Continental MTB Tire Guide: Find Your Perfect Tire

Today, we’re talking tires - specifically, we're making a Continental MTB tire guide. We have three new tread patterns, including the Argotal, Kryptotal, and Xynotal - and no, those aren’t prescriptions you need from your doctor. We’ve been putting these through their paces over the last few months in a huge variety of terrain. We’ve covered everything from the desert to the alpine to bring you a thorough tire guide. So stick around to see which Continental MTB tire is best for you.
** I grabbed the wrong wheel when filming the Kryptotal Re tread pattern. I had been experimenting with a front as a rear and got them mixed up in the process of filming the detail shots. Too many tire swaps in the last few days. Sorry**
Read the full guide here - bebikes.com/the-hub/continent...
0:00 Intro
1:58 Tread Patterns
5:07 Casings
6:20 Compounds
8:19 Reviews
11:56 Preferred Setup

[@joehoeper3941]

Wow - might be the best tire review I've ever seen. Well done, good sir

[@bikersedge]

Hey thanks!

[@andersonsridebikes]

I'm a big fan of Kryptotal on the rear and Magic Mary up front. Mostly because I like to make people mad by riding two different brands! Also, it works really well.

[@bikersedge]

Some people just want to watch the world burn.

[@andersonsridebikes]

@@bikersedge 🤣

[@playgroundchooser]

hahahahaa, me too! Schwalbe Hans Dampf in the front with a Kenda HellDiver Pro in the back for me.

[@andersonsridebikes]

@@playgroundchooser NIce!

[@Putkijumala]

I love your reasoning. 😅 I can't understand why some won't mix their tyre brands if they otherwise end up compromising their ride quality or performance. I just doesn't get it.. Plus, it's always pleasure to upset riders with their ridiculous "rules".. 😅

[@luisromero9507]

Awesome video, I was a little bit confused with the continental line up. I think I’ll go with the Kryptotal Enduro. Thanks for the perfect explanation.

[@cameronbreen9857]

This is money. I was confused by the process before watching. Thanks

[@William.N]

Definitely what I was looking for regarding these tires. Well put together, as expected!

[@bikersedge]

Great to hear!

[@MichaelAverycarhauler1969]

Excellent information! I've not seen another review of the Conti Gravity line of tires that goes as in depth as you do in this video. Thanks for deciphering the madness that is MTB tires, casings, and compounds.

[@bikersedge]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@myusername570]

My LBS recommend Xynotal lightweight everything front and back. Shit slaps. Fast rolling, nice and grippy in our super dry hardpack right now. Even at the bike park they were flying through everything. Couple drifts on really loose moon rock but any tire would do the same. Having 1500km on DHR front and back, and only ~120km on the contis, Id put contis on again tomorrow were they to blow. I ride in very rocky and hardpack areas of northern ontario and northern Minnesota mainly. Trip planned to Moab this fall so I'm sure theyll be excellent there, too. Amazing grip and speed for the terrain this summer is bringing so far.

[@CodaHale]

I thought the recommendation for trail bikes was a bit much but then I tried it out and yeah, that’s objectively the correct set of tires for absolutely flogging a short-travel bike on sketchy trails. Thanks!

[@bikersedge]

Good to hear!

[@outlandishmtb]

Great info. I jumped on my new Wild and right away didn't like the Maxxis rear tire. Once i wore in out I switched to the DH Soft Kryptotal and it was an amazing improvement on our we west coast of BC riding. I'll be upgrading the front soon.

[@LevoSteve-O]

Great info! Definitely helped me make up my mind! Thank you!

[@brianf1260]

Outstanding breakdown of the tires. Nice work. No judgement..😎

[@bikersedge]

Thanks! 👍

[@ryansteiger6960]

Excellent video, and great delivery as always 👍

[@bikersedge]

Why thank you!

[@MartinTeerly]

Lovely video. Plenty information 👍🏻

[@TheLocalsender]

I'm running the kryptotal fr and re here in Australia and for the loose over hard your totally right, they absolutely slap 🤙

[@bikersedge]

Solid tires.

[@pr3d4t0r11]

Great reviews! I installed Xynotal Soft with Enduro casing with Cushcore in the rear. It rides so good with actually higher pressure compared to Maxxis EXO+, Schwalbe SuperGravity and Micheline. Also I did a pretty wet and muddy Enduro race with it - it's actually pretty good for a hardpack tyre: - it clears mud well with a little speed - inspires confidence on offcamber - the side knobs bite in so well. - really predictable under breaking Best rear tyre I ever had (15+ years).

[@bikersedge]

I’m pretty impressed with the Xynotal. Grips better than I would have thought.

[@emersongo9147]

Very informative my men! More power to your channel!

[@bikersedge]

Thanks.

[@andyboy198577777]

I just discovered bikers edge and I absolutely love what you guys are doing. Thanks for all the great content!

