Continental

This is my second attempt at using Continental Kryptotal tyres. The compound and casing makes a significant difference. My first experience was with the trail casing and endurance compound rubber. The tyre lacked grip if the pressure was too hard and had no support if you dropped the pressure to get more grip. Finding the right pressure was really difficult and one day a pinch flat ended my time with the tyres. This time around the enduro casing with super soft compound is fantastic! It has lots of traction and the enduro casing offers great support. The tyres also seem to dampen the rough sections of the trail so it's very confidence inspiring. I'm glad I gave these tyres a second try after not having a good experience the first time around with them.

Let's talk some tires, and please bear with me here.

I've been in the automotive tire Industry for over 10 years, and one thing I've learned is that Continentals run on the narrow side of their sizing. I ordered the 700x42c size expecting them to be closer to a 38mm width as my old Teravails, which they were. Mounted on standard Bontrager 21.5mm 700c alloys they measured out just a hair over 38mm. I've run Ride Tours before and really enjoyed their more relaxed ride quality and stout reliability. On Tucson streets and paths, they're certainly more confidence inspiring. The tread is firm, and sidewalls are plush but dampen firmly. They mounted up with no fuss and by hand with Velox 22mm tape and Teravail 35-43mm butyl tubes. These tires are wire bead clinchers, tubes are a requirement for them.

The Continental Ride Tour has a good hybrid tread design, It reminds me of Firestones Destination AT2 which is a personal favorite on my trucks and SUV's, with its continuous center rib along with more aggressive tread along the edges for grip in cornering and off the beaten path traction, This makes the tire a perfect tourer/commuter on its own in my opinion but you get a 3mm rubber under tread to ward off flats. I don't know why other tire manufacturers are allergic to creating treads like this for this specific purpose, the center rib keeps momentum and rolling resistance at a minimum and you still have the ability to tackle those unknown paths upon your travels. The ride tour isn't designed for speed, it's designed to be a reliable Jack-of-all-trades companion on your long or shorter journeys, whatever they may be. But they are quick for the type of tire they are, and I'm more than willing to give credit where it's due.

The 42mm Ride Tours weigh in at just about 760-770 grams, as far as weight goes, everything I've seen with equal to better flat resistance is upwards of 900- over 1000 grams. Such as the Michelin Protek Max or Cross Max and Schwalbe Marathon Plus. I'd argue these are the best bang for buck option as they tout Continentals legendary engineering. Something so big for a rubber circle.

Great tires. I wouldn't skip on these.

I wanted to reduce rotating weight and came across the idea of TPU tubes. I researched the advertising, the reviews, the blogs, the threads'and narrowed down my choices to some brands I felt I could trust. Ultimately I went with the Continental TPU tubes because of my long experience with Continental tires. The black stem and neutral color were a plus.

These are pricey but I bought them on sale from BTD so I could make my bike lighter and keep my wallet heavier! I have about one season's use with these, around 2,000 miles on the bike with TPU. They're lighter than butyl and I had no issues with installation. Due to road debris - usually small pieces of wire - I'll get a puncture or two every month. The TPU haven't punctured yet. I did get a pinch flat when I hit an angular rock in a corner, and I was able to patch that with the kit that comes with the tube. I've read that patching TPU is difficult but I didn't experience that with the Continental TPU tubes. I carry one as a spare tube and there's more room in my jersey pocket now.

Took this tire out on its first ride last week on a wet, leafy, rooty southern new england trail. Used dubintal in rear and trinitol up front on full suspension XC bike. Tires only slipped once while cornering, which I felt to be good considering the wet and leafy trail. Wet, rooty, short punchy climbs were too much for the tire combo, and had slippage. This tire combo is great for drier XC/trail conditions, but still holds its own on wet roots and rocks.