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 singletrail.
Submitted by
raducanmihai
a Cross Country Rider
from Predeal,Romania Date Reviewed: October 15, 2009
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$20.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
light,fast rolling on the trails,grippy when dry
Weaknesses:
they wear extreamly fast,slippery when wet
Similar Products Used:
Bontrager ConnectionTrail,Schwalbe Racing Ralph,Ritchey InnoVader
Bike Setup:
Trek 4300 with FSA bar & stem,RaceFace seatpost,WTB PureV saddle,Shimano SPD pedals
Bottom Line:
They wear extreamly fast. I have the 2.1 Protection version in the back and the 2.1 "normal" foldable one in front. They have less that 2000 km and the one in the back is almost gone!
They were excelent when new ,but now it's a real hard work to ride in wet or muddy conditions because they are now very slippery. The good part is that because of them I worked on my ballance and now I am a better rider :)
I would like to say ,though ,that both ,the front and the rear one ,are made in India(instead of Germany for the higher models).Maybe this has something to do with this wear problem.
The rubber compound is very soft and any sharp stone goes through the tyre like through butter.
The good part is that on the dry trail they are insanely fast rolling .
I consider them race tyres ONLY.I used them on my trainings and the result is a pair of destroyed tyres.
Buy them only for races in dry conditions.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
oldphaty
a Cross Country Rider
from Bozeman Date Reviewed: September 29, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Galligator Trail
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$65.00
Purchased At:
Summit Bike and Ski
Strengths:
Low Rolling Resistance
Weaknesses:
Flats easily and I don't know about the "black chili compound" gimmick? There's nothing tough about the tire. Tire's should hold air and mountain bike tires are designed to be ridden over rocks without flatting.
Similar Products Used:
Mountain King
Bike Setup:
Strong single speed King hubs 517 rims Paul brakes XT cranks Summit Grips King headset X4 stem carbon bar and post
Bottom Line:
I'd steer clear from the speed king for everyday use, especially when your everyday use involves rock gardens. I've flatted twice in the past two weeks in the same spot on a trail that's not too rocky. That being written, I am going to take the speed king off and apply a smaller mountain king in the rear. I run the 2.4 up front and love it. I think I'll go with the 2.1 in the rear. Better traction, and hopefully no more flats.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
alanchan
a Cross Country Rider
from Toronto, Canada Date Reviewed: September 20, 2009
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$45.00
Strengths:
These tires are design for endurance ride. I think they are design for marathon. Its great for riding any roots in any direction and you won't get slip off. This is great when you ride for like 10 hours and you are not looking where you are going. Not bad in the wet either
Weaknesses:
Sand! Its horrible on loose stuff. You have absolutely no control over sand. High rolling resistance comparing to many other tires I have tried. Tends to understeer. I have the Supersonic version which is light with a thin side wall. That might be why.
Similar Products Used:
Continental Explorer Standard/Pro/Supersonic, Escape Pro, Town & Country, Twister UST, Kenda Small Block 8 1.95, IRC Serac XC, XC Lite, XC UST 1.95, Michelin Comp S 2.0, Michelin Widegripper 2.0, Bontrager Jones AC, Panaracer XC Pro 1.8/2.1/DH 2.3, WTB, Nokian NBX 2.0/2.1/2.3
Bike Setup:
Yeti Koko, Chris King Wheelset, Fox F80 RLC, Shimano XT/XTR, Hope Mini
Bottom Line:
Three down side: sand, understeer and high rolling resistance
Up side: Great for riding over roots in any direction.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Sam Wong
a Cross Country Rider
from Hong Kong Date Reviewed: September 19, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Cross Country
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$12.00
Purchased At:
Hong Kong bicycle st
Strengths:
Strong tires, suitalbe for MTB and size is good for on-road
Weaknesses:
the price is not cheap
Similar Products Used:
Maxxis MTB floding tires
Bike Setup:
Pacific cycle MTB Complete bike
Bottom Line:
The price of tire can be cheaper.
It's a good choice for beginners.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Turveyd
a Cross Country Rider
from UK Date Reviewed: August 26, 2009
Favorite Trail:
CyB
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$60.00
Strengths:
None, really none not even light for there real size which the 2.3 Pro was more 2.1 and the 2.3 SuperS was more 2.0.
Weaknesses:
No grip on anything other than dry ground, bike would just randomly slip out and try to lie down, scarey.
Really Slow rolling especially on roads, BUZZZZZZZ!!!
Similar Products Used:
All sorts of tyres.
