Whats the Maxxis equivalent of Schwalbe Magic Mary and Nobby Nic

Usually use a Magic Mary Trailstar 2.35 front and a Nobby Nic Pacestar 2.35 rear, trying to work out what the Maxxis equivalent is, but the amount of options is really confusing.

Would be grateful if someone could point me in the right direction.

One of the lighter weight Assegai up front, in 2.5 then a Dissector 2.4 on the rear 👍

Probably assegai, lots of folk will say shorty, but it’s more of a pure slop tyre (a very good one at that) whereas the Mary is a bit of an all rounder on anything wet, sloppy, rocky or rooty.

Dunno about the NN equiv tbh, never used one.

Given how a lot of people slag off the NN, the Maxxis equivalent must be the Ardent.

The Forekaster is Maxxis’s closest to the Nic- it’s tougher, and heavier, but very similiar. Wouldn’t recommend it, basically for the same reason. Ardent does a similar job but a bit better (faster, for similar grip/usefuless) DHR2 is a bit slower but a shitload grippier

For fronts they don’t really line up identically, like Nobeer says the Shorty is a more capable mud tyre, while the DHR2/DHF are a bit more allroundy. And the Assegai can be pretty cloggy if not moving fast.

Forekasters are pretty light for the grip. Much more grip than Ardents, but less grippy than Minions.

Assegai up front, aggressor as a decent rolling but still gripy rear for me.

Having used all of them, i’d put a NN and MM pretty much the same overall as a DHR/DHF, Assegai is more aligned to the MM, but i’d say it’s more against the Big Betty overall, but the NN is a bit less than a DHR, so i’d say like for like would be DHF/R.

I also run DHF/R as well during drier periods, and have noticed they aren’t hugely different to the MMs i use (also used a NN for a while).

The Forekaster is Maxxis’s closest to the Nic- it’s tougher, and heavier, but very similiar.

Not the case for the new Nobby Nic. Available with Super Ground or Super Trail casings, both of which are substantially tougher than a Forekaster casing. Tread pattern substantially improved too, though still suitable for general all round XC/trail use rather than going gravity oriented like a DHF/DHR would be…

For fronts they don’t really line up identically

Big point to note… Those who like changing their tyres for various different conditions and eventualities will have a range from HR2, DHF, DHR2, Assegai and a Shorty to use up front based upon conditions and preferences… Those who just like to buy one tyre to use in all conditions will use a Magic Mary! 🤷🏻‍♂️

Not really though. The Mary soft’s one of the best allrounders mostly just because it’s really well located in the wet>dry range while most are more dry biased… but they’re still a compromise, you give up a lot of capability compared to having say a Shorty and a DHR2 to swap between- and all where it really hurts, in the more extreme conditions. (The exception being the ultrasoft, which I love but it’s no more an allrounder than a maxxgrip shorty is)

And I doubt even many pros swap between all those tyres you mentioned, let alone normal riders. It’s good to have a choice but the 2 minions and the HR2 exist so close together that who really goes “I’ll swap from the DHR2 to the DHF for this ride”? In reality you either use one of those for all your riding exactly like you might the Mary, or you maybe swap between two, probably the Shorty and a Minion.

Re Forekaster vs Nic… The thing about the exo Forekaster is, it’s not tough but the protection is generally pretty well balanced across the tyre. It didn’t work for me since it has no cornering grip but I do think it succeeds at the job it was designed for (ie XC level grip but with a bit more durability). In fact, same job as the Nic used to do.

Whereas the Superground Nic is IMO just a disaster, because they’ve added weight and protection to the sides but they’ve left the treadface very weak. (according to schwalbe, the tread face is identical between the Superground and Supertrail) So it’s still just as weak and puncturey there as the old Snakeskin. Or, the really daft thing is it’s pretty much in the same weight class as the old, excellent supergravity which didn’t try to be so clever and just had a reasonable amount of protection all over.

Genuinely I don’t think it’s any more real-world tough than the Forekaster, despite being over 300g heavier. It’s like they’ve put a new super tough armoured door into a rotten old doorframe and expected it to keep thieves out.