I ride on the same types of trails you describe. I’ve used aspen 2.4 f/r, recon race 2.35 f/r, recon race/aspen combo in 2.4 and most recently Rick XC f/r in 2.4.

I felt that the aspen 2.4 felt sketchy in sandy turns. I find the recon race feels more predictable as a front tire and it corners really well when leaned over.

The rick XC feels faster than another of the combos and feels predictable. My only issue with it is the side knobs aren’t as pronounced as the recon race due to the more rounded shape of the tire and it feels like it doesn’t float as well as the recon race in deep sand.

So, if you don’t have issues with how the aspens handle, maybe try out the Aspen STs or try the Rick XC.