Schwalbe's 2.6-inch Nobby Nic for 29ers - Review
This week, we review Schwalbe's reinvented Nobby Nic in the 2.6 by 29-inch size, with their "Snakeskin" reinforced Evo TLE casing. Pinkbike has thoroughly tested the Nobby Nic before, and at first glance, it may appear to be the same tire, but recent improvements, especially Schwalbe's new Addix Speedgrip rubber compound, have breathed new life into it. I've been riding the 2.6-inch version on my 29er for a while and continue to be impressed with its performance - especially in the durability department. Schwalbe's new rubber formula has transformed its reputation for durability, from tread that wore through like dollar-store pencil erasers, to a level of toughness that rivals popular Maxxis tires.
The 2.6-inch Nobby Nic Evo TLE weighs 840 grams and measures 2.55 inches (64.7 mm) at its widest point when mounted to 30-millimeter inner-width rims at 22 psi. In case you were wondering, the tire's outer diameter is 29.5 inches, and they retail for around $90 USD.
Nobby Nic 29 x 2.6" Details:
• Purpose: all-condition, mixed-terrain AM/trail tire
• High-performance, tubeless-ready, "Evolution" casing, folding bead
• Tough, long-wearing Addix Speedgrip rubber
• Nylon "Snakeskin" sidewall protection layer
• Actual dimensions: 2.55"/64.7mm width, 29.5"/749mm diameter
• Weight: 840 grams (actual)
• MSRP: $92 USD
• Contact: Schwalbe USA, Schwalbe Germany
• Purpose: all-condition, mixed-terrain AM/trail tire
• High-performance, tubeless-ready, "Evolution" casing, folding bead
• Tough, long-wearing Addix Speedgrip rubber
• Nylon "Snakeskin" sidewall protection layer
• Actual dimensions: 2.55"/64.7mm width, 29.5"/749mm diameter
• Weight: 840 grams (actual)
• MSRP: $92 USD
• Contact: Schwalbe USA, Schwalbe Germany
Features and Performance
Schwalbe switched to the present Nobby Nic tread pattern back in 2014 when we first reviewed it in the 27.5-inch size. Since then, a number of successful tires have appeared with similar designs: a supple casing topped with pointy, well-separated tread blocks, arranged in a rounded profile. The best aspect of this configuration is that the pointy tread blocks can reach through soft or dusty soil and find traction below the surface like hundreds of little goat feet, while the supple casing reduces the rolling resistance of an otherwise aggressive tread pattern.
For trail riders, the Nobby Nic provides a lot of climbing grip, along with a sensitive feel that helps top tricky climbs, especially when you have to scratch up and over dusty boulders or root masses. As mentioned, the Achilles Heel of the Nobby Nic has been accelerated wear and a shortage of high-speed cornering grip, but Schwalbe's switch to their new Addix Speedgrip rubber compound put those negatives to rest.
The new compound has shrugged off a number of high-speed runs down embedded rocks without a single cut. The edging blocks are wearing very well and hold their shape under pressure. Overall, the grip is noticeably better too and together those improvements give the impression that I am riding a different tire. I keep waiting for the Nobby Nic to break and slide when I push it into a turn, but most often, I am left wishing I'd gone after it a lot harder.
Schwalbe switched to the present Nobby Nic tread pattern back in 2014 when we first reviewed it in the 27.5-inch size. Since then, a number of successful tires have appeared with similar designs: a supple casing topped with pointy, well-separated tread blocks, arranged in a rounded profile. The best aspect of this configuration is that the pointy tread blocks can reach through soft or dusty soil and find traction below the surface like hundreds of little goat feet, while the supple casing reduces the rolling resistance of an otherwise aggressive tread pattern.
For trail riders, the Nobby Nic provides a lot of climbing grip, along with a sensitive feel that helps top tricky climbs, especially when you have to scratch up and over dusty boulders or root masses. As mentioned, the Achilles Heel of the Nobby Nic has been accelerated wear and a shortage of high-speed cornering grip, but Schwalbe's switch to their new Addix Speedgrip rubber compound put those negatives to rest.
The new compound has shrugged off a number of high-speed runs down embedded rocks without a single cut. The edging blocks are wearing very well and hold their shape under pressure. Overall, the grip is noticeably better too and together those improvements give the impression that I am riding a different tire. I keep waiting for the Nobby Nic to break and slide when I push it into a turn, but most often, I am left wishing I'd gone after it a lot harder.
The 29 x 2.6" Nobby Nic stands 0.5" taller (12.7mm) and its casing is 0.25" wider (6.4mm) than a 29 x 2.3" Maxxis Minion.
Perfect for 29ers?
