Schwalbe 2015 Nobby Nic - Review

Oct 22, 2014
by Richard Cunningham  
Schwalbe Nobby Nic 27.5 x 2.35 - 2015

Lightweight, high-volume, and fast-rolling, Schwalbe's Nobby Nic tire has been a long-running fixture on mid-travel trailbikes. Bike makers loved them because spec'ing Nics as original equipment could drop the weight of their trailbikes by a pound. Fans swore by their Nics because of their big, round, flexible casings, supple ride, and for the grip that they managed to find with such small and widely spaced tread. Haters complained that the Nic's tread blocks - if they didn't shear off the first time a rider skidded down a rocky chute - would wear more quickly than pink pencil erasers in a kindergarten class. And, there was the problem that many large-volume tires have with slashes on their exposed sidewalls. Schwalbe recently released an all-new Nobby Nic that should make everybody happy.

Schwalbe Nobby Nic 27.5 x 2.35 - 2015

Riders who either wished that their Hans Dampf tires were a bit lighter and faster rolling, or those who wanted a grippier, more aggressive Nobby Nic, will be glad to discover the revised 2015 Nobby Nic is all of the above.



Meet the 2015 Nobby Nic

Schwalbe completely redesigned the tread pattern of the Nobby Nic for 2015 - to the point where it appears more like a lightweight version of the German tire maker's Hans Dampf. Retained, is the lightweight, 67-thread-per-inch, high-volume casing which gave the original Nic its fast and supple rolling qualities, but it has been reinforced with a tougher version of Schwalbe's "Snakeskin" anti-abrasion layer, made with a mono-filament polyamide cloth and a different rubber coating to address complaints about its predecessor's wimpy sidewalls.


The new Nic's tread blocks are about a half a millimeter
taller and spaced slightly farther apart, fore and aft. The
edging rows are wider and more reinforced than those
of its predecessor.
bigquotesThe new tire has far more substantial edging tread and Schwalbe added a staggered row of transition blocks to ensure that there are no more surprises when entering or exiting corners.

Gone are the flexible and heavily siped "H-blocks, replaced by sturdier, wider tread features which are siped in a more conventional manner with thin slices instead of deep hollows. Previous Nic's had an empty space between the center-blocks and the side tread, which caused the tires to hunt for cornering grip on hard surfaces. The new tire has far more substantial edging tread and Schwalbe added a staggered row of transition blocks to ensure that there are no more surprises when entering or exiting corners.

From 2015 onwards, all Schwalbe MTB tires will be "Tubeless Easy" - which means they need some sort of sealant, but are designed to be easily mounted and run tubeless. Schwalbe claims in its literature that our test tires, the top-end Evo TLE TrailStar version of the Nobby Nic, in the 27.5-inch by 2.35-inch size, weigh only 685 grams each. Our tires averaged at 760 grams. Schwalbe sells the new Nobby Nic in a number of configurations and the good news is that all three wheel-sizes are supported. North American pricing has not been set, but we expect that the new Nics will come in very close to its predecessors - around $80 USD for the high-end EVO TLE TrailStar versions.



TrailStar designs use a soft compound for edging blocks,
medium-soft for the center tread, and a resilient under-layer
to reduce rolling resistance.

Nobby Nic 27.5 Evo TLE TrailStar Details:

• Complete redesign for 2015
• Intended for trail and all-mountain use
• Size tested: 27.5" x 2.35"
• Sizes supported: 26", 27.5", 29"
• Actual measurements on 23mm ID rim: 27.75" x 2.3"
• TrailStar three-compound tread construction formulated for freeride and enduro.
• Mono-filament polyamide mesh anti-abrasion sidewalls
• 67 TPI casing
• "Tubeless Easy" tubeless compatible bead and carcass construction
• Weight: 685g-claimed (760g actual)
• MSRP: USD TBD




Ride Impressions

We mounted the new Nics using Stan's sealant to Reynolds Carbon AM rims with an industry standard width of 23-millimeters, and a set of Enve AM rims with similar dimensions. Working tire pressures ranged from 28psi front and 32 rear, to 35psi front and 37 rear. Unlike every Schwalbe tubeless-ready tire I had aired up to that point, the 2015 Nobby Nic tires did not seal well enough to mount up to the Reynolds rims without the aid of a compressor. I tried mounting the Nics to an American Classic AM rim and had slightly better luck, although the compressor was still required. "Tubeless Easy" were not words I would use to describe the process. The second tester said that his Enve rims accepted the new Nic with no problems - go figure. Once mounted, the tires sealed up with almost no weeping and held pressure. Measuring the width and height of the new Nics at 32psi revealed that the casing and tread were almost exactly the same width, at 2.3 inches (58.4mm) and that the true diameter of the tire was 27.75 inches (705mm). The tread may appear to be omnidirectional, but arrows on the sidewalls and angling in both the tread pattern and siping grooves indicate otherwise,

Pedaling and acceleration: The new tire is quick rolling, especially when compared to a High Roller II or a Minion. Keep it in the family and compare Nic to Nic - and the extra weight of the newer design can be felt while accelerating. The more robust tread pattern also feels a bit more draggy on paved surfaces. Like its cousin, the Hans Dampf, the Nubile Nic seems to pick up the pace when it hits the dirt, where it tends to ignore shallow patches of sand or sloppy soil. Where there is adequate traction, I noticed that the new tire lacks some of the punch of the old Nics when I made quick accelerations. When traction becomes iffy, though, the more aggressively shod 2015 Nic spanks its brothers hard. Not having to soft-pedal over shifting gravel or slippery boulders was a welcome energy saver that soon eclipsed any reservations we had about giving up a little rolling resistance.

Braking grip: Straight-line braking traction is not quite as impressive as Schwalbe's Hans Dampf, but it is darn close. Oddly, where there is a lot of grip, such as when braking hard down slick-rock, the rear tire occasionally will chatter. The phenomena is most likely to occur on a fresh tire, and I've had the same thing happen with the Hans Dampf. Unlike the previous Nics, the new tire can handle late braking without pushing the front tire or losing the tail end of the bike when entering a corner at pace. The old Nics did not forgive riders who were sloppy around the turns.

Turning grip: The fun begins in the twisty stuff. Schwalbe's designers must have been working furiously on DH tread patterns before they returned to do justice to the Nobby Nic, because the new design sticks like glue to a wide variety of surfaces. I had a chance to compare the Nic with the more aggressive looking Hans Dampf and it was better at any speed at holding a tight line. You could choose to drift, but it took a good hard push to break the rear end loose. Take the pressure off and the bike will come right back and start gripping again. When the tires do break traction, they don't let go like the older tread did. Instead, the break is softer and it comes with a good margin of control.

