Continental gave its gravity tire range a long-overdue refresh, and over the last couple of years, the collection of five new Continental tires has quickly established itself as some of the best mountain bike tires available. The most popular tire in Continental's new gravity tire range is the Kryptotal, which is designed for mixed conditions. The burlier, softer compound versions of the Kryptotal are receiving all the attention, being ridden by Pivot Factory Racing and the Atherton Continental team, including during Charlie Hatton’s 2023 World Championship-winning run. However, there is a third option.
Alongside the Supersoft downhill and Soft enduro casings is the Trail version, which features an Endurance compound and trail-specific casing to increase rolling speed, reduce wear, and shave off a few grams. I fitted them to my Cotic SolarisMax and have been riding singletrack and trail centers to evaluate their performance.
Design and construction
Continental’s Kryptotal is a mixed-condition tire featuring the same front and rear specific tread patterns that are used on the World Champs winning Kryptotal downhill tire. Up front, the center tread features alternating rows of two and three blocks with ramped blocks and small siping cuts in the tread to aid deformation and add another edge for grip. The rear uses a series of pronounced knobs that give the tread a wider spacing for improved mud clearing and straight-line traction. Both tires use the same aggressive shoulder tread, which also has siping on every knob.
The Endurance compound is a firmer version of Continental’s Black Chili MTB compound. Unlike other tire brands that offer their tire range in a pick-and-mix combination of compounds and carcasses, Continental only offers the Kryptotal Trail with this Endurance compound.
The Kryptotal Trail tire is the thinnest in the range using a two-layer 60tpi carcass with a third 60tpi strip positioned under the tread. While the Enduro and Downhill tires get an Apex Layer on the bead, the Trail tire relies on a section of cross-woven fabric to bolster protection for the sidewall. There is also a chafer textile around the bead where the tire meets the rim to add protection.
Although there is only a singular option of carcass and compound, the Kryptotal Trail comes in either a 2.4in or a 2.6in width for both 27.5in and 29er wheel sizes. All the tires are also E25-rated, so they're suitable for use on an e-MTB. I have the Kryptotal Trail Endurance in a 29x2.4in front and rear, with my review samples weighing in at 1,084g for the front and 1,045g for the rear.
Setup was a straightforward process, requiring no wrestling to get on the rim and quickly popping onto the rim to create an airtight seal. Once in place, the bead is properly locked in which is great when schralping turns, but it requires a little more effort to unseat if you need to pop an inner tube in to get you home.
Performance
Endurance-themed tires usually fill me with a little dread, especially if the trails get remotely damp, but I found the Kryptotal Trails performed far better than most firmer-rated compound options. Traction feels more mechanical than reliant on a tacky formulation to create a connection to the ground, so although grip levels are decent on firm surfaces, the tire benefits from having something to bite into. It doesn't need much, though, and turning feels predictable across most mixed conditions, with a consistent level of traction as you lean through the corner.
Wet rocks and roots are challenging for any tire, even if they have the softest rubber, but the Endurance compound didn’t feel as if it was going to unceremoniously dump me on my side at the first touch of an off-camber wet root or rock. In muddy conditions, it clears pretty well, leaving the tread free to dig into the next bit of trail. Very loose, dry conditions can become a bit slidey, but if these are conditions you frequently ride in, then you will be better served by Continental’s Argotal tire.
That boosts confidence and allows you to fully leverage the predictable tread pattern. While the front takes care of cornering, the more squared-off rear tread pattern does a good job of hooking up when the anchors are dropped. Again, a softer compound will offer better performance, but the tread itself does an impressive job of scrubbing speed.
While the pronounced tread pattern certainly boosts traction, I had initial reservations about rolling speed. I stand corrected as the ramps on the knobs allow the tires to roll along with surprisingly little effort. It's not XC tire fast, but if you want to inject a little more speed without losing an aggressive tread profile, the Kryptotal is a great option. That rolling speed means this trail tire fires along man-made flow trails, whether you are railing the berms or cutting through soft, sneaky inside lines.
Even though these are specifically trail tires, I found them to be pretty tough as well. I ran these tires on my Cotic SolarisMax long-termer, and they held up well despite some unforgiving short-travel hardtail runs down rocky enduro trails. I suffered a couple of punctures during testing, but these all occurred on trails that were technically beyond the remit of the tire.
While it makes sense for most riders to pair the Endurance compound with the trail casing, some more selective riders may need to make a compromise to get their preferred tire setup from Continental. Trail riders looking to bolster grip up front will need to opt for the enduro-rated tire, which sacrifices a little compliance due to the thicker sidewalls and adds roughly 85g. Enduro and lightweight e-MTB riders who want to inject a little extra rolling speed have the option to roll the dice with the thinner Trail sidewalls, as an Endurance compound with an Enduro carcass isn’t available, or choose the faster-rolling enduro casing Xynotal and sacrifice some braking traction.
Verdict
Overall, I was very impressed by the Kryptotal Trail tires. They roll quickly considering the pronounced tread, offer an impressive amount of grip, and have proven to be long-lasting and durable as well. If you want maximum grip, the Enduro versions will be a better option for a minimal weight penalty. I was happy with the amount of traction available in all conditions, the predictability of the Kryptotal Trail tires gave me the confidence to commit to sections of trail that would otherwise make me nervous on hard-compound tires. The harder compound provides a welcome injection of rolling speed, and the thinner sidewalls are noticeably more compliant and comfortable than the other Kryptotal versions I have ridden.
The front and rear combo complement each other as a pair. However, if I were specifically riding very steep trails, I suspect a Kryptotal Rear on both wheels would also be a great combo for bolstering braking. The restricted compound and carcass range mean mixing and matching is more limited. However, if you aren’t hard on tires or ride somewhere that isn’t too rocky, I would be willing to risk it on the rear of an enduro bike to inject a little more speed and save some weight.
Tech specs: Continental Kryptotal Trail tire
- Price: £65.95 / £65.95
- Weight: Front 1084g (2.4in, 29in), Rear 1045g (2.4in, 29in)
- Sizes: 29 x 2.4, 27.5 x 2.4, 29 x 2.6, 27.5 x 2.6
- Colors: Black
