MTB Tire Test: Continental Race King Protection (tanwall)
Contents and Test Summary
- Introduction
- Manufacturer Specifications
- Size, Weight, Thickness
- Rolling Resistance: 20.6 Watts
- Puncture Resistance: 34 Points
- Static Wet Grip: 63 Points
- Conclusion: 4.1 / 5 Highly Recommended
- Comments
- Continental Race King Protection (tanwall)
The Continental Race King with tan sidewalls is relatively new, and in this test, we will examine how the tan sidewalls influence performance. Since 2014, we have tested many versions of the Race King, but for this test, we will primarily focus on our 2024 test of a recent version of the Race King Protection (read our review) with black sidewalls.
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Everyone is understandably curious whether the choice of tan sidewalls negatively or positively affects performance. We have tested several tan wall versions of tires, and it depends on the specific tire to see which version delivers better performance, as the way manufacturers color the sidewalls varies significantly.
The tanwall version of the Race King Protection is available in all Race King sizes: 26x2.2, 27.5x2.2, and 29x2.2. As usual, we tested the 29x2.2 version and will compare it with the 29x2.2 Race King Protection and a selection of comparable tires from other manufacturers.
Manufacturer Specifications
| Manufacturer Specs | |
|---|---|
| Brand | Continental |
| Model | Race King Protection (tanwall) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Supplied By | Bought in store |
| New or Used | New |
| Mileage | 0 km |
| Price Range | High |
| Buy At | Ad Amazon.com |
| Manufacturer part number | 0101963 |
| EAN | 4019238071498 |
| TPI | 3/180 |
| Compound | Black Chili |
| Bead | Folding |
| ETRTO | 55-622 |
| Size Inch | 28" |
| Width Inch | 2.20 |
| Specified Weight | 625 grams |
| Max Air Pressure (psi) | 58 |
| Made In | Members Only |
| Available Sizes |
29x2.2 27.5x2.2 26x2.2 |
Continental Race King Protection (tanwall) Test Results
Size, Weight, and Thickness Measurements
| Size, Weight, and Thickness Measurements | |
|---|---|
| Specified Weight | 625 grams |
| Measured Weight | 618 grams |
| Measured Width Carcass | 53 mm (un-round) |
| Measured Width Tread | 52 mm |
| Measured Height | 52 mm (un-round) |
| Measured Knob Height Center | 2.5 mm |
| Measured Knob Height Edge | 3.2 mm |
| Measured Total Thickness Center (excluding knobs) | 1.9 mm |
| Measured Total Thickness Sidewall | Members Only |
| All size measurements are taken at an air pressure of 35 psi / 2.4 bars on a 17.8 mm inner width rim. | |
Rolling Resistance Test Results
| Rolling Resistance Test Results | |
|---|---|
| Inner Tube | None (40 ml sealant) |
| Rolling Resistance 55 PSI / 3.8 Bar |
Members Only |
| Rolling Resistance 45 PSI / 3.1 Bar |
Members Only |
| Rolling Resistance 35 PSI / 2.4 Bar |
18.6 Watts CRR: 0.00558 |
| Rolling Resistance 25 PSI / 1.7 Bar |
20.6 Watts CRR: 0.00618 |
| 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 | 34 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 | 1.9 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 | 63 Points |
| Wet Grip Center | Members Only |
| Wet Grip Edge | Members Only |
| Measured Knob Height Center | 2.5 mm |
| Measured Knob Height Edge | 3.2 mm |
| Grip in points = coefficient of friction * 100 MTB grip test rim width = 30.0 mm |
|
| Wet Grip Test and Off-Road Tires (info) | |
Conclusion
- Continental Race King Protection (tanwall)
(100% is fastest - lightest - highest - strongest)
The overall performance of the Race King Protection with tan sidewalls is somewhat less than that of the version with black sidewalls. The rolling resistance is higher, the weight is greater, and the sidewalls are less strong. However, the wet grip on a hard surface is slightly better, and the puncture resistance of the tread surface performs a bit better in the tests.
If you want tan walls for aesthetics, then the slightly higher rolling resistance of the wall version is probably not an issue. If you’re going for absolute performance, as with nearly all tires, it’s better to choose the all-black version since it performs better in most areas.
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RATING:
4.1
/ 5
TEST VERDICT:
Highly Recommended