[Closed] Rolling resistance

In my non scientific roll down and pump only test with riders swapping amongst bikes....the fastest bike had a magic mary 2.35 on the front. The slowest had a wild enduro. DHFs were inbetween.

Make of that pseudo science nonsense what you will.

TBH Marys vary tons depending on compound and carcass, the heavier carcass ultra softs are in the same ballpark as the equivalent assegai, maybe a little slower (depends a lot on pressures, the Mary gets a fair bit slower if you run it soft like I do). Really brilliant tyres, but not fast. A better tyre than the Assegai imo but probably not what you want.

The lighter soft compound ones are much faster, pretty much minioney in use. But you give up a lot of grip especially if it's wet/greasy, the "soft" compound isn't that soft. It's such a big difference it's more like having 2 completely different models of tyre. It is imo not such a good tyre, the balance of spiky-but-not-that-soft is a bit conflicted, it doesn't suit my riding at all. I'd rather have softer rubber but less tread.

Honestly for what you describe, I'd choose a maxxgrip dhr2 unless the Assegai is way way too much tyre, they are brilliant 3-season tyres, way more useful grip than the maxxterra especially when it's damp/greasy, with little penalty on the trail (they do wear faster and they are expensive).

Maxxis Disector feels faster than the DHF. Only used it in the dry though.

In my non-sciencificky test of which of my bikes gives my mate on his e-bike the best workout, the slowest one has 29er Wild Enduros, the next slowest one has 700c x 42c Resolutes (and curly bars) and the least slowest one has a 26er x 3" Knard on the front and a very worn 2.4 Conti X-King on the back. And one gear that I need to ruin myself to stay on top of up the hills.

Other factors are available, hope this helps.

Dissector 2.4wt is definitely faster than my dhf 2.5”

Unless you're riding full on enduro trails then the new Nobby Nic 2.35 in Speedgrip (blue) compound offers more than enough grip in dry to damp conditions and is much faster and lighter than the tractor tyres that a lot of people seem to be needlessly mincing about on.

www.bicyclerollingresistance.com

How are the new Nic casings holding up?

I found the second gen a really versatile rear tire, but they were too weedy to last.

Personally, I found the Assegai no more draggy as a front tire than a DHF. Possibly even a little less draggy.

I didn't like the DHR2 as a front tire even though its said to have the same side knobs as the DHF, a felt it had less grip on the edges. Still not got to the bottom of why.

How are the new Nic casings holding up?

Really well. They've massively beefed up the casings across the range which has the downside of increased weight (like for like my new Nic is 200g heavier than the outgoing one). The new Super Ground replaces the outgoing Snakeskin version and has the Snakeskin protection across the whole casing, not just the sidewalls. The Super Trail versions are even more beefy but 1kg+ weigh so way too porky for my riding.

Then again, I have never had any issues with Schwalbe tyres in the past, despite their reputation for thin sidewalls, which I always found unfounded. Having said that, I don't ride anywhere particularly flinty or rocky.

TBH my experience of the supertrail Nic was just terrible, it's just a superground with a bit more sidewall protection, so it's got the weight of a tough tyre but the tread still has the puncture protection of an xc tyre, and everything's as weak as its weakest part. Schwable seem to be the only people in 2021 that still know how to make a tyre that gets regular punctures in the middle. The tread/rubber itself was alright but not brilliant. Best nobby nic to date but that's not saying a lot.

I saw someone on Pinkbike called it the equivalent of a Space Marine- lots of body armour and no helmet. Loved that. Genuinely just think they should admit they screwed up and try again, I succesfully warrantied mine.

I haven't used the new Supergravity but the old version was the best carcass Schwalbe made so hopefully they've not ****ed it up.

I’d agree that the super trail nic seems a bit pointless. The old snakeskin was great for mincers like me. Even the super ground is a bit heavier but the super trail gives you all the weight of a trail/enduro tyre without the grip.

I have a super ground nic on the front of my hardtail as a not too heavy summer tyre and I’m pretty impressed with the balance of speed and grip.  I’d really like it in a soft compound for the front but they only do that in the somewhat heftier super trail and I’d put the wild enduros back on before I shelled out for a heavier nic. (In fact that is exactly what I did for a wet looking Southern Enduro Mash-Up.  More grip but markedly more effort to pedal)

roverpig
Full Member

Even the super ground is a bit heavier but the super trail gives you all the weight of a trail/enduro tyre without the grip.

See, I don't mind that- my favourite rear tyre is the old supergravity rockrazor, which is heavy and doesn't have much grip, but works fantastic. Basically it needs to be tough so I can use the semi-slick speed to clumsily smash into things 🙂

But the supertrail is fairly heavy and not tough at all because of the puncturey middle. It's just a really weird combination.

Fair point. I’m talking about sticking it on the front for XC mincing. You’re talking about sticking it on the back for smashing rocky tech. Very different use cases, but equally pointless for both, which is quite an achievement really 🙂