Bike Setup:
GT I-Drive FSer
Bottom Line:
Don't go near these tyres.
Just ordered a Race King 2.2 for the rear, looks to be a fast tyre and proper sized!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
LF-X
a Cross Country Rider
from Bergheim, Germany Date Reviewed: August 23, 2009
Favorite Trail:
70% Street / 30% Trail
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$40.00
Purchased At:
Online Store in Germ
Strengths:
Very light tire. Does give you confidence in corners (might slip a little bit before getting grip).
Looks good.
Weaknesses:
Was very fast at it's end. I would guess 1500 km.
Tire seems to get higher rolling resistance as it is used.
No very good defect prevention (Had to fix my tire once while using it).
Similar Products Used:
Michelin Country Trail
Bike Setup:
Renault Sport - Team Spirit VTT
Bottom Line:
It is a very light racing tire. I personally would not purchase it if I was searching for a everyday tire.
A little bit too pricy for a ture that seems to wear that fast. I give it a 4 Chili rating as I personally just bought it as a weight tuning for my bike and can live with the weaknesses that the tire has (and Continental even prints on the package).
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mlopezr28
a Cross Country Rider
from Panama Date Reviewed: July 5, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Ciclovia, Summit Park
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$30.00
Purchased At:
Amazon Japan
Strengths:
Very light weight
Weaknesses:
If you're a rider whose weight is over 100kg, forget about this tires, everytime you hit an obstacle while being on the saddle, the inner tube might get pinched so easily. Beside this tires are so prone to get flat, lack of grip on wet conditions.
Bike Setup:
Giant XTC 850
Bottom Line:
Forget about buying this tires.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Zachariah
a Cross Country Rider
from Palm Desert, California USA Date Reviewed: March 26, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Hurkey Creek Park(24 Hours Adrenalin Course)
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$45.00
Purchased At:
eBay
Strengths:
Light(400g Supersonic 2.1), low rolling resistance, grips like velcro, very confidence-inspiring turning, climbs excellent, stops quickly.
Weaknesses:
Price, soft nubs ride horrible on pavement(not designed for it!), Requires higher pressures(40psi+).
Similar Products Used:
Kenda Klimax Lite, Specialized The Captain, Maxxis Maxxlite 310, Schwalbe Furious Fred, Hutchinson Python Airlight, Ritchey Z-Max Evolution...I have practically tried them ALL!
Bike Setup:
19-pound Cannondale XC race hardtail: Mavic Crossmax SLR, SRAM X0/Shimano XTR, Ritchey WCS Carbon, Thomson Masterpiece, Selle Italia SLR
Bottom Line:
After a long and exhausting search of sub-400 gram race tires- I finally found my ideal weight-weenie tire. The Race King Supersonic has virtually kung fu grip on dry hardpack, coarse mud, deep sand, and just about everything...except wet clay and roots(what tire does?). It rolls very, very fast- folks. I am not gonna lie to you, this tire WILL change the way you ride!
Whatever you do- don't make it a habit to use these on the road, though. Maybe the occasional rail-to-trails ride...because the bendy side knobs will make the front quite sketchy on pavement. Not to worry- just return to the dirt, and you will be rewarded with crisp acceleration, and railing corners just like a Ferarri.
Always watch what you roll over, and these tires will stay pumped for you. Tubeless was ok...but I finally decided that constant checking air pressures is a ride-defeating endeavor, and went back to lightweight, Conti 98g tubes(Cannot wait for the new Eclipse 68g clear tubes!). These tires need pressures higher than normal, due to the soft carcass and treads. Continental recommends over 50psi- but I am able to manage with 45psi on the rear, with no pinch flatting. They seem to wearing very good...as long as you steer clear of pavement as much as possible.
Since the release of the new Continental Race King 2.0/2.2 tires, you can find the lighter Speed King SS for next to nothing on close-out, right about now. Price-wise, these are a much better value than the latest and greatest from Continental...trust me, and I tried them all!
(I am in NO WAY paid to endorse this product- just personal experience!)
