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Discussion starter · #22 ·
Isnt this a fairly new tread pattern? I didnt realize there was two versions. How can you tell which is which?
I think its pretty safe to say that if you get it now it will be the new version. It was out of stock in almost all the stores for a few weeks, they suddenly showed up again. If you have any doubt, call the store.

I am still waiting for mine (should land here this week finally).
 
Do you guys mount the rear reverse direction or the same direction as the front?
I mount in the same direction as indicated on tire (running 2.4 Protection). After the rear tire wears down (happens quickly where I ride), I reversed the rear to gain a bit more traction and add a little more life to the tire. Works great. IMO, you should not have the reverse the rear out of the box, if you are able to run them at low pressure. The tire rolls fast and has excellent traction.
 
Both tires mount the same direction.

For me, I run the X-King 2.4 Protection tubeless with Stan's for all riding, training, and racing. I am on a 26er and running 100mm travel front rear on the FS.....and a 100mm up front on the HT.

I am in Colorado, so this tire size and sidewall set up works really well for me here. It's a good mix of speed, comfort, and traction.

RaceSport is a great option.....as long as you live in an area where sharp rocks are an issue. RaceSport here in Colorado on rocky course is like Russian roulette. Understand, great tire......in the right environment.

I have a few photos here that show size difference between the X-King 2.4, 2.2, and the Race King 2.2: Continental X-King and Race King tire comparison - a set on Flickr
 
my x kings protections have knobs that are shredded and some completely off showing the thread. less than 100mi :madman: otherwise they are pretty cool, stans sealed up fine. Just not sure if the super fast wear is normal.
 
Discussion starter · #27 ·
Interesting noises I get from this tire. When its leaned or compressed (like a landing or g-out) it makes a loud noise. The noise is like riding on pavement, you can hear every knob hitting the dirt as a serious of clicks. Its LOUD. Pretty weird, bike rides quietly, then a little bump and ZZZZ for a second.

My wheels are noise amplifiers, that I already know, but I still never got any unusual tire noise from the tires I had before this.

Does anyone else get this noise?
 
I have been trying the RS versions. 2.4 front and 2.2 rear.
Both leak out the sidewalls. Took a week of futzing with them before they held air. Now and again they still spring new leaks. I think I am going to replace the front with a 2.2 as the 2.4 seems to be not well supported on my 19mm wide xtr m975 rim.

I am tempted to go with the ust versions next time. I like the tread and rolling traction but the leaks are annoying. Only thing is I don't think the usts are black chili.... which I do definitely like.
 
Discussion starter · #31 ·
I think it's rubbing your frame.
Dude you got me worried. Just checked that by removing all the air from the shock.
I have 1/2" between the tire and seat stays, chain stays and frame seat tube. So it's all good.
The sidewalls on these tires are made of rice paper. Two sidewall failures in two rides, needless to say this will not be going back on my bike.
Is that the protection version or the RS?
I have been trying the RS versions. 2.4 front and 2.2 rear.
Both leak out the sidewalls. Took a week of futzing with them before they held air. Now and again they still spring new leaks.
Is that old generation or new generation RS? I have the new generation which I got about a month ago, and its holding air perfectly without stans liquid. I still use stans for flat protection, and nothing leaks out of the tire. It also does not loose air so far. I hope it stays like that.
 
Protection version. I also just watched my buddy go through the same thing right in front of me. 2.2 Protection XKing riding a section we have done a hundreds of times. Sidewall cut and an unusable tire after the second ride.
 
Is that old generation or new generation RS? I have the new generation which I got about a month ago, and its holding air perfectly without stans liquid. I still use stans for flat protection, and nothing leaks out of the tire. It also does not loose air so far. I hope it stays like that.
I don't know. How can you tell the difference?
 
