Traction, grip and speed, all packed into what is perhaps Schwalbe's most versatile tread design, the Nobby Nic. Schwalbe works incessantly to continually improve the construction and features of their tires and their evolutionary process takes a huge step forward with the new Addix rubber compound. With the Nobby Nic SS Addix SpeedGrip TLE Tire you are getting Schwalbe's EVO level tire with SnakeSkin protection, Tubeless Easy engineering, and the Addix SpeedGrip compound. Ideal for soft to moderate terrain, ranging to mud and loose hardpack, this Nobby Nic has almost the same low rolling resistance of the previous PaceStar compound, but adds 35% more grip, a whopping 62% more durability, and 15% more trail damping. You gain so much that a negligible gain in resistance means nothing. You don't have to save your favorite tire just for race day.

Schwalbe is keeping the exact details fuzzy, but Addix is a completely new tire ingredient mixing approach, with higher quality materials that have been assiduously tested and balanced to determine the new Addix compound options by desired properties. Anyone who has enjoyed the tubeless and riding performance of Schwalbe's race-level tires, but not the durability issues, has to be both shocked and overjoyed with such a massive gain in physical integrity. Addix has been in development for several years, with the overall goal to keep Schwalbe's race pedigree intact while improving and refining all other traits.

Nobby Nic has a more open tread pattern, with relatively low profile knobs on center. The alternating shaped knobs of the outer edge offer tenacious grip and traction without sacrificing straightline speed and when you run the tire at lower pressures, the tire deforms to the surface, giving you almost octopus style adherence. Acceleration, and overall traction are the two strongest aspects of Nic's game, but other than pure hardpack, this is actually a great all around tire for XC Race, XC Trail, Marathon, and Epic riding.

As a rounded shell tire, the footprint of Nic can be deceiving, but you have to remember it is optimized for tubeless usage. This version, with the EVO SnakeSkin sidewall, is highly resistant to abrasion and cuts. Speed, traction, acceleration. That is the Nobby Nic. If you are prepping for nationals, worlds, or just feel the need to dominate a local short track race, on a soft day, step right up to Nobby Nic. For most of us the Tubeless Easy, SnakeSkin, and the Speed/Grip capability are features are just too crucial to the right combination of speed, control, and reliability needed for ripping XC trails all day long.