Continental mountain kings

funkydung
funkydung Posts: 116
edited July 2008 in MTB buying advice
Thinking of getting some Conti MKs and converting to tubless. I have read that the standard tyres are very puncture prone, will it be worth the extra cash for the Protection version or not?

Comments

  • NikB
    NikB Posts: 243
    I've only had 2 punctures, both in the front tyre and both caused by thorns. So not too bad imo. However the grip the tyres offer isn't great over wet stuff particularly technical rocky/rooty singletrack.
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  • The Black Chilli compound is pretty grippy. I've got the ones with the Black Chilli but not the protection. Had one puncture in the rear tyre- but it was a thorn so would've probably punctured any tyre.

    I've found the folding MK supersonic tyres impossible to mount tubeless with a track pump. Might just be me.
  • grantway
    grantway Posts: 1,430
    Had these supplied with my bike. Would not recommend them at all

    When the terrain was wet had a couple of bad offs and felt like riding on
    ice totaly crap.
  • I've got the tubeless variety, they leak air like a sieve and they don't grip very well when you're banked over!
  • funkydung
    funkydung Posts: 116
    Maybe I'll go for Maxxis High rollers then???
  • funkydung wrote:
    Maybe I'll go for Maxxis High rollers then???

    that's what I'm thinking too!
  • Surf-Matt
    Surf-Matt Posts: 5,952
    Just ordered the Speed King Protections - will let you know what I think when i get them but reviews are very good.
  • Chaka Ping
    Chaka Ping Posts: 1,451
    I have the MK Protection 2.4s.

    Not tried them tubeless, but in contrast to the other posters - I have found them to grip well on almost all surfaces. Including snow, wet rocks, dry rocks and mud.

    They aren't terribly puncture prone with tubes, just about the same as most other tyres I've ridden.
  • I found highrollers to be a bit more consistent across varying terrain (especially loose ground i.e. gravel)- but they're almost twice the weight.

    with regards to wet rocks / roots etc- it's more about how you ride them- no tyres are going to grip on this unless you're weighting them just right and not powering too hard. Easier said than done, obviously
  • Hi,

    I was thinking of getting some continental tyres for the "summer" ahem...

    I was loooking at the Speed Kings for some nice light rubber that's still grippy. Anyone got any experience of them? (I've seen in the reviews that they are good on the front. I've no experience of mixing tyres, what does one put on then back then. I think this might require a post in the general forum to be honest)

    Anyone know if there is much of a grip difference between the regular and "black chili" rubber?

    I've currently got Kenda Nevegals on my Trance X2, pretty good for everything really but sometimes when I'm just doing some XC work they feel a little overkill, maybe it's just me.
  • Surf-Matt
    Surf-Matt Posts: 5,952
    Pothole - I have spent ages mulling over reviews and figures!

    I went for the SKs because they come in 2.1" size - The MKs were a bit fat. SKs are also a fair bit lighter. I've gone for the Black Chilli Protections - CRC are doing them for a cracking price.

    If I was going to mix and match I'd possibly go for the smallest MK on the back and the SK on the front. But I'm getting two of the same.
  • I'd go for more grip on the front rather than rear- i.e MK front SK rear- this is what I've got now (mk 2.4 and sk 2.3 rear). The SK is definately less knobly than the MK. I'd want somthing chunkier than a SK on the front for UK riding- lets face it, do we ever have more than a couple of weekends in a row where there is no soft ground?
  • Father Faff
    Father Faff Posts: 1,176
    I've just got a pair of MK Protection 2.2s to replace my High Roller 2.1s on my Meta 5 so I'll let you know what I think. I have to say the High Rollers have been very tough (only punctured by thorns) and stable and usually grip very well. The only problem with them is they don't roll too fast and they are quite heavy so I am trying the MKs to see if there is any improvement.
    Commencal Meta 5.5.1
    Scott CR1
  • been using the 2.4 ust mountain kings for a while now and think they are good all rounders to be honest, alos in contrast to the other UST user mine do not lose any air at all, I can't remember the last time I had to top them up after checking pressures. a good tyre in my opinion.
  • Artillerydave, I have to top up my UST MK2.4s at least once a week, I've even put 60mm of Stans in each tyre, it seems to be really small holes that don't seal. They've had a right pasting this weekend in Wales and the back was fairly soft this morning.