[@bikersedge]

Thanks for the kind words. I appreciate it.

[@gazbuck73]

Awesome review mate. Was recommended these by a friend who swears by them, and did a KZbin search for a review….perfect and really informative. Went for the following: FRONT: Continental Argotal Downhill Soft Compound Foldable 29" MTB Tyre 29 x 2.4" Black/Black REAR: Continental Kryptotal Rear Downhill Soft Compound Foldable 29" MTB Tyre 29 x 2.4" Black/Black All ready and waiting to fit for this years ARD ROCK SPORT ENDURO here in UK 🇬🇧 🤜🏼🤛🏼

[@bikersedge]

Awesome! Glad you like the tires and the video.

[@shaunpaul1034]

Thank buddy- That was very well done - EXPLAINED precisely correct.

[@bikersedge]

Glad you liked it!

[@JasonFoxLCB]

Great timing and overview. Have a new bike arriving this week and I've got a pair of Kryptotals waiting to install. Maybe I'll try an Argotal in front next time.

[@bikersedge]

Rad! Enjoy!

[@utahjohn5480]

stellar video. I run a tire insert not for flat protection, but for rim protection. FWIW.

[@bikersedge]

Hey thanks. DH casing does the same thing. The same thing that prevents a pinch flat, prevents rim damage - whether that’s a lot of air pressure, insert or heavy casing tire.

[@nickjones5728]

These tires are amazing! Not sure what secret sauce they are using but they blow Maxxis out of the water! I’ll be switching all my bikes over to these soon. Currently running Kryptotal front and rear in the dh super soft front and soft rear it’s strange how they roll so well and have amazing grip at the same time also seem to wear really well for such great grip. They hit a home run with these have been a game changer for my Levo!

[@bikersedge]

Unicorn tears probably.

[@roellecorregidor1201]

Got an update for us?

[@micheandmikey]

I've been riding Michelin Wild Enduro's here in the PNW for 4 years now and I absolutely love them. I saw these tires and would really like to try them.....basically, anything but Maxxis goes on my bikes. 😆

[@IsraelMagalit]

Thank you for the excellent video review! 👍🏻👍🏻

[@bikersedge]

Glad it was helpful!

[@lazylearner967]

Solid review Connor. Your talent for speaking and explaining as well as editing is superb! Also, your shop is the absolute BEST! Good selection, good "sales" people and your service is outstanding! I am lucky to live so close to you guys. I needed a new tire and was in your shop the other day as my DHR was losing side knobs. I looked at the Conti's, they must be popular as you guys were sold out of most of the models. I ended up going with a Martello on the rear. I will most likely put a Mazza up front when the front needs new rubber. But I will check out Conti's in the future. I am still looking for a good Downcountry/aggressive XC tire. Trek /Bontrager has an XR4 that seems to do a good job for that, but I only get 450-500 miles on a rear before it really needs to be replaced. Again, nice work on the review Connor!

[@bikersedge]

Thanks for the kind words! Yeah the secret is out of the Conti tires. They’re tough to get at the moment.

[@burddog0792]

I was under the impression that there wasn't much variety in the protection/compounds (downhill/super soft, enduro/soft, trail/endurance), meaning a more protective tire was only in softer rubber, so this is a very informative video.

[@bikersedge]

Glad it was helpful!

[@a8f235]

These tires have been on my radar, so we'll see next year. I'm testing DHR II Maxx Terra on the rear and DHR II Maxx Grip in the front now, both EXO+ because I don't ride that hard yet. Since the rear tire was the one the bike came with, and if this combo does not really work for me, I'll just try a full swop for Conti next year.

[@bikersedge]

That’s a solid setup.

[@estimateparagon]

Great review. I’m still experimenting with the casing-compound selection but am switching all my bikes to these.

[@bikersedge]

I’m sold too. Great tires.

[@ultimatist]

I'd love your take/comparison with Specialized tires. They have a great lineup.

[@bikersedge]

I actually rode some a few years back. Didn't mind them at all. Had a hell of a time with the side knobs ripping off though.

[@iErnest85]

Excellent Review and Breakdown! Much Appreciated! It would be awesome if you could review Kenda MTB tires similarly, especially after installing them on the Transition Smuggler you recently reviewed. Booster, Karama, Regolith, Nevegal, Helldiver, Hellkat, and Pinner seemed light compared to the designated application compared to other manufacturers. So far, I only had the opportunity to ride the Booster Pro 29x2.4 SCT, and I was just blown away by how that tire performed. It rolled just as fast or even faster than Rekon Race while offering as much traction as the regular Rekon and being lighter than Rekon Race, Ikon, or even Aspen. My guess is that you're not much into XC riding, but I would be very curious to watch your review about the Downcountry - Enduro line of Kenda tires (Karama, Regolith, Nevegal, Helldiver, Hellkat, and Pinner) I just purchased a Kenda Hellkat Pro 29x2.4 ATC to go on the front of my Transition Spur, and the tire came up to be only 860g on the scale while being advertised as 898g (+/- 45g). That is very light for such an aggressive-looking thread pattern.

