Continental

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I wasn’t really sure what to expect, but the Trail King was really, really good in the mud. It’s not quite a mud spike, but for a tire that functions well in non-muddy conditions too, they’re one of the best I’ve ridden. They clear mud about average for a spaced out, knobby tire, but more importantly, they provide consistent grip that, as far as sliding around in the mud goes, is confidence inspiring. This went on my beloved Transition Scout---a bike that is beyond playful, fast, fun...my favorite bike ever.

ProTection goes four-ply under the tread and three-ply on the sidewalls, with an added layer of Cordura to stop cuts and sharps rupturing the tire. It gets a ‘flag design’ on the sidewall for rub resistance and it’s now properly, easily tubeless-ready.I’m looking at the Minion DNF in 2.5″ width and Vittoria Morsa in the 2.3″ width. They both look about the same volume/size as the TK in 2.4″. At least as accurately as I can measure with my eyeball. Specialized recently updated their ever-popular Butcher tire with an all-new T9 rubber compound. We tested the Butcher Grid Trail T9 in both 2.3" and 2.6" widths, and while the tread pattern hasn't substantially changed, this feels like an entirely new tire. The T9 rubber used by Specialized is their grippiest material. Although not super soft, it's designed to slowly rebound, reduce deflection, and enhance grip. This results in a well-dampened ride quality that feels connected to the trail surface. The tall center tread lugs offer excellent braking traction. At the same time, the substantial row of shoulder knobs provide great grip through corners. The Specialized Grid Trail casing feels supportive and supple while surprisingly resistant to punctures or tears. It's also one of the least expensive tires and offers excellent value. Although we were very pleased with most aspects of the Butcher Grid Trail T9's performance, it is not the fastest-rolling tire available in the market. The 29" x 2.6" size we tested weighs a bit on the heavy side, at 1,123 grams, and the tread's aggressiveness, open spacing, and grippy rubber contribute to some rolling resistance. This is no worse than most comparable mountain bike tires and is a trade-off for the tire's excellent traction and super smooth ride. Moreover, this budget-friendly tire is an outstanding choice for front and rear applications for trail and all-mountain riders. Continental has been making tires for quite a while, and they’re certainly not new to the bike game. Continental is a thoroughly German company, and many of their tires (including the Trail Kings I tested) are handmade in Germany.

In turns it just laid there...flat and dull, straights it dropped an anchor. I didn't slip on anything so there's that, but that's not enough---I hate this tire!! Oh, and it also rubs the rear triangle in hard turns. Damn you!! The Maxxis Minion DHR II is an aggressive rear tire with terrific cornering grip and excellent braking traction. Aggressive riders who frequent loose, chunky, and rowdy terrain are the best candidates for this beefy and durable tire. It sacrifices some rolling speed in exchange for boatloads of braking traction and cornering prowess. This tire has a large and stout row of side knobs, like those found on the Minion DHF, to dive into corners and hold a line on off-camber sections. Braking bite is superb, thanks to the wide paddle-shaped knobs of the center tread. Many bike brands spec the DHR II as a front and rear tire on complete builds. The Continental Trail King II Performance tyres are suitable for all mountain, enduro and freeride. If your mountain bike has a suspension travel of 140 mm or more, these tyres are suitable. The Continental Trail King II Performance MTB tyres offer a lot of grip and stability on muddy surfaces. When the surface is wet, these tyres also come into their own. The Continental Trail King II Performance tyres have an open tread with high side buttons so you have sufficient grip when cornering. This means that they can handle curvy roads without losing grip. The tyres are also tubeless ready and can possibly be driven with liquid latex to prevent punctures. The newest 27.5 x 2.4″ TKs I got seem like they are narrower than the older 26er version. On the same width rim the older tires have a much rounder profile. The new 27.5 tires are more squared off. I prefer the feel of the rounder tire.

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At first I didn't have much thought on the tire...went through a trail section with loads of technical areas and pinch climbs, so speed isn't a big concern, more just keeping traction and upright. The Specialized Ground Control Grid T7 bridges the gap between cross-country and trail riding; call it down-country if you like. This lightweight model tips the scales at just 867 grams in a 29" x 2.35" size, contributing to the zippy feel. Like most cross-country tires, they are notably fast rolling, but unlike a typical XC tire, they offer better cornering and braking traction than expected. The tread consists of plenty of moderate-height lugs in the center and intermediate zone, with a fairly substantial row of shoulder knobs. We found it provides excellent cornering traction across the spectrum of lean angles in all but the loosest of conditions. The tread design also contributes to controlled and predictable braking performance that outshines other models in its category. The T7 rubber compound offers a nice blend of grip and longevity, and the Grid casing feels relatively robust and durable while remaining lightweight. Better tread and compound technology, plus trail centers to ride when it’s really minging, mean that super-specific sloppy trail tires are relatively rare now, but Continental’s Mud King is still available if you want one.