    What pressure you running them at and are you using any solution in yours?
  • mine are ran at between 35-38 psi depending on conditions, and mine are using DT's solution, about 50ml in each. as UST tyres they should hold air fine without sealant though. have you done all the usual checks, valve, seated right etc etc and also what rims are yours mounted on? I would say if they need topping up weekly you have a problem somewhere.
  • they're on Mavic 819s which are UST rims. When the tyres are wet, you can see tiny bubbles coming from a number of areas, I think I've also nicked a sidewall on a sharp rock, It seems to be that the solution won't seal tiny holes, which I've read elsewhere too!
  • might be worth patching your nick in the sidewall and seeing if that helps, or try a different solution, the rims should give you no problems though as they are quality rims, mine are DT rims (455) running with a DT swiss coversion kit (quality set)
    and as I said I've had no problems at all.
  • Steve_b77
    Steve_b77 Posts: 1,680
    I've got 2.4" MK's front and back on my Pitch, I went for them as i wanted a faster rolling, lighter tyre than a High Roller.

    Granted they're not as grippy as a High Roller, but they are much lighterand much faster rolling.

    Regarding puncture resistance I can't really comment as I haven't had one since November when I got the bike (touch wood).

    Traction wise I've ridden on wet rocks (Marin Trail in the snow), Ice (Llandegla) wet roots & mud (most of the time round Delamere) adn most other surfaces Wales & Cheshire can throw at you. You can't just rely on a tyre for grip over stuff if you chuck your bike at it without considering what you're really doing nowt is gonna grip properly, just become smoother and you'll be amazed wat you can get away with!!

    All in I think they're brilliant tyres as do a couple of my mates who have them on both HT's & FS's, they're also brilliant value as they can be had at £12 easch :D
  • I'm not bothered about a fast rolling tyre as I've got legs to over come that :P , but comparing my MK 2.4s to High Rollers or my Specialized Enduro dual compounds, there are only half as many blocks on the shoulders of the tyre, surely they cannot offer as much grip. If I'm climing wet rocks or roots at an angle then a greater number of softer compound blocks will surley grip harder than widely spaced blocks. I'm toying ewith the idea of reverting back to my 2.3 Enduros with innertubes, but it sems a waste of my UST rims!

    Don't get me wrong, I'm sure the Continentals are a good tyre in the right circumstances, I just don't think they're the best for what I need.

    and Steve, thanks for the tips on my riding style, but I think I'm alright on that front!
  • I'm not bothered about a fast rolling tyre as I've got legs to over come that :P , but comparing my MK 2.4s to High Rollers or my Specialized Enduro dual compounds, there are only half as many blocks on the shoulders of the tyre, surely they cannot offer as much grip. If I'm climing wet rocks or roots at an angle then a greater number of softer compound blocks will surley grip harder than widely spaced blocks. I'm toying ewith the idea of reverting back to my 2.3 Enduros with innertubes, but it sems a waste of my UST rims!

    Don't get me wrong, I'm sure the Continentals are a good tyre in the right circumstances, I just don't think they're the best for what I need.

    and Steve, thanks for the tips on my riding style, but I think I'm alright on that front!

    Go for he Highroller in the softest version you think you'll get value for money from then! a friend has teh supertacky version which seem very grippy, but do drag a lot. Just don't skid on hard ground and they'll last a while
  • funkydung
    funkydung Posts: 116
    Yeah, I'm gonna get a super tacky High roller for the front and leave a Maxxis Larsen on the rear, will let you know what it's like? Possibly get another high roller for the rear in a high durometer if the larsen dosn't cut it?
  • Bazzowmb
    Bazzowmb Posts: 227
    I use the MK 2.2 protection (non UST) with a tubeless set up with no problems.

