I am thinking of putting some NN 29/2.35 on as I want to go tubeless but I am wondering if it might end up being a costly mistake...
I do a mix of tarmac/gravel riding in about equal measure with the odd muddy stretch and I currently have Smart Sam 29/2.25. I find them a little bit slippy and there isn't a tubeless version as far as I can see. Looking at the Schwalbe tyre suitability matrix NNs seem to be the next best thing that suits but I don't want to kill them on tarmac. Rock Razor show as being more suitable for "HardPac" but they seem to be geared for competition use and I'm not sure if that means they aren't going to be suitable for a leisure user! They also look a bit too slick.
Anyone use NNs for any road riding at all? Or should I be looking at the Rock Razor or indeed another Schwalbe model?
I have a set of the the new improved Addix Speedgrip (blue) NNs in 2.6 on my HT and have been very impressed with traction however would not recommend them for tarmac
They do roll surprisingly well on tarmac when I ride to my local trails however if you are clocking high tarmac miles this tyre would not be suitable IMO
It sounds like you need a semi-slick tyre with decent edge grip for when you ride gravel type tracks esp if it’s a 50/50 split
If you are riding gravel you certainly don’t need something as aggressive as a NN
In fact you are not far off slick territory
I run a Smart Sam tubeless on the rear of my 29er hardtail. Version (29/2.25 Addix Performance DD Raceguard folding ) i went for is described as for ebikes but funnily enough works fine on my non-ebikes... https://e-biketires.com/en/e-mtb-reader/smart-sam-dd.html
Im sure other versions could also be used tubeless but i wanted a tougher version for the rear
Gravelking SKs or G1 Allrounds?
I can't see a Smart Sam tubeless version at all - there are three versions DD, PLUS and standard but they are all Performance Line and if you put the "tubeless" filter on the search they don't come up....
My bike is a 29er HT ebike - will Rock Razors be any good? They are nearly £60 each so they want to be good/durable!
For tarmac and gravel something like a Maxxis Pace is great. Pretty much looks like a bigger gravel tyre tread wise. I run one on the back and it rolls really well. I have a nobbier tyre on the front (Maxxis Forekaster) which also rolls well enough but gives me more grip offroad.
Rock Razor is a great rear tyre (wouldn't put one on the front), works well on canal paths / trail centres and surprisingly well in mud
OP, do you mean that you occasionally use your mountain bike for gravel / tarmac rides, or that you exclusively use your bike for this type of riding? It would help to clarify this.
The previous version of the Nobby Nic rolls ok on tarmac, but isn't a specific tarmac / gravel tyre per se. I run a Nic / Ralph combo 75% of the year on my Giant Anthem and I do have a bit of distance to cover on tarmac and gravel on my local rides to link up trails. It rolls surprisingly well considering the tread. For me, this is the best combo for the riding that I do (non-competitive XC / light trail). I tend to do 30-50 mile rides with plenty of climbs but always taking the steep route down and this combo just works for me.
The newest version of the Nic supposedly gives up a bit of the rolling resistance for more grip. I couldn't tell you how different they ride though. I have one of the new versions ready to fit once my current one dies. I'm running the Speedgrip compound on the front BTW, which is a nice balance of rolling resistance to grip.
If you're riding 50/50 tarmac / gravel and easy trails, then Rocket Ron or Racing Ray front, Racing Ralph rear would be a great combo. I put a Ray on the front when it gets really dry in summer.
Tarmac / gravel only? Thunder Burt front and rear.
I use NN front and rock razor rear, on my ebike.
Rock razor rolls well for an off-road tyre, and Nobby nic has plenty of grip if you do venture off road.
This combination works well, I’m a big heavy guy on a 20kg ebike.
I’ve been using the rock razor for a few hundred miles now, and I’ve just bought another for my other bike.
Ditto for the nobby nic, my ebike came with the basic versions, I’ve bought a more expensive version for the front.
More expensive tyres are worth the money ime,
Better ride, more grip, slight trade off in longevity.
Thanks all
@devash - So basically I ride on disused railway line type tracks, loose grit with the odd muddy stretch, 25 - 40 mile rides. I have to go on the roads for a bit (2 miles each way) to get there and I also ride sometimes with a friend who has a road bike so 30 miles on tarmac for those.
My Smart Sams have done about 1100 miles of that sort of stuff and are about 1/2 - 2/3 worn I suppose. I want to go tubeless though so I figured I would try and get a better tyre setup if there was one...
@martymac - Rocks on the rear and NNs on the front is OK on the road?
Another vote for Maxxis Pace. Not sure on the wear rate but they roll well on tarmac and are surprisingly grippy off road. I've had them front and back on a rigid HT (in the summer) and with ardent race up front (in the winter) when I put some suspension forks back on. The rear has coped very well with wet muddy climbs on the chase and the fast double track downs and red trails. I would happily run them front and back for the riding you describe. I also have them set up tubeless.
Specialized Fast Trak would be a good choice for the rear. They are OK on the front, but on gravelly/loose surfaces can wash out quite easily - although I suspect that would be the case for quite a lot of 'fast rolling' treads.
I ran my smart sams tubeless for about a year, I now use NObby Nics but they are draggy on tarmac.
Have you tried your current smart Sam's tubeless with sealant?
I haven't tried the Smart Sams tubeless, I just kind of thought they wouldn't work because it doesn't say they are tubeless compatible. Never thought of trying it anyway.
I think I might put a rock Razor rear /Nobby Nic front combo on and see what happens..
I have a 7 mile road ride to the local trails, NN in the drier months and it’s a slog on the road. Wouldn’t fancy doing 30 miles on road with them.
@oceanskipper
Aye, it’s ok, obviously it’s not gonna roll like a carbon tdf bike eh, but yeah it rolls well enough for an mtb.
Nobby nic on the front with racing ralph on the rear works well. RR's on both is better, but watch those loose corners.
Gonna try a Racing Ralph Super Ground 2.35" rear with a Racing Ray Super Ground 2.25" front..
Try a Ray 2.35 / Ralph 2.25 front instead. You want the bigger tyre on the front.
Schwalbe website says the Ralph is a good rear tyre and Ray is a good front tyre. I bought a 2.35 Ralph and a 2.25 Ray - my thinking was that the narrower front would be a good thing???