[@bikersedge]

Great idea. I’ve ridden the pinner and regoloth quite a bit. I would need some time on the others.

[@mhowell13]

Really appreciated the chart at the end on riding types and your selection. Surprised DH won out on all, but the logic on weight savings was solid. At the price point though, I wouldn't mind experimenting with a different casing.

[@dragonflyseven474]

I got downhill tires based on this chart and pretty quickly swapped them for trail tires. I think if you’re honest with yourself about how hard you’re actually riding, you might not need the beefiness of the DH tires. I’m 220lbs and riding chunky trails, but it is trail riding, and even Enduro casings would probably be overkill.

[@bikersedge]

Just depends on how and where you ride. Personally I prefer DH tires without inserts over trail or enduro tires with inserts, even on my 130mm bike.

[@mhowell13]

@bikersedge I got the kryptotal (fr) and xynotal (rear) in Enduro, and they've been amazing on aggressive trail riding on the front range. This review helped me identify a fast rolling replacement of my dual Assegai stock setup. As always, I appreciate the content and information. I personally can't stand inserts. For some riders, they love em and I respect that. For me, they plant the bike too much. On these tires, I feel confident they'll stand up.

[@MrShocking68]

love my conti kryptotals!

[@jasonlindquistmedia]

nice review, im try the kryptotals.

[@bikersedge]

Good luck!

[@dustinbjohnson]

Good vid. My only gripe with these tires is the lack of offerings in turns of softer rubber on the lighter casings. Hopefully the offer those in the future

[@bikersedge]

Yeah. Seems to be a common sentiment. Their DH casings are some of the nicest riding casings I’ve ridden though. Little lighter/more flexible than other DH casings. Tough to not just put them on everything and call it a day.

[@ninjazzrhythm400]

Magic mary front and big betty rear on dry season, assegai and DHR on slightly wet condition. Best combo ive used so far. Ill definitely look in kryptotal front and Argotal rear and see how it feels.

[@bikersedge]

The Argotal would be the front in that situation. It’s more comparable to a magic Mary and Assegai.

[@ninjazzrhythm400]

​@@bikersedge thanks for the info

[@mrvwbug4423]

Interesting choice. I had the impression that the Magic Mary was probably better in wet conditions than the Assegai.

[@tomasstraka5244]

@@mrvwbug4423 same here, assegai packs up dirt really quick, magic marry looks like it would be more capable for that

[@JoelZieve]

Great overview with just the right amount of details. Thanks for the recommendations too! Do any of these come in a tan sidewall?

[@bikersedge]

Hey thanks! No tan walls unfortunately. They’d be the perfect tires if they did.

[@johnnydoeboy9301]

Awesome! I used to be sponsored by Maxxis for a very long time and I always thought they were the best as well. I’m excited to finally try a different tire for enduro next season

[@DR10002]

Side note. I run Conti TKC 80 tires on my dual sport motorcycle and they are epic on road/off road/highway/deep water/loose rock/granite. Continental knows tires.

[@NoShredDad]

Slapping Kryptotal DH super soft and DH Soft on my Megatower will see how it performs. Current set up maxxis dhr2 2.4 Maxterra front and Dissectore double down max Tera rear. Seems like DHR2 runs out of grip at extreme lean angle while dissector is good in hardback and loos over hard, it is terrible in the wet, almost no grip. Excited to try Conti combo.

[@NoShredDad]

Update: I would have to admit I put them on for a shuttle day here in Alsea Falls in Oregon and after two runs took them off and put on my dhr2 and dissecor combo. Initial feedback was they roll fast but not sure how much traction I could trust and felt like they did not hook up as well as my preferred combo. So I just wrote this off and thinking to myself I just wasted 200 bucks on these tires. These did a bit of weight, 1 pound to be exact. For reference I ride Megatower V2 XL. I wanted to like these and so I decided to give them another try on my local trails, I ride mainly Blues so nothing to gnarly but with some tech, roots and rocks. I did notice the added weight on the climbs but not much, all acceptable to my standard. Going down oh man these rolled so fast I was actually picking up speed compared to my previous set up, the added weight was not even noticeable and the addition sidewall support was eye opening to me when coming in hot in the corners. Definitely recommend these. Also would like to experiment with Enduro Casing in soft should be a good combo but not sure if I am willing to give up the support I get of DH casing.

[@kleinkurti]

When i rode the Kryptotal on the rear the first time I needed to calibrate my body weight for 5 runs, since the breaking power is unreal compared to the dhr.

[@bikersedge]

Very good traction!

[@Eric.V.]

“We’ve got 4 tread patterns, 3 compounds, 3 casings” “the sky is pretty the limit in terms of combinations” and yet “incredibly simple” 😳😎👍

[@bikersedge]

Simple to understand what tire you’re getting. Lots of flexibility in options. Easier to navigate the lineup than with other manufacturers.