Technical points: Perhaps the number one question from those who have experience with the earlier Nobby Nic is: "Will the new Nic last longer than a cheap fireworks show?" And the second question might be about its performance in wet conditions, considering that it is always winter somewhere in Europe and weather should be arriving soon in the rest of the Northern Hemisphere. To the first question: the new tires seem to be far tougher than both the Hans Dampf and the previous Nobby Nic, with no broken tread blocks and no ravaged sidewalls to date. To the second question: with only one ride in moderately wet conditions, all I can report is that the 2015 Nics were grippy on wet rocks and heroes on tacky dirt - but roots and slop were not on the menu. Schwalbe posted a video of Brendan Fairclough and his buddies ripping it up in the rain on the new Nics, which is a good watch. When I do get the Nobby Nics in the slop, I'll add those impressions here. (added Oct. 23)

Wet and mud: Pinkbike's Mike Kazimer had the opportunity to ride the new Nics in the rain in the rooted and mossy trails of the Pacific Northwest. Kazimer says that it is not his favorite tire in the wet. In semi-muddy conditions it was not bad, and the same went for traveling in a straight line, but things got really interesting when the trail had any off-camber roots or rocks. The culprit seems to be that the staggered edging blocks, which give it good grip in dry and loamy conditions, do not provide a defined edge to grip on greasy surfaces. Everything seems fine and dandy, and the all of a sudden: "Oh sh*t, I've got no grip!" That quick slide out is what makes them tricky to ride in the wet.

Schwalbe Nobby Nic 27.5 x 2.35 - 2015 and 2014

The 2015 Nobby Nic (left) has a completely different tread pattern than the 2014 version shown here for comparison. Last year's Nics were best appreciated by finesse riders, but the new design can be pushed much harder - especially in the turns.




Pinkbike's Take:
bigquotes Schwalbe took its time to answer the pleading masses and upgrade its most popular trail tire, but the wait seems to be over. While the new Nobby Nic is similar to its 2014 brother in name only, it fills the gap between Schwalbe's host of lightweight XC/trail offerings and the burly Hans Dampf, which has never been fast enough to be considered an efficient trail option. I have always wanted a more robust version of the Nobby Nic, or a lighter, faster-rolling Hans Dampf, and the new Nic sits squarely between the two. As it stands, the new Nobby Nic is set to make a lot of trail riders happy. Apparently, it is also going to live much longer and that will help take the sting out of the premium price that fans pay to roll on Schwalbe rubber. If Schwalbe can reach its stated goal and pare the 27.5 Evo TLE TrailStar from 760 grams down to 685 - well, that would really be something to shout about. - RC


For more high-res images of this review, visit the Nobby Nic gallery.


Mentions: @schwalbe



Author Info:
RichardCunningham avatar

Member since Mar 23, 2011
974 articles

226 Comments
  • 226 11
 Ok - naming competition time for Schwalbe's next new new tyre, me first:

Bukkake Belinda
  • 111 9
 Guaranteed to have enough holes to spew sealant everywhere any time you try to inflate it.
  • 23 53
flag Call-911 (Oct 22, 2014 at 10:45) (Below Threshold)
 you're treading on thin ice
  • 37 6
 Keeping with the inappropriate pornographic theme... Cuckold Charlie
  • 15 8
 Scat Sally
  • 86 7
 Dirty dick
  • 7 30
flag rc3kartusa (Oct 22, 2014 at 11:04) (Below Threshold)
 Kiki Minaj
  • 20 4
 @miketizzle's comment went from +15 to -3 in 3 minutes (I refreshed). Conspiracy?!?
  • 6 4
 Copro Carl?
  • 9 39
flag cool3 (Oct 22, 2014 at 11:11) (Below Threshold)
 Elementary school humor… come on, guys, you can do better than that!
  • 29 1
 YES! Conspiracy!!!! At last someone has realised (plus there's a black car outside my house with a couple of odd looking chaps with radios). If I don't post anything in the next few days can someone please come looking for me
  • 4 0
 hahahhahaha md ripper where did that come from?
  • 6 0
 There is actually a seafood resturant called dirty dicks at this beach i have been to no joke haha murica' is weird
  • 13 10
 Dirty Sanchez !!!
  • 8 1
 Dodgy Dierdre

(has four D's in it)
  • 11 4
 Alabama Hot Pocket Annie
  • 15 1
 And please make a Double Dick reinforced side walls!
  • 9 0
 kinky kylie
  • 7 8
 Seraph - with all due respect to your craftmanship... I have Nobby Nic and Rocket Ron which are old enough (no it isn't 2 rides old ha-ha-ha) to show casing thread through the sidewall and they seal up easily.
  • 59 7
 Pedophile Pete
  • 11 0
 Nobby Nics and Rocket Rons are different to Bukkake Belindas, Waki.
  • 2 9
flag karoliusz (Oct 22, 2014 at 13:02) (Below Threshold)
 Sloppy Lick
  • 20 3
 Pounding Paula
  • 136 1
 New Schwalbe tyres for 2015: Saggy Samantha, Erect Edwin, Masochistic Margaret, Phallic Philip and Loose Lydia.

