Its developers say it can do anything! Its riders say, “That's myTyre!” Super fast, but nevertheless with a good grip,The X-King was developed withTheTopeak Ergon mountain bike professionalTeam. Despite pronounced studs,The X-King rolls off smoothly and very quietly. No matter if you are on your own or in aTeam, with Race and Mountain King,The super-light X-King easily covers many uses, ranging from cross country/raceTo Alpcross.The X-King simply leaves its competitors behind. Its Black Chili Co
Strengths: great traction, good cornering, climb well, medium rolling resistance for 2.4 tire
Weaknesses: wear quick, weak treads, especialy the middle ones
Bottom Line:
I came to this tires after Maxxis Aspen, they are much better for me, I mostly ride XC roads, so this tire fits perfectly my needs. I ride them with low pressure and result is great grip! :)
Strengths: The 2.4 is a large tire, rolls well, provides good grip in the corners, and is pretty light for its size.
Weaknesses: None for its intended purpose
Bottom Line:
I have the 2.4 race sports and have run them hard for a few months on dirt and pavement. The black chilli in the race sports grip and wear well. If you are looking for a fast all-rounder this is a pretty good choice. The past few years I have run Race Kings front and rear so it takes a little getting used to transition from the center to side knobs.
Weaknesses: Wears quickly, thin sidewalls, EXTREMELY prone to washing out
Bottom Line:
Decent tire for dry hardpack, roots, and large rocks. I say large rocks because if you ever get gravel pits or rocky corners/descents with loose rock, these tires absolutely suck. Of my last three rides, I have washed out three times. Twice on a loose(er) downhill sections, and once coming into rocky corner. These tires simply will not hold their ground on any type of gravel or sand. Living in Michigan this normally wouldn't be much of a problem except we have had an extremely warm and dry spring. Just today I was racing and a quarter of a mile from the finish my rear tire washed out, sending me head over heels, down a hill where I cracked my helmet, bent my derailleur hanger, lost my lead and podium finish. All in all I am extremely disappointed running this as a rear tire, dry weather performance has been poor and wet weather performance has been slightly more successful, but not by much. 2 flaming chilis because as a front tire the X-King has done its job, no washouts there but I will be replacing it as well.
Strengths: Low rolling resistance, quiet, light weight
Weaknesses: Weak tread, wears too quickly
Bottom Line:
I was looking for a lightweight all-mountain tire with a large casing, and the xking seemed to fit the bill perfectly. The reality though is that this is not an all mountain tire and it's not that big despite its 2.4-inch designation. I ordered the protection version w/ black chilli, and while it's very light weight, the rubber seems thin and very hard... great for low rolling resistance but not good for rocky trails. After about 5 rides the protective sidewall is holding up fine but almost all side knobs are partially disintegrated and a few are completely torn off. I can see these as being great for soft dirt trails but on technical rocky/sandy conditions I ride in (especially going downhill) you'd be better off with meatier treads.
Weaknesses: Construction flaws - tires lost their shape before wearing the mold hairs off
Bottom Line:
I had these on my 29er - they are fast and converted to tubeless quite easily. However, they have serious problems - the casing deformed under load, dumping me of my bike without warning, and permanently deforming the tires (spin the wheel and it looks like you've taco'd the wheel). I've been told that continental is aware of this problem and my shop is looking into replacements, but these tires are dangerous. If you're running them, check with your shop and/or conti. If they fix the construction flaws, I'd run another pair. I gave them 2 chilis because when they were still holding together, I liked the tires.
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Submitted by
tbbikes
a Cross Country Rider
from Springfield, MO
Date Reviewed: March 18, 2012
Strengths: Fast Rolling
Weaknesses: Hard to set up tubeless, prone to washout, sidewalls seem thin
Bottom Line:
I wanted to try these tires because my LBS had a good deal on them. I bought this tire to use as a rear. I didnt have any problems mounting them on Stans Flow rims, butrying to set them up tubeless wasn't a whole lot of fun as they have tiny in the sidewalls, but they sealed up after a day or two and quite a bit of Stans.
My initial reaction riding my local trail was pretty disappointing. I had been running WTB prowlers (similar tread pattern) at around 30- 32 Psi in the rear. These tires rolled just as fast in the straight away, but using the same pressure these tires washed out around almost every corner on hardpack. I lowered it to around 25 psi and that solved the problem but also made the tires roll quite a bit slower.
