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Continental
Leader Pro Tire
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Submitted by
DirtRoadie
a Cross Country Rider
from Durango, CO
Date Reviewed: November 11, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Strengths: | Light, Works front or rear, Good traction | | Weaknesses: | Out of production, was very expensive at full retail | | Bike Setup: | KHS Softail | | Bottom Line: | An excellent all round tire for X-C riding (and racing) in dry conditions (including steep climbs) except for maybe the deepest and loosest stuff. Rolls well, grippy and very light. Wears well considering the lack of tread. While these were promoted primarily for front use they work equally well on the rear (but reverse the marked direction of rotation i.e. both front and rear tires will be oriented the same) These are my favorite all-around tires. Alas, these are no longer available (which seems to happen to every product that I would buy again) | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
James Dowell
a Cross Country Rider
from Texas
Date Reviewed: October 31, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Elfin Forest | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Durability, Grip and Rolling Resistance | | Weaknesses: | Wet slick areas | | Similar Products Used: | Panaracer, Specialized | | Bike Setup: | Y-22, AD-10, Mars1, Full XTR... | | Bottom Line: | This is a great tires so long as you stay away from stream riding and slimy areas. I've had mine a long time, raced them for a while, and they are still going. Best attribute is that they stick in the corners and do not lose traction all at once. Very good tire for the experienced rider. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ben Jensen
a Cross Country Rider
from Grand Forks, ND, USA
Date Reviewed: January 15, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Andrews Creek (ND Badlands) | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | freagin' light! | | Weaknesses: | wear down too fast | | Bike Setup: | '99 Gary Fisher Kaitai | | Bottom Line: | Great tire, but don't expect to ride on them for long. I've had mine one season, and they're really worn. They slip when climbing, and drillin' hard corners. I plan to replace them with some Panaracer XC Pros. Just because of the light weight, I'll give 'em four chillis. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kurt
a Cross-Country Rider
from SF
Date Reviewed: October 13, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
fast and light. Great all around tire for xc, trailblazing, downhill. | | Weaknesses: |
expensive $80 for 2 | | Similar Products Used: |
WTB, IRC, Panracer, Tioga, Geax, Dirt Control | | Bike Setup: |
have these on both my M4 FSR and Santa Cruz S.light. | | Bottom Line: | Great fast xc tire. Suprisingly light for a wide 2.0 tire with great down hill handling. Germany seems to design great High performance products. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mikko Mellin
a Weekend Warrior
from Finland
Date Reviewed: July 30, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
You name it!Everything,exceptional rolling skils,LIGHT weight 495.Exceptional tracking abilitys! | | Weaknesses: |
Hmmmmmmmm...NONE!!! | | Similar Products Used: |
Dont want to list them. | | Bike Setup: |
Dacon frame,DH3 fork,XTR/XT/LX groups. | | Bottom Line: | Rolls faster than my Z-max tires and Z-max are really slippy ones.Also really hard to wear and they are too pretty soft compound so i like to use them in wet and muddy circumstances.495g weight is really good weight for 2.0 width tire wich i think can be used in trial and Dual too!
