Continental

Product Information

The larger side knobs are buttressed on the leading edges, which lends some support during cornering. These knobs are not terribly high profile and combined with the additional support from these buttresses, that feeling of the knobs "folding over" when really pressuring a turn was all but eliminated. Although the knobs remained well-grounded, and perhaps as a result of this, we could often feel this tire squirm underneath us during very hard cornering. This was especially evident when being run at lower pressures. Specialized recently updated their ever-popular Butcher tire with an all-new T9 rubber compound. We tested the Butcher Grid Trail T9 in both 2.3" and 2.6" widths, and while the tread pattern hasn't substantially changed, this feels like an entirely new tire. The T9 rubber used by Specialized is their grippiest material. Although not super soft, it's designed to slowly rebound, reduce deflection, and enhance grip. This results in a well-dampened ride quality that feels connected to the trail surface. The tall center tread lugs offer excellent braking traction. At the same time, the substantial row of shoulder knobs provide great grip through corners. The Specialized Grid Trail casing feels supportive and supple while surprisingly resistant to punctures or tears. It's also one of the least expensive tires and offers excellent value. Continental recently updated the Mountain King and we have tested and reviewed the new version. The version reviewed here is no longer available. I wasn’t really sure what to expect, but the Trail King was really, really good in the mud. It’s not quite a mud spike, but for a tire that functions well in non-muddy conditions too, they’re one of the best I’ve ridden. They clear mud about average for a spaced out, knobby tire, but more importantly, they provide consistent grip that, as far as sliding around in the mud goes, is confidence inspiring.

At first I didn't have much thought on the tire...went through a trail section with loads of technical areas and pinch climbs, so speed isn't a big concern, more just keeping traction and upright. Mounting- went on fine but could not get the bead to set without having to employ the compressor. On the wheels, these look fantastic. Reasonable price (for trail casing), excellent cornering traction, offered in multiple casings for different uses

All specifications

I’ve noticed that are much less vague on a wider rim. I now run them only on 35mm rims. They are laser precise with more sidewall support. As with front tire braking traction, rear tire braking traction is also dependent on the size, shape, and orientation of the tread knobs. As a general rule, the more aggressive the tread design, the better the tire will perform in loose conditions. Taller knobs with wide spacing can penetrate deeper into loose surfaces, and braking edges that face perpendicular to the direction of travel will most help slow your roll when it's super loose. The Maxxis Minion DHR II has an aggressive tread pattern with wide paddle-shaped lugs that offer great braking traction on most surfaces, including soft and blown-out corners. The tread design of the Mazza offers a touch more rolling resistance than models with a less aggressive tread. It is also somewhat heavy compared to similarly aggressive tires of the same size. Aside from these issues, the Mazza is an outstanding tire that rivals the best. We highly recommend it as a front tire for aggressive trail riders who want to try something new.

We selected tires in the 2.3 to 2.6-inch width range. As tires continue to trend wider, so too are the tires in our test. We now have several models in the 2.5" and 2.6" widths that are becoming much more common in the current mountain bike tire market. We mounted tires to 30mm internal diameter wheels. We feel this rim size to be very representative of current wheel selection without falling into the narrow or overly wide end of the spectrum. Sidewall Protection The lightest carcass in the Continental line-up wraps a 60tpi nylon weave so it’s triple under the tread and double on the sidewalls. According to Continental, that makes it 30 percent more puncture resistant than previous Supersonic tires, but it’s around 75g lighter than ProTection versions of the same tires. Race Sport Bernstein is a brown wall version for fashionable types. The rubber liner still isn’t tubeless compatible on either though.Even with our limited experience on this tire in wet and rooty conditions, we surmise our East Coast brethren would like it. The same might hold true for someone spending a majority of their time riding in moist, loamy conditions such as the Pacific Northwest. We truly thought this tire performed exceptionally well on the dry, technical climbs found in abundance here in Lake Tahoe. Unfortunately, insufficient sidewall support left us with a wonky, wobbly wheel on more than one occasion. Lighter riders should be fine, but Clydesdales or very aggressive riders might push the sidewall beyond its limits. Value Unfortunately, this isn't the most aggressive tire available. If you often find yourself riding in loose or wet conditions, consider another model in the fleet. While the medium-height tread is efficient and capable for most situations, there are better options for braking traction when the terrain gets super loose. Still, the Aggressor is the most versatile rear tire. I’ve tried other 2.3″– 2.4″ tires that were all significantly smaller volume than my TKs and I didn’t enjoy the feel of the smaller tires. Only having these a week I've been able to log 18 asphalt miles and 84 trail miles. Central Texas (Austin / San Antonio)