Before I get too far in, I'd like to state that the motivation for this report is the Nobby Nic in the 2.6-inch size seems to be ideally suited for 29-inch wheels. At 840 grams, it's still lightweight enough to accelerate without lagging, and the tire's wide carcass and rounded tread pattern pair well with the larger-diameter wheel's elongated contact patch. Specifically, the tread grips consistently at any lean angle, which seems to play well with the smoother arcs that big-wheel bikes scribe around corners.
Before I get too far in, I'd like to state that the motivation for this report is the Nobby Nic in the 2.6-inch size seems to be ideally suited for 29-inch wheels. At 840 grams, it's still lightweight enough to accelerate without lagging, and the tire's wide carcass and rounded tread pattern pair well with the larger-diameter wheel's elongated contact patch. Specifically, the tread grips consistently at any lean angle, which seems to play well with the smoother arcs that big-wheel bikes scribe around corners.
Schwalbe's "Snakeskin" reinforcement is coarse-woven Nylon layer bonded to the sidewall.
Those unfamiliar with large-volume tires may balk at the look of 2.6-inch rubber on a big-wheel bike, but in spite of the fact that the media seems to be grappling to categorize it separately, 2.6 feels and responds more like an evolutionary step. All-mountain riders are coming to terms with wider rims, which have in turn, created the opportunity to experiment with larger width tires. As evidence: mounted to 30-millimeter-inner-width rims, the 2.6-inch Nobby Nic delivers the lateral support one would expect from stiffer, smaller-volume casing, but without a hint of the harshness. It's not going to fit every bike, but if you have the chance to try one, you may find it hard to return to a conventional width, 2.35-inch tire.
The blue line indicates Schwalbe's tough-wearing Addix Speedgrip mixed-condition compound.
I ran the same tires on both ends, and after some experimenting, I found that pressures near 20 to 24 psi (front/rear) worked best overall, in rocky conditions that ranged from tacky, moist soil to blown-out dust on top of cement-hard dirt. (PB editor Mike Kazimer reports that they also grip well in wet conditions.) At those numbers, straight-line traction was such that I easily topped loose technical climbs - pitches I had struggled with using the well proven Maxxis Minion tires, and braking traction was equally dependable. A better comparison may be that, in the 29-inch size, the new Nobby Nic sacrifices some of the class-leading grip of Schwalbe's Magic Mary, but in return, you get the same versatility in a much faster rolling and quicker accelerating tire.
Pinkbike's Take:
 | Why make the distinction between 27.5 and 29-inch wheels for Schwalbe's new Addix-powered Nobby Nic? I think time has proven that a tire with a defined row of well-supported edging blocks works best with 27.5-inch wheels. I was surprised, however, by how much better suited the Nobby Nic's more rounded, staggered edging tread is to the 29-inch format, and especially so in the larger, 2.6-inch casing. If you shuttle gravity trails all day or race enduro, stick with the tires you know best. If you are searching for a go-anywhere, ride-anything trail tire for big wheel bikes, the new and improved Nobby Nic 2.6-inch EVO TLE is going to be hard to beat. |
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Also for clarification. Refering to flat tires not flat pedals. Thanks for changing your business model based entirely on this post. You’re the best!
As well as being more resilient, more damped, more supportive, more stable; they’re also often cheaper than the single ply xc tyres.
But yeah especially you, Schwalbe.
Make a bunch of sidewalls and let people choose, seems fair enough to me!
@ThomDawson
On a budget and trying to lighten the 14.5kg 2008 covert of my girlfriend (heavy bike when you weigh 55kg) she invested in good wheels and 2.25 nobby nics. Bought the Liteskin version partly because of ignorance.
It's a true 2.25", weighs 550g, and has reasonable knobs for general riding. Low pressures, and not even a pinch flat in Hafjell/Åre, and no visible wear after a year.
Yes she doesn't charge hard, but this tire has been perfect for her (now tried SS MM at 800g, great too).
Thanks Schwalbe for making grippy, big, light weight tires for those who need them !
I’m only 60KG myself and have appreciated light tyres in the past but if you’re going to the lengths of 65° HA and 160mm of travel and haven’t even considered using DH tyres I think there’s something wrong. The tyre companies push these lightweight tyres with 17 acronyms on the sidewall but I think for a lot of us ‘DH Casing’ is all that’s needed. But I take your point - Thats not to say all of us ;-)
All plus tires are only available in APX casing as this is a trail-tire.
www.schwalbe.com/en/offroad-reader/nobby-nic.html
If you need a tire for Enduro usage, you can also use our EWS & DH Worldcup winning SuperGravity carcass option.
If you could put an insert in the sidewall for support and flat protection it would be great. We need to see a dh casing or close to it with lower rolling resistance. Currently running a dhf dh front and aggressor dd rear w/ cushcore. Thats about = to a 1400g rear tire.
Run the same setup everywhere (enduro bike)
WTB casings would be good starting point to copy for trail tires. Heard e13 are goodbut no experience.