All will be available in ribbed casings and with new 50 shades of puncture protection. Certain models will be offered in the new Porn-Star compound which is said to offer unrealistic performance. Schwalbe have also announced that their website will no longer show up in the browser history of their customers.
  • 10 0
 Winner!! ^^^^
  • 12 1
 i love all of you for this
  • 1 1
 2015 2.45 Holy Ship, Ultra Gravity Light casing. "Best of both worlds"
  • 3 2
 You all know what's coming next, "wide rim tires". 2016 Schwalbe 2.275" WideOpen w/ ProWide technology, Ultra Gravity Light casing ("Best of both worlds" casing)
  • 3 5
 Hum Danger
ClimbMax
Magnum BK
Gee Sport (They would need to sign Gee just for this one!)
  • 12 1
 Squirting sue
  • 9 2
 "wide rim tires"... called Rimming Ricky. And tubeless ready Latex Lucy.
  • 8 2
 T bagging Terry
  • 35 0
 I feel that the Moist Margaret would be a good mud tyre to add to the mix.
  • 12 1
 Gangbang Gretta
  • 1 4
 "NO BRAP CRAP"
  • 2 1
 Schwalbe 2.275" WideOpen w/ ProWide technology and new Ultra Gravity Light casing. Tires made for 25-35mm internal width rims. Don't lie, you know it's coming!
  • 9 2
 Wet Wanda Sloppy Sarah Nasty Nadine Dirty Danielle Horny Heather Dirtpig Delilah Slutty Sharon Gaping Gertrude Sore Sally Brusied Beth Stinky Stevie Fromunda Fran I could go on...
  • 6 4
 Jizzy John
  • 9 3
 Anal Anne?
  • 4 4
 I always thought Hans Dampf, which translates as 'all rounder' or 'handyman' should have been called Mein Kampfs which translates as 'My Struggle' (quite fitting really as they are quite boggy)
  • 1 0
 @zorba73
Which tires do you prefer over Hans Dampfs? Which tires do you consider to be great and why?
  • 2 0
 For its qualities: "George Bush"
  • 5 0
 Barry McCockiner (say it a few times, hehe)
  • 1 1
 Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson hahaha
  • 2 2
 Fappy Flip
  • 2 3
 Betty Swollox!
  • 5 12
flag WAKIdesigns (Oct 23, 2014 at 4:41) (Below Threshold)
 Online Tosser, Web Wanker, Smart Ass, Poor Pun, Failed Fun?
  • 5 13
flag WAKIdesigns (Oct 23, 2014 at 4:46) (Below Threshold)
 Comment Dumb, Puns GetLame, Stop RaitNao?
  • 4 1
 Guy Ledouche
  • 3 1
 Dildo Dylan
  • 28 0
 Waki Wanker
  • 3 0
 ^^ thats gonna go down well
  • 2 0
 Willy Wear (Out)
  • 11 0
 The 'Pedophile Pete' tire would be bald
  • 1 0
 Barrel Tuggers and/or
Swamp Donkeys
  • 1 0
 Shoddy Slicks or Jekyll and Slyde would be a more appropriate name for these .
  • 3 2
 Oral Annie
  • 67 26
 LOL "best qualities of the old version"? There were literally zero good qualities about the old version from a riders perspective! Weak sidewalls, no side knob support, fast wearing, sketchy as hell in almost all conditions.
  • 31 30
 Maybe you should learn to ride with them. I've been using NN for many years and although they can be prone to sidewall damage if not inflated at a proper pressure (Schwalbe tires performance is generally very sensitive to pressure), but they corner very well, don't wear as fast as you say (although faster than Kendas, but hey, that's the price you pay for a high-end quality tire)... and sketchy? What are you talking about? They are super grippy almost everywhere -- way much than a lot of "trail" tires I've tried.
  • 16 3
 @cool3 - I see you're in Montreal. Your tire needs will be very different than the tire needs out here. I can confirm that on our steep, wet, rooty, rocky trails, NNs are certified crap. But if I were hitting Kingdom Trails in Vermont, they could be a good option.
  • 3 2
 @DMal: our terrain doesn't look like KT at all! KT is mostly groomed, loamy/sandy terrain, while we ride on roots and rocks (as you do). If you know Bromont (or have seen it in a video) you can see what I'm talking about.
  • 19 3
 @cool3, I've ridden them in almost all conditions all over BC, they have weak sidewalls, are prone to pinchflats, they lack grip on wet trails, rooty trails, dry trails, steeps trails, hardpack, you name it. "Learn" to ride them? The only way to ride these tires is to ride slow, on smooth, flat trails...or as most people I know, take them off your bike immediately (bike manu's love these POS as OEM) and throw them in the trash.
  • 3 2
 This looks a lot like a Vigilante which is basically a moto tire.
  • 7 1
 I am from a tropical country (wet and humid conditions, rains a lot) and the older Nobby Nics are really useless here for aggressive riding. I've had some very sketchy situations at high speed because of these, including a couple of bad crashes. If it wasn't for the excellent Hans Dampf I would've ditched Schwalbe altogether.
  • 15 2
 The old nobby nic is hands down the worst tire I have ever had the misfortune to ride... I'd rather ride on just rims... Plus you end up having to do that a lot any way because they flat if you look at a rock wrong
  • 3 0
 Totally agree worst treads ever, the only decent thing is their weight, going down anything steep is a death wish, they have zero braking traction and a flimsy squirmy casing. I guess they're ok if you're just rolling down a flat sidewalk.
  • 5 6
 @flipfantasia: to each his own. I've been riding Nobby Nics on rocks and roots here in Quebec, as well as in Utah and Colorado and although I agree about the weak sidewalls, I still think these are very good and versatile tires. As said, Schwalbe tires are very sensitive to pressure, so your bad experience(s) might be due to incorrect inflation for what you intended to do with them. As for me, I still have to find a tire that's grippy, corners and rolls well and weights the same as the NN in tubeless ready version (and BTW, they are very easy to set up tubeless in my experience). They are very popular around here and I think that so many people can't be mistaken to the point of buying the same tire again and again, but then, "haters gonna hate". Anyway, the nice thing about democracy and free market is that we can still buy whatever tire we like. So buy whatever tire you like, I'll do the same.
  • 4 2
 Strange, the nobby nicks are my favorite tire. Maybe different people need different tires in different conditions?
  • 17 4
 This comment thread is an example how questionable are reviews on MTB websites catering to world wide audience as Willie has pointed out. It is like selling a concept of a DH bike to someone from Netherlands. Like explaining the qualities of Wets Screams to someone living in Moab. Previous Nobby Nic was an excellent tyre for mixed conditions in hilly terrain with frequent ups and downs where you can't pick up too much speed therefore utilize larger knobs and thicker casings. Fantastic front tyre for XC bike, quite ok choice for rear for trail bike if you adjusteed your riding technique to it. Nobby Nic Evo was hands down one of the best if not the best climbers in wet, on a 29er you could just mash pedals standing on wet roots and rocks.

But well if you freewillingly attempt to use it in larger mountains, particularly sliding in dry conditions then you simply... have no clue how tyres work? That's not a bad thing, no shame, no one should consider it in such categories, you don't have to know everything, many pros have no clue what they are on, yet they will rip the sht out of world's best engineer - just don't pretend that you are a pro ripper and engineer at the same time!

Hugs and kisses
  • 2 0
 I use the UST version not T-less ready and the sidewalls are thick and the only problem I ever had was a knob ripping off like Nevigals did.
  • 1 5
flag SlodownU (Oct 23, 2014 at 7:33) (Below Threshold)
 Or, you can get a real tire like a High Roller 2. Who cares if it doesn't roll as good? Get in better shape. Besides, do you really care about how it rolls when your holding on for dear life down some ragged line?
  • 4 2
 SlodownU - Highrollers I and II are probably suckiest tyres out there, roll worse than Minion, clear from mud worse than minion, less predictable than Minion and wear out faster than Minion. They offer marginal, pedantic amounts of cornering and braking grip if it is DRY. Come again with Minions maybe? Or just start using Magic Mary, which is the freaking best DH tyre everrrr. FYI where I live I use NNic on rear and Minion Front, and minion is an overkill for me. If you ride XC/Trail using a tyre designed to roll down WC DH courses then sumting wong! As to latest Nobby Nic, why would someone use Hans Dampf now?
  • 1 6
flag SlodownU (Oct 23, 2014 at 12:49) (Below Threshold)
 Uh, no. To everything you said.
  • 4 2
 Yes, show me a single sponsored athlete on HRII on any pic from last two years of DH WC. everyone is running Minions, mock ups of Minions and Magic Marys. We do not need to agree and I am in great shape, I just don't like slow rolling high rollers Big Grin
  • 2 3
 Ok, the High-Roller II, with EXO and MaxTerra weighs a whopping 80g more than this tire. It may not "roll" as fast nooby nic, but it grips better, lasts longer, and holds together way better than the Hans Crap that I ran before.
  • 1 0
 Just get Double Defense! Who cares about a couple grams!?!
  • 3 1
 I had 4 nobby nics, on 5th one now. I had normal evo, two SSkin and DD. I slashed all of them and ripped knobs in each of them. That's why I use regular Evo now even if DD is sturdier. I even slashed Rock Razor SSkin. SloDownU - i may have exxagerated HRs negatives, I just don't see any reason why would anyone use it over Minion DHF. The place where this tyre really sucks and I mean sucks, is uphill on wet roots and rocks. The ramped knob design makes it spin out and slide. I consider myself as a string and skilled climber and many rooty uphills in my area are unclimbable on any Highroller, to a point where even semi-slick like Rocket Ron beats it. Also one would have to ride super fast on super gnar on 6"+ bike to fully utilize it's cornering and braking grip. It is my experience just as people I ride with.
  • 11 0
 I really do hope they have sorted out the Nics habit of washing out without warning. This had caused me to crash 3 times so I got rid of them . They are also a bastard to set up tubeless. Sounds like they have listened to complaints and all is good now. Still, once bitten twice shy so I will be steering well clear.
  • 1 0
 I am absolutely with you. Sketchy as hell on the front, was very much all or nothing, more often mothing if you can't trust the front to not slide out from underneath you.