Only down side is that these are getting collectors items in my country,only few
shops have these anymore :( | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
FAT & SLOW
a Weekend Warrior
from CT
Date Reviewed: June 16, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
BLUE TRAIL SYSTEM | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
PRICE, PERFORMANCE | | Weaknesses: |
WET PERFORMANCE | | Similar Products Used: |
BONTRAGER JONES
SPECIALIZED DIRT MASTER/CONTOL COMP. | | Bike Setup: |
KLIEN PULSE COMP W/JUDY T2 WITH 85mm ENGLUND AIR KIT. | | Bottom Line: | GOOD ALL AROUND TIRE AND A STEAL FOR THE PRICE. THE LEADER IS NOT AS GOOD AS THE JONES IN SUPER SLICK CONDITIONS, BUT I'M VERY HAPPY WITH THEM EVERYWHERE ELSE. I AM GOING TO BUY A SECOND SET (I RUN THE COMP PRO 2 ON THE BACK) WHILE THERE STILL ON SALE! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
LUCA
a Racer
from ITALY
Date Reviewed: May 17, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
PALU'LAKE | | Duration Product Used: |
2 Years | | Strengths: |
MOLTO SCORREVOLI,E OTTIMA TENUTA SUL TERRENO DURO | | Weaknesses: |
FORSE HANNO LA MESCOLA UN PELINO TROPPO DURA | | Similar Products Used: |
RITCHEY ZMAX WCS | | Bike Setup: |
SCOTT SUPER LITE
LIYANG UL 550 F1 | | Bottom Line: | VERY GOOD
I'VE JUST BOUGHT THEM ONCE MORE!!!! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
patrice denis
a cross-country rider
from longueuil in canada
Date Reviewed: November 24, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
That is real fast tire.on hardpack this tire is glued to the trail but in loose soil it lost traction.It impossible to pack this tire in mud but it grip like a slick.It is light and has a great felling on hardpack.In dry condition, it 's an excellent all-around tire,but in wet this tire suck! If you toutch at a single root during a downhill section your are a ded man.It's my favorite tire.Hey! mans and girls, you want a good durable dry tire that broke your collarbone during wet decent? That your tire.Excuse me for my bad english. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave
a racer
from AZ
Date Reviewed: October 23, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
These tires are what I expected them to be. I run one up front when I want to go fast and have been satisfied with the results. They are light and predictable. When turning too sharply, the tires gradually lose traction instead of all at once dumping you. Buy them for speed. For traction get a Specialized Team Control. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jason
a weekend warrior
from New Hampshire
Date Reviewed: October 17, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I love Conti tires. As a bike mechanic, I've seen alot of tires and Contis always seem to last longer than others (tread wear, drying sidewalls, etc.) However, these are terrain specific tires. In slime, mud, loose terrain, you are better off running something else. I run leader pro front and back (reversed) or a comp pro 1 in rear in those conditions. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
xanyn
a racer
from mass
Date Reviewed: October 11, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I agree with most everything written regarding these treads. They are good but only on dry hard pack and the road. I almost killed myself descending a long steep wet rooty hill. one root that traversed the trail washed out the front and sent me into a tree, back first. I have since ridden that same hill in the same wet condition several dozen times wearing a set of wildgrippers and I have no fear. I am giving these tires,conti's, three stars for there wieght, looks and durability on the dust.-2 for the NDE | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Greg
a cross-country rider
from TX
Date Reviewed: May 8, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
A very light (480g) tire which I've used for a couple of years. It is excellent on hardpack, but loses it on loose stuff. I've found this tire, as other Contis, to wear slowly and last a long time, with the exception of the sidewall material--which seems to deteriorate faster and show threads. Overall, I'm really happy with it, but there probably are better tires out there for traction on loose stuff, etc. (but most weigh more). | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mudmaniac
a cross-country rider
from Quebec,Quebec, Canada
Date Reviewed: May 2, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
These tires work very well in the mud when it's put in the front.
After just one race with it, one knobby came off and the tire is good
for scrap. It's very sad because it's a good tire. On the sidewall of
the tire it's says that you can put the tire in the rear.Do not try that
or you will cry your decision. You can see by the shape of the tire that it
cannot be put in rear. See ya on the trails. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff Wu
a cross-country rider
from Hsin Chu, Taiwan
Date Reviewed: February 4, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
This tire is light and offers very low rolling resistance. Ruthie Matthes ran these tires front and rear to capture the national title. Although these tires are good for racing, I would not recommend them for hard core all-around riding. they have very little braking traction. Stability sucks. Conering is unpredictable. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bryan
a racer
from Corning, NY
Date Reviewed: October 17, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I, like Scott, have tried many others and always return to Conti. I truly believe that there is no better rear tire than the Comp Pro 1 or 2,
but I never found a Conti that I liked on the front (Navigators are too narrow and pack mud) until I took the advice of a friend and tried the leader pro.
It rocks. I shall never sway from Conti again. Please forgive me. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris Berger
a cross-country rider
from Burlington, Vermont
Date Reviewed: October 14, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
The Conti Leader Pro is a great front tire, it is fast and corners better than any other tire I have tried, including Panaracers. I also find that they track very well through single track if inflated to 48-50 psi. It sheds mud very well, and is only squirrly if there is a thin layer of mud on top of hardpack. Then you have to be careful, but it works well in thicker mud. Overall, I think this is the best front tire out there. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
scott silvers
a cross-country rider
from novi, michigan
Date Reviewed: August 22, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I still hold to what I say in my last review, but after trying the IRC Mythos front rear tire combo on my amp, I finally put on my old contis (leader pro and comp 1 or 2).