A 29 rock razor and nic in dh casing would be great to combo w/ mary up front.
I just wont risk tge flats; SG is stilla bit thin for TX rocks, plus tge rubber just flies off.
Really good to see you guys are open to feedback.
At that weight they may well be fine on some slow non-technical XC but who's going to be mad enough to charge a rough line on these?
I have been running a set for a few months now. My first set of schwalbe's cause i don't like flats either. I have to say this tire is plenty strong, i haven't flatted ( it can burp) and it feels good generally. Its fine for the back, but for my aggressive style i need more grip upfront so i have a minion 2.5 on order. I'm tired of sliding out, ill deal with the resistance.
still searching/waiting for that perfect 2.5 29r front tire.
WTBs - good strength but unpredictable at the limit.
bontrager se4 - same as this NN. good all-round but not enough traction at the limit.
Still love my Schwalbe’s!
No bike parks or shuttle though.
To be precise mine are older non addix varieties with pace/trail star compound.
They've been excellent. The volume allows them to float over rocks we have here and I've been running them at 1.1-1.3 BAR F/R.
They really allow you to ride everywhere and I've used them from recreational XC racing to (again recreational) enduro tracks.
Never in around 3-4k km did I have a flat and the rear didn't wear out quickly either and it's now at around 40-50%.
Note that I'm mostly riding in dry and rocky area.
The funny thing is that I punctured 2.3x27.5 Minion when I took my friend's bike for a test twice (second was a slash that left me walking) in the same trails I ride NNs without a single puncture over 9 months.
My theory is that the bigger tires with more volume float over obstacles much easier (as noted with these 2.6 that are very fast and probably a lot faster than narrower tires in loose terrain as long as you can keep the power up) and as the surface of the tire conforms to the ground, there's more surface area to spread over meaning it's less likely for sharp stone to cut through the tire.
It's also less that the tire will slide into a crevice and rip the sidewall in the process.
Don't knock on these tires, they're an excellent all around tire to beat for real world riders.
BTW, I am not trying to call you out. I am simply looking to get some new tires and want to avoid whatever tires you have had such problems with.
Also BTW, until the Rock Razor, I have never ridden a Schwalbe because I have seen so many friends have their’s fail. The Rock Razor I found is super fun and super fast, but you would think it took a shotgun blast from all of the sealant leaking out.
Nobbys are a funny tire. When I ran them in a 275, in a Pacestar they were super fast but horrible on wet rock. Slid right out on turns. Felt like I was riding on a recycled plastic bottle. The Trailstar out back was very soft and grippy, but wore fast and was slow as heck - but good up front. Not sure the Addix will be any different.
800-900g for a 2.6 x 29 just sounds way too flimsy.
I think I'll wait until Maxxis comes out with a 2.6" in a 29 in the DHF and Forekaster. Besides not many frames can handle a 29 x 2.6 out back.
If you do like Schwalbe though, best prices are at bike24.com. Less than half of the prices we pay in NA.
I got myself a set of Addix Speedgrip NN 29x2.6 APEX Reinforced and they're 940-950gr, just as Schwalbe states on their web.
The review is bit misleading with the weights.
I reckon my older ones on the last bike (pace&trail star) were around 850gr but they weren't APEX reinforced, just Snakeskin.
Anyhow, I'm really pleased with the construction and I've replaced Maxxis Minion DHF 2.5 WT and DHR2 2.4 WT with these.
These new ties seem very similar to Minions as far as the "beefiness" is concerned - really stout.
Hopefully, they roll as well as old NNs, Minions feel like I'm dragging an anchor behind me.
Looking forward to larger 29er tires!!
Jeez ...when will this crazy price rising stop?
They wear fast, though. They get half of the wear as a normal conti.
The 235/45r17 pilot sport a/s3s on my car currently are pacing to get 4x the mileage of my conti extreme contacts. They were more expensive initally but are cheaper in the long run, handle better and are much better in the wet.
They were only marginally more expensive than the schwalbe marathon pluses on my commuter bike. I'll never ride schwalbes on anything else, but the marathon supreme is a killer commuter tire.
They're both sport all seasons
I had extreme contact dws's. They're the all season option. I'm comparing apples to apples.
The DWs would be like a pilot sport
Since I have nothing else to do...
You're missing my point. I had DWSs and they were crap. They're suppose to wear longer than the DWs you linked.
They're not a good deal if I can get a tire that wears twice as long and costs 50% more.
Paying tax for the provision of health care means the health care isn't 'free'.
You just pay extortionate amounts for 'private' health care so private companies can make billions and the poor can be excluded from care.
Do you think the actual cost of living in Germany is higher than 'the land of the free'?
Stop burying your head in your countries jerk circle propaganda
Vert Star = Ultra soft
Trail Star = Soft
Pace Star = hard
Etc, etc