Then I put it on the back and it was awesome, I'd go so far as to say my favourite tyre out back, fast, grippy, could get some mean slides going at speed but you knew what it was doing.... if it didn't fall apart in a few rides I would have bought another one...

once bitten twice shy x 2. And an expensive tyre that falls apart quickly...?
  • 1 0
 mine can be aired with a floor pump no problems. I have sealed them in the carribean with a road morph. Are you using UST rims?
  • 2 0
 You can find them for cheap if you know where to shop. Hint: Germany.
  • 4 2
 For me Nobby Nics never washed out without warning. They were washing out so early that it was predictable. A tyre that offers No grip, no grip no grip MAGIC GRIP and then sudden death is called Maxxis Highroller. A tyre that offers as poor grip at speed as NNic but is 200g heavier is called Hans Dampf Big Grin
  • 1 0
 I like you.^^^^^You talk like Skwisgaar Skwigelf from Dethklok.
  • 1 0
 I agree with Waki. The NN has a very predictable washout. It's called leaning. The old version was a horrible blown up version of a cyclocross tire in my mind. Hopefully this new mini Hans Dampf would be better? I don't know. I'm not buyin.
  • 1 0
 And you like someone who has one favourite thing and is willing to go down to the bottom of the deepest pit with it. It's not 2011. Highrollers are not cool anymore - get over it!
  • 1 0
 Each to their own. I thought the NN was a total bag of sh*t. I do agree on the High Rollers too they are the most over rated tyre out there.  
  • 3 0
 Schwalbe Hans Dampf tires are particularly sensitive in tire presure. 21-22 psi in rear tire are ok for my 76kg( plus 3-4kg backpack), with a 26mm inner width rim. In front 19-20 psi for Magic Mary. Nico Lau was in 24 psi back and 18 psi front in EWS. They are big volume tires, 61,5mm wide HansD and 62mm MagicM, with strong suport from sidewall, so they need much lower air presure than Maxxis which are lower volume tires and need some 2-4 psi maybe more, because they are also softer in sidewall. So every tire-rim compination needs experiment in tire presure, to find the right balance for every rider style...
  • 1 0
 HD is a tyre that works best on dry and hard surfaces due to it's volume and medium sized knobbs of similar size spread evenly around the tyre surface. The lack of channel separating center and side knobbs provides a steady lean over but sacrifices cornering grip making it rely on rubber compound to a great extent. All in all it rolls well for the overall grip but when conditions turn to wet and ground to soft, it's volume without knob support turns it into a glider. Climbing grip is exclent, in all conditions, one of the best of all tyres. Nevertheless The difference in Cornering grip of HD and Magic Mary/Rock Razor in same compounds is literally night and day. Because the new NN features same casing as non-SG HansDampfs and Tread blocks are of similar size, I sense that HD good times are over, I personally see no reason to use it.
  • 12 1
 People who say that these tires are crap makes me wonder if they are just a bad rider or they are using these tires for something they are not made for. For example DH.

They are not the perfect do it all tires but they are and have been a tire that can handle almost any condition remarkably well. Maybe people hate on them because they are super expensive and don't last as long? Maybe they just hate Schwalbe because of their unusual names? Who knows. All I know is they kick ass.

Aside from super muddy and wet conditions these tires are my go to choice. They grip well, they roll fast and they are light weight for how aggressive they are.

I plan on getting these tires.
  • 4 1
 I second… Smile
  • 1 1
 I third, fourth, and fifth!
  • 1 3
 exactly it is an XC tyre
  • 4 2
 And XC is still not cool enough to get you props on Pinkbike
  • 7 0
 75 grams is well beyond the margin of error. I think that's downright deceiving. At 760 grams, they no longer hold a notable weight advantage over other 2.25-2.35" 60 TPI tires.
  • 2 0
 I was hoping someone else noticed that too. It's a reasonable skew especially when you factor in 2 of them.
  • 2 1
 Schwalbe tyres are NEVER at their advertised weight. I've got a Magic Mary that was originally claimed to be ~850g. It was nearly 1.1kg!

Same with the HD. Significanty heavier than than advertised.

Coupled with them as quoted above, burning out quicker than a cheap firework display, I went back to Maxxis and Specialized tyres.
  • 1 0
 I have never had issues with Schwalbe weights, all were in +/- 10g margin and I bought at least 10 tyres from them, Specialized also has quite accurate weights, one that failed me was Maxxis, where I got 2 identical DHFs EXO 60a where one was 815g and other 836g. Which size of Magic Mary are we talking about because at least in 26" I can't find 850g one. As with many Schwalbe tyres there are gajillions of version of each tyre are you sure you are comparing the right ones like SSkin to Super Gravity?
  • 1 0
 So true waki ^^^. Schwalbe is the most transparent bike company I have ever worked with, and all my previous weights have come at or below their stated numbers to date. At the launch in Germany, Schwalbe was still working on gettting the new Nobby Nics to hit their target weights. A message to Schwalbe revealed that the production tires now in the US were also ten grams under their published weight with the same hot patches and enumeration as my tires, so my guess is that I got four tires destined for some Enduro Team with an extra coat of something somewhere. Weighed them like, 80 times on different scales to be sure. Bottom line is that the new NN should be in the upper sixes, not the lower sevens when they hit the bike shops.
  • 1 0
 Schwalbe is also very honest with sizing, something that Maxxis got to only recently (at least with their gravit-ish tyres) and Continental has a long way to go. Just put 2.4" MKingII next to 2.4" Trail King (Rubber Queen) on same rim and one may get an idea why there is such a staggering weight difference despite using same casings and compounds.
  • 2 0
 Well you reviewed the Magic Mary with a 'claimed' 795g weight for the 26" tyre & according to Schwalbe 835g for a 650b, yet it's more than 100g heavier here: www.pinkbike.com/photo/10567503

And that's the lightest by FAR i've seen of a Magic Mary 650b in snakeskin.

Every Schwalbe i've had has been significantly heavier than advertised. Oh, and they all fall apart. Really quickly.
  • 1 0
 Well my Rock Razor 26" 2.35" Evo SS Pacestar was 675g and it has same casing and same side knobs as this MMary. I doubt if increase in weight by those middle knobs would be more than 100g, so that may just be a very unfortunate fluke. Just type in Magic Mary weight on Google and you'll find on scale pictures of 29er MM at 901g and 26" Super Gravity at 1090g where SG is almost double ply, which increases weight of the tyre siginificantly.
  • 2 0
 They seem to have a lot of 'unfortunate flukes' when it comes to the larger volume tyre weights Wink

The new NN is of no interest anyway, Schwalbe need to do some serious work on keeping knobs on tyres for a while yet Smile
  • 1 0
 Where I live almost everyone rides Schwalbe and I haven't heard any complaints. As to losing knobbs, heh, they do lose knobs in EVO versions, they don't in Super Gravity and DH. As a tip I can say that if you do go at speeds making you loose them you may appreciate the sidewall stability SG tyres offer, (confidence in corners, avoiding burping sealant) those that don't lose teeth... going XC/Trail riding on thin walls (like Forest of Dean) is ok, but taking them to Alps is just... silly? Really silly?