[@blasperero26]

What would you best recommend? I ride enduro.Kinda prefer not to heavy in weight.

[@JIBBING_1980S]

I love + size tyres , but its hard to get, sometimes just found rear tyre only.

[@ErikNymo-sg4iw]

After using Maxxis Wetscream in the wintertime with alot of snow, sluggish or very wet weather theese sure has some points to win before i change! The wetscream eat milage since its an el-Bike, about 25% compared to originals, but the tracktion are like a dirt Bike on 15cm of new snow so i need more convincing…

[@neilmartinez143]

Great video. Thanks! How’s the durability for rear applications of the Kryptotal compared to a DHR2 DD?

[@traxxi2003]

Great video with lots of information! Which tire combo for a Trek Rail E-Bike riding in the CA desert environment? I like the Argotal front/back but cannot find them anywhere in the Enduro 2.6".

[@bikersedge]

Hey thanks. I'd think an Argotal front and Kryptotal rear would be solid.

[@MTBCoop]

Love it! Been thinking about grabbing these as my next tire! Side note - what camera do you use to film? Love your style!

[@bikersedge]

Hey thanks. I use a Sony a7s3 and a GoPro hero 11.

[@sebarosca]

Yes

[@nothinglessness]

Superb tyres right from the original Baron on. Continental always had an issue with seeping side walls but they fixed that now. I am running Kryptotal F & R in Enduro and they are truly superb, tough as hell and insane grip for all round conditions. However……….my one criticism is that they just come up too slim in 2.4 which is more like 2.2. If they made a true 2.4 or 2.5 these would be truly unbeatable.

[@tomasstraka5244]

that depends on your rim width above all things...

[@Montezuma0]

What is your rim width?

[@tomasstraka5244]

@@Montezuma027mm, kryptotal is the same width or even wider than DHR II 2.4"

[@MrDoom879]

Anyone have an good tire recommendations for 26" Enduro bikes? I notice a lot of the new stuff is 27.5" and 29" only. I ride primarily in the PNW

[@byronswogger]

Great info. I recently switched to keyptotal F/R. enduro/soft. I'm loving them, coming from Big Betty ,magic Mary combo. Maxis before that. Think I'm going to try the argotal super soft for the front. I usually run 2.4 f/r, but am thinking about 2.6 front for better cornering (have you tried that?). I'm in Northern Utah i ride eagle mountain, corner canyon, and others often. What area of Utah are you in?

[@bikersedge]

I haven’t tried any of the Conti tires in 2.6. I usually don’t like tires that wide. I’m a big fan of 2.3 or 2.4.

[@hardmtnbiker]

I’m very happy with my 29x2.6” or 27.5x2.6 tires that always get Cushcore and are on i35mm rims. But I’m also riding hardtail’s and my tires need to be my rear suspension.

[@bikersedge]

I’ll die on the 2.4” hill. Even on my hardtail.

[@Gizmoke666]

Great review. I have a YT Izzo (trail/XC oriented, but capable for more) and my Maxxis DHR II rear tyre was damaged and I need a replacement. I want to replace it with a Xynotal in the rear and a Kryptotal FR in the front. But I'm not sure to take the trail version or the enduro version. I only ride in Austria in the summer with my daughter (canyon spectral) for 1 week and for the rest in Belgium (Ardennes or a bit at home ... flat flat)

[@bikersedge]

Tough to say without knowing your trails and riding style. I usually lean toward heavier casings because getting a flat will ruin your ride fast.

[@Gizmoke666]

@@bikersedge not my video, but exactly this trail for example ... this is where my DHR II went almost of the rim, own fault, bad repair and it was still leaking, pressure to low. I use a YT izzo and my daughter a canyon spectral. But I'm a lot slower :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/e4rWlYmjnKmpoNE

[@bikersedge]

You'd probably be ok with a trail casing on trails like that if you aren't hitting the berms really hard and peeling it off your rim.

[@andyhickmann2173]

Thank you….. I was so confused

[@bikersedge]

Of course!

[@juanvicke6873]

I have Argotal FR Super soft and Krytotal RE soft both DH and they are amazing! The only tires with more grip are Michelins DH 34 and 22. BUT.. Continentals have lasted waay, waaay longer. Like twice as much.

[@DavidFoundCo]

Do you think these last longer than a maxgripp compound?

[@jackharmer8264]

Just fitted the same set up and wondering if I’ve made a poor Uk winter choice with the argotal up front. You used it in the wet / mud?

[@jackharmer8264]

@juanvicke6873

[@jamesgreco1827]

@@jackharmer8264, how did you get on with the Argotal up front in the UK winter? I’m thinking about the same setup and am also in the UK.

