Path or Enduro MTB merchandise face the powerful process of doing every part properly. Relating to tires, which means making certain good traction, ample sidewall help and affordable rolling resistance. Continental’s Kryptotal tires had been designed to supply a really perfect all-around tread, and I’d say they delivered on that declare whereas protecting their weight in examine.
I obtained the Kryptotal tires throughout Crankworx Whistler, the place Continental whisked us away for a heli drop to attempt them out! Alongside particular visitors Gee and Dan Atherton, the media crew bought to get pleasure from a prolonged downhill run that includes rocky alpine terrain, forested areas with unfastened however grippy filth, and looser, dustier decrease sections. Since then I’ve been driving them on my house trails in varied climate circumstances, so learn on to learn the way they fared by means of my on-trail testing.
Continental Kryptotal Tires – Building Options
The Kryptotal is an enduro tire with entrance and rear particular tread designs supposed for combined terrain. Continental says the tires are designed to supply a steadiness of grip, braking traction and rolling resistance.
The entrance tire options massive aspect knobs, with alternating double and triple row middle knobs. There are sipes on all of the aspect knobs and many of the middle knobs. The knobs have steep and shallow ramps, and there’s a good bit of empty house between them.
The rear Kryptotal tire gives massive aspect knobs of an identical form to the entrance tire, however they sit on slight inward angles. In between are alternating double rows of large and triangular middle knobs, and the triangular knobs additionally alternate between two barely completely different shapes. This tread options sipes on each knob, and just like the entrance, the tread leaves some room between the knobs.
I’m driving a Kryptotal Fr SuperSoft entrance tire and a Kryptotal Re Delicate rear. Each are 29×2.4”, and each have Continental’s Enduro casing. The Enduro casing is a single-ply casing that options Apex safety to withstand pinching. The SuperSoft compound is designed to maximise grip, braking traction and management, whereas the Delicate compound goals to supply a mixture of strong grip and improved rolling resistance.
Mannequin Lineup
The Kryptotal Fr entrance 29” tire is on the market with Path, Enduro or Downhill casings. DH or Enduro casings are available SuperSoft or Delicate rubber compounds, and Path casings include Delicate or Endurance compounds. Most variants are available 2.4” widths solely, however the Enduro/Delicate tire and the Path/Endurance fashions additionally are available 2.6”.
The Kryptotal Re rear 29” tire can also be offered with all three casing choices, however DH casings are supplied with SuperSoft or Delicate compounds, Enduro fashions can be found in Delicate solely, and Path fashions include the Endurance compound solely. Rear DH fashions are 29×2.4” solely, however the Enduro/Delicate and Path/Endurance fashions supply a 2.6” width too.
27.5” fashions are additionally accessible: Entrance tires are available DH/SuperSoft, Enduro/Delicate, or Path/Endurance, all 2.4” large. Rears can be found with the DH casing (SuperSoft or Delicate compound), Enduro/Delicate or Path/Endurance. All can be found in 2.4” or 2.6” widths besides the DH/SuperSoft which solely is available in 2.4”.
Continental Kryptotal Precise Weight
Continental lists the load for the Kryptotal Fr (29×2.4”, Enduro/Supersoft) at 1205g, whereas my scale confirmed it at 1210g. The Kryptotal Re (29×2.4”, Enduro/Delicate) is listed at 1165g, but it surely truly got here up a bit under that at 1140g on my scale.
Journey Impressions
Each the entrance and rear Kryptotal’s beads had been a decent match on my rims, however not tough to mount. It did take blast of air from my compressor to seat them. The sidewalls are pretty stiff contemplating their strengthened single ply building.
I did discover some minor sweating of sealant by means of the sidewalls after the tires had been put in for a pair weeks. I may see small moist spots evenly unfold out on each tires, however nothing too regarding. After weeks on my bike and loads of rides, the tires are each holding air usually and no extreme sweating or sealant leaks have surfaced.
Climbing
As an enduro tire you’d hope the Kryptotals can be respectable tires to climb with, and I’d say they’re. First off, they arrive in at affordable weights, particularly contemplating they’re fairly knobby and the sidewalls really feel fairly strong.
It might be an exaggeration to name the Kryptotals a quick rolling tire, however given their massive knobs they do roll alongside pretty simply. They’re no match for one thing like a Maxxis Dissector (which I used to be driving earlier than the Kryptotals) however they roll fairly simply in comparison with different enduro tires.