Alternatives shall we? (for trail riding maybe) Contintental - heavy and hard compounds - get on UK muddy steeps or Vancouver slick rock on them - fasten your seat belt and good luck! Maxxis? Minion DHF, eventually HR2 - fan-freaking-tastic... but that's all folks because everything else from them has patterns preferring dry surfaces, cloggin in mud and spinning out on wet roots. Wait... those are DH tyres, were we comparing them to Nobby Nics?! WTB? - Fine inside dry US territory, useless elsewhere. Kenda? Buahahaahahahahah oh I died laughing - Geax, Huthcinson - never tried.
  • 9 2
 These might be on the menu for my new set of tires. I run a Magic Mary up front and Hans Dampf out back and the rolling resistance is highly noticeable. If i can get the grip of the HD with less resistance im all for it.
  • 2 0
 I was going to get MM front and HD rear, but now wondering if NN rear and a MM or HD front would be better? It would be cool to get feedback on one of these mixed setups, anyone? Riding Kootenays All-Mountain.
  • 2 0
 Been running hans damp front and rocket razer rear for a while now, good set up hard trail riding, lots of grip in the corners but in the straight the back likes to dance around
  • 2 0
 I'm running a magic mary trailstar up front which grips better than the hans damf trailstar I had up front, also been using a rock razor all summer on the rear which I think is an awesome tyre, but I was going to replace the rear tyre for a hans damf for the winter, the old nobby nick was crap imo has anybody tried a rock razor on the front by any chance just to see what its like
  • 2 0
 Yeah, the Rock Razor won't work for our terrain, maybe for Trail/XC... The standard here has been Maxxis DHF front and rear. I want to try Schwalbes tho. Think I'll just go for Majic Mary and new Nobby Nic rear, should be great by the sounds of it. Now the question is whether to get Snakeskin or Supergravity for the MM front? I'll be running tubeless on 23mm internal width rims.
  • 2 0
 Same here with the RR in the rear and MMup front. But it did wicked awesome on the turns and corners, got squirrley on straight line braking and steep loose stuff but it just made it more challenging and fun. It pedaled ok I could feel the rear pick up but the MM up front felt like a plow truck that I was pushing. Then I swapped the MM to a HD and boom sweet combo!! rocked that till my RR basically went bald which didn't too long btw with all the steep stuff I like to ride. Pedaling picked up a ton vs the RR rear/ MM front combo. Now I'm HD front and back and boom, so nice. Everything you want on the DH but it did feel a bit sluggish over the RR of course. Now maybe a NN rear / HD front combo is in order.
  • 2 0
 I used minions dhf super tacky for years and still do on the front, I prefer the larger volume of the schwables though, I have been using the snakeskin version at 17 to 19 psi at the front, 25 to 30psi at the rear without any problems doing lightish downhill and hard trail riding on most types of surfaces including rock gardens, the thing is that you can buy the minions for half the price of schwables in the uk which is a big deciding factor to take into account, because the schwables are not twice as good as the minions
  • 1 0
 Started running Magic frnt and Rock Rzr rear but the Rock took a sidewall cut the first day, was great combo up till then. The weather has turned and put a Magic on rear also, dream traction and braking but could feel it was a tad slower. Wonder if the new HD could be a decent intermediate rear?
  • 4 0
 I would assume that, in GENERAL, these COMBOS would match up the best :

(Front / Rear)
Hans Dampf / Rock Razor
Majic Mary / Nobby Nic (2015)
Majic Mary / Hans Dampf
  • 2 2
 Your first combo would not work, Rock Razr has VERY aggressive cornering and HD less
  • 1 0
 Let's throw it on the list. You'd think that the MM would be better for DH but slower and the RR would be better for climbing quickness and be weak on DH braking and control on steeps. Seems like polar opposites, but I can't say that from personal experience. But you've been riding them so take your word.

I would assume that, in GENERAL, these COMBOS would match up the best :

(Front / Rear)
Majic Mary / Rock Razor
Hans Dampf / Rock Razor
Majic Mary / Nobby Nic (2015)
Majic Mary / Hans Dampf
  • 2 0
 Why not Hans Dampf/Nobby Nic (2015)?
That was the combo I immediately thought of when I read this review.
  • 3 0
 True, that would probably be a great combo for some.

(Front / Rear)
Majic Mary / Rock Razor
Hans Dampf / Rock Razor
Majic Mary / Nobby Nic (2015)
Hans Dampf /Nobby Nic (2015)
Majic Mary / Hans Dampf
  • 1 0
 I Have tried all those combos, and now can't wait for the HD/NN 2015 combo next. The climbing should be on par with a MM/RR combo and would be just as aggressive if not more
  • 2 0
 For me, I'm more interested in something that will compare to a Minion DHF, so the Majic Mary up front makes more sense. I'll be getting MM (SG) Front / NN (2015) Snake Rear to try out. Unless the new Snakekin comes on Majic in time for Spring.
  • 1 0
 Honestly I felt like the HD out performed the Minion DHF, which I was on for a long time berfore converting to the Big Tire S company haha. Granted the only thing the DHF had over the MM was just rolling resistance. As a front tire it was like pushing a plow thru snow. The conering and braking between the MM/DH is identical to me. The DHF did smidge out the HD on the corners. The HD just flet like a larger volume DHF without actually going 2.5. Basically I'm saying if you really wanted my opinion which you probably don't care ahaha, I would go witht he HD for lighter and better rolling resistance.

Oh and I've had crappy luck with any of their Snake skins stuff, had to bump up to the Super Gravity.
  • 1 0
 No, on the contrary, thanks for your opinion and info. May go that route now. Would you consider the MM/NN combo if the MM was in the new and improved Snakeskin sidewall like this new NN? It sounds like it could end up comparable in weight to a HD Supergravity.
  • 5 1
 @B650wagon, the MM is THE most aggressive trail tire out. I ride Minion DHF EXOs f/r as my trail setup (faster and less rolling resistance) and MM SGs f/r for park or races where I need that more durable and volumous SG casing. I have a buddy thats had good luck racing a Snakeskin MM on the front with a SG MM on the back to keep the weight and rolling resistance down a little.

This new NN is looking good for the rear but I think the ultimate combo would be a Snakeskin MM on front and Super Gravity NN on the rear, hopefully Schwalbe makes that happen as there's no mention yet of an SG NN.
  • 1 0
 It sounds like a NN rear and both the MM and HD front are in order, I'll test both. Likely end up running the MM in Spring/Fall more and run the HD in dried summer more. Hopefully get them all in the new and improved Snakesin walls by Spring. I'm not racing pro, just racing my buds!
  • 1 0
 I'd say up front a MM for wet (but not mud bogging) and soft ground, Minion for (loose over) hardpack to damp surfaces. On the back anything I can get my hands on for cheap as it will get annihilated anyway.

