The Continental Mountain King is an all-around tire available in a 2.2 or 2.4" width. The 2.4 width is recommended for Trail and All Mountain bikes. The 2.2 is best fitted to an XC bike or a weight optimized Trail bike.
- Race Sport: The optimal combination of lightweight and puncture resistance
- Black Chili Rubber rolls stickier, faster and longer
- All-around tire
- Intermediate tread design suits many wet and/or dry riding conditions
- Tire Use: Mountain
- Color Tread/Side: Black/Black
- Tire Type: Clincher
- Tire Diameter: 26"
- ISO Width: 55 mm
- ISO Diameter: 559 / 26" mtn
- Tire Bead: Folding
- PSI: 50 - 65 PSI
- Weight: 530.0 g
Mountain Kings are King of the Mountain
I've been using the Race King and first gen Mountain King Supersonic versions since they have been available and I love the Black Chili rubber in the damp North Vancouver conditions. I finally wore out one of those early Mountain Kings so I thought I'd try a set of the Mk 2.4 II versions. I thought for sure they'd be buzzier than the original MK 2.4, as the knob spacing looked bigger and chunkier. I was super impressed to find that they were not only quieter than the original MK 2.4 Supersonics, they rolled noticeably faster at the same pressures. What I really noticed was the original MK 2.4 really sat happily on centre and it took a bit of effort to get them to turn and roll over onto the side knobs when on hardpack and pavement to the trail, and they used to squirm quite a bit on the side knobs.
The new MK 2.4 series II are just the opposite, they are super light and nimble on centre (and roll faster), but they also turn in so much faster and the side knobs are much more solid so there is less squirm on hardpack. They don't roll quite as fast and smooth as a Race King, but they're much better than the original MK 2.4.
The Black Chili rubber still does what it does best, these things churn through those deep humus bogs in the rain forest, they love wet roots and rocks and wood work. They also worked well on the recent trip to Mont Sainte Anne and their greasier loamy mud. These are a terrific "do it all" tire for the rainforest where in a week we may have dry loamy trails or wet boggy trails and slick roots and rocks (or sometimes both on the same ride)
Pros: Grip in abundance in the wet and dry, roll fast and smooth on hardpack, super nimble off centre, well behaved over on the sideknobs, made of Black Chili rubber.
Cons: I'm sure there's likely some downsides, but nothing I've run across yet.
Would Buy Again: Yes
Would Recommend: Yes
Reviewed on: July 19, 2012
Reviewed by: Barry M., British Columbia
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