CX/Gravel Tire Test: Continental Race King Performance ShieldWall 50

With gravel bike tires growing bigger and bigger, 29x2.00 / 50-622 mountain bike tires are starting to become an interesting option for gravel bikers looking for volume. The Continental Race King is one of those tires that attracts a lot of interest, and it's because of its tread pattern that suits gravel bikes well and because it's one of the few mountain bike tires that's still available in the 2.00 / 50 mm size.

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The Continental Race King is one of the most popular mountain bike tires, and it's available in several different versions that vary in price and performance. The made in Germany Race King Protection is the high-end model, but this time, we're going to take a look at the cheaper Performance/ShieldWall version. This version comes with a different casing and compound and is made in a different factory than the made in Germany tires.

We have already tested the 29x2.20 version of the Race King Performance/ShieldWall (read our review), and you can find that test in the mountain bike section. If you're a Pro Member and interested in comparing the 2.00 and 2.20 sizes, you can use Pro View to compare all tires in a single overview.

Let's dive into the test results and see how the 50 mm Continental Race King Performance/ShieldWall compares to "real" gravel bike tires with a similar tread pattern/knob height.

Manufacturer Specifications

Manufacturer Specs
Brand	Continental
Model	Race King Performance ShieldWall
Year	2024
Supplied By	Bought in store
New or Used	New
Mileage	0 km
Price Range	Med
Buy At	Ad Amazon.com
Manufacturer part number	0150307
EAN	4019238797534
TPI	180
Compound	PureGrip
Bead	Folding
ETRTO	50-622
Specified Weight	665 grams
Max Air Pressure (psi)	65
Made In	Members Only
Available Sizes	26x2.00 26x2.20 27.5x2.00 27.5x2.20 29x2.00 29x2.20

Continental Race King Performance ShieldWall 50 Test Results

Size, Weight, and Thickness Measurements

Size, Weight, and Thickness Measurements
Specified Weight	665 grams
Measured Weight	656 grams
Measured Width Casing	49 mm (un-round)
Measured Width Tread	47 mm
Measured Height	48 mm (un-round)
Measured Knob Height Center	2.5 mm
Measured Knob Height Edge	3.1 mm
Measured Total Thickness Center (excluding knobs)	2.10 mm
Measured Total Thickness Sidewall	Members Only
All size measurements are taken at low air pressure on a 17.8 mm inner width rim.

Rolling Resistance Test Results

Rolling Resistance Test Results
Inner Tube	None (30 ml sealant)
Measured Width	49 mm
Rolling Resistance Real tire width in mm: 30-32 = 66 psi/4.6 bar 33-35 = 60 psi/4.1 bar 36-38 = 54 psi/3.7 bar 39-42 = 50 psi/3.4 bar 43-46 = 46 psi/3.2 bar 47-50 = 42 psi/2.9 barHigh Air Pressure (42 psi / 2.9 bar)	Members Only
Rolling Resistance Real tire width in mm: 30-32 = 55 psi/3.8 bar 33-35 = 50 psi/3.4 bar 36-38 = 45 psi/3.1 bar 39-42 = 42 psi/2.9 bar 43-46 = 38 psi/2.6 bar 47-50 = 35 psi/2.4 barMedium Air Pressure (35 psi / 2.4 bar)	Members Only
Rolling Resistance Real tire width in mm: 30-32 = 44 psi/3.0 bar 33-35 = 40 psi/2.8 bar 36-38 = 36 psi/2.6 bar 39-42 = 33 psi/2.3 bar 43-46 = 31 psi/2.1 bar 47-50 = 28 psi/1.9 barLow Air Pressure (28 psi / 1.9 bar)	23.5 Watts CRR: 0.00704
Rolling Resistance Real tire width in mm: 30-32 = 33 psi/2.3 bar 33-35 = 30 psi/2.1 bar 36-38 = 27 psi/1.9 bar 39-42 = 25 psi/1.7 bar 43-46 = 23 psi/1.6 bar 47-50 = 21 psi/1.4 barExtra Low Air Pressure (21 psi / 1.4 bar)	26.7 Watts CRR: 0.00800
The CX/Gravel section is a multi tire size section, air pressures have been adjusted to the measured casing width. All numbers are for a single tire at a speed of 29 km/h / 18 mph and a load of 42.5 kg / 94 lbs. Use the formula: RR (Watts) = CRR * speed (m/s) * load (N) to calculate rolling resistance at a given speed and load.

Puncture Resistance Test Results

Puncture Resistance Test Results (higher is better)
Total Puncture Score Tread	30 Points
Total Puncture Score Sidewall	Members Only
Tread Puncture Force Sharp Needle	Members Only
Tread Puncture Force Blunt Needle	Members Only
Tread Total Tire Thickness	2.10 mm
Sidewall Puncture Force Sharp Needle	Members Only
Sidewall Puncture Force Blunt Needle	Members Only
Sidewall Total Tire Thickness	Members Only

Hard Surface Static Grip Test Results

Static Grip Test Results
Wet Grip Average	65 Points
Wet Grip Center	Members Only
Wet Grip Edge	Members Only
Measured Knob Height Center	2.5 mm
Measured Knob Height Edge	3.1 mm
Grip in points = coefficient of friction * 100 CX/Gravel grip test rim width = 23.0 mm
Wet Grip Test and Off-Road Tires (info)

Conclusion

The Performance/ShieldWall version of the Continental Race King isn't as light and fast rolling as the more expensive Protection version, but the compound on this version does offer better wet grip. Regarding puncture resistance, both versions are about equal when it comes to puncture resistance of both the tread and sidewalls.

As a gravel bike tire, the 50 mm / 29x2.00 Race King holds its own, and we can see this being a good option for those looking for a knobby gravel bike tire. Considering the price of this tire, this might just be an excellent choice that doesn't break the bank.

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RATING: 4.0 / 5
TEST VERDICT: Recommended

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