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
nowshon
a Weekend Warrior
from orange county, ca Date Reviewed: February 26, 2009
Favorite Trail:
san juan
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$40.00
Purchased At:
bike tires direct
Strengths:
Ultra light weight, open tread design, fast spin-up, large casing, performance in loose conditions and pure hardpack
Weaknesses:
Higher PSI requirements means rougher ride, not good in loose over hardpack
Similar Products Used:
Nevegals, WTB Mutanoraptors
Bike Setup:
Heckler
Bottom Line:
I run these tires for XC races here in Southern Ccalifornia. They shed a full pound of rotating weight off my everyday tires. They give my Heckler a lot more snap and acceleration. They work great in loose or hardback conditions, both in turns and climbing, but are skitterish on sand over rock or sand over hardpack. I'd stop using them if those were the normal riding conditions around these parts. I weigh about 175 with gear and H20, and run these at about 40 PSI, lower than recommended by Conti, and still not comfortable by any means. But again I'm racing on them and in a race nothing is comfortable anyway except a camp chair after the pain ends.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
xcslave
a Cross Country Rider
from Kelowna,BC, Canada Date Reviewed: February 4, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Bear Lake
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$45.00
Purchased At:
Fresh Air
Strengths:
light, rolls easy,its black.
Weaknesses:
no grip in loose sand,gravel, mud or anywhere else
Similar Products Used:
Maxxis Mobster, Larsen TT (the Larsen is a great rr tire)
Bike Setup:
Cannondale Jekyll
Bottom Line:
Buy anything else if you want to stay upright, but it is light and rolls easy.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
mulley
a Weekend Warrior
from paignton uk Date Reviewed: January 29, 2009
Favorite Trail:
dartmoor
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$40.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
fast on road sections
Weaknesses:
i have the protection ones and they still get endless thorn punctures and have no grip on wet roots and rocks
Similar Products Used:
wtb moto raptor
Bike Setup:
marin rock springs
Bottom Line:
the wtb's are better 75% of the time on trails and downhill situations, i find the contis get far to many punctures even though they are the protection ones, i may as well got the super sonics (i didnt want punctures) wont buy these again. i do xc on my all mountain bike as well so thought it best to have a little less weight for the climbs but in all honesty dont bother just try a bit harder with a different tyre.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Robbo64
a Weekend Warrior
from Nieuwegein, Netherlands Date Reviewed: January 10, 2009
Favorite Trail:
the one in my dreams
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$55.00
Purchased At:
Rien Veenendaal
Strengths:
very light, very fast, enough grip, when used to them controllable slides become easy
Weaknesses:
probably prone to puntures, none so far (700 Km)
Similar Products Used:
Nobby Nic, Fast Fred, Little Albert, Hutch Phyton, IRC Backcountry, Geax BarroMarathon, Z-Max and some more
Bike Setup:
Van Tuyl Titanium with titanium fork, Rotor blades and two wheels etc
Bottom Line:
At first was disapointed, expected a perfect tire after reading several tests. Slips initially too fast at the front but you keep conrtol. Get used to it and they seem to have even more grip dan average. Even in the Alpes no problems, no punctures even at low pressure. In Dutch conditions excellent for marathons (at the front). No tire so fast, combination from low weight and grip. Good damping. Drive the Supersonic version. wearing average.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
peletonboy
a Weekend Warrior
from uk Date Reviewed: December 29, 2008
Favorite Trail:
on the road
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$50.00
Purchased At:
wiggle
Strengths:
has the cool factor,
Weaknesses:
fast wearing
Similar Products Used:
mibro irc
Bike Setup:
marin idian fire trail
Bottom Line:
bought a pair of the supersonic speed kings, i needed a light tire and the supersonics are very very light, however i have had loads of punctures with them, i am now an expert in roadside tube changes. However heres the plus side, despite the quick wearing and the punctures, i have found my dream tire ....why?....becaise these things are fast, they roll very very quickly.
I should point out that the front tire is till very good but the back one has now worn through the carcas, i measured my mileage and the back one last 600 miles. All of those miles were done on the road, thats why i wanted a fast rolling tire, as i love road riding.
Off to buy another now!
Oh by the way i stuck the ultra light panaracer flataways in them and in my opinion they are useless, didnt stop the punctures.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
supersleeper
a Cross Country Rider
from south africa Date Reviewed: November 27, 2008
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
Light weight, No as expensive as alternatives. Fast.
Weaknesses:
Small carcass, zero grip.
Similar Products Used:
SB8, Crossmarks, Monorails, Specialized fast trac control LK, Killerbee, Mountain King.
Bike Setup:
Blur XC, full XTR, DT 240s hubs, 4.2d rims, Fox fork.
Bottom Line:
SLIPPERY if you go for the Protection 2.1 tire (Made in India) Not 'Black Chili'. Carcass is 45mm. The outside knobs 52mm. So you have to inflate the tire 2.5 bar or more. Tried it with mountain King 'Black Chili' at the front. Terrible! The front end oversteered and the back end lost grip on corners. Maybe the 2.3 will be better. But I would not chance it.
