I do primarily XC riding on rocky trails in the Phoenix area, and these tires work great. Roll fast and grip hard. Appears true to size. This is the older Performance version and I got it on sale from JensonUSA for $10, so I didn't have much to lose buying it. If I was doing more aggressive trail riding I would definitely want Snakeskin sidewalls, but so far I've been quite impressed. I use it on the front. Really hooks up on dry trails. The newer version has a different tread pattern and has apparently better sidewalls.
I've owned my brand new full sus bike which came with the Nobby Nics. In the 3 months of ownership, I've had 6 punctures in my front tire, and 2 punctures in my rear tire. On my other bike, during and entire year, and on the same trails, I've had 0 punctures, and that bike runs on Specialized tires.
Not to mention the pathetic grip which these tires provide. I've had countless "oh $h!t" moments where it was touch and go to see if I was going to go OTB or just wipe out.
Final Thoughts: save your money and get Maxxis or Specialized tires. Better all around.
I would not recommend this tire.
Pros None.
Cons Very poor grip on all kinds of surfaces on my local trails(hard pack, loose over hard, rock gardens etc)
Soft compound prone to punctures from thorns (big time).
Loud on pavement
High rolling resistance because of the soft compound.
These tires are great for any trail rider. They replaced my old, worn out Racing Ralphs. The fact that there was infinitely more grip was noticed right away. These tires are also the best cornering tires I've ever ridden. Although it felt as if they were sluggish, I think I just need to adjust to them after coming off of the Ralphs. Finally, I noticed they cushioned me much more than the Ralphs did on my hardtail.
I set these up as tubeless with Stanz and I had to add double the recommended amount about a week after the initial setup to keep them from slowly leaking so I guess they are pretty porous. I've been putting them through some pretty rough terrain with cactus and such and they have held up well as a tubeless setup. I did have to use an air compressor to get them inflated and the bead set initially but now I can just use the manual pump to get them inflated once I had to do the second Stanz application.
I love these tires, I have the snakeskin version/tral composition which are a little bit heavier than the race version, but they have lasted for 2 seasons now and still have plenty of tread. They set up tubeless very easily.
Pros Traction, lightweight, durable, easy to tubeless
Pros super aggressive especially on WTB Scrapers. Holds a solid line, climbs over tech very well, and floats over loose
Cons only if you don't like massively aggressive tread on plus size tires. they do take a bit more to accelerate and conversely they do decelerate rapidly. cornering is a little slower
Hard pack, dry rocks and roots, mud. Not great for speed but an all around great traction tire except wet roots...nothing works good on wet root so far. Tough if you get snake skin. Truly a great tire for everything except racing.
I've been using this as a front with a Racing Ralph on the rear for around three years 11k miles with no complaints. I've tried a lot of different tires and keep coming back to this combo.
Pros Light. Great traction on all surfaces. Durable.
Cons A little expensive but they last better than most so you get your money's worth.
Nope! For $80, I suffered a torn sidewall on the 4th ride. On every ride before that I found the tire would lay over on the sidewall every time I'd drive my weigh into the ground while cornering. This was hard on the tire as well as the rim. Even worse, the only way to get the tread back under the tire was to point the bike straight ahead until it popped back into place. This generally, created more excitement that I wanted in avoiding a crash. I would never buy this tire for riding on trails - or even fast cornering on road/gravel.
Pros light
Cons pathetically weak sidewalls. fast tread wear. expensive.
Pros have run the 29in version for the past 2 seasons in Colorado and they are excellent tires but they wear out REALLY fast, after 15-20 rides actually. I had to replace them mid season both years after the center tread disintegrated and they started leaking Stans everywhere. Actually, they will leak Stans in 8-12 places after just a couple of rides (all 8 of my tires did this) so be prepared to refresh. I would give the ride quality 5 stars, but because of the durability and cost I am knocking them all of the way down to 2 stars.
I do primarily XC riding on rocky trails in the Phoenix area, and these tires work great. Roll fast and grip hard. Appears true to size. This is the older Performance version and I got it on sale from JensonUSA for $10, so I didn't have much to lose buying it. If I was doing more aggressive trail riding I would definitely want Snakeskin sidewalls, but so far I've been quite impressed. I use it on the front. Really hooks up on dry trails. The newer version has a different tread pattern and has apparently better sidewalls.
Pros
Light. Grippy. Fast.
Cons
| Thank | EditSidewall very thin.
I've owned my brand new full sus bike which came with the Nobby Nics. In the 3 months of ownership, I've had 6 punctures in my front tire, and 2 punctures in my rear tire. On my other bike, during and entire year, and on the same trails, I've had 0 punctures, and that bike runs on Specialized tires.
Not to mention the pathetic grip which these tires provide. I've had countless "oh $h!t" moments where it was touch and go to see if I was going to go OTB or just wipe out.
Final Thoughts: save your money and get Maxxis or Specialized tires. Better all around.
I would not recommend this tire.
Pros
None.