    I've also found it a quick rolling good all round tyre but don't forget the MK Protection model is with the black chilli compound which is meant to be grippier.

    Surf-Matt I didn't think the SK's Protection model used the black chilli compound, not the last time I checked anyway? Otherwise I might be interested in a set myself!
  • Surf-Matt
    Surf-Matt Posts: 5,952
    Bazzo - they don't. That was me being thick!!

    The Supersonic versions are made of them but no protection model available - I think they'd be a bit fragile.
  • Surf-Matt
    Surf-Matt Posts: 5,952
    Went for the 2.2" Mountain Kings (Protections) in the end from Velo Kit after stock nightmares with CRC (and poor service)- very good price from VK and superb service - www.velokit.co.uk - a new company but well worth looking at.

    Didn't want the Speed Kings as they don't come in Black Chilli form (apart from in the super flimsy but light Supersonic versions) but the MKs come out pretty narrow.

    Done 20 miles on the MKs so far and very impressed - they work on tarmac and grip very well in the wet stuff too.
  • zero303
    zero303 Posts: 1,162
    Supersonic 2.4 Mountain Kings are holding out very well so far even at 30psi. My LBS was saying early versions were shocking but over the last 18 months since their release they've worked on them and I find them fine.

    I've never been overly puncture prone (*touches wood*) and I only weigh 68kgs so that might have something do with it though :oops:

    I've mentioned before that they are less grippy than my Kenda's and I did have some crashes due to the holigan riding style the Kenda's allow. But they just roll so much faster - I've changed my riding style a bit to suit - cleaner and gentler into the corners and then rely on the astonishing weight saving when it comes to getting the power back down.

    If you're a light rider seriously consider anything from the Supersonic range (talc your tubes before fitting) - you'll be looking at anything up to a 1lb weight saving for £60 - bargain!
  • Surf-Matt
    Surf-Matt Posts: 5,952
    Zero - interesting to hear.

    I looked at the Speed King Supersonics (Black Chilli) but just thought I'd kill them. I'm not very puncture prone but do really hate them, hence the Protection versions.

    There is also a sort of disclaimer on the box saying something like "we cannot give the usual Continental blurb for the durability of Supersonic tyres" Also read a few nightmare tales of them blowing out. They are VERY light though!

    Mind you, 68kg is quite light too!

    I'm looking forward to the Race Kings coming out in slightly more durable form (only Supersonics at the moment) - they look like Racing Ralph beaters to me!

    Bit of a Conti fan - big fat Sport Contact 3s all round on our car too!
  • oswald
    oswald Posts: 40
    I am also replacing my sk's with the MK's 2.2 protection not too sure whether to leave the SK on the back and put the MK on the front? All the reviews i have read about the MK's have been positive.
  • funkydung
    funkydung Posts: 116
    Right, I have fitted a super tacky high roller 2.35 on the front and left a Larsen on the rear and went out on some good technical downhill singletrack and the the ride was amazing the High roller really grips over stuff I would normally try and avoid. My riding will change now, as I feel I will be able to attack stuff with so much more confidence.
    I would highly reccomend this combination. The front grips and the rear just follow, quality!
  • Surf-Matt
    Surf-Matt Posts: 5,952
    Finally got to really test my new MKs in super gloop on Saturday (most of the miles so fasr, about 150, have been on fireroad/roads/dry stuff) and the difference to my Spesh Fast Trak LKs is astonishing - they grip like mad, clear mud very quickly and give a huge boost in confidence.

    Added to the rolling speed on roads/track, the rounded shoulders (so they don't slip when cornering on hard stuff), the amazing Black Chilli rubber and the low weight (580g) yet great puncture resistance (rode through loads of brambles, spikes, etc - no problems) and I think these may be the best allrounders on the market.

    Slightly odd trait though - they make a rather odd noise when rolling on the road!

    Oh and don't forget to "point" the centre triangle knobs forwards on the front and backwards on the back.