For racers who want to go fast and weigh 120 pounds. If you like a fast tire with grip, go for the "supersonic"
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Zap602
a Weekend Warrior
from Baltimore, MD, USA Date Reviewed: November 10, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Avalon, Orange
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$70.00
Purchased At:
Bike Tires Direct
Strengths:
Fast Rolling, Duraskin Protection, No flats even in the rock gardens.
Weaknesses:
None so far
Similar Products Used:
Kenda Nevagals, Specialized Pros
Bike Setup:
Santa Cruz Super Light FS
Bottom Line:
First time on these tires. I was looking for a tire that moved quicker than the Nevagals I was running. Don't get me wrong. The Nevagals were great for traction and soften up the ride, but it took a lot to get them moving. Now come in the the Speed Kings. I ran them at the recommended 50 psi, and they do move fast. It took some getting use to in taking the corners much faster than I usually do. Once I was able to gain confidence with the tire, they just rallied in the turns. Even my partner commented on how fast I was moving. The only down side is that I felt every bump running at that psi. My next ride, I plan to take out 5 psi and see how that makes it feel.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
kevin
a Cross Country Rider
from uk Date Reviewed: October 12, 2008
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Very light and very grippy
Weaknesses:
Loves punctures
Similar Products Used:
irc mibro
Bike Setup:
marin indian fire trail
Bottom Line:
I have a love hate relationship with this tyre, they are super light, i bought the supersonic, black chili compound. They are super grippy and give me a lot of confidence in the corners.
I have done 230 miles on them and the back tyre is pretty worn (mostly road riding) the front is still in good nick, in 230 miles i have had 5 punctures. However it could be the supersonic tubes that i have bought.
Despite the fast wearing and lack of puncture resistance (the box they come in actually warns that this is to be expected) i love these tyres.
They are super fast on the asphalt, fantastic rolling resistance!!!
If you are a weight weenie get em!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
MeanBlackBike
a Cross Country Rider
from Sofia Date Reviewed: July 31, 2008
This tire really sucks. I'm so disappointed. No traction even on concrete, wet asphalt, any mud ot wet trails, roots, rocks etc. It sucks a lot even climbing on pavement has no traction.
Punctures might happen it is so thin but I replaced it for good. I'm actually giving away that tire ti anybody willing ot pay for post charges.
Never buy this tire. it 2.1 size suits me but that's all.
Go for ADvantage, Edge, Survival and forget that tire for good.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
xcmtnbikeracer
a Racer
from Lexington, Sc Date Reviewed: June 25, 2008
Favorite Trail:
FATS
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$50.00
Purchased At:
Harrell's Bicycle Wo
Strengths:
Light weight, low rolling resistance, great traction
Weaknesses:
low puncture resistant
Similar Products Used:
schwable racing ralph
Bike Setup:
Titus Racer X, XT built kit, I-nine wheels
Bottom Line:
If you race XC and are looking for a light tire that corners like it is on rails, buy and try.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
D-man765
a Cross Country Rider
from UK Date Reviewed: June 24, 2008
Favorite Trail:
The Beast - Coed Y Brenin - Wales
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$60.00
Strengths:
Very fast rolling, Light, Extremely responsive and surprisingly grippy for a narrow(ish) tyre. I bought 2.1 version.
Weaknesses:
Tends to squirm underneath me when cornering hard, this is avoided by running higher pressures.
Similar Products Used:
Specialized adrenalin/resolution
Bike Setup:
XC/Trail setup hardtail full xt, Rs Reba race
Bottom Line:
Excellent XC all rounder
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
lukeglinski
a Cross Country Rider
from Worcester Date Reviewed: June 20, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Vietnam
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$45.00
Strengths:
Light
Weaknesses:
These tires are worthless. They might be good for a clean westocoast fire road but have no application on the east coast. I took them out a few times and I have not been able to get a full ride witout a flat. I never got flats on my previous set of tire so this is a total deviation. The sidewalls are so thin the tires don't track well. They are undersize and are no where close to 2.3. The kevlar strands are already popping out from the sidewall.
Similar Products Used:
None
Bottom Line:
I would never buy them again. I wased my money and I'm going to buy new ones leaving them in almost unused condition.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Luke Glinski
a Cross Country Rider
from Worcester Date Reviewed: May 28, 2008
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$40.00
Strengths:
weight
Weaknesses:
grip, false size,
Similar Products Used:
Continental Vertical Pro
Bike Setup:
hardtail
Bottom Line:
OK, these tires do not compare to the vertical pro tires, I ride mine on new england mixed trails and found my favorite setup to be around 20-25psi on large baloon like tires (2.3") for which I used the Conti Vertical which are simply amazing. Switching to these was a bad ides, they are not really 2.3 inches, and do not have the side strenght to ride at such low pressures. They might be good for hardpack racing, but for normal riding, up rocks, roots they are useless. If cars offer tires for different conditions, why cant mtb tire manufacturers make the same recomendation.
