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Submitted by
TORQ24
a Racer
from Barrie ON, Canada
Date Reviewed: August 30, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Serious | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Grip, roll (for a full nobby), looks great! | | Weaknesses: | No problems yet. They seem to be wearing a little quick on the rear but they are an uncompromising race tire so I don't see that as a weakness. | | Similar Products Used: | Hutchinson Python, Bontrager Revolt super X, Maxxis minion, IRC Mibro. | | Bike Setup: | Element 90, Crossmax SL rims, Nobby nic 2.25 UST FR/RR. | | Bottom Line: | I have been running the 2.25 UST front and rear for about a month. They have not let me down so far and have plenty of grip. I ride mostly mixed forest single track, not many rocks but lots of roots. These tires have allowed me to take corner speeds to the next level, just weight the front wheel and rail...sooo much fun to ride! They do however have more noticeable rolling resistance starting at about 20km/m and are sensitive to air pressure. I run about 27psi, any lower and they get "floppy" on my narrow crossmax SL's. I prefer more grip over ultra fast semi slick tires, overall I am happy and these are the most satisfying tires I have tried to date. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sunnmax
a Weekend Warrior
from Saint Tropez
Date Reviewed: February 14, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Patapan | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | WWW | | Strengths: | Incredible traction all around, xcept in sandy conditions but mine are 1.8 UST and a bit narrow for that surface and I'm talking beach sand 'I have a loop that goes through that a one moment) | | Weaknesses: | Not Durable............but that's the trade of for super traction??!!! | | Similar Products Used: | Michelin XCR dry (two weeks injury because of those!!)Panaracer fire XC, IRC Mythos (those really stood out) | | Bike Setup: | XC racer | | Bottom Line: | used to be a IRC unconditional fan, Now i'm a nobby nic fan!!!
| Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Cable0guy
a Weekend Warrior
from Torrance, CA
Date Reviewed: October 9, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Light, holds air well | | Weaknesses: | Weak sidewalls, durability | | Bike Setup: | Intense 5.5 | | Bottom Line: | Ripped the sidewall within a couple of months. Patched up. Now the tread is 60% gone. Not worth the cost. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alex
a
from Boulder, CO, USA
Date Reviewed: November 11, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$45.00 | | Strengths: | traction, weight | | Weaknesses: | wear | | Similar Products Used: | Continental Vertical Pro, Schwalbe Fat Albert, Nobby Nic 2.4 non UST, Intense, Panaracer | | Bike Setup: | Marin Attack Trail 6" + 6" | | Bottom Line: | Unbelievable tire with mind boggling traction. I used the 2.4 non UST Nobby Nic. The 2.25 UST gets the same kind of traction. The 2.25 UST can be run with very low pressure. With Stan this tire really seals: lose < 1 psi / week. Just a real shame there is no 2.4 UST yet. This tire is almost too good to be true but it does have one big weakness. If you use this tire on loose sharp rocks (if you are in Boulder even Walker Ranch will do) the tire disintegrate in no time. The knobs will just peel off. If you ride mostly on dirt this is you tire. If you are ridin' on the (lose) rocks stay away from Schwalbe's Triple Compound. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tim
a Cross Country Rider
from New England, US
Date Reviewed: November 5, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$58.00 | | Purchased At: | Universal Cycles | | Strengths: | Overall traction, UST rim fit is excellent | | Weaknesses: | Sidewalls are a bit soft/breakdown, Perhaps a little heavy (?) | | Similar Products Used: | Panaracer Fire UST, Kenda Nevegal UST, WTB, Maxxis | | Bike Setup: | Independent Fabrication Ti Hardtail, Fox F100X, FSA Carbon Crankset, Shimano 959 pedals, Sram XO, XTR Front Der, Mavic UST 821 Rims/Sapim CX Ray Spokes/DT Swiss 240's, Avid Juicy Ultimate Disc Brakes, Thomson Seatpost, Ritchey Stem, blah, blah, blah | | Bottom Line: | I've read alot of reviews and tried alot of tires. Amongst the many things I've learned in 17 years of mountain biking is, outside of terrain conditions, peoples' tire selections start to creep into personal preference territory kinda' like saddles and bike shorts.
That being said, here is what I like about these tires. First off, I'm using the 2.25 UST version of the Nobby Nic on both front and rear. I'm a big fan of a decent side knobby. All too often I'm riding on a bermed steep hill or on the side of a large rock face and I really appreciate the triple ply hold of the side knobbies and I also like the spacing of the knobbies. They stick well and rail through turns very, very, nicely. The center knobbies and casing rebound provide for a pretty good roll yet still seem to be able to be soft enough to grab in loose dirt and rock.
They are NOT a mud tire, but, I've found their mud clearance to be pretty good and have ridden them through surprisingly wet conditions. I think outside of the Kenda Nevegal, these are a good "wet" trail (think east coast rocks and roots on a wet early morning)tire.
As for my application, I trail ride with moderate drops, log bridges, etc. and only do the occasional endurance event these days. When I think back to my days of NORBA racing, I would definitely NOT recommend these for the typical short track racer boy type. I don't think you would find them to be fast enough....... too sticky. But, for the experienced trail rider who REALLY relies on a tire to hold in hairy situations, these are GREAT!
Another plus, NO Stans liquid needed!!! Mind you, I've nothing against STANS, you just don't need it. I've found the air holds REALLY well without it on my Mavic UST rim. At the end of a four + hour ride there may be two pound air loss at worst.
Mounting the tire is pretty reasonable, the usual, soap and water.
As for blowouts/flats/slashes/etc., I don't want to jinx myself, but none as of yet.
Now the negative points. Price. These are not cheap. The best deal I could find was 10 % off at Universal Cycles.com. Also, although I've NEVER blown a sidewall, you REALLY have to watch the wear. They wear quickly and will have to be replaced sooner than you would like to.
Aside from the two negative points, I have finally found my favorite trail riding tire and will continue to use them. I highly recommend them. Ride On!!
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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