[@MrDavecore777]

Great review, would you say the cubital rear and kryptotal front is the closest thing to the Assegai and dissector combo? Seems like a winner, also fully agree on going DH casing, I don’t see how weight>puncture protection

[@bikersedge]

Xynotal/Argotal would be closest to Dissector/Assegai.

[@neilmartinez143]

On the Orbea Wild, what size and casing did you use? Pressures? Thnx

[@bikeguy6800]

WTB Vigi / Trail boss all day...verdict / judge for brown pow season...best in the business.

[@bikersedge]

I rode some vigilantes back in the day. Very nice.

[@hambo76]

That's my current combo but I tore a hole in the Vigilante (High Grip / Light Casing) so I'll need a tougher tyre next time. The Fast Rolling. Tough Casing Trail Boss is indestructible though!

[@69indigoblue]

Well done video. I understand how to choose the right tyre now. What would have been also helpful to compare the weight at least of the different casings. For example what is the weight difference between an Kryptotal Trail and an Kryptotal Downhill.... Besides that, what I still cannot figure out, which one of the new tyres equals my all time favorite "Conti Mountain King Protection". I would assume Kryptotal, Enduro, Soft....?!!?

[@bikersedge]

These are all going to be far more aggressive than the Mountain King. The Mountain King is a trail tire, while all of these are in the Gravity series. The Xynotal might be the closest in terms of intended use.

[@69indigoblue]

Thanks for the fast reply. Here in Germany the tyre is rated from trail to enduro, with all mountain sitting bettween those two, and in an older Conti brochure the MK in 2.4 is also named as an All Mountain tyre next to the good old Rubber Queen in 2.2. But maybe you are right that the Xynotal is the closest to this one. @@bikersedge

[@hambo76]

Ideally I'd be looking for an Enduro Super Soft on the front and Endurance Downhill on the back but it seems they don't make those combinations (unless something has changed?)

[@kleinkurti]

Unfortunately still the same..

[@DavidLaburglier]

I've been riding Krypto F + R since October. Agreed, they're the first tires that have taken me off Maxxis, and I don't plan to come back. I do wish I could get an enduro hard rear and a trail soft front tho. Question ( if you're still reading comments on this): You think you could ride Xyno front and rear on hardpack? Thinking about going Xyno/Xyno for the summer.

[@bikersedge]

I think double xynotols would be an ok setup if you’re not looking for max traction.

[@jaredrude431]

Is Bikers Edge primarily an online store (or LBS?) or a youtube channel? I've seen your channel in the past but I never knew it was an online shop. I noticed you aren't selling the Continental gravity line on your website. Regarding the Conti tires, they do work great. I have about 1000 miles and 4 or 5 days in the bike parks on my enduro casing Continentals, and 300-ish miles and 25-30 days in the bike parks on my downhill casing Continentals. Both sets of Continentals are still in great shape.

[@bikersedge]

We are an LBS in Kaysville, UT.

[@paulevans1278]

Love the vid, explained a few things I couldn’t find elsewhere. Random question, under what, if any circumstance would you run a Kryptotal Re on the front or even front and rear? I’ve heard somewhere that it works really well. Hope you answer I’m on the cusp of pulling the trigger. ✊🏻

[@bikersedge]

I haven’t tried a Kryptotal Re on the front just yet but I’ve been running the Fr on the rear for a bit. The Re has bigger treads down the middle which is going to help with braking traction in a straight line. The Fr has a bit more of a transition from the center to side knobs. Bit more predictable leaning the bike over. Not a huge difference really at the end of the day though.

[@paulevans1278]

@@bikersedge thanks kindly mate

[@86309]

The World Cup DH Atherton team (helped design the tires) were running the DH SS Kryptotal FR in the front and rear position for the last few tracks, it was the setup for many of the Conti runners.

[@erikmattiolo7543]

Ciao, io uso da un po' di tempo le maxxis exo+ e non ho mai avuto problemi. Sono paragonabili alla carcassa da enduro? O meglio optare per le dh

[@ronadler4442]

Great review 👍I’ll go with kryp enduro. But I wonder why 2.4? My fuel ex came with Bontrager 2.5. how about 2.4 back and 2.6 front? Thanks.

[@bikersedge]

Personally I’m a big fan of 2.4-2-.5. With variances in rim widths tire pressures and manufacturer tolerances across different I don’t think there’s a noticeable difference between 2.4 - 2.5.

[@mrvwbug4423]

Interesting that the Kryptotal front is considered a DHF analog. That tread pattern literally looks like an Assegai copy, I'm guessing the knobs are closer together than the Assegai? IMHO they also need a 2 ply enduro casing, unless their DH is more equivalent to Maxxis Double Down than Maxxis DH. Their enduro casing sounds like EXO+. Have you had a chance to review Vittoria's MTB tire range? I had a chance recently to ride a demo bike with a Mazza up front and found that tire to corner incredibly well, even better than an Assegai.