I can't rate them too poorly as I have ridden much worse. All in all they are OK but a disapointment from the Verticals...
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Sven Jacobsen
a Cross Country Rider
from BW, Germany Date Reviewed: April 18, 2008
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Great grip, fast, light, durable, good allrounder.
Weaknesses:
None, really.
Similar Products Used:
A lot.
Bike Setup:
Hardtail.
Bottom Line:
This is an update. I am using this tire for almost 5 months. In my opinion it´s the best tire on my bike so far. You can´t go wrong with it. The wire version in 2.3 is amazing and so cheap for training purposes. The Speed King 2008, 2.3 Protection (foldable), is my personal non-plus-ultra-tire for XC and marathon. The weight is 580gr - no complaints for a safe tire. I´m still wondering, how fast and secure I can ride (gave me some extra motivation). Well done, Conti!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
scott
a Racer
from dalton, ga, usa Date Reviewed: April 9, 2008
Favorite Trail:
pinhoti
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$40.00
Purchased At:
lbs
Strengths:
very good in the mud, lite weight, low rolling res.
Weaknesses:
none really
Similar Products Used:
lots of different tires
Bike Setup:
turner nitrous, full xtr, king wheel, rs reba world cup
Bottom Line:
excellent tire in wet conditions.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Sven Jacobsen
a Cross Country Rider
from BW, Germany Date Reviewed: January 17, 2008
Favorite Trail:
hard to say
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
Fast, light, reliable and definitely thought-out.
Weaknesses:
Tread unfortunately not designed for eternity.
Similar Products Used:
A lot.
Bike Setup:
Hardtail.
Bottom Line:
Ask yourself, for what purposes you use your tires. This one is designed for marathon racing and not for the Transalp Challenge or a suicide downhill. For marathon and even xc it´s splendid! I use the wire version in 2.3 for training(supercheap, a pair for 20,- Euro). This 2.3 wire version is light, offers grip and warp-speed on the trails and is surprisingly tough enough when the terrain gets heavy. Fun factor! For this 2.3 wire version: Five Flamin´ Chilis without any doubts.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Marc Monet
a Cross Country Rider
from Oxford, England Date Reviewed: December 21, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Alps
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$90.00
Strengths:
weight
Weaknesses:
price, grip, puncture protection
Bottom Line:
Even though the tire is known as Speed King there are actually a number of different versions, which differ dimension, weight, and protection wise, but share the same “spikey, open” tread. The tire is advertised as a xc tire, specifically for marathon racing. I used the 2.1 supersonic version for racing and see little point in purchasing any of the other versions; if you want an all round or freeride tire why buy this one. Given that the tire was designed for marathon racing I did find (a) traction not very predictable (especially on gravel roads and in wet conditions it was far cry from being “grippy”) and (b) it to be extremely puncture prone. I am therefore inclined to echo some of the feedback below. Yes, the tire is “made in Deutschland” (which generally is a comforting sign) but so what!? The facts are that this tire, it has to be said, was designed for racing but fails to live up to the high expectations one should have given the proclaimed characteristics and indeed the price.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Kevin
a Racer
from Winnipeg, MB Canada Date Reviewed: December 5, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Birch
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$70.00
Purchased At:
Bikes & Beyond
Strengths:
SS version is light weight, low rolling resistance, decent traction in wet conditions
Weaknesses:
thin sidewalls, VERY fast wearing is SS version
Similar Products Used:
conti explorers, nokian nbx
Bottom Line:
good all rounder for racing, but would choose something less expensive and flat prone for trail riding.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
ron jeremy
a Cross Country Rider
from las vegas, nv Date Reviewed: November 20, 2007
Favorite Trail:
vicodin valley
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$40.00
Purchased At:
lbs
Strengths:
tread pattern, rubber compound, sheds mud well
Weaknesses:
pricey (but actually made in Deutschland)
Similar Products Used:
all
Bike Setup:
xc hardtail
Bottom Line:
I picked up the 2.3 folding version with the Protection sidewalls about six months back and have been very pleased. Dry traction is great, wet traction is not bad, and haven't flatted yet. Note from above...I did my homework and bought the Protection version with the heavier duty sidewalls. If you're a weight weenie and pick up the SuperSonic version (bare minimum construction, race-day only), don't be surprised when you flat out...duh. Of course, a decent shop will point you in the right direction.
