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Schwalbe Nobby Nic - thoughts or experiences?
NB: Originally posted elsewhere on the Global Riders Network and appears via syndication.
I rode these for the first time today on a Trance 29er and had 2 crashes on gravelly turns. I suspect that the tread is too open, it moves around and slips quite a bit, but the edge looks good and it climbs well.
I'm used to Spesh Fast Tracks.
What are your thoughts or experiences?
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I've run both on my 29er & found NN's have way better grip than Fast Tracks.
I prefer the NN on the front only & running the wrong way around at about 30psi tubeless with a RaRa on the back.
What sort of pressure were you running?
T
They came OEM and lasted 2 rides. The rear side wall blew out and the front I ripped off as it was too sketchy. Straight back to my favourite combo, Ignitor on the front at about 26psi and Crossmark on the rear between 28-30psi (both tubeless). I am about 92kgs.
I used to run Noby Nics (Evo) on the Spesh Enduro (26'er) for 3 years, where they handled pretty well ...but I also had a couple of (minor) wash outs. I learned in a skills clinic to put more weight over the handle bars. These days I also run the Nobby Nics on the front of my 29'er (XC, 120 mm travel).
However, the new Trance 29'er is notoriously sketchy on the front....on a recent test ride it was clearly evident that the weight balance of their new Trance 29'er is more over the rear and the front often felt 'hanging in the air' ...especially on climbs, where the front tended to be wandering... with very limited traction around the switchbacks of OMV. Another Trance 29'er owner I spoke to confirmed this problem. I think the head angle is a bit too slack on this model or the fork feels too long for a 29'er trail bike. I also rode the more XC-ish new Anthem 29'er (carbon) and it was much better in traction etc.
This test mentions it too....
http://www.nsmb.com/5505-2013-giant-trance-x-29er/
Which model?
The performance series is harder rubber, evo has more grip - but tyres are different, I find nn quite progressive in loss of grip but I'm used to them . I've never ridden any tyre at all that has decent grip in gravel in turns - I can't see how it can be done
They're quite sensitive to pressures, I've found. I run my UST tubeless NN on the front at 25psi and that works for me at 82kg kitted up.
When I first fitted one to the front I was running the same as I had with the Maxxis Ignitor that was on their previously, and I thought I'd made a really bad decision. It was far from confidence inspiring. So, after some advice from here, I kept dropping it until it felt right.
Also, in my opinion they need to be run in ^reverse^ to the recommended direction of rotation. Installed per the sidewall arrow, the angled rectangular lugs on the shoulder point the narrow end into the slide when the tread is on the ground. Reversed, you get the broad side of the knob facing into the slide and the result is the tyre is much more predictable for someone with my limited skills. I loved it on the front at the Mont 24 this weekend just past.
With regard to sidewalls, yes they're thin. The light weight has to be saved somewhere. I think it's a bit harsh to judge the tyre because of the poor sidewall life of their OEM or tubeless-ready models. I find their UST versions to be nice and light with a sidewall life that matches the tread life. I would not use a non-UST or tubeless-ready model on the rear in Sydney. I've put a tubeless-ready NN on the front of my son's bike and will be watching it closely.
People seem to either love them or hate them. I hate them.
They ride similar to highrollers IMO. I don't like the sketchy zone between the centre and peripheral knobs. Its really confidence zapping.
I prefer more progressive tyres like the HD.
As a rear I find them too draggy.
As said...
Some love them, some hate them, some run them backwards and swear by them.
My previous bike came with a set which was good, as I wanted to try them. They didn't work for me and I switched back after a month.
Having said that, at least two of my mates who can easily corner faster than me both run them in correct rotation.
Hans Dampf vs Nobby Nick vs Conti Mountain King vs Spesh 'the captain'..... I found the NN and MK washed out in sandy, rocky and gravelly turns. The Spesh was reliable.... The HD is the bomb, better than all the rest.
Certainly on the rear wheel. Not tried them on the front but they will let you down at every opportunity, they love to spin when you need them to bite. I have the triple compound UST and after less than 6 months of using them once a week there is virtually no tread left.
For Sydney AM riding at least e.g. Red Hill, R66 they are not up to it.
Will go back to my trusty Nevegals or try a different Maxxis one next time.
I had then and hated them as well. I currently run fast traks as that is what my bike came with
Talking of love/hate I have that with the Maxxis Ardent, both in 29 & 26". it's a tough tyre that's cheap & easy to fit tubeless but too heavy & too sketchy in certain conditions. I'm back to the bigger Ignitor on my 26" but haven't heard much good about the 29" version & it hasn't many versions avbl.
Reading the above replies there seem to be many people talking about tyre options that are only available (As far as I know) in 26".
The choice isn't as wide in 29" where for harder trail use (in keeping with the Trance's more hardcore nature) tubeless ready are just too delicate & snakeskin protection etc is only marginally better.
For your bike I'd firstly try playing with the existing tyre but failing that try something more hardcore like the Hans Danpf mentioned or Specialized Purgatory. Both are big & meaty & both are meant to be good.
T
They're the top version in 2.25" and I ran them tubed at my usual 30 psi to get a feel for them before I go through setting them up tubeless. I'm about 90kg kitted up, and have been riding tubeless for only a couple of months.
For the most part they felt ok on the front, it was the rear I really noticed the sideway slips from through the transition, which didn't inspire much confidence to lean the front, but this may be what you need to do to get to the cornering edge. Maybe reversing the front might do the trick, I thought they were on the wrong way round when I first saw them, and dropping the pressure.
