[Grumpy]

I am thinking of trying the (UST) Smart Sam or Nobby Nic (normally run a UST Roll-X (D2) F&R in summer (typical NE backcountry: lots of rocks, hard-pack occasionally damp often with loose cover, streams (w/wet rocks), roots, and some occasional light mud)
Questions are (for those who have experience with either or both) how do they compare to a similar tire like the rollx or nevegal lite (two I have experience with) with regards to speed (rolling), traction, wear and durability (knob shearing and cuts).
I hate to unload over $50 per tire, on tires I have not (nor anyone I ride with has) tried but I have become very intrigued by these two (Schwalbe's)

 

[drjos]

I ride Big Jim USTs now and am looking at NN as a replacement.

The Big jimes are quite good and the NN apears to be better. I will post once I make up my mind.

David

 

[4212darren]

I don't have alot of experience but I just installed a NN [email protected] grams on the front. I like it better than the Python UST I had on before. I was crashing alot and needed a little more meat on the ground. I'm afraid to ride on ashphalt for fear of wearing it out.

 

[Grumpy]

I don't have alot of experience but I just installed a NN [email protected] grams on the front. I like it better than the Python UST I had on before. I was crashing alot and needed a little more meat on the ground. I'm afraid to ride on ashphalt for fear of wearing it out.

Thanks for the info,
That is similar to my situation, I want a little better roll then the Roll-X but didn't want to totally compromise traction (I like the python on hard-pack but where I mostly ride the conditions are too varied for pythons (IMHO, people do ride them but they have to crawl or walk the technical and/or wet sections or often end up, rubber side up;-))

SO I'm guessing by your concern the nic seems really soft, I do some fire-road (chip and oil) and short paved sections to get to some of the singletrck sections so I'm guessing a nobby nic on the back would not be a good plan. Perhaps the smart sam (or RR) on the rear and a larger 2.25 nic on the front is the ticket...