[@bikersedge]

My comparisons were in terms of intended use. The Kryptotal falls in line with a minion even if the tread pattern looks closer to an Assegai. The tread height and spacing is closer to the minion. The Argotal is more aggressive and wider spacer for better loose condition performance like an Assegai. You might be right with your assessment of the casings. I feel like the Conti DH casing is like a double down plus. That’s why I mentioned that in the video.

[@edtorres6463]

Great video. I was looking for tubeless tires for trails in Arizona.

[@bikersedge]

Right on!

[@thescandiflick]

Any ideas for an aggressive hardtail 140mm, Nice fast rolling rear and grip in the front.

[@bikersedge]

Xynotal/Kryptotal would be rad. That’s what I have on my Chameleon.

[@bearjewmtb4827]

So I usually run double assegai as I love having the most grip possible on my dh rig. So would you suggest double argotal then? Conditions are generally super dry loose over hard pack

[@bikersedge]

The Argotal will hook up in dust better and loose conditions really well.

[@offdaystv]

I am replacing my front assegai with a kryptotal enduro soft. I’m hoping I like them 🙏🙏

[@bikersedge]

I hope so too!

[@Guanche_MTB]

@bikersedge I've seen a few pro's running the Kryptotal Fr on the rear, have you tried this? If so, any comments on rolling resistance vs. the Re version and would it be viable for enduro with long transfers? TIA!

[@bikersedge]

That’s what I’m currently running. Does that mean I’m pro? I don’t notice a huge difference in rolling resistance to be honest. I’ve mostly been using DH super soft so there’s a good amount of rolling resistance no matter which tire I have on there. The cornering grip on the Kryptotal Fr is really nice though.

[@lenolenoleno]

Fantastic video/comprehensive overview as always! Only correction for your video is that you can't get all compounds in all casings. Notably, Super Soft is only available in DH casing, not Enduro and Trail casing. This is where Maxxis has a clear advantage over Conti - they make their grippiest compound (Maxx Grip) available in their lighter casings (EXO and EXO+). In my case, favorite combo was a Dissector R (EXO+ Maxterra) + Assegai F (EXO+ MaxxGrip) for my enduro bike (as I like to be able to break the rear loose, and it's mainly loose over hardpack here). Dissectors just wear super quick, have replaced it with an Enduro Casing (Soft) Xynotal (which has just been a better Max Terra Dissector, somewhere between an EXO+ and DD) and kept the EXO+ MaxxGrip Assegai up front (as going to an equivalent from Conti - a Kryptotal-F in DH casing to get the Super Soft would be +250-300grams/a bit over 0.5lbs).

[@bikersedge]

Correct. You can get most of the compounds in most of the casings.

[@hambo76]

@@bikersedge It seems that you can only get Endurance in Trail casing, Soft in Enduro or DH, Super Soft in DH. A lot of people are holding out for Super Soft compound in Trail or Enduro casings, and Endurance in Enduro or DH casing.

[@rezanspeaking]

Need some advice on front tire. Argotal Trail Endurance or Kryptotal Re Supersoft DH. These two are the only ones available. I already have the Kryptotal Re in the front currently but I am thinking of replacing my Xynotal Enduro Soft rear tire with my Kryptotal Re Supersoft DH. Track is combination of rock, roots and loose over hardpack

[@bikersedge]

Personally I love the DH casings because we’ve got sharp rocks all over.

[@danfarmer_photo]

Thanks for the video. You didn’t mention the comparison for the Argotal. Assume it’s similar to an Assagai? Thank you.

[@bikersedge]

Yes. You’re correct. I did forget to mention. Although the tread pattern for the Assegai and Kryptotal look more similar the tread height and spacing between the Assegai and Argotal are more in line.

[@danfarmer_photo]

@@bikersedge Thanks for the response. Much appreciated 🤙

[@neilmartinez143]

Would you say the Argotal is similar to an Assegai or is it better?

[@S1ckb0t]

Great video! Was all this tubeless or with tubes?

[@bikersedge]

All tubeless.

[@williamkerr8836]

Do you have any videos on tire width? I'm wondering your thoughts on 2.4 vs 2.6 vs 2.8

[@bikersedge]

2.4 or die!

[@derekmann4317]

Great review! I switched to the Continentals about a year ago and not looking back. Did you get rid of your Megatower?

[@bikersedge]

Hey thanks! Yes I sold the Megatower this spring. Really miss it.

[@brighamyates]

@@bikersedge Which Bike is your main bike now?

[@bikersedge]

I have an SB160 and a 5010

[@Tobi_Nrw]

My favorit tire combination is Assegai maxxgrip / dhr2 maxxterra. Which tire is similar and predictable like the assegai up front? Kryptotal Fr ss or argotal ss ?

[@bikersedge]

Argotal is closer.

[@taol8258]

Conti should give us more options for compounds like Trail casing with soft and Enduro casing with super soft compound. I think there is a podcast by the World Wide Cyclery guys where they talk about seeing the enduro casings with super soft compound.