I don't believe I have the sketchy or light front problem some reviewers have mentioned, climbing was fine. Being shorter my saddle is lower and thus further forward. I left the bars stock high to see, but they'll be going down 1-2 cms, and I may even reverse the stem, which is how the demo bike was set up. Plus I intend chopping some length off the bars since they're 15 cms wider than the flats I'm used to on an XC bike.
I ride with 6 blokes and we all ride hans dampf. Tons of grip in all conditions.
Best tyre I've used.
for a front, 30psi i believe is too high for these tyres - i run somewhere around 22 in front, but i dont plough through rock gardens, i lift the front, and lightne the rear (typical 26 or 28 rear)
Hans dampf and their ilk are of course going to be more grippy, as are nevegals, MK's etc. NN's have lots of grip for a fast rolling tyre - thats the balance. IMO schwalbe have done more work on rolling resistance for mtb than anyone.
getting your weight down over the front and really pushing the front into the ground makes more difference to outright grip than any tyre will - but it does take some faith going downhill to get forward over the front when turning. Just dropping an inch in bar height will also make an appreciable difference
I had the OEMs on my bike from new in a tubeless ready set up, I took the tubes out and tried to get them to work tubeless....EPIC fail!
The OEMs are basically cotton on the sidewalls and they rip as soon as you graze a rock, they were pathetic as tubeless.
I ran them with tubes until they died and then bought the performance compound with the snake skin sidewall and I have not had an issue since. I've been experimenting with pressures too (recent post asking about tubeless pressures) and have found 25psi is good for the front, I'm yet to find a suitable pressure for the rear, I thought I had it then I got a major puncture hammering down the dam the other day.
I can see what people mean about the front being a bit loose during transition from straight to cornering but I find once they transition they are grippy and hang on. They are certainly up to my riding ability.
In saying all of that I have ordered a Hans Dampf to see how that goes on the front.....
The new Schwalbe Hans Dampf is quite chunky...and at almost 900g (29'er) = 30% heavier.
http://www.schwalbetires.com/bike_tires/off-road...
They remind me of the Maxxis HansVenture tyres that my son runs on the front of his duallie...indestructable ....2 years later they still have all the knobs and look like new despite some serious carving...and they are also 1100g (26'er)
Rgds, Hans
If you're into more 'hardcore' trail riding. Go the Hans damph without hesitation.
The NN's you really have to lean the bike over very aressively and also get agressive with your positioning on the bike. The more weight you put into a NN, like most tyres the better they grip. However, this isn't for everyone.
The HD, is a great tyre that doesn't need you to be overly agressive.
I was intending to drop the tire pressure anyway, but went conservative initially since I found going below 28 psi on the 26" Fast Tracks tubeless just made me slower. Of course I'm also playing with the suspension settings, running rebound a touch slow as per my 26", so there's a lot going on set up wise as well as adapting to 29er.
I doubt I'm that hardcore yet, but I'm hoping to get somewhere closer eventually via a trail bike. I usually seem to do best on descents though in an XC race at least.
I'll stick them out for a while, but I'm wondering why I would need a tyre tread that's designed to clear through a spaced transition when WA trails are basically loose over hardpack or loose over loose. Therefore I suspect I'll end up with something like the Fast Trak, which loses some edge and drive, but adds predictability in my books. I'm also interested in the WA tried and true Maxxis Ignitor and Crossmark combo.
Cheers everyone, unless you've got some more to add.
mate seriously they came oem on my 2012 trance 26" and they were gone within weeks, such a weak tire it tore, not just punctured but torn,and i agree with previous comments they didn't install any confidence in corners front or rear.
i now run a 2.5" front - maxis high roller wire bead(can be a pain but worth it in the end)
2.25 maxxis larsen tt amazing for the climbs and seems to be a harder compound tire so it wears better getting to and from that bush we all love
good luck and heads up definitely purchase online, ebay, torpedo or any others don't get ripped by going to your lbs
I have just finished building up a 27.5 carbine and have fitted Hans Dampf front and rear. My old ride was a Giant Reign with Ignitior front and High roller II on the back.
I agree with everyone that there is heaps of grip with the Hans Dampf I have a problem with the rolling resistance. All the nobs are square edged (no ramping at all) I find on the back of the carbine they are just to slow. The High Roller II did a much better job.
Personally I want grib and confidence in my front tyre so the Hans Dampf is staying but in the rear I want a tyre that has some grip but rolls really well for those long rides. I would sugest the high roller II or possibly the Maxxis Crossmark for the rear.
I will be putting Crossmarks on the rear.
happy with spesh purgatory front , both my 26 n 29r , felt good front end traction with spesh tyres , had NN on for a bit , but again ,i was fast to ditch them in favour for spesh tyres.
I run HD front and NN rear on my Yeti SB95 (29er), tubeles. Tire pressure is really important... and matching it to your terrain and style. In any mixed surface where I'm looking for some traction, my pressure will be fairly low, around 22-24 front and 24-26 rear. Finding the sweet spot between getting bounced due to high pressure and scraping a rim/heavy resistance is part of the fun. If you just experiment with your pressure as you are doing the same with the rest of your setup, you will get it to work (I used to take notes of every change on each ride in a little notebook until my suss and tyre pressure and everything else sat well with me). There's no reason that the NNs will fail you (or Maxxis, Kenda, etc) if ridden under the right settings and with good technique. Within a range, there is preference, but all these tyres are solid performers. They are great tyres for trail riding... and certainly for more heavy-duty terrain.