Quite curious about these Maxxis Shories..
  • 1 0
 How about 27.5 Minions and/or HRII... in a 2.5 (Maxxis 2.5) ??? Anyone know if that's coming anytime soon
  • 1 0
 mark3 I totally agree with you. I still don't think there is a tyre out there that can beat a minion especially up front. I ditched my awful Nics and replaced them back to my old school minions and it transformed my riding and confidence. They are a little heavy and draggy but the extra grip and controlled sliding is well worth it.
  • 1 0
 @B650wagon, honestly I'd probably never run a MM on my trail bike again. But I'd definitly run it on my DH bike which is the current plan once I rebuild my newe dh bike. With that note, the MM that I was running was SS compound. It barely lasted 2 months before swapping to the HD. Besides the rolling resistence that was the main reason for swapping to the HD in SuperGravity.

And for a 2.5 HR2 would be way overkill, The 2.3's are plenty large volume enough for the 27.5. The HR2 are so square of a tire it performs really well in the smaller 2.3's. And the HD, to me, felt faster rolling tire than HR2 btw
  • 1 0
 @ doo doo boy

Cheers, I'll do the HD/NN 2015 combo, sounds rad. If Maxxis had a 27.5 x 2.4 Minion DHF, I would have considered. My buddy has been running the 27.5 x 2.4 HR2's and says he likes them but he's biased towards Maxxis. He has never tried Schwalbes but he has ridden the DHF's...
  • 2 2
 High Rollers need speed to clear from mud. If you climb on HR and ride into a day old mud pool you will take half of it with you all the way to the top. Minion is tons better in that respect. A good match from Maxxis for minion is Ardent. Rock Razor is unfknbievable as long as it is dry. It can climb in wet, but it can't ride steep sht in gloop, there will be no braking grip what so ever. Hans Dampf - for me it wins the prize for the most mediocre of expensive tyres of all time. A great, lighter, better rolling alternative to Minion is Butcher GC/SX. Purgatory is a good, rear match for it as long as run Tubess with no DH/EWS speeds involved.
  • 1 0
 @WAKIdesigns

What do you think of MM front, NN (2015) rear combo on a 150mm 27.5 trail bike? Like I said, I'd try something else if it was similar, fatter, lighter, better...than our local standard of Minion DHF front/back. But if it ain't broke....
  • 1 0
 For me it's a too big difference 650wagon. You will either have not enough grip in the rear or you will not be able to utilize grip of the front getting unnecessary weight and rolling resistance. I like double Minion DHF exo combo for it's brainlessness, it is just going to do very well in every condotions on every trail on this planet. There are very few tires who can deliver such wide range of usage. That tyre is also naturalky grippy, tread pattern is so good that even in 60a you get all sorts of grip that few tyres can compete with. Lately I enjoy Specialized Butcher with very similar tread, yet better sealing, better rolling and lighter, with minimal loss in grip. I mean, for trail and Enduro riding it just offers a better compromise.
  • 1 0
 Thanks for opinions. I'm sticking to getting the Majic Mary front Hans Dampf rear. I want fat 27.5 x 2.35 Schwalbes! Hopefully get them both in the new Snakeskin sidewall. The riding here is steep, rocky, rooty, loamy and quite damp and wet spring and fall, Enduro riding.
  • 1 0
 Haha, so I pulled the trigger and ordered some tires. Ended up deciding on a pair of Majic Mary f/r (Trailstar/Snakeskin) for my winter set and DHF/DHR2 for summer set. This should be a killer combo for here.
  • 5 0
 Thanks for the review of the new Nic, Richard!

"I had a chance compare the Nic with the more aggressive looking Hans Dampf and it was better at any speed at holding a tight line",

Is there any reason to use the Hans Dampf over the new Nobby Nic, then, for individuals only concerned with straight line and cornering traction?
  • 2 0
 Rattpoison^^^ I'd agree that the new Nic would be the bettter choice in your case. Think of the Hans Dampf as a spike tire for trail riders. It is very aggressive and wide, and its tread pattern is really good where the tire may have to poke through leaf litter or sand to find traction. Its rubber is soft enough to find grip on such a wide variety of terrain that I for one, and many like-minded riders can forgive the Hans Dampf for not having bomb proof edging blocks or wearing out a bit faster than other popular tires, It's truly a do it alll tire, as advertized, so if you ride where weather and terrain can throw anything at you, it is a solid option.
  • 3 0
 Exactly what I was thinking. I run Hans Dampf but now I'm wondering if the Nic is better?
  • 3 0
 RC - A Minion rolls pretty decently as well in the 3C compound and it still is the gold standard when it comes to predictability. Durability wise it is far superior as well, I have been riding them over 150 km a week for almost a year now and the front is still far from worn. Try that with these HD's and you'll have the knobs flying around after a few months..
  • 2 0
 I want a Hans Dampf with Minion edge blocks!
  • 2 0
 @bonkywonky: you're comparing apples and oranges, if you are talking about the Minion DHF 3C. This is a DH tire whereas the Hans Dampf is an AM tire: with 500g (1 lb+) more weight, of course it is more durable! Those two tires simply don't address the same market.
  • 2 0
 I think he is talking the single ply version? 2.3, 3C, 870g in 27.5.....

www.maxxis.com/catalog/tire-468-121-minion-dhf

The HD is in the same ball park, 795g?

www.schwalbe.com/en/offroad-reader/hans-dampf.html
  • 6 1
 I like Nobby Nics, but I ride in the SE of England where you can get away with them. If I lived in Canada they would be very close to the bottom of my list. Horses for courses. I will be buying old Nics in force if they are cheap cos they are more or less ideal for my relatively flat forest riding (compared to BC). So I like the old version and I am not afraid to share that.
  • 5 0
 Very late in the conversation .... But my old style HD trail stars have: not worn out in a stupid manner, do.. As described above...
Meet the jack of all trades banner... And are easy to fit, dont give me snake bites... And roll fast as f*ck for AM ridin... Just saying... I'm using tubes btw.. a light dependable worth the cost tyre for UK type up hill and down dale riding... You know... What we spend most of our time dong.. Accelerate like f*ck on dry singletack an all BTW.. !!
  • 2 0
 Exactly dude, I've run the soft compound (whatever they call it, not the gravity one) on front and back all summer and only now is the rear close to needing replacement. Great tyre for UK riding I think. As for the price I don't think there's even that much in it over here is there?
  • 5 1
 Please Maxxis..come out with some new designs/sizes/sidewall options for 27.5 tires...I really dont want to have to switch brands

Need:

Minion in 2.4 or 2.5 exo
Crossmark in 2.3 exo
Rerelease the Bling Bling in 27.5exo or put larsen tt center knobs on HR2 sideknobs
And make everything available in 60a...a 3c DHR2 lasts me 3 weeks in the rear
  • 2 1
 Yeah Maxxis and make them lighter.
  • 1 0
 @artusbiker Usually I run a 2.4HR2 front with either a 2.25 ardent or 2.3 dhr2 in the back. I need a fast rolling rear for certain conditions and I would like to be able to run a minion up front when its super blown but with a 30mm ID rims a 2.3 is too narrow..They discontinued their best rear tires years ago and the ardent isnt my favorite..the sideknobs wear fast with that stepped design..I havent tried an ikon yet but its 30$ more than an ardent..I go through allot of tires so I have to either get something that lasts or is cheap
  • 3 0
 With the exception of Hans Dampf I still can't understand the allure of Schwalbe, I've tried most of their range. I ride a lot and just can't afford to be changing out my tires every month. It's not just the cost of the tires even the Stans fluid adds up. Also I don't really se how you can think a 700 gram Hans Dampf is heavy, anything I've ever used under 700 grams is a useless condom, but I do ride rocky and thorny terrain. I'd really rather ride on Minions, but Maxxis keep shooting themselves in the foot with heavier low volume much narrower than advertised tires. What I want is a Minion pattern on a Hans Dampf carcass, or A Hans Dampf with the Minion's side knobs.
  • 2 0
 I've ridden a minion as my main front DH Tyre for the majority of my riding career. I started biking back in 2001 and used only a minion from about 2004/5 until this summer... 4th year in Whistler bike park mind you. As you can imagine, I knew the tyre inside out.