[@bikersedge]

Yeah. It would be nice. Maybe they will expand the options?

[@jessehill3780]

Exactly. It took maxxis a long time to have the maxxgrip with lighter casings but they’ve done it for a while now. Want super soft for the front tire but I don’t need a dh casing front tire. Really not interested until they start offering at least the front tire (like kryptotal F) in super soft without dh casing.

[@bikersedge]

It’s worth noting that the Conti DH casing isn’t as burly and heavy as a Maxxis DH casing. You might not hate it as much as you think. It surprised me.

[@jessehill3780]

@@bikersedge I’m not super tough on tires and with a tannus insert I only need exo+ which is more like what conti enduro sounds like.

[@bikersedge]

The DH is going to weigh about the same (or even lighter) as an EXO+ with Tannus and you won’t need the Tannus. Plus you’ll get better sidewall protection.

[@neilmartinez143]

Great video! Thanks! So did you notice any handling improvements coming from maxxis? I have a gen3 Levo with 2.6 Assegai/DHR2 EXO+ tires. I’m contemplating going to Argotal DH SSoft front/Kryptotal DH Soft rear. All 2.4. Do you think my handling will improve?

[@bikersedge]

By handling do you mean traction?

[@neilmartinez143]

@@bikersedge does it turn better? More precise?

[@bikersedge]

You don’t really get that from your tires so much. You could get more or less traction which can impact cornering but the steering and handling precision comes from the geometry.

[@drewhaggin7235]

What size did you ride / recommend for your enduro setup? Currently running a 2.5 assigai F / 2.4 DHR2 R and unsure about going down to a 2.4 front but also concerned with a 2.6 front. Current setup already feels pretty slow and looking for something with same grip but better rolling speed

[@bikersedge]

I’m a 2.4” or die kind of guy. Not a fan of overly wide tires.

[@mellissanash7517]

What do you suggest as for sandy and loose over hardpack, think Southern Cali, Nevada, and Arizona areas. Kryptotal or Xynotal? I like my fronts to be (29x)2.6 tires with rear 2.4.

[@bikersedge]

If it’s deep sand the Kryptotal will hook up better. If it’s Sedona style conditions I’d take a Xynotal.

[@mellissanash7517]

@@bikersedge it's a little of both depending on where I go.

[@razorree]

How Argotal works on loose/dry surface? better than Kryptoral Fr? I'm thinking about 29x2.60 Argotal, for dry and loose summer. (before I used Assegai all year round). Aggressive riding on Levo

[@bikersedge]

Depends on what you mean by loose/dry. If you’re talking about full on moon dust the argotal can get through that better. I’d still only run a 2.4 to cut through it better. If you’re talking general summer dry conditions I think the kryptotal is probably the better setup.

[@vetlebjaanes]

How would you say the rubber compounds compare to maxxterra and maxxgrip?

[@bikersedge]

I’ve been running the super soft compound. Fees white a bit like a maxxgrip to me. Maybe a little harder/longer wearing.

[@traceyprice4803]

Can I put the new gravity Conti range rear tyre on the front ? Will there be a noticeable difference ?

[@bikersedge]

I’ve been running the kryptotal FR on the rear. I don’t think it’s going to matter a ton if you put the rear on the front. The tread pattern might not be optimal but it will be fine.

[@homerholland6050]

Did they actually measure up to a 2.4?

[@86309]

DH casing 26-27 psi, How much do you weigh? thank you Connor and great review. Im riding the Pole Vikkela with DH SS Argotal up front and the Krypt RE DH SS. in the back. watching the most recent World Cup DH a lot of them rand Kryptotal FR DH SS front and back, and stayed off the Kryptotal Re. entirely. Even the Atherton's did it for that track.

[@bikersedge]

195.

[@86309]

@@bikersedge Im same as you running 23-24 rear, 20-21 front on the DH , in the rocks charging hard. I cant see 27, just way to stiff and loses to much traction for me, but I know you know your stuff so it works for you! ever try coming down to those pressures? just curious, NOT telling you what to do!

[@bikersedge]

@@86309 it’s pretty rocky where I ride. Much lower than that and it’s pinch flat city. I also prefer my tires to hold their shake in the corners instead of folding. Higher pressures help with that.

[@Cx3mtb]

Damn I’ve been loving WTB Vigilante front, Trail boss rear for my trail bike and Verdict front, Judge rear for my enduro. I think I wanna try the Conti combos you recommended.

[@zukarinkatanoham7725]

hey may i ask whats the tyre pressure your running on your front tyre and rear tyre

[@bikersedge]

Depending on the trail I run 25 to 27 on the front and 28-29 rear. DH casings.

[@petarstoychev1210]

For me the combination are limited.For example there is no option for Trail or Enduro casing in SuperSoft compound.

[@bikersedge]

Another reason why the DH casing is the best. Ha.

