Continental

Product Information

A bit more tire pressure might have fixed the squirmy feeling, but I was running a similar pressure to what I run in most other tires. Also, my testing was cut a bit short (see below under “Durability”), so I didn’t get to experiment with different pressures as much as I would have liked. Between these knobs and the side knobs lies a wide swath of nothingness. This rift between knobs creates a distinct channel that was often intimidating to cross. It took commitment. In dry, dusty conditions when we all end up feeling like we are terrible bike riders, we prefer a little more hand holding. This feeling will surely be too much for some riders to handle and as such, we would recommend the more predictable Maxxis Minion DHF or the WTB Vigilante.

The Eliminator T7 is a well-rounded and versatile tire. However, it sacrifices slightly in the braking traction department for a tradeoff in rolling speed. When conditions get really loose, this tire has a penchant for breaking into a skid, drifting through corners, and spinning out while climbing. We also found the Grid Trail casing to be somewhat squirmy under hard cornering forces and that we had to get the pressure exactly right to not burp it. This casing may not be supportive enough for super-aggressive riders. That said, this is a great rear tire option paired with something a little more aggressive in the front and an affordable one at that.Reasonable price (for trail casing), excellent cornering traction, offered in multiple casings for different uses Continental recently updated the Mountain King and we have tested and reviewed the new version. The version reviewed here is no longer available. Great cornering and braking traction, fair price, long tread life, supportive sidewalls, work in a wide range of conditions I'm sure on more predominant downhill rides this works much better, or on the front may be good(I'm a bit worried about how much the front end will rise with it), but if you're pedaling with it on the rear...get ready for a workout to get any speed! Apex takes the ProTection carcass and adds a teardrop section elastomer strip from the bead to the tread edge to increase tire damping and reduce the chance of snakebite rim punctures at low pressures.

The DHF is a tire we highly recommend as a front tire, but it's also suitable for use on the rear. It has excellent traction for pedaling and braking when used on the rear. Still, it can feel slightly lethargic due to high rolling resistance. The Minion DHF's aggressive tread may feel excessive on hard and smooth terrain, but it's designed for more challenging environments. It's available in all-wheel sizes and a wide range of widths, casings, and rubber compounds, so you can choose the best option that suits your needs. The ProTection Apex casing is noteworthy as one of the highest thread count casings in this genre of large, knobby tires.It has four layers of 240 tpi material under the tread, and three layers of 180 tpi material in the sidewalls. We’d advise against using Continental’s own Revo Sealant though, as it struggles to seal bigger holes unless you add some extra particulate to it, plus it’s expensive.Mounting- went on fine but could not get the bead to set without having to employ the compressor. On the wheels, these look fantastic. Before the rubber hits the dirt, you'll be laying out some coin for said rubber — make the most of it. We're dealing with a product category here that is prone to specialization, so if you're looking for something other than an all-arounder, make sure to read up on our award winners for tires that do specific jobs well. The aggressive tread design of the Vigilante comes with a little bit of a penalty regarding rolling resistance. It is not the fastest-rolling tire, but that's a tradeoff that we expect most aggressive trail riders are willing to accept. It is moderately heavy, but that's the price you pay for the performance it offers. If you're an aggressive trail rider in the market for a tough and grippy tire, the Vigilante is a solid choice.