5 flamin' turds overall and disregard folks who have no clue about what they're purchasing/installing.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
A 2 K
a Cross Country Rider
from Iowa Date Reviewed: October 8, 2007
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$70.00
Purchased At:
online
Strengths:
rolling resistance sheds mud well
Weaknesses:
does not inspire confidence in turns noisy
the tire seems to have a mind of its own. the knobs on the side walls tend to make the tire shoot off on its own line, pulling you, the rider, off your chosen line. slimy singletrack causes the tire to slip when you want to really grab a corner at speed...no confidence at all
Similar Products Used:
specialized roll-x (terrible) conti explorer pro conti twister supersonic
Bike Setup:
'07 stumpy comp, stock
Bottom Line:
I rolled with these tires for 150+ miles and just couldn't get the hang of the way that they grab their own line, especially while climbing. Also, I could not gain any confidence in my line while cornering with any sort of speed. The tire felt like it wouldn't hold ; like it was going to wash out any second. When I first started riding XC back in May of 2007, my bike had the Conti Explorer Pro 2.1 up front and Twister Pro 1.9 in the rear. I was happy with this setup. Being new to the sport, I wanted to try something different. The reviews for the speed king in this thread were great so I figured I would give them a go. The first thing I noticed during the initial climb was that they wanted to take off on their own, not where I pointed them. the same thing happened in the corners. I thought this was due to the fact that I wasn't used to them so I gave them their chance with 150+ miles of use. Well, 2 rides ago I switched back to the explorer/twister setup and WOW what a difference they have made. Now, some people will ride a trail somewhere, switch tires and go ride a different trail and make their judgments. I believe this doesn't give the rider a level playing field to make a comparison. So what i did was make the switch after a 10 mile ride on my local trail that I am intimately familiar with. HUGE difference! I was holding lines like never before, riding faster, and mastering corners that I always had difficulty with. so this could be a testament to the explorer/twister combo as well as a lackluster review on the speed kings.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tom
a Racer
from Cambridge, MA, USA Date Reviewed: August 30, 2007
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$100.00
Purchased At:
Bike shop in Germany
Strengths:
Light, good tire clearance.
Weaknesses:
Extremely puncture prone, expensive, as front tire sketchy in wet conditions (as rear tire OK).
Similar Products Used:
Not really similar, but I used Schwalbe's Nobby Nic 2.1 before.
Bike Setup:
Stevens Juke, Rock Shox SID World Cup, Shimano XTR, Magura Marta SL, Syntace (bars, stem, seatpost), Tune King/Kong wheels, Look 4x4.
Bottom Line:
Here is the whole tragedy:
I am a vivid MTBer and race XC since several years. I purchased Continental's Speed King Supersonic (2.1) tires (rar and front) about a month ago, during vacations in Germany. As mentioned above, I used Schwalbe's Nobby Nic (rear and front) with latex tubes before, which worked great. However, due to the fact that two Speed King Supersonic tires (at 400 grams each) shave almost 200 grams from my wheels, compared to the Nobby Nics, and based on really positive reviews (also in this mtbr tread) I thought I would give it try.
Unfortunately, the tires turned out to be a disappointment. On the plus side, they are really light and rolling resistance is great. One of my first rides was in really muddy terrain and tire clearance was excellent, even though I had several sketchy moments with the front tire (i.e. side grip is not really convincing and, in my opinion, hard to control if used as a front tire). After two rides, however, I had my first proper puncture. Given the sketchy characteristics of the Speed King as a front tire, I decided to re-mount an old Nobby Nic (as front tire only). This worked fine for about two rides. Back in Boston, my first ride took place in the Middlesex Fells, which is a local reservation with some sweet rocky single trail. During this ride a rock completely destroyed the sidewall of my remaining Speed King, which I could barely fix with the packaging of a Clif bar.
In conclusion: I learned the hard way what I could perhaps have known before. While light tires tend to save weight and watts they are usually also very susceptible to punctures. Continental’s Speed King Supersonic is no exception, despite some enthusiastic reviews. I cannot really think of any situation where one might like to use this tire. As far as I am concerned the tire is too delicate for XC and it therefore becomes somewhat of a gamble to use them in a race; the seconds one might save are hopelessly lost if one punctures. (Needless to say that I decided to go back to my old tires, even thought they are 200 grams heavier.)
