Editors Note: Yeah, yeah…..another year end review! Tis the season! So, here are my favorite things that have passed through the Twenty Nine Inches review process during the past year. I want to point out a few parameters that I used for what I chose here.
1. The product had to be in the review process during the time period of December 2008 through to the end of November 2009. Reviews that are currently in process I did not include and will be eligible for my 2010 Top Ten list.
2. They had to be products or bicycles that I personally used during this period. Nothing any of the other Twenty Nine Inches staff reviewed on their own could be considered for my list. This list doesn’t necessarily reflect the opinions of anyone but me, Guitar Ted.
3. The reviewed products were provided to Twenty Nine Inches at no charge for review. I was not paid or bribed for this review. I will give/gave my honest opinion or thoughts through out.
That said, let’s get on with this
Number 6: The Continental Race King 2.2″ 29″er tires: Continental introduced the Race King model on some early production ’09 Cannondale 29″ers in late 2008. The casings, marked 2.2″, were actually more like 1.8″-1.9″ in size. Continental, being sensitive to claims that their tires are notoriously undersized, pulled the first production run, went back to the drawing board, and re-introduced the Race King in early 2009. We got a pair to try out here in the Mid-West and out in Southern California with Grannygear. While the final review came in early August, I continued to use the Race Kings well into the fall.
Why They Made The List: The Race King tires are typical 29 inch fare for Continental in that they come out of the box undersized but will stretch set up tubeless to reach claimed width easily. In fact the set I tested exceeded claimed width. The minimal knob pattern exceeds expectations in terms of traction as well. The main feature that put these tires on the list is the volume of the casing. It is tallish, rounded, and plump for its size. It all comes together to make the Race King a great all around tire in most conditions.
My Two Cents: Continental really did a great job making a tire you can stick on a wheel and ride just about anywhere with confidence. Really technical terrain will overwhelm this tread pattern, but outside of loose over hard, mud, and crazy chunk riding the Race King will do well to exceptionally well. It really shines on buff, tacky single track and some of my best riding this past year was on the Race King shredding slightly wet, buff single track through twisty woodland trails. Here the rounded profile, the ability to be run tubeless, and the volume of the tire come into play to near perfection. If there is an Achilles’ heel, it is in instances where some taller, more aggressive side knobs on the front would make for better cornering. If Continental would have had that as an option to run as a front specific tire, this Race King would have been better off named the “All Round King”. Still, it is hard to beat this tire for its ability to be run tubeless, its all round decent performance, and cushy volume. Continental Race King 2.2″ tires- my #6 pick for the Top Ten List of 2009.
That rounds out the first five picks. Stay Tuned for the Top Five on the Top Ten 29″er Products Of ’09 list!
Don’t forget to add your pick for the 2009 Reader’s Choice Award! See the post here to vote
GT, I ca fully back up what you say with my own set of Race Kings. For the rear, they are really versatile, for the front I can run them on a lot of conditions but when things get wewt or rogh I prefer a more aggressive tread. Cornering control is the biggest complaint – more notably up front.
My 2 cents.
Mark,
I know people run them tubeless, but has Conti signed off on that officially? A TLR sort of thing?
Ben
@Ben: Well, in a round about way, they have signed off. What they said was (paraphrased- not an exact quote here) that their tires were compatible with all currently available sealants for tires.
One can logically surmise that tires need not be compatible with sealant unless you are running the tires tubeless. So, Continental doesn’t specifically use the term “tubeless” but patently has allowed that it can be done with their tires.
In my experience there has been zero issues in doing so.
Just mounted a pair last night that I purchased in Jan ’10. True width is 1.9 on both tires. Absolutely no stretching overnight.No way these tires could ever be considered 2.2″. Hard to believe I got old stock a year after they pulled their first production run.