I'll use them until they wear out, but I don't think I would get another.
Weaknesses: Very thin side walls. Knobs tore off within 50 miles
Bottom Line:
I bought this tire because it looked like exactly what I was looking for, a large air volume tire with tight center knobs for low rolling resistance. When I first rode it I noticed that it is really sensitive to air pressures. Too little it was kind of washy and a little too much it's bouncy but all in all I absolutely loved it, It was fast and smooth. But on my third ride I tore the side wall in an area that had some rocks but nothing that should of tore it. I fixed the side wall with a automotive tire patch. On my fifth ride I noticed that the knobs started to chunk. By the end of the ride I noticed that a knob was completely ripped off. It left about a quarter sized area of the casing exposed. Considering how much these tires cost, they should last a lot longer.
Strengths: Grip on muddy terrain, wears off slowly even on the asphalt. Low rolling resistance.
Weaknesses: Thin and weak sidewalls, knob adhesion to thread casing, rather expensive.
Bottom Line:
Good grip on muddy terrain. Low rolling resistance.
It was said that X-King RS was "tubeless ready". The Joe's leaks out of the sidewalls, and I tried even to double the amount of Joe's.
Sidewalls tear apart on the rocky trails.
Knobs fall off on rocky trails leaving thread casing naked.
Besides "tubeless ready problem" the tire is good on the muddy terrain. On the rocky terrain be prepared to replace them after every ride.
Similar Products Used: Mountain King, Kenda Nevegal
Bike Setup: GT avalanche 1.0.
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Submitted by
AvidTrailRider
a Cross Country Rider
from San Antonio, TX
Date Reviewed: August 31, 2011
Strengths: Killer looks (checkered flag sidewall). "Protection" model offers great thorn resistance, super high TPI under tread and high on side walls. Good traction. Light weight (500g range). Tire feels firmer per lb of inflation compared to my other tires.
Weaknesses: Chili compound lug/knob adhesion to thread casing. 2.2 model is narrow, doesn't measure out to 2.2
Bottom Line:
2.2 Protection Model
Out of the box, the tire springs into shape and has a plastic-y sound/feel too it. Pumped up (using tubes), the tire has a resonance like a tubeless tire, combined with the outer lugs it makes a sound I typically associate with washing out.....but its not washin'. Traction 4 Chilis (little narrow).
I shaved 2lb 10oz off my rig moving to these from 2.2 WTB Wolverines. The "protection" model has proven itself against Texas mesquites. Weight & Protection 5 chilis.
Black Chili compound...I thought my Mutano raptors wore fast on rocky terrain.......These are worse. In fact, I might take pics and send to Conti. I have one lug completely ripped off missing in the middle, showing the dense thread core below. The side lugs of my Mutano's did this, but after many 100s of miles. MANY other knobs are half ripped and will be soon to go...picture teeth falling out of your gums...thats how these are coming off, like they aren't bonded to the thread casing very well.
Expensive tire, rolls fast, has good grip climbing/cornering/braking, light and puncture resistant....but won't last. I think this tire is best left for sponsored racers (who can get it at cost or free) and replace it as needed (often). Narrowness of this 2.2 doesn't inspire the confidence of other tires.
I'll live with them a while, not a horrible purchase, but will go back to the Wolverine until I'm tempted again to deviate.
Similar Products Used: WTB Mutano raptors, Wolverines, Motoraptors, Small Block 8s.
Bike Setup: '09 Sortie 3, Sun Singletrack rims.
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Submitted by
sascwatch
a Cross Country Rider
from Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: July 27, 2011
Strengths: -fast rolling
-wear is minimal, atleast on hardpack and pavement, alot of commuting done on these 1 month doing close to 10 miles per day.
-excellent traction
-no problems on ZTR Flow rims
Weaknesses: -the 2.4's are HUGE
Bottom Line:
I had no problem getting these tires to seat brand new using a tiny air compressor, the first set of "tubeless ready" tires I've used. Didn't even inflate a tube in them prior to instal, just put them on and rode 10k worth of trails.
Has the traction of a Nevgal, but the rolling resistance of a much smaller tire.
Haven't rode them much, just a few trails rides, and alot of paved commuting, haven't lost many of the "mold spikes" yet.