These tires, despite their minor shortcomings, have it all over the IRC's. It is funny that all of these new semi slick racing tires are all the rage now, these two models were already semi-slick, definitely ahead of their time and still just as
awesome. I keep trying new tires and always come back to these. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brandon Wong
a cross-country rider
from San Luis Obispo, CA
Date Reviewed: July 31, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
For the terrain of Central California, which is hard packed and rocky with some
sand. The Leader Pro did not fair that well as a REAR tire. I liked it better
as a front. The Leader Pro as a rear tire was great until you hit the wicked
single track climb with rocks on top, that is there these lost traction
in the rear. But overall a good tire still. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff Merage
a cross-country rider
from Vancouver, B.C.
Date Reviewed: July 18, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
Great tire on Hard pack or sand. I rode these tires in Moab and they were awesome. Then I recently moved to Vancouver and got spanked riding North Shore. Part of it was my fault, but in the mud and wet rocks and stuff, these tires suck. Just bought a the velociraptors for the front. The a-lot of the hard core North Shore guys up here ride them. Hopefully tey'll do better. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chad
a cross-country rider
from MA
Date Reviewed: March 10, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
Handles best out of anything I've tried. A little sketchy in the snow but that's what seperate set-ups are for. Tried a Specialized Expensive Version slid out on the loose stuff. Hasn't happened on the Conti. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Adam
a racer
from Alameda ca
Date Reviewed: March 5, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
Rockin' tire if you like controlled slide at speed.
Wide enough to not flat out while squishey and the lack of tread makes
it fast through the wind.
Feels neat, the further over you lean it, the better it grabs- because
the tread in the middle is practically useless. GREAT on hardpack,
Decent in pineneedley woodsey dirt. Sketchey in loose rock, but what
isn't. An overall good tire for light-weight weight consious cross
country racers. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rick
a cross-country rider
from FL
Date Reviewed: February 22, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
Very good tire to run up front. What I like most is that it is very fast and it can be leaned into corners hard with confidence. It's not too good in muddy conditions...it tends to wash out very easily. Use it with a Comp Pro 1 in the rear and you'll have a great combo. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jamie Hadley
a cross-country rider
from Baltimore Maryland
Date Reviewed: January 30, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I haven't had a chance to use this tire much on hardpack but I want to second the opinions of others here concerning the tire's performance in mud. It is probably the worst tire I've used in mud - and we're talking thin layetr fo mud here, not the deep mucky stuff. It's downright dangerous having this on the front in muddy conditions. The little I have used it on hard frozen ground suggests that it will be just fine on hard packed dirt. It does roll very nicely as well. My rating is based on the tire for all around use in the eastern US - where it does get wet and mucky at time. I'm pulling mine off and saving it for the drought period sthis summer! | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
scott silvers
a cross-country rider
from Michigan
Date Reviewed: January 29, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
Got my kevlar version on sale for $25! What a deal. Here in
Michigan we have every kind of soil condition on almost any
trail, sand, mud, gravel, hardpack, you name it...
I can only think of one circumstance where this tire requires
special attention- watery mud on top of hard ground. This
tire will push right out from under you, and you better
not be clipped in. All this happens even if you aren't going
very fast. Don't get me wrong, this doesn't happen constantly,
just beware. Otherwise, this tire is a super performer as long
as you know its limitations. I would buy another -even at full price. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jerry
a cross-country rider
from Corvallis, Oregon
Date Reviewed: January 24, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
Good for hard pack and occasional pavement, light and smooth rolling, however, not the tire I would recommend for Western Oregon's trails with some mud, loose pack, rocks and roots. Very bad on soft and loose pack, it lets go with no warning, I prefer a deep lug directional tire for my conditions. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kona Boy
a cross-country rider
from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
Date Reviewed: January 21, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I've been using this tire for one season and the wear is minimal. I estimate I put 2000 kilometers on this tire over the year. I give it a five for wear. The weight is within reason of other tires. The tire works especially well in hardpack. It doesn't provide the best stability in the mud or loose dirt but it does shed mud quickly. In rocky conditions, the tire lacks the ability to absorb and seems to bounce more than other tires with more tread such as Velociraptors. The nicest thing about this tire is the cornering ability. I find this tire is one of the best in that respect. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jin
a cross-country rider
from Auburn, Al
Date Reviewed: December 1, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
Small knobs... very little rolling resistance. On hardpack or smooth fire roads this tire works wonders. Very fast... corners well. They seem to run better at a higher pressure then what I normally run with a Team Control or Velociraptor in the front. On loose stuff or mud this tire lacks the bite to really make it a good all around tire. This is a great tire for a bike you use both on and off road. The tread might wear too fast on road though... but that's there I put it cause it lacks the bite for the loose stuff I usually ride.
