tires.. I still have the stock jones xrs on my top fuel 8, and I dont like them at all

are you looking for 26 or 29?

I have really liked the new X-King from conti, but the 29" version has not hit the market yet. I am chomping at the bit for another one to complete my set.

It is more like a race king on roids so it can handle more trail conditions, but still has a better rolling pattern then the Mountain King.

you make those sound pretty sweet. Ill have to chack into them.

Thanks. Ill check those out.. but I don't ride if its wet enough to damage the trails. I'm just talking about maybe some roots and rocks being a little wet. The tires I have now are absolutely terrible on stuff like that. Plus, I've raced some dino races that were really sloppy.. and a good tire makes a huge difference in situations like that