Though they held fairly properly on moist terrain, the Kryptotals didn’t amaze me with their grip over moist roots. My rear wheel slipped just a few occasions whereas climbing rooty trails on damp days, however I rode one other bike geared up with Maxxis Minions in comparable circumstances and the Minions had been fairly comparable. The Kryptotals had been hardly an issue on damp rides, however I’ve loved higher grip from tires which can be particularly supposed for moist circumstances.
Descending – Dry Circumstances
My first impression of the Kryptotals was that they discover loads of grip by means of tough rocky sections of path. The entrance and rear are each fairly knobby treads, and people knobs seize onto no matter they will. I seen the tires held traction very properly within the rocky alpine terrain on our heli drop.
Furthering that, the Kryptotals additionally did nice on packed filth with unfastened gravelly rocks on prime. These knobs appear to behave like little fingers, reaching out and discovering traction on uneven or unfastened surfaces very well.
I trip in unfastened, dusty circumstances within the summertime and the Kryptotals tracked by means of deep mud with ease. Braking additionally proved to be spectacular within the mud: There’s a steep, unfastened chute I trip usually and the Kryptotal combo made it no downside for me to maintain my pace beneath management.
Along with offering nice grip on dry rock slabs, the Kryptotal tires observe over hardpack filth properly. Using one quick, hard-packed path I did really feel just like the tires had been grabbing the path floor fairly than skimming over it. Continental payments these tires as very best all-around treads, they usually don’t have any actual weak spots in dry circumstances.
Damp Circumstances
The place I trip the filth soaks up rain like a sponge, so regardless of my greatest efforts to get muddy I can’t actually touch upon the Krytotal’s mud shedding talents. We simply don’t get that sticky mud that packs up on tires in my space. That stated, I did get a number of probabilities to trip in very best damp circumstances. On cheesy filth, the Kryptotals supplied wonderful grip, which solely bought higher if the path had a unfastened floor layer for the knobs to dig into. In these ‘hero filth’ circumstances, the tires railed berms with Velcro-like grip!
As for braking, the luggy Kryptotals dug into damp filth very well, and the rear appears significantly desperate to cease itself.
The Kryptotal tires did preserve good traction on moist rooty/rocky trails. They supplied respectable grip on damp slabs, and I solely had one main rear finish slip-out whereas dashing down a moist, rocky descent. I’ll gladly settle for that was simply rider error, as I felt completely planted on different rides down descents suffering from slick rocks and roots. I’d solely count on higher efficiency from moist climate particular treads.
Cornering
On something from dry trails to damp filth, the Kryptotal Fr’s SuperSoft aspect lugs locked into corners very well. As soon as leaned onto these lugs I felt very strong holding traces round berms or corners. The Kryptotal’s means to search out traction on looser surfaces ensured good grip in steep, dusty corners or when creeping down rocky turns coated with tiny ball-bearing rocks.
I didn’t discover something odd or inconsistent about how this tire combo leans you into turns – the entrance tire doesn’t function the roundest profile but it surely does transition onto the aspect lugs easily. At that time the large lugs dig in and do their job properly.
Sidewall Help
The Enduro casing’s Apex strengthened sidewalls gained me over, as they really feel fairly heavy responsibility contemplating the pedal-friendly weight of the tires. I by no means felt any lack of help railing by means of corners, and most impressively all through all my check rides I solely took one noteworthy hit to my rear rim. There are many chunky rocks on my native trails, however the Kryptotals protected my rear wheel from nasty impacts (and with out tire inserts – however keep in mind I’m a light-weight rider). In comparison with Maxxis’ Exo+ casings, I discovered the Kryptotal’s Enduro sidewalls notably higher at resisting impacts.
Put on and Tear
I’ve been driving the Kryptotal tires since late August, and there’s nothing regarding to report about put on and tear. I don’t see any alarming price of damage on the SuperSoft entrance tire, I’ve had no punctures or burps with both tire, and I haven’t broken the sidewalls in any respect.
The Continental Kryptotal Fr Enduro/SuperSoft retails for $91.95, and the Kryptotal Re Enduro/Delicate sells for $86.95. Costs range between different fashions and sizes, starting from $62.95-102.95.
continental-tires.com
