Continental Speed King Supersonic Tire: The Speed King is designed for marathon racing. This tire offers low rolling resistance and secure grip at 510g. The tread of the Speed King masters various terrain, from fire road to moist singletrack trail...
Submitted by
sczuplak
a Racer
from Fort Lauderdale
Date Reviewed: September 17, 2011
Strengths: Super fast, straight line speed and ease of acceleration are great
Weaknesses: Whether dry or wet cornering on these things is a nightmare, i have them front and back and the whole bike just looses it on anything loose but then never gets it back, I can handle a little slip but if you put these tires to the edge theres no getting them back.
Bottom Line:
I cant stand these tires, I've lost it too many times doing what i do on my home trails, I'm having to slow down my ride because the tires cant hold me in the corners.
Bike Setup: Rocky Mountain Element team, complete XTR components, Fox RL,
XTR hubs and wheels
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Submitted by
RecceDG
a Racer
from Windsor, Ontario
Date Reviewed: May 29, 2011
Strengths: Incredible grip on dry hardpack to (slightly) moist singletrack. Grips wet rock and roots very well. Very fast rolling and very light.
Weaknesses: Zero grip in mud. Thorn resistance of a gum wrapper
Bottom Line:
Continental's premium "dry" condition race tire. This tire is exceptionally fast on dry hardpack, rock, roots, paved, and moist-but-tacky loam.
The knobs are low and the tire has a "round" profile, minimizing the amount of tire in contact with the ground at any one time. It rolls very, very fast - on paved or hard sections it is almost like a road tire - and it is super-lightweight so it accelerates very quickly.
The secret to the grip is the sticky "Black Chilli" compound rather than the mechanical interlock of the tire knobs. This means that the tire responds well to load: taking a corner at a slow to medium speed may result in sliding, but really load the tire up and corner hard and it will grip. This takes a little getting used to, but once you realize that the tire wants to be worked hard, you can carry a lot more speed than you thought possible.
The tire has two weaknesses:
The first is that it is utterly unsuitable for mud. The low-profile knobs load up immediately and there are no large side lugs to assist when the going gets sloppy. As little as a quarter-inch of mud can cause these tires to instantly break loose. Moist forest loam is fine, but get into mud and you are going for a ride.
The other is the paper-thin Supersonic carcass. Fine for regular use (and actually surprisingly resilient) the carcass offers zero thorn resistance. If your riding area is full of thorns, this tire is not for you.
Note that Continental's size rating is out to lunch. While listed as a 2.0, this tire measures 1.8"
If the aim is going fast, and the conditions match what the tire is designed for, this is an amazing tire.
Strengths: 2.2 RK - Roll fast, light weight, good volume, great traction in most conditions.
Weaknesses: Thin side walls
Bottom Line:
Trails here are loamy and/or hard pack littered with roots, and have a few rocks. The tires grip perfectly in the loamy soil and hard pack. They are good on sticky mud, but not good on sloppy mud.
These tires are extremely fast, provide good cushion, and grip well in corners at the right tire pressure. Pressure for these tires is key > run low pressure.
(29", 2.2) Terrible product. These tires are only useful for straight line, seated climbing. You want to get out of the saddle for some added power? Forget it! They slip if you don't position yourself just right to balance things out. You want to hit a corner on a fire road with any kind of speed? Think again! The rounded profile and low profile side knobs make un-banked cornering a joke.
While those are bad characteristics for a tire to have, the worst is the flimsy - and I do mean flimsy - sidewall. Contrary to problems others have had, I didn't have a problem setting them up tubeless and have never really had major problems with them holding air but where I have a MAJOR problem is with the fact that the sidewall is so week that, once it breaks in, it rolls over every time you dive into a turn making it nothing short of dangerous as you're constantly risking having the tire completely separate from the rim in all moderate or above cornering situations.
Bottom line, don't bother with these things; you'll seriously regret spending your money on garbage!
Submitted by
JasonByers
a Cross Country Rider
from Warne, NC, US
Date Reviewed: January 23, 2011
Strengths: Light weight, Big Volume, Easy to mount
Weaknesses: Sloppy mud but what tire doesn't have this as a weakness. Doesn't have great braking power.