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Submitted by
Kevin
a Cross Country Rider
from Hastings, MN Date Reviewed: August 27, 2007
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$49.00
Purchased At:
The Route
Strengths:
All the traction I ever wanted in a tire, in many trail conditions, cornering, climbing, and braking.
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
Panaracer Cinder, IRC Mimbro, IRC Mythos
Bike Setup:
Giant NRS 2, suspension set up stiff, 50 psi tire pressure
Bottom Line:
Tried many tires over the years looking for that ultimate tire. This is it. Bought these two days before a 24 hour race cause just wasn't happy with the tires I was riding. Could not believe how well these hooked up. Had a hard time getting use to all the traction, but once I did, I was cornering, riding off camber, and through technical singletrack faster and with more confidence then ever. Highly recommend these tires. Bought the 2.1 duraskin version and they weighed in a 535 grams.
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Submitted by
Mark
a Cross Country Rider
from Ont Canada Date Reviewed: August 5, 2007
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$70.00
Strengths:
Weight, Grip, Fast rolling
Weaknesses:
That's a tiny case volume for a 2.1 tire.
Similar Products Used:
Python tubeless, small block 8, fire xc pro,....
Bike Setup:
Blur LT, Mavic, XTR, 200mm rotors. o/s bars.... big guy setup
Bottom Line:
My quest for a fast rolling tire with better grip in the turns has brought me here. I was pleasantly surprised when these tires hit the trail. They make the bike feel like it’s 10 pounds lighter. The steering is WAY faster. Pythons are just a fraction faster rolling but the speed kings make up for it 10 fold at the first corner. Acceleration is in a different league all together. They are just flat out fast out of corners. Cornering on hard packed, lose over hard packed, pine forest is great. The well-spaced side knobs hook hard in the turns. When you get way too aggressive they will let you know with a controlled slide. It's an impressive climbing tire as well. They fair well in the odd sand section and are sure footed over rocks.
If you are looking for a fly weight (400g) race tire that is fast rolling, ultra quick feeling tire with plenty of corner grip for the technical section you owe it to yourself to try a set. They are on the high end of the price scale for a non tubeless tire so it gets 4 chilis for value.
If you are a bit gravity challenged you may consider the 2.3 for the extra volume.
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Submitted by
Yogi
a Weekend Warrior
from Sydney Australia Date Reviewed: July 3, 2007
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Le Spit Cyclery
Strengths:
really good traction. Big Bag (2.3)
Weaknesses:
none yet
Similar Products Used:
python, old style cheaper tyres like smoke dart combo.
Bike Setup:
XC race set up... high seat , rigid frame.
Bottom Line:
I felt these tyres with my thumb and nail and they felt super soft.. I was keen to ride on these...
Fitting the tires on my rims was easy and tool-less (I do use tubes). I had a hard time seating the bead into the rim so I over inflated them till they went ping (approximately 80 psi)and deflated them to about 50 to 55 psi. prior to the over inflation they looked like a bucked wheel with a bulging tire on it. Once seated they ran straight and true.
My first use of these tires was on the wrong surface.I was worried about the soft knobs being eaten by the tar but they all still had their great shape. ... at speed they sang like a choir then i hit a few stairs up and down. nooo problem. when riding directly into the bottom stair badly .. the corner of the stair sank about half way in to the rim... I watched the tire do this as it was a TEST. I'M happy to say the tire did better than my free ride ones. I was also impressed with the grip... however I was ever so careful not to skid. They did hold very well in turns and did not give the quivers at all.
2 weeks later I finally got them onto the dirt, or I should say the mud as it rained for a week when I decided to try them...
firstly: they stick to everything... they roll fast and I was very impressed on the single track and the carving turns on the berms.
Secondly,Uphill they are great, Light weight and good drive wheel traction... they don't feel heavy or twitchy on the front either. In fact I recommend them for any XC front tire without hesitation.
Downhill i gave these tires a absolute whipping in the slippery clay , compacted sand and the mud and they where confident and a pleasure. Then In the rock garden they really did shine.. it was to blurry to watch but no single rock smaller than the height of my crank arm did slow me down nor puncture me and yeah I made a few mistakes... even on the mossy reverse camber wet rock the tire behaved really very well.
I was really impressed by this set of tires.
Definitely a good choice for the 24 hour racer, adventure racer or just the person who demands the best...
Not good for loaning to the kids who skid.