Cons
| Thank | EditVery poor grip on all kinds of surfaces on my local trails(hard pack, loose over hard, rock gardens etc)
Soft compound prone to punctures from thorns (big time).
Loud on pavement
High rolling resistance because of the soft compound.
These tires are great for any trail rider. They replaced my old, worn out Racing Ralphs. The fact that there was infinitely more grip was noticed right away. These tires are also the best cornering tires I've ever ridden. Although it felt as if they were sluggish, I think I just need to adjust to them after coming off of the Ralphs. Finally, I noticed they cushioned me much more than the Ralphs did on my hardtail.
Pros
Grip
Cushion
Cornering
Cons
| Thank | EditJust a bit sluggish
I set these up as tubeless with Stanz and I had to add double the recommended amount about a week after the initial setup to keep them from slowly leaking so I guess they are pretty porous. I've been putting them through some pretty rough terrain with cactus and such and they have held up well as a tubeless setup. I did have to use an air compressor to get them inflated and the bead set initially but now I can just use the manual pump to get them inflated once I had to do the second Stanz application.
Pros
Grip
Cons
| Thank | EditThin sidewall
I love these tires, I have the snakeskin version/tral composition which are a little bit heavier than the race version, but they have lasted for 2 seasons now and still have plenty of tread. They set up tubeless very easily.
Pros
Traction, lightweight, durable, easy to tubeless
Cons
| Thank | Editcost
excellent stopping power and good ride with low pressure
I use about 22 to 28 lbs front and about 28 to 32 rear.
Pros
Great tire excellent traction once you dial in the air pressure
Cons
| Thank | Editif the tire pressure is too high (above 40lbs) they slide in corners
yes
Pros
super aggressive especially on WTB Scrapers. Holds a solid line, climbs over tech very well, and floats over loose
Cons
| Thank | Editonly if you don't like massively aggressive tread on plus size tires. they do take a bit more to accelerate and conversely they do decelerate rapidly. cornering is a little slower
Hard pack, dry rocks and roots, mud. Not great for speed but an all around great traction tire except wet roots...nothing works good on wet root so far. Tough if you get snake skin. Truly a great tire for everything except racing.
Pros
Traction is awesome
Cons
| Thank | EditCornering, not the fastest rolling
I've been using this as a front with a Racing Ralph on the rear for around three years 11k miles with no complaints. I've tried a lot of different tires and keep coming back to this combo.
Pros
Light. Great traction on all surfaces. Durable.
Cons
| Thank | EditA little expensive but they last better than most so you get your money's worth.
Due to the high price and faster than normal wear, I would not recommend these.
Pros
Light and fast rolling.
Cons
| Thank | EditWears fast and looses grip easily.
Nope! For $80, I suffered a torn sidewall on the 4th ride. On every ride before that I found the tire would lay over on the sidewall every time I'd drive my weigh into the ground while cornering. This was hard on the tire as well as the rim. Even worse, the only way to get the tread back under the tire was to point the bike straight ahead until it popped back into place. This generally, created more excitement that I wanted in avoiding a crash. I would never buy this tire for riding on trails - or even fast cornering on road/gravel.
Pros
light
Cons
| Thank | Editpathetically weak sidewalls. fast tread wear. expensive.
great tires if but you will change them often!
Pros
have run the 29in version for the past 2 seasons in Colorado and they are excellent tires but they wear out REALLY fast, after 15-20 rides actually. I had to replace them mid season both years after the center tread disintegrated and they started leaking Stans everywhere. Actually, they will leak Stans in 8-12 places after just a couple of rides (all 8 of my tires did this) so be prepared to refresh. I would give the ride quality 5 stars, but because of the durability and cost I am knocking them all of the way down to 2 stars.
Cons
| Thank | Editwear out fast!
If you ride a bit more technical terrain, I would try to get a more beefier tire.
Pros
Pretty grippy. If you are a XC rider, this is a great tire.
Cons
| Thank | EditI tore the sidewalls out almost immediately.
GREAT TIRE LIGHTWEIGHT,ROLLS GOOD,CLIMBS GOOD IN ALL CONDITIONS
Pros
| Thank | EditLIGHT, TACKY, ALL AROUND PERFORMANCE
If you have the money and/or are sponsored by Schwalbe go for them you won't be sorry.
Pros
Light and grippy. My EVO cased tire in 2.1 came in at a svlete 356grams. Great on the front. Lots of grip for such a light tire.
Cons
| Thank | EditThin sidewalls! Stans seals them up though.
Runs great as a rear tire for XC and works well on climbs.
Pros
Good grip but low enough rolling resistance to use for XC riding. Quality construction and materials.
Cons
| Thank | EditUni-directional tread slows installation (not a big deal really).
Good all around tire for xc.
Pros
Awesome grip on all surfaces. Tracks well through snow,sand, wet rocks, roots, etc. Takes a good beating, rides relatively smooth.
Cons
| Thank | EditA little bit loud on the road. when going down hill in thick mud, the back tires gets slightly loose, feels like you are riding on a flat.