To summerize: Hardpack/smooth fireroads/road -Great!
Anything close to loose---------Not very good.
I woudl reccomend this tire to a person who changes tires alot for specific conditions. Since I like a all around tire to use one everything I would lean more the the Navigator Pro or Spec Team Control.
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Submitted by
Steve
a racer
from San Francisco, CA
Date Reviewed: November 25, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
Overall, a great tire. It corners great and rolls fast. The tread wore out a bit on the fast side. The tire also came completely off of my rim on a fast corneron pavement, I lost a little confidence after that, but I would buy another.
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Submitted by
dr. hoo
a cross-country rider
from midwest, usa
Date Reviewed: November 20, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
LONG TERM TEST
I don't ride on pavement with this tire. After 2 years of trail use it is still going strong. Very long lasting rubber. I am sold and all of my future tires will be Contis.
The leader pro is a weird tire. When I first got it I was riding on wide OEM Araya rims. What I noticed was that the tire needed to be pumped up pretty hard to corner well. I have since moved to Sun rims which are narrower. THe tire works better at lower pressures, but still needs 5-10 psi more than my Ritchey Z-max to corner well.
Good--this is a very light, very fast, very tough tire. It corners great on hardpack.
BAD--if the pressure is too low it breaks loose with NO warning. At higher pressures this is less the case. This tire is a very poor choice for mud.
I HIGHLY reccommend Continental tires in general. This tire is great for dry, loam, and hardpack. Actually the fastest rider I know runs these front and rear, so that should tell you something. He also changes tires when it rains.
So I give this a 3 for all around use, 5 if the conditions are right.
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Submitted by
BigBird
a racer
from Atlanta GA
Date Reviewed: October 28, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
I'm running these tires front and rear. There kind of like the new trendy Speedmax, or baldy tires only a little more tread in the middle. They work great in the southeast's rooty rocky singletrack. I have had only one flat in the six months i've ran them! They seem to last like the little pink bunny to. I wouldent run the rear in the mud, but in the dry it's super fast.
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Submitted by
Mark Russell-Smith
a cross-country rider
from Finland
Date Reviewed: June 24, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
I'm using this tyre on the front at the moment and it replaces the Z-max I had before. This tyre has a rounded cross-section and very shallow tread with quite hard compound rubber. This makes the tyre light-weight and pretty fast but when cornering on loose surfaces I find that this tyre looses it pretty suddenly (as I was just reminded.) I'm used to the Z-max which breaks away in a more predictable way. In the mud the sparse tread has the benefit that it dosen't cake-up with mud so much.
Overall I like this tyre, but it's not my favorite.
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Submitted by
Ryan Bell
a racer
from Minneapolis, MN
Date Reviewed: June 24, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
This is a tire still being sold, but most people will prefer the better bite of the NavigatorPro, which was just introduced. Natural rubber tire that does a great job on cornering.
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Submitted by
Mike Karnes
a cross-country rider
from Knoxville, TN
Date Reviewed: May 16, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
The Leader pro is much more at home on smooth fire roads than it is on rocky or
technical singletrack. The tire is very light and durable, and the lack of knobs
allows it to throw mud exceptionally well.
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Submitted by
Tom Kenney
a cross-country rider
from Reseda, CA
Date Reviewed: March 28, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
The Continental Leader Pro 2.0 is a very fast front tire. There isn't
a lot of tread on this tire to get in the way of rolling! It is also
exceptionally light. I found it to be best suited for fast fire roads,
sandy or muddy conditions, or snow. It didn't do too well in rocky
conditions, or on very technical single-track. It tended to deflect
when bouncing off rocks instead of going over them. This is a great
tire for clean fire roads and downhill courses where there isn't much
debris, but lots of dirt!
| | Overall Rating: |
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