I must have hit a rock or something as there is a small slit in my tyre in the middle near the nobs… ive superglued a puncture repair patch on the inside which is holding air now but im wondering what i can do to avoid it happening again? Avoiding the rocks isnt an option! Ha

If i purchased the snakeskin version would this be any stronger or is it just the sidewalls that are different?

I’m currently running Nobby Nics tubeless and while I like the way the handle I do find they split very easy if you ride rocky trails. Got a couple of slits super glued on my rear but it’s still going fine.

I’ve not used the reinforced ones but the “ordinary” ones are very fragile IME

I’ve killed several nobby nics and of Tubeless variety via the sidewalks slicing and near bead seat on one the other week at Anttur Stiniog which caused a big stack! My mate was running the strengthened casing tubeless ready 2.4s and they haven’t sliced and are hung up now in my garage as I had them off him.
I have additional supply of brand new in box 2. Tubeless that will be going on eBay in due course as I’ve switched back to maxxis for better grip and longevity.

If i purchased the snakeskin version would this be any stronger or is it just the sidewalls that are different?

Your thread title alludes to the fact you are using the “Performance” model of the tyre? If thats true Snakeskin on the Evo model won’t help you – Snakeskin sidewalls on the Evo tyre the same TPI / sidewall construction as the Performance, but at twice the price because the Evo compound is different. Normally the non-snakeskin Evo has a thinner sidewall.

So the cheaper dual compound performance models are just are strong as the snakeskin ones?
How about double defense?

The sidewalls are yes, but the tyre compounds are different / less.

Double Defense are thicker still but use the Evo compound so are more expensive. I’d suggest if you ask around here there are better tyres than schwalbes to use on rocks – I can’t comment on the DD as I’ve never used them but schwalbes are not rated for rocky conditions in my experience of feedback from here.

What other tyre would you recommend?
Ideally i would get something slightly faster on the rear like a ralph

Well, I use schwalbe performance for riding and racing, but in the forest-non rocky south so its hard for me to comment,perhaps others will. For “trail centres” I use a Hutchinson Toro Hardskin RR up front and a performance rocket ron or ralph on the rear. The Toro is excellent IMO, strong tyre, great grip & wear, check out the reviews. I’ve used a Bontrager XR4 also which is excellent but not as good as the Toro.

I use a ralph on the rear for racing & riding also.

A lot of the Northerns here use Specialised tyres – can someone else help the OP out here?

The DDs are pretty tough – mine have survived the local chalk rubble and flint with only one significant cut in the last two years. But we have nothing properly rocky round here.

Would dd racing ralph still be reasonably tough?

I do like NNs but my record was 17 mini punctures on tubeless setup after 1 descent at torridon. Fortunately latex did the job and was only once home saw the damage. NNs don’t like rock is the moral of the tale.

I use nobby nics, no real problems with damage over the last year. Don’t ride anywhere overly rocky. Mostly just lakes stuff.

Try Maxxis far more reliable. NN are lightweight but puncture a lot because their thin and light

Given the differing views i decided to try wearing it down a little more and get my money’s worth.

TBH i’ve done 3 more rides now on VERY rocky terrain and they are holding up well so far 🙂

What would people say are the Maxxis equivelent to Nobby Nics and Racing ralphs? out of interest.

What would people say are the Maxxis equivelent to Nobby Nics and Racing ralphs?

Joking, Maxxis is way tougher tyre. Out in Peaks at weekend, one person had a puncture. Guess which make? Its always the weight savers on RR or NN crap.

I’ve run Maxxis for a long while and now have both the hardtail and AM bike on Scwhalbe HD front and NN rear.

I generally like the grip and handling with these over the previous High Roller 2s, but I am pretty certain they are less rugged and durable in rocky stuff. Was at BPW on Sunday and there are some mega scrapes on the tyre sidewalls that really need closer inspection as they don’t look like the sort of thing these tyres will survive too often.

Snakeskins have tougher sidewalls.
Double Defence have an extra layer under the tread and I think only come in Snakeskin anyway.

Sounds like it’s the latter you want if you want to stay with a NN.

Was looking at these to replace the RR I use as my summer rear. Couple of 2-3mm slices already this summer. One more puncture and I’ll be buying one.

What would people say are the Maxxis equivelent to Nobby Nics and Racing ralphs?
Joking, Maxxis is way tougher tyre. Out in Peaks at weekend, one person had a puncture. Guess which make? Its always the weight savers on RR or NN crap.

I wasn’t joking, I meant more the rolling speed and grip rather than how tough they are.

The thing with NN’s is, they get slagged and slated for being fragile and paper thin etc BUT they seldom state which model/compound they’ve had issues with.
I’m still running a pair of NN 2.4 snakeskins that have been on my hardtail for 8 years!… THEY WILL NOT **** DIE!