I am currently riding Maxxis Ardents on a Hardtail. I like them OK. Good tires for my area in East Tennessee. They seem to work well on packed clay dirt, loose rock and slick mud. Not so well in sandy areas.
Prior I had Bontrager Team Issue XR3’s. Really liked those tires, probably more so at this time than the Maxxis Ardent.
Prior to that I had Kenda Small Block 8s. Not a bad tire, wore well. But the tight pattern allowed them hold dirt and mud easy.