Bottom Line:
I've only put maybe 50 miles on this tire so far but I was so impressed I wanted to review it already. When you first mount this tire you will want to send it back because it is so narrow. The first ride of only 12 miles it grew 1/8in now after only 50 it’s almost the claimed width. Today was the first real test on a pretty technical trail in north Georgia. Most of this trail was loose over hardpack, leaves, roots, rocks, a little mud. The Race King ate it all up. It wasn't great in the mud but no light weight XC tire really is. I had to do a little standing and it barely spun at all on the leafy hill climbs. The big casing low pressure seemed to do well in the roots too. The only thing I wish were a little better is its tendency to let loose during hard braking. I would be nervous to run this as a front tire from the lack of side knobs but for a rear it's awesome. I've been running the Mountain King 2.4 in the front for a while and now with the Race King 2.2 in the rear I'm super happy. I run this tire at 32psi with light weight tubes and I weight close to 200lbs.
Bike Setup: Jamis Dragon Pro Conti Race King 2.2 on rear and Mountain King 2.4 front both tubed.
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Submitted by
madjh
a Cross Country Rider
from Burgos, España
Date Reviewed: December 30, 2010
Strengths: The price, nobody want this tire so you can find cheap. Fas tire in hard surfaces.
Buena rodadora, muy duradera.
Weaknesses: In wet conditions it is the worst tire ever made. In gravel is very bad. Don´t take corners properly.
No agarran nada en condiciones de mojado, con un poco de agua o rocio de la mañana se convierten en muy peligrosas no traccionando nada. No tiene tacos laterales y no agarra bien en curva. No recomendada para rueda delantera, quizas como trasera pueda servir ya que no es mala rodadora.
Bottom Line:
This tires are good for people who don´t race. They are fast in good paths but have problems in wet conditions and gravel.
Buena eleccion para gente que va de paseo con la bici o no exige nada a unas cubiertas mas que una buena duracion, ese es el punto fuerte, la duracion. Ademas es buena rodadora, cosa que sirve de poco si no agarra en curva con terreno suelto o humedo.
Similar Products Used: Kenda, Schwalbe, michelin, tioga, maxxis, duro, Huchinson.
Bike Setup: Exclusive genesis full XT
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Submitted by
222Roman
a Cross Country Rider
from L.Rock
Date Reviewed: December 5, 2010
Strengths: Looks good when new in box.
Weaknesses: Sidewall Completely Exposed. Slip/slide over any lare rock and the sidewall is ripped and cause of a flat. Knobs are falling off. One tire has about 60 knobs gone.
Bottom Line:
I am only 160Lb not racer, not aggressive rider, not downhiller. Yet, this tire is a disaster. Any large rock ripps sidewalls, knobbies are falling off. This tire is the worst tire I had in 10 years of riding.
Similar Products Used: Kendas, Hutchinson, Bontrager, Specialized all never had so many knobbies falling off!
Bike Setup: 3 different MTB'S
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Submitted by
Pulse-
a Cross Country Rider
from Tuchola, Poland
Date Reviewed: November 16, 2010
Strengths: RK 2.2 SS, light, durable, fast rolling, low rolling resistance, comfortable. I have 9500km on mine and still use them I think that they sould last at least for 12000km.
Better than Racing Ralph, way better than Hutchinson Python.
Light! 480g for 2.2 is a nice weight. Roll faster than 2.0 Pythons!
Weaknesses: Price, not very good in wet and slippery conditions (mud).
This is a tire for dry conditions but I use it all year so I ride in wet and even snow. If you are secure then they are ok!
Bottom Line:
Recommended for dry conditions and for riders who like comfort. Fast on roads, fast in forest and fields. Good for sandy trails. Made my HT as comfortable as full ;-)
Similar Products Used: Racing Ralph 2.25, Hutchinson Python 2.0
Bike Setup: Simplon mythos, reba, slr xc gel, xt crank, xtr rear and front derailleur, race king 2.2 supersonic by conti
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Submitted by
DIRTY DUCK
a Weekend Warrior
from Tampa, Florida
Date Reviewed: August 28, 2010
Strengths: Very fast, low rolling resistance, smooth riding, great for combination on/off road, have held up well, easy to mount.
Weaknesses: Not for aggressive riding. Poor traction in loose conditions. Only Black Chili made in Germany- the rest are made in India.
