Nobby Nic durability

kopite1979

I want nobby nics as they sound like a good all rounder. Ideally I wanted them with the white rim round the edge but they don`t seem to do the extra tough snakeskin version in a white edged one.
So... has anyone used the 2010 version of the lighter EVO tyre? If so, how does it rate after a rough ride?
I`m nearly 16 stone, ride a zesty on a variety of trails from cross country routes to rock gardens in the peaks.
I`ve got a set of minions for the rough stuff like snowdon etc but i want a fast rolling set for general everyday riding in spring summer and autumn.
I`m just a bit worried about constant punctures with them being very lightweight.

cheers

cat_with_no_tail

I've not ridden this years Nics without Snakeskin, so take this with a pinch of salt, BUT, I'd not touch ANY of Schwalbes MTB tyre range unless it had at least the Snakeskin protection. Thet's why I never went for the white sidewall version myself.

kopite1979

have you ridden the evo`s?

neninja

Got a 2010 evo on the front of my Anthem - done about 800 miles on it - rocky moorland/dales downhills, thorny bridleways, hardpack, trail centres, fireroads etc

Very little wear and no punctures or sidewall damage

kopite1979

hmmm thats what i wanted to hear!
how heavy are you and do you ride lightly or go for it?

cat_with_no_tail

kopite1979 wrote:

have you ridden the evo`s?

Sorry, missed this. Yes I had a set of the Racing ralph Evos and the NN Evos.

BOTH ended up with HUGE tears in the sidewalls! (got photossomewhere if you want to see).

Damned shame too because htey are good tyres, that's why I'll only go for Snakeskin now.

I willsay though, the manx countryside has some pretty sharp rocks kicking about. So tyres need to be strong.

njee20

I've used Schwalbe tyres almost exclusively for about 3 years, Ralphs, Nics, Rons, Freds and Black Sharks, all Evolution versions, and never ever torn one, only had one notable puncture in fact, in a Ron. Personally never found them more fragile than anything else I've ever used!

They don't wear amazingly well admittedly, but they're light and grippy, something's gonna give!

kopite1979

i like the answers so far so i think i`ll take the plunge.
thankyou

chick0

I just fitted a set of Nobby Nic's Evo UST 2010, they have replaced a set of worn out Evo UST's2009's.

To be honest i don't notice any real difference in performance between the 09's and 2010's( but its hard to accurately compare when changing an old set for new).

I ride extreme XC and all mountain all over Scotland, and i only had one puncher in over 1500miles on my 09 set ( 3mm hole caused by hitting a rock garden at speed), which was pretty good going (( maybe luck) as my sealant was never replaced and had dried up .

Wear rates where also pretty good, although the tyres are a soft compound and are one of the lightest designs in there class.

kopite1979

1 more question... 2.25 ok or go for a 2.4 on the front?

Mancunianfightingcat

i have 2010 ust 2.2, I'm not really feeling the love for them after my Rubber Queens. I'd be interested to know if anyone is running the 2010 NNs the opposite way to the rotation arrow, I can't help thinking they'll work better but don't want the hassle of refitting them to find out.

Mancunianfightingcat

oops

chick0

Mancunianfightingcat wrote:

i have 2010 ust 2.2, I'm not really feeling the love for them after my Rubber Queens. I'd be interested to know if anyone is running the 2010 NNs the opposite way to the rotation arrow, I can't help thinking they'll work better but don't want the hassle of refitting them to find out.

I'm the complete opposite, i really did not get on with Rubber Queens. Nobbys in my option are a different class..

chick0

kopite1979 wrote:

1 more question... 2.25 ok or go for a 2.4 on the front?

Your on a Zesty right ? I would give a 2.4 a try on the front, as that's the width on the bikes as stock .

neninja

kopite1979 wrote:

hmmm thats what i wanted to hear!
how heavy are you and do you ride lightly or go for it?

11 stone rider on 100mm travel FS bike - ride it pretty hard on the descents but the tyres probably get an easier time than on a longer travel trail bike

2.25 front on mine combined with a 2.1 ralph on the back

njee20

I personally don't really see much point in the Nics anymore! They're not that great in the wet, and the Ralph is better in the dry. If it's too wet for a Ralph I'd use a mud tyre myself.

chick0

njee20 wrote:

I personally don't really see much point in the Nics anymore! They're not that great in the wet, and the Ralph is better in the dry. If it's too wet for a Ralph I'd use a mud tyre myself.

So every time it rains you change your tyres ?

njee20

So every time it rains you change your tyres ?

Not far off! I change my tyres if conditions change, if that means there's enough rain to make it muddier than I'd consider a Ralph sensible I'll fit a mud tyre. I used to use Nics before they made the Ralph knobblier.

I do change my tyres very frequently though, got a Rocket Ron/Furious Fred on at the moment, they're not gonna be up to much if there's much rain, or even if it gets much dustier!

TheKrikkitWars

chick0 wrote:

njee20 wrote:

I personally don't really see much point in the Nics anymore! They're not that great in the wet, and the Ralph is better in the dry. If it's too wet for a Ralph I'd use a mud tyre myself.

So every time it rains you change your tyres ?

Why not? It only takes 10 (frustrating, swearword inducing) mins, and if you know what pressure you like to run each set of tyres you use ahead of refitting it's all good.

chick0

njee20 wrote:

So every time it rains you change your tyres ?

Not far off! I change my tyres if conditions change, if that means there's enough rain to make it muddier than I'd consider a Ralph sensible I'll fit a mud tyre. I used to use Nics before they made the Ralph knobblier.

I do change my tyres very frequently though, got a Rocket Ron/Furious Fred on at the moment, they're not gonna be up to much if there's much rain, or even if it gets much dustier!

Well for the majority of riders, who only have 1 set of wheels for there bike, this is just not practical, especially for people like me who run UST with sealant.

Nobbys are a good compromise between wet / dry performance, and are the lightest tire in there class.

njee20

I've just refined my tyre choice to ones I know will inflate with a track pump, so yes 5 minutes isn't really much faff!

Admittedly the most frequent swap is the rear from a Furious Fred to a Rocket Ron, depending on quite how dry it's been!

I don't ride my MTB all that often, only once a week usually, so it's not a huge issue.

Fastflo

I had a set of Nobby Nic 2009's ust's on my Zesty, very fast great for cross-country,

Had to send back the front one as I dont use sealant and it started to leak through the sidewall, also felt it washed to easily on the front at trail centres e.g. Glentress red.

The rear one wore out the fastest of any tyre I have ever had (4 months), two slashes in the sidewall over lapped and a triangle started flapping so I swapped it.

I now have Continentals

Race/Mountain King 2.2 ust - rear depending on the weather.
Rubber Queen 2.2 ust - front (may try an MK out front for fast XC)

High Roller 42a st for the rough stuff.