How about none! These are the crappiest tires I have ever owned. I kid you not, I have about 10 missing knobbies on my rear tire after about 15 - 20 rides. I'm not riding on rocks, just basic trail riding in the Dallas/Ft Worth area. Naive as I am, I went tubeless on these and the first ride I had the front tire totally deflate on me off a 2 ft drop. I realized I would have to keep my loops close to the parking lot so I could get back and air them up. The front and back lost all of their air in less than 20 minutes. I ended up doing the whole Stans video guy routine every night to prepare for the next day's ride. I finally got the rear one to seal pretty good, but the front would lose air (it was good for about 30 minutes). I mean, it would seal, then like clockwork, another hole would open up. I finally got all of the pinholes sealed up. Go do a search from some of my previous posts, I think I posted a couple of times about them. This is all within about a 1 - 2 month timeframe. Today I noticed that the rear tire was losing air. I took a look, and 2 more knobbies were torn off and I can see the webbing underneath. More Stans tonight so I can ride tomorrow.

Just for reference, I'm running the Race on front and the Protection on the back. Before someone chimes in and tells me that the Race sport isn't tubeless ready, fine, but where I bought them, it specifically said they were. I will try to dig up the website later.

This is a shame because these tires were exactly what I was looking for - lightweight, awesome tread, and the 2.4 was the perfect size I was looking for. I'm going back to Specialized, since I've had good experience with them, they tend to last, and when they say they are tubeless ready, they mean it.

edit: Ok, found the link to where I got them: Continental X King 26" Tires - Outside Outfitters and right there on the page it says:

Race Sport: beefed up Supersonic casing with a UST bead that can be run tubeless with sealant or with tubes- THIS IS NOT A UST CERTIFIED TIRE AND SEALANT MUST BE USED TO RUN TUBELESS.
 
2.4 X King Protection user here, kinda vague on the front, better than a RK2.2 or a Aspen though, I run it fairly hard on the rear all year in the UK and it works very well indeed.

As said the side wall is thick and crunchy the upside to this is it feels like it adds some damping ( more noticeable on the HT ) ie slow rebound sidewalls makes the ride a lot more comfortable.

Not 1 puncture in 18months, loads and loads of miles on it and it's still got plenty of tread so they wear very well amazingly, which is good cause it cost a bomb to import from germany when they where first available :)

I use tubes so no idea on the stan's side.
 
I'll provide an update on my 2.4 Protections which I have used over the past couple of months. I've lost some side edge knobbies on the back as well, they tend to kind of "chunk" off. Not to the cords though - at least not yet. Wear seems to be OK but I wouldn't say they are super durable. If I continue to lose knobs I'm going to be very unhappy. I did have a nonrepairable sidewall puncture on a 2.2 protection but chalk this up to a manufacturing defect as I was on a fire road (where I spend most of my miles) and didn't hit anything - this was the second ride on these. NO problems on the new 2.4 replacement though. Overall I'm still pleased and have had no sealing or significant leakage problems. Monitoring the knob loss closely though......
 
How about none! These are the crappiest tires I have ever owned. I kid you not, I have about 10 missing knobbies on my rear tire after about 15 - 20 rides. I'm not riding on rocks, just basic trail riding in the Dallas/Ft Worth area. Naive as I am, I went tubeless on these and the first ride I had the front tire totally deflate on me off a 2 ft drop. I realized I would have to keep my loops close to the parking lot so I could get back and air them up. The front and back lost all of their air in less than 20 minutes. I ended up doing the whole Stans video guy routine every night to prepare for the next day's ride. I finally got the rear one to seal pretty good, but the front would lose air (it was good for about 30 minutes). I mean, it would seal, then like clockwork, another hole would open up. I finally got all of the pinholes sealed up. Go do a search from some of my previous posts, I think I posted a couple of times about them. This is all within about a 1 - 2 month timeframe. Today I noticed that the rear tire was losing air. I took a look, and 2 more knobbies were torn off and I can see the webbing underneath. More Stans tonight so I can ride tomorrow.

Just for reference, I'm running the Race on front and the Protection on the back. Before someone chimes in and tells me that the Race sport isn't tubeless ready, fine, but where I bought them, it specifically said they were. I will try to dig up the website later.

This is a shame because these tires were exactly what I was looking for - lightweight, awesome tread, and the 2.4 was the perfect size I was looking for. I'm going back to Specialized, since I've had good experience with them, they tend to last, and when they say they are tubeless ready, they mean it.

edit: Ok, found the link to where I got them: Continental X King 26" Tires - Outside Outfitters and right there on the page it says:
Did you read the whole thread? IF THEY LEAK LIKE A SEIVE AND WON"T HOLD AIR, THEY ARE THE OLD ONES!!!!!!
 
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