"Snakeskin" (Schwalbe tyre content)

I shredded my rear 29″ Nobby Nic again over the weekend, and although it sealed eventually it still spent much of yesterday farting and burping Stan’s out of the split. I think it’s time to replace it especially as it’s getting worn.

Given my magnetic attraction to sharp flints, I need to think about a stronger replacement. Is the snakeskin on a NN meant to be tougher?

It is ‘meant’ to be tougher. I am not convinced.

Snakeskin is meant to be tougher.

For what it’s worth, I’ve not had a flat/hole/pinch since I fitted one on the rear.

OK thanks guys.

I am in two minds anyway as the bike rolls nicely in the dryish stuff but slides badly in the gloop.

Snakeskin is tougher ime but it takes away one of the reasons why you probably bought a Nic in the first place – low weight.

The reinforced sidewall is also less compliant but at the same time it makes the tyre more tolerant of pressures.

Basically like a normal tyre

“Double Defense” seem to me to be even better – though the worst my previous “Snakeskins” ever suffered was a score-but-not-actual-split from the local chalk and flint rubble.

Thanks again.

Oh the joys of living in Flint World!

I run Snakeskin on various bikes. Three experiences that might help. After a rocky ride I checked and found a deep score mark on the sidewall of the front tyre on my Cotic. It looked like it had hit a rock or whatever. The score mark went as far as the inner casing, but that has held since. I am certain that that would have been a complete tear on a non-snakeskin tyre.

I noticed a bit of white on the rear of my susser. On checking I saw it was a 1mm hole that has sealed with Stans. Closer examination found a further dozen similar sized holes in the same tyre, all in or around the tread area. I can’t pin it down to any one particular ride, so in the last twelve months or so that bike would have punctured a dozen times but has sealed itself quite nicely. Again, 2.4 nic Snakeskin.

In the last month or so I have ridden Penmachno, Marin, Kirroughtree, Mabie, Marple, Calderdale, and Kirklees, all of which have had their fair share of rocky nonsense, and the tyres have survived my lack of ability and 15.5 stone.

Finally, my lad charged a square edged step at Clayton Val;e and managed to pinchflat his Snakeskin rear, so if you are a 15 year old blunderer it is possible to smack them hard enough to knacker them. I ended up having to patch that one from the inside.

Thanks Scapegoat. Helpful.

It’s the sharpness of flints that do it I think – the little blighters are like razors. I was on an event on Saturday and heard both go within in a second on a slow climb and cue Stan’s gunk spraying everywhere from both tyres. Little flinty sod must have taken both out. It must have been funny to watch especially given it started raining almost immediately. The rear just wouldn’t seal properly and kept popping open witht he bike propped up outside yesterday.