This summer I caved in and went for a magic Mary with the mindset of "if it sucks, I can throw it on the back". Lets just say, Minions are dead to me now. Utterly dead to me.

I can't speak for any other of their models though.
  • 3 0
 RC - thanks for the well written and informative review - looking forward to the wet root update. I am a bit disappointed by the weight - the 29ers are going to be like 800g! Makes me think 2.25" instead of 2.35".

Not that it matters now, but I like my NN's however they do have a Jekyll (dry) and Hyde (wet) personality. I find them predictable and durable on most rough trails (i.e. Lago di Garda) when I run at 18 psi on 29mm inner width rims - yes I occasionally get light rim strikes. I've never been caught out in the dry. I've been put down in a hurry however on some wet rocks and roots, but I'm not sure how much traction can be expected there anyway. I'll also say the steep climbing traction has let me down forcing me to weight the rear tire more than I like.
  • 2 0
 PB tech editor Mike Kazimer gave me his wet and root report from Bellingham, Washington, today and I added it to the review. The short version is that it wasn't as good as he had hoped, It breaks loose without warning on wet rocks and roots.
  • 2 0
 Amazing how polarizing the NN of yore is to riders on here. I have used them, both 26" and 29", 2.25 and 2.35, for several years now and still find them to be a very nice tire.
My Tallboy LT, which serves double-duty as my trailbike and my race-day steed for the local XC series, is shod with HD front and NN rear, and I still have excellent tread left after 18 months of riding. No torn knobs, slashed sidewalls, etc. Admittedly, I don't ride it on pavement very often, and most of the time I'm on dirt or mud (not tons and tons of rocks). But the point is, for the right conditions, it's a great tire.
I'm interested, @RichardCunningham , how the new version clears mud. The old one did a really nice job at that. Much better than the HD.
  • 8 0
 Good news. It has been raining in Bellingham (such a shock) and PB's Mike Kazimer is preparing a 2015 Nobby Nic slop report, which I will be adding to the test result very soon.
  • 1 0
 Chuckanut or Galibrath?
  • 2 0
 @RichardCunningham Just wondering why the high PSI for the tire testing? I'm a bit of clyde (225lbs) and those numbers are a little higher then what I run in my NobNic tires. I typically run mine at 30-31 rear and 27-28 front on Arch EX rims tubless....
  • 1 0
 I ran them in the same region as you do, but I am more of an AM/trail rider. Typically, I hand off the more important products to one or more test riders to get different perspectives for writing a review. In this case he was hitting a bunch of DH tracks and used higher pressures.

The previous Nobby Nics are super critical for tire pressure. As you probably discovered, too high and they won't grip off-camber rocks and hardpack. Too low and they feel mushy while cornering. I learned always to check tire pressure before I jumped on bikes that came with Nobby Nics.
  • 1 0
 That makes sense for the higher PSI for the DH oriented riding. My 1st Gen NobNic is very PSI sensitive and I check mine before every ride as well...even if it's the 2nd ride of the day. I'm also running the 29'er size which I think is even more PSI fickle.
I am looking forward to the Galbraith testing reports as they are a good mix of XC & AM riding.
Where were you running them when you say same region? WA state presents several different riding conditions that can all be within 2-3 hour drive. I'm just east of Seattle with my home trails at Tokul.
  • 2 0
 "Like its cousin, the Hans Dampf, the Nubile Nic seems to pick up the pace when it hits the dirt"

I, for one, support this change to Schwalbe's naming conventions. I'd much rather have a Nubile Nic than a Nobby Nic.
  • 2 0
 Or a new nubile Nobby Nic...
  • 2 1
 I've been running the 2.25 Pacestar version of these tubeless for the past few weeks in various conditions in the UK .I'm used to the sizing of the 2.35 Dampfs,Magic Marys and Rock Razor,so went for the 2.25 for my XC bike think it would be it would come up large and was surprised by their smaller carcass and volume in comparison .I'm guessing Schwalbe have got new measuring tapes.Their driving grip through the mud has been good they seem to have good forward traction and braking.They have got decent cornering grip up to a point,they seem to have a shallower lean angle than what I'd like(at least with the 2.25's,this may be better with the wider spacing of the 2.35's?) and when you get onto those large oblong blocks they seem to act as sliders,this also comes into play on the damp off camber bits . All in all I reckon they are a good Autumn/'Tame' Winter tyre from what I've seen so far.
  • 2 0
 The more I ride these the more I loose confidence in their,cornering,tracking holding up on camber ability in the wet and in the loose stuff,they almost feel like slicks as they loose traction and deflect side wards off things .Not sure what Schwalbe were thinking with those elongated angled 'slide knobs'.Perhaps they had a bit of a panic attack with all the genuine complaints of their past ones hinging off,so made them shorter and longer.Shame I really wanted to like these,at least they seem OK for rear use,the old Nobby Nic these replaced corners and tracks much better than these.
  • 1 0
 This is 1st tyre I have given up on,especially after such a small space of time,it's been taken off the front and replaced by the old worn Nobby Nic.As I cleaned the bike and took it off I noticed that the rear tyre is already showing tell tale signs of the outer knobs tearing at the base,one knob being torn/hinged off after 3 weeks of riding .
  • 1 0
 Everyone is entitled to their own opinion but for me these tires are absolutely terrible....as someone posted earlier in the comments i found that the tires performed horribly in just about every type of conditions and i will be replacing them asap.
  • 1 0
 @ Richard Cunningham

Do you know if Schwalbe will be releasing the new, tougher "Snakeskin" (anti-abrasion layer, made with a mono-filament polyamide cloth and a different rubber coating to address complaints about its predecessor's wimpy sidewalls) on their other tires anytime soon? More specifically interested in Majic Mary and Hans Dampf.
  • 2 0
 Schwalbe indicated when I was at the launch this year, that it is upgrading its entire Evo range with the new Snakeskin treatment
  • 1 0
 Any timeline or general idea of release dates?
  • 1 0
 My ordered a magic marry from arts around a month ago and came with the new sidewall.
  • 1 0
 @RichardCunningham

What are your thoughts on the MM/HD combo? Coming off DHF front/rear. The riding here is steep, rocky, rooty, loamy and quite damp and wet spring and fall, Enduro Kootenays riding. Will be setup tubeless on 25mm internal rims, 150mm AM bike.
  • 1 0
 @RichardCunningham

PlanB is to either to stick to the DHFs or try DHF/DHR2 combo. 27.5 wheels.
  • 1 0
 Interesting how they put 'softer' side knobs on tires. Wouldn't those be the ones you'd want 'firmer' b/c when you're engaging them they're bearing the brunt of more of your weight on fewer knobs?