Unlike the above reviewer, I do not recommend using them below 50 psi on rough terrain... I noticed the cross hashing folding thing happening in the side wall... so would be ok on smooth dirt only.. So I do recommend the fast harder tire compared to the uber grippy soft tire.
these tires are avaliable 2.1 and 2.3 and come in 4 types...2.1 / 2.3
TYPE : 2.1 / 2.3 ****************** wire: 560 g / 600g folding: 510g / 560g pro traction: 530g / 580g supersonic: 400g / 450g
I used the 2.3 pro traction
(thanks for the tires Matt, You asked me to test them out... and HEY, they are good.. cheers mate)
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Submitted by
bill
a Weekend Warrior
from tucson,co Date Reviewed: July 1, 2007
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
It is hard to believe when you look at these tires that they are ~600 grams (2.3 protection). They offer big knobs as compared to other light weight tires (racing ralphs).
Similar Products Used:
racing ralphs, kenda small block
Bottom Line:
I really liked racing ralphs, but decided to try the speed kings. They are cheaper $ and offer a more aggressive footprint. I am a convert.
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Submitted by
trail boss
a Weekend Warrior
from bfe, nowheresville Date Reviewed: May 22, 2007
Favorite Trail:
mount jumpmore
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$30.00
Purchased At:
shop
Strengths:
low rolling resistance but hi traction, sheds mud, light weight, german quality
Weaknesses:
none yet
Similar Products Used:
velociraptors, nanoraptors, smokes, you name it...
Bike Setup:
rigid ss
Bottom Line:
I've been trail riding for 30 years (no, not a typo)and these are the best tires I've run yet. I was a bit skeptical at first due to the small, widely spaced knobs, but the traction is out of this world. It seems that this tread pattern sheds mud and gunk, and hooks up like crazy. This is essentially an all-around trail tire, but it is most happy on hardpack, where the low rolling resistance really shows. I'm running these on a single-speed, and about 50 psi to avoid pinch-flats, and this really works well with the sizing, tread pattern, etc. Even when climbing, though I've yet to slip a tire.
As far as the sizing is concerned, Conti actually measures from tip-to-tip so you know exactly how much frame clearance you have. Some companies measure the casing, which means a fatter tire. However, it sucks when your $40 tires rub your chainstays. So, if you're running 2.1 WTBs or Kendas, then you may want to bump up to a 2.3 Conti. Then again, you may want to try the skinnier Conti-the better traction and lower rolling resistance are amazing.
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Submitted by
Lennon
a Cross Country Rider
from Wakefield, RI Date Reviewed: February 1, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Breakheart Trail, Arcadia Management Area
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$120.00
Purchased At:
W.E. Stedman & Co...THE BEST LBS ANYWHERE!!
Strengths:
Super low rolling resistance, Very light (406g), substantial knobs, works well tubeless
Weaknesses:
None so far...
Similar Products Used:
Maxxis MaxxLite 310's and just about everything else out there
Bike Setup:
2002 S-Works FSR SS, FRM Integral Cranks, SID WC, Quad Ti Eggbeaters, Stans Olympic Disc Wheels, Ti Rotors, Avid BB7's, Extralite Levers and Seat Post, WTB Stealth V Team Saddle (I smushed my Becker Carbon), Easton EC90 SL Flat Bar, Syntace f99 Stem, Jagwire Gold Label housings Total: 19.8 lbs
Bottom Line:
Very fast rolling tire with a great tread. Riding a SS gives you pretty good traction skills anyways, but these tires rock. They set up tubeless pretty easily and after two or three rides were holding air with maybe a 10-15% loss over three days. That is good for a non tubeless tire with a thin sidewall. Expect to see pinholes in the sidewalls when you mount them, but the stan's will quickly fill those in. These tires are sticky, too. I am not going to complain about a 400 gram tire not having enough tread like some of these reviews do. What do you expect from a light tire?! My biggest fear with these tires is either a cut in the sidewall or blowing it off the rim. I cut my Maxxis Maxxlite after 10 rides and it was done, so I repleced them with the Conti's. I am running 35 psi and wouldn't run any more for fear of the blowoff. I would ride these down to 28 or 30 psi, but no less. The profile of these tires at 2.1 is more like a 1.9. I have had no problems in wet, mud and frozen conditions, so far. I am much more confident in the fast corners than with the MaxxLites, but that is not saying much. After I cut the MaxxLite, I put a Pair of Specialized Roll-X tires on and what slugs they were! I couldn't believe how slow they rode. From a serious weight weenie who actually rides his light bike, I have to say these tires are outstanding. They do not seem to be wearing out quickly (only 10 or so rides on them). Maybe the hand made element just puts them a notch up. I am getting ready to buy another pair for my spare bike. Fantastic.
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