saw this on PB Continental Rubber Queen 2.2 UST Black Chili And the prize for the longest tyre name goes to... One of Continental's All-Mountain tyres, the Continental Rubber Queen seen here is a 2.2" and 820g UST offering that aims to be a true all-rounder. They feature a directional pattern which you run in reverse on the rear to gain maximum traction on the climbs while retaining maximum braking at the front. Unlike some directional tyres the ramping is minimal and the difference in traction is barely noticeable which was accidentally discovered when we mounted the rear the wrong way round after a spell of running cut spikes. In fact, it only once became noticeable on a particularly greasy climb. When it comes to sizing, Continental tyres tend to be realistic which means that they sometimes come up bigger than equivalent offerings from other brands. In this regard the Rubber Queen is no exception and we found it almost comparable to a 2.35" Maxxis. That said it's mainly in the volume for the tread is actually a hair's breadth narrower than the casing when fitted to a 23mm ID rim. What this means is that on rocky and rough, rooty trails you're able to gain maximum traction by running lower pressures. The downside though is that it can sometimes float a little on deeper mud (and by deep, we mean deep peaty trails). This trait’s perhaps more noticeable than with some tyres because it performs so impressively everywhere else. MSRP: £50 ($75 USD) Conti Tyres http://gp1.pinkbike.org/p4pb8359146/p4pb8359146.jpg Pinkbike's Take: http://as1.pinkbike.org/206/sprt/i/bigquotes.png Continental has really hit the nail on the head with the Rubber Queen as an all-round tyre. Where normally all round means jack of all trades master of none, the Rubber Queen stands out as a really capable item. The biggest highlight of the Continental range has to be the Black Chili rubber compound, which seems to be the perfect marrying of grip, toughness and longevity. This is actually our second pair of Rubber Queens, the first set being non-UST and lasting nearly 1600km of rocky and tough riding, the sidewall of the front tyre being a bigger clue to its use than tread wear. The UST tubeless versions show no sign of being any different. Getting them seated on our Deemax wheels proved painless and the slightly toughened casing (over non-UST) has so far shrugged off any punctures, despite best efforts on rocky trails. Grip is high and predictable on a wide range of surfaces, yet the Rubber Queen also produces minimal drag, competing on an equal footing with the hard=compound Larssen on hard pack yet producing the grip of a far more aggressive tyre when the trail becomes tougher. Traction on slippery pine roots is hugely impressive, while wet rocks and off camber sections pose no problem. The edge blocks occasionally feel a little small, especially on greasy hardpack where they struggle to bite, but the breakaway is so progressive that the tyre literally begs you to rag it around on the edge. At £50 ($75 USD) an end, there is no way they can be considered a cheap tyre, but given the seriously impressive durability and performance on offer, Rubber Queen tyres certainly offer a very tantalising deal and should be high on your list if you're after a single set of tyres for all occasions. - Alasdair