/armchairquarterbacking

As for other comments about RoRas; race day only, and only if someone else is paying for them.
  • 1 0
 No, you want softer on the edges for more grip. Obviously they are not soft enough to completely give way though.
  • 1 0
 In the battle between quartzite and rubber here in Pennsyltucky, quartzite wins every time. The only tires that had a shorter sidewall life span than the Nobby Nics that came with my Giant were some Specialized's "The Captain" tires. The NN name is not quite as dumb though. Close but not quite.
  • 2 1
 Primarily an XC racer. Main bike is a carbon HT with a 90mm SID RCT3 15mm. Other bike was a Blur LTC; sold that and building up a Tallboy LTC.

Nobby Nics were frightening on the front, even on hero dirt.

Much preferred the Rocket Ron. Smaller knobs but they seemed to hold up better and not give way as easily. Taking switchbacks at a moderate pace was much improved. Didn't feel my a**hole pucker nearly as often.

I'll let a few guinea pigs get some ride time on them before I put one on the front of my new bike. I'm not trying to die.
  • 1 0
 Whats old will be new again. Schwalbe rarely retires tooling, the old NoNi will get renamed something and kept in production just like the second generation racing ralph ralph which became rapid rob when they released the third generation version.
  • 4 2
 Will these last any longer than any other Schwalbe tires I've tried? Or will the side knobs start to tear off after 4 rides?
  • 4 0
 it looks like a baby hans damf lol
  • 2 2
 Try them on muddy trails and the review could be more convincing. The old Nic was suicidal on my trails...especially when wet. Tried Hans Dampf, and it was worlds apart. Grippy but just doesn't sits well with my Americal Classics rims. Seriously, I've moved to Maxxis coz the Hans Dampf just would clinch properly on the AC AM rims. Leaks leaks leaks.... bye bye Schwalbe.
  • 1 0
 Hi RC, may I know how the new Nics compare to the Ralphs in terms of rolling speed and leaning/cornering? I've always preferred the Ralph over the older Nics when leaning cause they feel safer..
  • 1 1
 I've tried a few Schwalbe tires. Big Betty, Fat Albert, Magic Mary, Hans Dampf, Nobby Nic. They have all done really good as front tires, but as soon as I try it on the rear, I destroy it. Always ripping lugs off or destroying the sidewalls.
  • 1 1
 I will likely try this tire. I like that the side knobs look better supported, and less extreme in their directional stupidity. They're still angled in a silly direction imo, but they're almost neutral so I'll likely give them a go. Otherwise it looks stellar. A Super Gravity version (in 26") would be very very welcome.
  • 1 1
 The old Nobby Nic was one of the worst tyres I've every ridden. Squirmed everywhere at a decent pressure and to stop them wallowing around they needed such high pressures they didn't grip. And they spent their entire time puncturing.
  • 4 1
 Don't know the year model of mine but is the best front tyre i had so far.
  • 14 3
 wow, you must of had some shit front tyres in the past then mate
  • 8 4
 o_- ride maxxis!
  • 4 3
 word!
  • 1 2
 The old Nobby nic is a great tire for my girlfriend, but even she managed to tear off most of the side nobs on her XC bike.... If you ride all mountain and aren't super aggressive these tires are fine. If your definition of all mountain is shredding your small bike on nasty terrain like it's a mini downhill bike, then you are much better off on Minions.
  • 1 0
 Well...someone has to ask: Did you carry a spare tube, RC?

You are probably getting tired of people referencing that article. Get it? Tired? I'm here all week...

TEMPLE
  • 1 2
 Just yesterday I ditch my Nobby Nics for Continentals. They wear down so quickly they should be classed as a 'Competition Only' tyre. They also have terrible rolling resistance, it felt like I was riding with flat tyres. Not impressed with Schwalbe, can't see myself buying anymore tyres from them.
  • 1 0
 Schwalbe's wear gradually (albeit quick on the software compounds) ... whereas Continental Black Chili's just suddenly lose entire cornering knobs without notice which is much much worse!
There are no high performance tyres which last particularly long, the Maxxis Minnion 3C have longer lasting cornering knobs than the Schwalbe & Continental offerings, but come with a > 25% weight penalty.
  • 1 0
 I didn't like the old Nobby nics I am not gonna like the new ones. My opinion. Ditch them and make something like maxxis cross mark.
  • 6 4
 I bet they'll still be the most dangerous tire you've ever ridden in the wet.
  • 1 0
 The more tires become refined the more a lot of them start to look the same. Spec Ground Control, these Nics, WTB Trail Boss..
  • 1 0
 Im thinking this could pair nicely with a Rock Razor on the rear of my xc bike. Fast rolling but still able to carve, perhaps?
  • 1 0
 @Richard Cunningham:

Does your summary apply for running NN both front and rear? The prerequisites for front and rear differ quite remarkably, I think...?
  • 1 0
 I rode las years nic and burned through them so fast. nice traxion but they wore out way too fast.
  • 20 0
 I like how you spelled traction. Pretty kewl.
  • 1 0
 Love my Hans Dampf's but will likely try a set of these for the less rolling resistance.
  • 5 3
 there are no best "aspects" of the old nobby Wink
  • 1 0
 Hans Dampf: $80 and 4 rides before the side knobs started to rip off. Never again.

Conti Trail Kings or GTFO.
  • 1 0
 You can get them way cheaper. Just look in the right place (hint: Germany).
  • 2 0
 2015 suicide bombers they blow them selves up
  • 1 0
 Just fitted a 2.25 to the rear and a 2.35 to the front , they are identical in size .wtf!
  • 2 1
 2014, nobby nics worst tyres I've ever used.
  • 1 0
 looking forward to trying this tire and the Razor Rock
  • 1 3
 Just don't buy the rapid rob's. Literally the worst tire I have ever tried. I will only buy Wtb tires after trying the rob's.
  • 1 0
 They're also the lowest end tire in the entire Schwalbe line up...
  • 1 0
 They shouldn't even be spec on any bike, be better off with lower end kendas.
  • 1 0
 Come on man. You're comparing a low level cheap tire to their top of the line tires?
  • 1 2
 If they are willing to put their name on it then you better believe I am, does brand reputation mean nothing????
  • 1 0
 Vittoria makes $30 tubulars, and they make $100+ tubulars. Guess which one is the better tire?

The Rapid Rob uses a different compound, and a different casing than their higher end XC tires. There's a reason it costs significantly less, and is spec'd on low- to middle-end bikes. There's a reason the Racing Ralph and Rocket Ron are the stock tires on high end bikes.
  • 1 0
 tigerteeuwen: So I can take Subaru Outback and take it on the track against a Subaru WRX STI and accelerate just as fast? Handle just as good?

Oh wait, what's that? I can't?

Screw Subaru...they put their name and badge on their car they should be able to do everything. Doesn't brand reputation mean nothing???
  • 1 1
 Your comparing it wrong. Take the subaru outback and try to make it to basic essential things...... that would be a better comparison. Basic things! Fundamentals!
  • 1 1
 Lol^^^^^^ lol^^^^^^
Below threshold threads are hidden







Copyright © 2000 - 2024. Pinkbike.com. All rights reserved.
dv56 0.067679
Mobile Version of Website