Continental Tires

After running the ardent, I have a new appreciation with the Continental Mountain King and the Trail King with the Black Chili Compound. So much so, that I'm going to buy a set this week to replace the Ardents.

 

That's not the most popular opinion around here, but I agree... When the Continentals work, they are my favorite, especially the Mountain King. Currently running a Mountain King and X-King combo here...

 

I love the trail king black chilli for both front and back tires. It's too bad it's getting soo hard to find the 26 x 2.2 model. I recently had to settle for a 2.4" black chilli front and the cheapo non-chilli 2.2 in the back. My lbs mechanic didn't mince word, he said, "Sorry, everyone's moved to 27 or 29."

 

QBP has them in stock (50+), so a shop cannot say they are not available. 1 day ship from Nevada warehouse.

Continental makes great tires and have used them in the past with no problems.

 

Good to know. He did offer to order them but, I figured it'd take much longer than that.

 

It might, depending on when they do another QBP order, or if they have an account with them.

 

I use Continental tires on my road bike...Ultra Sports. They're great. $20, last a decent number of miles. Only thing that's going to make me switch is the wire bead. I had a heck of a time mounting them on the new Easton rims. But I'll probably go with another Continental tire.

Have yet to try any Continentals on my mtb.

 

For what it's worth - I used to drive miles and miles for Continental inner tubes! They worked best, and they had yellow valve stem caps, so...

I have never tried their MtB tires, so I can't comment. Well, I can, but it would just be sooo wrong.

 

When I have a road bike, I run the GP4000S tires. I will only use those on a road bike.

 

Someone else mentioned those too...I'll have to give them a look.

 

They are pricey, but you have a to get the black chili compound tire. They are the German made tires. The cheapies are made in Asia and are not the same quality.

 

Are we switching tire manufacturers again? I just got done switching to Maxxis and now the flavor of the week is Continental! How bourgeois!
Next we'll all be on Cheng Shin!

 

Cheng Shin, makes Maxxis tires. Next week we will all change to Arisun. Got to keep up with the Joneses.

 

That's the joke. Can't get anything over on you guys!

 

I'm going with Hankook, just because I like the name!!

 

I was thinking lately that I really liked the Conti trail kings in 2.4. Good grip, fast rolling, and low pressures. Just have to accept they have a shelf life of apx 1 year before the beads start to leak.
Once the Maxxis wear out might go back.
Really like the Maxxis, but think I liked the conti's TK better.

 

I have torn the sidewall on every Conti tire I have tried. Granted, they were not the Protection sidewall versions....but I tossed away tires that were nearly new.

Good thing they were cheap/on sale when I bought them.

With all that being said, the Race King was a pretty nice tire.

 

X-King - knobby's tear off fairly easy on rocks/chunky stuff or aggressive riding and wear quickly. Side walls are so paper thin sealants bleed through like a fire boat on display. On the other hand a very light/fast tire, great for racing. Grip is okay and acceleration is through the roof!

 

So if they hold air they're great?

 

BLASPHEMY! Burn him!

 

Nahhh... We're still the minority around here. You're good with Maxxis

My first X-King had the seepy sidewalls from day 1, while the Mountain King was flawless for over a year. I gave the X-King another chance recently and this one is wearing much better and sealed up easily... Even the sidewalls.

But it's not a tire for more aggressive riding... And I only run it on the back.

 

Yeah, but they got to hold air...
Cathy's bike has Conti's on them and the sidewalls seep like a sieve. Stan's is constantly leaking out the sides and then collects dust turning the tires a damp light dirt brown. I'm already tired of wiping them clean, replacing them with still plenty of tread on them...so for me? Totally not worth the hassle.
Conti's suck! Maxxis rules!

 

The 2.4 Trail King is a nice tire with great volume. They are more fragile on the sidewalls than Maxxis or Schwalbe and they tend to lose air much more quickly even with sealant.

 

Even the Protection versions?

 

In my experience yes. After a few rides the side walls break down and start to seep. I went to Maxxis as it was cheaper than replenishing the sealant once a month not to mention they are an awesome tire!

 

I have a race king on the back of my HT right now and it definitely seeps Stans like no other tire I've run. The Nobby Nic on the front has seen many more miles and has been punctured with many thorns and it holds air much longer (NN's aren't exactly known as long life tires but the Race Kings hardly have miles on them and I already consider them done). Since I hardly ride my HT it doesn't matter much to me but the Conti is coming off soon regardless even though I do like the tread.

 

Ran the X king front race king rear for years and loved them. Tried the mountain kings and could not stand that tire, always slipped in the corners and had the conti wobble that they would hit the chain stays. Wheel was straight but the tire was so off.

Moved to Maxxis ikon front and rear and a little more tire to turn but a little more confidence in them.

 

NOTE! you CANNOT use Stans in Conti's, you have to use the Continental version of sealant. I found this out the hard way.

edit; I never had the sealant seep from the sidewalls or tread. The rim-bead contact on the other hand.

 

My X King did okay on stans and I had no issues at all with my race King and stans.

 

Unfortunately even the protection versions of the Conti tires seem to be less durable than a comparable Maxxis or Snake Skin Schwalbe.

I have a new German, Black Chili, Protection, 27.5 x 2.4 Mountain King if anyone is interested. I can let it go for $35 obo.