[@haemmertime]

I have fitted Schwalbe and Maxxis tyres before but man Contis are much herder to put on in my mind

[@bikersedge]

Their DH casing are some of the hardest. Makes me cry every time.

[@maximilianweling477]

Try Cushcore bead droppers

[@richardwebb3013]

27.5 x 2.8 is the correct size. Hardtail rider. Good video for the skinnier tire enthusiasts.

[@bikersedge]

Nah. I’m rocking 2.4 on the hardtail too. Still the correct size.

[@mrjamieholloway]

It really irritates me that continental do not spec a endurance model in the downhill casing version. Only soft, and super soft.

[@joshwest6921]

I recently switched to Kryptotal F/R in DH super soft and noticed the rear tire rubber is way softer than the front. So much so that I used my durometer gauge, and it shows the front side knobs at 50-53 HA and the middle knobs at 54 HA. The rear tire shows 41-43 HA for the side knobs and 38-45 HA for the middle knobs. Did you experience this at all? Still great tires but I wish the softer rubber issue was with the front tire (if it is an actual issue) since the rolling resistance is way more than my previous eliminator grid trail rear tire.

[@bikersedge]

I don’t have any way to test rubber durometer other than a good old fashioned squeeze. Not going to be very accurate here.

[@joshwest6921]

@@bikersedge It was noticeable just from a squeeze with my fingers, felt like the rear was left out in the sun for too long compared to the front.

[@bikersedge]

@@joshwest6921 Interesting. I'm going to go squeeze some tires and get back to you.

[@joshwest6921]

@@bikersedge Appreciate it!

[@jaredrude431]

I don't have a durometer gauge but I have run many Continental tires in the past. In the previous lineup of older Conti Protection Apex tires, all were labelled "Black Chili" compound, and although they had the same compound name, the knobs all felt different with respect to softness or hardness between the Der Baron and Der Kaiser and Trail King. I don't know 100% for certain but I suspect Conti makes the compound differently based on the tire model/use and just gives them all the same name that makes no real sense to differentiate one tire compound vs the other tire compound. I really would not be surprised if they are actually doing that with super soft vs soft vs endurance, but I have no proof and no inside information, I only have subjective experience with the older tires.

[@mellissanash7517]

What do you think of the Kryptotal rear 2.6 trail soft front and Xynotal 2.4 trail endurance rear for a 120mm trail bike southwest?

[@bikersedge]

Sounds great if you’re looking for burly tires for a little bike.

[@mellissanash7517]

perfect, should go well as trail country setup then.

[@bikersedge]

Little more trail-duro than XC

[@mellissanash7517]

not where I live, but thank you.

[@stevesmithers7901]

great review, but, why the comment about 2.4 inch width is the correct width? why not 2.6?

[@bikersedge]

It’s a joke. It’s just what I prefer.

[@zigazackwrx17]

So are they better then maxxis tires? Maxxis has every feature that these Conti's have you've mentioned. Sell me on how they better and ill change rubber, but ive always been content my with maxxis tires. DHR2 front Dissector rear 2.4 double down max terra

[@bikersedge]

Not here to make you switch over. Just offering some insight into new tires that a lot of folks don’t know about. I personally like the DH casing in this more than anything I can get in Maxxis. It seems to fall somewhere between a DD and a DH. That’s one of the biggest reasons for me.

[@leehorspool9744]

Any idea why they maake a 2.6 rear, but only a 2.4 front ? Seems a little backwards to me.

[@bikersedge]

Yeah that is a bit odd.

[@leehorspool9744]

@@bikersedge No idea why ?🤔

[@sendyboiii7]

Please review all the facts you state before publishing a video. Not to be all negative it was a good video but for example you did make a mistake with the tire widths as the Kryptotal fr is not available in 2.6 but the Kryptotal re is aswell as the Argotal. Another thing which might be misleading is that when you talked about the kryptotal re tread pattern you showed off the kryptotal fr instea. But other than that good video mate

[@bikersedge]

You are correct. I had been experimenting with a kryptotal front as a rear tire and grabbed the wrong wheel when filming. Too many tires swaps in the last few weeks.

[@sendyboiii7]

@@bikersedge Understandable as they even have basically the same name. Keep up the good work my dude

[@redinho1994]

3:26 How is this the rear tire? Did they change the tread pattern? I thought, only the front had alternating 2-3 center knobs whereas the rear had 2-2.

[@bikersedge]

You’re correct. The front is 2x3 and the rear is 2x2. In the delirium of tire swaps and inhaling sealant fumes I grabbed the wrong wheel for filming this. I had been experimenting with a Kryptotal Fr as a rear tire.

[@redinho1994]

@@bikersedge Ok thanks for the response :) It would be interesting to hear, how the kryptotals Fr & Re perform on the opposite end of the bike.

[@bikersedge]

I haven’t tried a rear as the front yet. Just the front as a rear.