Conti's Latest and Greatest

[covie]

Continental have taken elements of their fantastic Trail King mountain bike tyre (formerly known as theRubber Queen) and injected them into the wholly revamped Mountain King for 2011.

 

The previous version's predictable-handling but flex-prone triangular knobs have been swapped for a more conventional block pattern. Two rows of alternating four- and six-sided knobs run down the centre, while the burly shoulder is expected to provide surer grip at more aggressive cornering angles.

 

Riders who regularly find themselves in sloppy conditions also have a new option in the Continental Mud King, built with very tall and openly spaced knobs on an earth-slicing 2.3in casing. The dual-ply casing is reinforced with Continental's rubber-infused Apex sidewalls to help ward off pinch flats.

 

At the opposite end of the spectrum is the new X-King (say, 'cross king'), built with much shorter and relatively tightly packed knobs for a faster roll on mixed terrain. Side knobs are still relatively well reinforced for predictable cornering grip and the 2.4in size should make it popular with trail bike users.

 

http://cdn.mos.bikeradar.com/images/news/2010/09/30/1285837224215-mg9xde8i8v6k-500-90-500-70.jpg

 

The new Continental X-King pairs a short and fast-rolling centre tread with stouter side knobs for marathon racing

 

One big change for all Continental off-road tyres is the new casing styles. Riders who like the secure bead fit of true UST tyres (which Continental will continue to offer) but want lighter weight can now opt for Race Sport with its UST-compatible bead but a much thinner casing that requires sealant to be airtight.

 

http://cdn.mos.bikeradar.com/images/news/2010/09/30/1285837224221-32ovezu970y8-500-90-500-70.jpg

 

Continental's new Race Sport casings are tubeless-ready with a UST bead but just a thin interior sidewall coating that requires minimal sealant

 

Alternatively, ProTection-equipped tyres will feature a bead-to-bead layer of rubber-coated nylon that reportedly increases puncture resistance by 30 percent over the previous edition while also coming in 25 percent lighter. Continental say the extra layer also lends a more damped feel to the tyre for a less bouncy ride.

 

 

[fandacious]

I was about to say "ffs - not another contador thread!"

[HeartCoppi]

Whats a "damped" feel, feel like? How do they measure this? do they measure how high the wheel set bounces when dropped?

[Capricorn]

Covie: any word on DH UST tires?

[covie]

Capricorn

Not that i have received yet and I just fitted a brand new set of Conti's

[covie]

Whats a "damped" feel, feel like? How do they measure this? do they measure how high the wheel set bounces when dropped?

 

Generally you put your ass on the saddle, clip in, and hit some terrain. Thats how you measure it

[HeartCoppi]

Very scientific method. Unusual for Germans

[covie]

lol heartcoppi we have to assume that there is some logic here, and to experience a feeling like dampening, you have to experience it. To experience it you have to evaluate it using a technology called a human tester?

 

Alternativly they could have used this method

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/math/0/1/3/01373980d0fb74a2ca1cee9b2728cd97.png

http://upload.wikimedia.org/math/6/d/e/6de7bf74078af37ab43b51aa1d7bbb3c.png

http://upload.wikimedia.org/math/f/0/7/f077b499b37cc8209070cc79cb461b5f.png

 

That should also turn out a result