[hydrogeek]

Anybody run a 2.4 Mountain King on the front with a 2.2 Race King outback? Sounds like it might be a good combo. I have been running a large (2.35) to small (2.1) Nevegal combo on my 26er and I really like it. Larger knobs with more bite on the front and slightly less rolling resistance on the rear. Thought this might apply to the 29er that I am putting together. Thoughts?

 

[29buzz]

This has been a very good combo here in Wv.Even one of our guys got on the podium for the season with this combo. Only problem-the Mtn King is changing...so we do not know about the new version yet. Also on the horizon from Conti is the X-King...it may work even better on the front with the Race King in the rear. The Race King is also in a 2.0 this year...but we like the size of the 2.2 here. The 2.2 Race has the same casing size as the 2.4 Mtn King-good balance and low pressure performance. Also does tubeless very well if you are into that. Cant go wrong a Race King 2.2 it is a great rear tire.

 

[mtroy]

I agree with the comments so far. I have been running a 2.2 Race King tubeless on Flows for some time now on the back of my SS. Great performing tire with a plump casing volume for a 2.2 and it rolls well and hooks up much better then you think it would.

The Mt King is a mixed bag IMO. In loose or mulchy, muddy soils it is really good. On hardpack, the tall side knobs are like tiny gummy bears and leave me with vague steering. And, as was mentioned the new design makes all that old news. The new version I saw looked like a tire design with an raised, aggressive center tread and lower set side tread, and with a gap between the two sections of tire. But that was a quick peek as I remember it from I-Bike.

However, the new Race King 2.2 is quite the front tire so far. Only two rides on it...about 7 hours so far in mostly dry, sandy, dirt over hardpack, acorn laden trails and roads, but it has been a solid performer. I need to measure it after a few days of being tubeless, but it looks to be the same width knob to knob as the Race King 2.2 is sidewall to sidewall.

 

[Old29r]

I agree with mtroy... I run Race King 2.0 all the way around. the high crown on the king lets you just about lay the bike on it's side and carve turns. Mt King knobs are too big and don't grip as well. That said, the Race king is NOT a wet or mud tire at all.
I run them on a 29r tubeless and have had some issues pulling the bead out (I'm 6' 3" and weigh 210)... They have a 26" tubeless but not the 29r yet (hint hint).

 

[hydrogeek]

I have seen the new Mountain King in person. It looks like the center knobs might make for improved rolling over the previous version, but I am not so sure the side knobs will hook up that well. I spoke the the Conti sales rep and he told me that the old Mountain King looked too much like they didn't know what they were doing. I know a lot of local riders that swear by the old design for wet riding because they shed mud well.

I have my eye on the 2011 version of the Race King, but I can see how the old version of the Mountain King in a 2.4 might squirm on hardpack soils. In our area, Pacific Northwest, we can be riding wet, loamy, trails one week then drive east and ride rocky, dry, hardpack trails the next. I have run Nevegals for the past few years all year round with good success, but I am ready to try a new setup that rolls faster.

 

[besnard]

I've got the Mountain King 2.4 up front and Race King 2.2 in the back on my Jet 9. So far it's awesome! I think this would be a great choice.

 

[mtroy]

2.2 Mtn King revised.

 

[Juanmoretime]

I have set of new 2.4 Mountain Kings laying around since I used them last year as my winter snow tire which they work for great. I put on Race Kings for the summer. I never got around to changing them out and still have the Race Kings on. I've done several snow rides and some in very deep snow and the Race Kings worked awesome too. Well enough that they are staying on. Race Kings year around for me. Brand new in the box 2.4 Mountain King's for sale soon!

 

[mellowme17]

2.2 Mtn King revised.

that 2.2 looks huge. but wonder how its going to roll..

 

[29buzz]

There is some 'squirm' on the Mt. King 2.4...but we have mostly soft soils so it was ok-but when it was dry,a Race King was better on the back. We go through every trail type in a ride sometimes here. Conti also has a Trail King...heavy open tread freeride style comming.We hear May for all 3 new tires. Twentynineinches.com tested the X-King in 2.2 recently..all looks good. We just got 10pair 2.4 old Mtn Kings...and i think they are out of stock-gone from distributers....so new tires,fingers crossed,we hope are even better.

 

[hydrogeek]

The new Mountain King seem to be about the same volume as the old version. The Trail Kings are however HUGE.

 

[gatman]

That new Mtn King looks like the Rubber Queens that I have on my 1x1.

I have a 2.4 X-King on the front of my SS and LOVE it!! I can't wait until I can get a 2.2 to put on the back.

I think the X-King would also make a good back tire. It would be like a Race King on roids and not have the corner issues of the mtn king.

I did pick up some Race King 2.0 for some gravel racing, so I will see if I like them.

 

[hydrogeek]

gatman, where did you find a 2.4 X-King? I haven't been able to find them anywhere. I have seen this tire in person too, and I thought it fit perfectly between the Race and Mountain Kings. Little more knob than the Race and slightly better spacing too.

Universal and Jenson have them on their websites, but they are unavailable.

 

[gatman]

No comment.

I am told they will be available in June.

 

[carlhulit]

I have run a 2.2 race king rear with a 2.25 racing ralph front both tubeless and find that to be a great combo for going fast in everything except mud. I raced multiple endurance races with this last summer with good results.

 

[xjbaylor]

I have run a 2.2 race king rear with a 2.25 racing ralph front both tubeless and find that to be a great combo for going fast in everything except mud. I raced multiple endurance races with this last summer with good results.

This is what I have been running on my FS for the last few weeks. It isn't a bad combo, but I think I like the Crossmark rear a little better. I will probably move the RK to the rear of my rigid SS for the slight increase in volume.

 

[Engberg]

Which X-King is the same volume as the Race King 2.2? 2.2 or 2.4?

 

[hydrogeek]

The X-King that I saw were more similar in casing size to the Mountain Kings. My 2.4 MK is just slightly wider than the 2.2 Race King. The 2.2 Race King is slightly taller than the MK 2.4.

 

[henryhb]

i wrote a mail to conti germany some days ago. they told me, that the new 29er tires will be available here in germany late april.

 

[r29]

I currently have the regular race king 2.2 front and back.

Should I change out the back to a rk 2.2 protection or ss version?

Front - MK2 2.4? TK/RQ 2.4? or other option

Have a pair of regular 2.2 nevegals that came with bike great grip and all but horrible rolling resistance. (might try out the nevegal on front for fun)

Still relatively new kinda experimenting.. Toronto, Ontario Canada. Dry days - hard pack/concrete, day after it rains soft pack/muddy (not heavy mud)