2.4 tires are rather large, but fit in my Yukon FX frame easily. Might pick up a 2.2 for comparison testing.
Similar Products Used: -Kenda Kharisma lites
-and many in between
-2.1 Nevgal
Bike Setup: Upgraded Yukon FX, Hope Hoops (Pro II on ZTR Flow), Race Face Deus crank, Hope ceramic BB, Hope Tech M4, 3x9 SRAM X9 drive train (pc-991, pg-990, X9 derailleurs and shifters), DMR v12 MAG pedals, ODI Ruffian lock-ons.
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Submitted by
Lachlan210796
a Cross Country Rider
from Broken Hill, Australia
Date Reviewed: July 25, 2011
Strengths: Great volume tyre with good grip. MIne is the 2.4 Protection version. Very fast for a nobby tyre
Weaknesses: Very hard to seal with Stans. I sealled up a UST Race King first go yet it took me days for the X-King.
Bottom Line:
Really nice front tyre with heaps of grip and cushioning. I haven't seen any real wear at this stage and the country I ride in is very rocky, sandy and prickly. I had a horrible time trying to get this tyre to seal with Stans but then read an article about the tyre where it was suggested to scrub the inside casing of the tyre with brake cleaner and a scouring pad before trying to mount it. This removes the mould release agent from the tyre casing allowing the Stans to stick. Once I did this it was a heap easier though it did take 2 days of shaking and laying the tyre on the sides. Now it doesn't leak at all. I run it with a Race KIng 2.2 tubless rear tyre and the combo is excellent.
Bike Setup: Giant Trance with new shimano dynasystem 10 speed conversion. Race Face carbon Next XC bar and seat post. Race King UST 2.2 rear tyre.
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Submitted by
addctd2adrnlne
a Racer
from Madison, WI, USA
Date Reviewed: July 15, 2011
Strengths: Excellent grip, low rolling resistance, very light weight (Supersonic Version)
Weaknesses: Weak knobs, won't hold air with Stan's on the Supersonic version.
Bottom Line:
I wanted to order the Race Sport (their tubeless ready version) casing from Continental, but the rep told me that they weren't going to release it yet here in the U.S.
So I thought I would try the Supersonic casing and try to seal it with Stan's NoTubes (I was successful with the Speed King Supersonics a couple seasons ago, so I thought I would give it a go). Unfortunately, the side walls are SO thin, that even Stan's had a hard time sealing the tires, unless you put twice the amount in.
But other than the Stan's issue, these tires were great, until today. Well, in a sense they are still great, but the rear already needs to be replaced after one race and three training rides. I know they are the Supersonic casing and will wear quickly, but four rides?!?! Well actually all it took was one ride, today's ride. I started the ride with both tires looking almost brand new, they even still had 90% of the little hair like things poking off the tread.
But after 22 miles of relatively technical single track (technical for Wisconsin) that is often rocky, and the rear tire was flat (ran it at 35 psi with a tube on a dual suspension bike, pinch flatted at the end) and missing a bunch of rubber. The side walls actually held up very well. The center tread still looks great, but the side knobs don't look that good at all, oh wait, there aren't any left.
Traction - 5 flaming things
Weight - 5 flaming things
Rolling resistance - 4 flaming things
Durability - 2 flaming things (held up well on the front)
Bottom Line - Fantastic tire for anything but rocky technical trails, at least in the Supersonic casing.
Strengths: rolls well, reasonable weight
protection 2.4 version
Weaknesses: Wears extremely rapidly.
Riding for 2 months, side knobs torn middle tread heavily worn.
Sidewall blew out during a race where the protection sidewall had rubbed through. The protection version is little more than a marketing name/gimmic
Needed new stans every 2 weeks.
Bottom Line:
Definitely for race day only. Even then they are not durable if used in an area that has any kind of abrasive rocks.
Bike Setup: 4" full suspension, 22 pounds; yep it's a race bike
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Submitted by
frederik.rooms
a Cross Country Rider
from Blankenberge
Date Reviewed: June 12, 2011
Strengths: Grippy at all times, fastest tyre i've tested, light but...
Weaknesses: not as light as mentioned on the website (+- 30gr),weak sidewalls, expensive compared to Geax, Vredestein
Bottom Line:
The best tyre to pick if you like the Mountain Kings grip and the speed of a Race King. The only real downside is the quality of the sidewalls when riding rocky environments!