Bottom Line:
(Review is for the regular tire Race King-not supersonic)These are great tires if you ride on paved roads and run light XC trails. Good combination tire. They are super fast with very, very low rolling resistance. They are poor at any thing loose. They will break away without warning. I've busted my butt numerous times with these tires. They can NOT handle fast decents,high speed cornering, will slip in sand and spin out in mud. I rate these tires a 5 for their intended use- LIGHT XC ONLY!!
Bike Setup: Sette Ace- (with Velociraptors) for aggressive XC and some freeride.
Fuji Sunfire- (use Race Kings)for light XC
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Submitted by
elewis278
a Cross Country Rider
from Huntington, WV
Date Reviewed: August 27, 2010
Strengths: Very fast, low rolling resistance, good traction on hardpack, decent on road
Weaknesses: Can't handle loose terrain, scetchy when trail is rooted and rocky, pinch flats easily with heavier riders
Bottom Line:
I loved these tires from the first day I rode them. They make the bike accelerate better than most I've used. However, when the trail gets gnarly, they dont hold up to the task at hand. They slip easily on roots, even when dry, and push the front end easily with loose or rough terrain. On smooth trails, I love em though. I weigh 160lbs and haven't had flat issues, but my riding partner at 230 on the same bike, same tires, same trails flats constantly.
Submitted by
telmo_s
a Weekend Warrior
from Loulé, Algarve, Portugal
Date Reviewed: June 21, 2010
Strengths: Light, Very Fast Rolling, Tire Wear, Good Grip
Weaknesses: Puncture Resistance, Lateral Grip
Bottom Line:
Using both as front and rear tire. Very fast rolling, good grip on climbs, light and good tire wear. The Puncture resistance is awful. I get a puncture almost every two rides. The lateral grip is not very good as I hzve fallen of the bike several times on turns where I do not push the bike. Needs a lot of concentration on riding.
Submitted by
m0ab
a Weekend Warrior
from Moscow, Russia
Date Reviewed: May 21, 2010
Strengths: Super speed, great traction and outstanding climbing. For dry hardpack with sand or gravel is the must.
Weaknesses: Problems with muddy terrain, sometimes feel scetchy on roots. Not for relaxed rider - concentration needed. Not thick rubber.
Bottom Line:
This review is for Race King 2.0 not Supersonic version. I ride this tires on both wheels extensively in all road conditions exept deep mud and heavy rain. Pressure is about 36 psi. Feels like simply the best for cross country racing ambitions or town-and-country commuting routine. I think this tire is very strong rival for Schwalbe Racing Ralfs.
Similar Products Used: Continental Twister, Panaracer Pazer XC, Maxxis Crossmark.
Bike Setup: Custom built one with Giant Anthem 2008 frame.
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Submitted by
headshot
a Cross Country Rider
from Cape Town, South Africa
Date Reviewed: May 21, 2010
Strengths: High Volume
Low Rolling resistance
Puncture Resistance (UST Tubeless version)
Grip in variety of conditions
Reasonable wear
Weaknesses: Rear tyre arrived with noticeable unevenness in tyre casing making me think my rim was out of true.
Expensive
Bottom Line:
I recenly upgraded to an XT wheel set. These tyres mount on the UST rim very easily, seal well and have given me no problems at all. Grip even in the wet is great and feel noticably faster rolling on tar vs the Larsen TT. Very confidence inspiring as a front tyre too. If you want a tough tyre get the 2.2 UST version which is heavier but has a tougher sidewall and is more puncture resitant.
Thinking about running the SB8 or Race King Supersonics tubeless on my new Stumpy Carbon HT 29ER. I don't like the Specialized S-Works Fast Trak tires that came with it and have b Read More »
Ok,
I have found a couple of threads talking about the RK tires but now that I own a set (sort of by default) I am wondering what sort of problems folks might be having with them. Read More »
Seeing some of the threads (and for that matter, on the CBC coverage of the recent World Cup in Mt St-Anne) where the trend is towards ever-lower tire pressures, I'm curious as to Read More »
Not sure if this is already posted on site, but thought this might be helpful. I just received two new tires today and thought I'd weigh before mounting them.
This is a Continen Read More »
Wish it came in 2.1 also. For fire trails non racing mainly hill climbing which size to buy ? 155 lb rider on Ti lynskey 26' SS'er. Currently running 2.1 smoke and dart folding at Read More »
