MTB Tire Test: Continental Race King RaceSport
Contents and Test Summary
- Introduction
- Manufacturer Specifications
- Size, Weight, Thickness
- Rolling Resistance: 22.4 Watts
- Puncture Resistance: 29 Points
- Static Wet Grip: No Data
- Conclusion: 5.0 / 5 Highly Recommended
- Comments
- Continental Race King RaceSport
Because this is the fastest mountain bike tire I have tested yet, I've been using it as a rear tire for some time, and it really is quick in real life as well. Continental says the Race King RaceSport 29 x 2.2 is the ultimate race tire with World Cup performance. This is accomplished with an "optimal combination of ultra-lightweight and race-worthy puncture resistance." There used to be a SuperSonic version of the Race King, but it is no longer available. The RaceSport is now the fastest Race King you can buy.
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RaceSport means this version has the Continental Black Chili Compound, 3/180 TPI casing and it's handmade in Germany. It does not have a Tubeless-Ready rating. If you want the Tubeless-Ready rating, you need the Protection series which has a reinforced casing.
Although the RaceSport does not have a Tubeless-Ready rating, my personal experience is that it works just fine with a tubeless conversion kit on standard rims. Although getting it to seal completely might take a few days because of the thin sidewalls.
Manufacturer Specifications
| Manufacturer Specs | |
|---|---|
| Brand | Continental |
| Model | Race King RaceSport |
| Year | 2014 |
| Supplied By | Bought in store |
| New or Used | New |
| Mileage | 0 km |
| Price Range | High |
| Buy At | Ad Amazon.com |
| Manufacturer part number | 0100545 |
| TPI | 3/180 |
| Compound | Black Chili |
| Bead | Folding |
| ETRTO | 55-622 |
| Size Inch | 29" |
| Width Inch | 2.20 |
| Specified Weight | 540 grams |
| Max Air Pressure (psi) | 65 |
| Made In | Members Only |
| Available Sizes |
29x2.20 29x2.00 27.5x2.20 26x2.20 26x2.00 |
Continental Race King RaceSport Test Results
Size, Weight, and Thickness Measurements
| Size, Weight, and Thickness Measurements | |
|---|---|
| Specified Weight | 540 grams |
| Measured Weight | 497 grams |
| Measured Width Carcass | 55 mm (un-round) |
| Measured Width Tread | 51 mm |
| Measured Height | 55 mm (un-round) |
| Measured Knob Height Center | 2.5 mm |
| Measured Knob Height Edge | 2.5 mm |
| Measured Total Thickness Center (excluding knobs) | 1.7 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. | |
The actual weight of this RaceSport only 497 grams while Continental claims it to have a weight of 540 grams. I'm not sure if this is normal or that I just got lucky and received an exceptionally light sample (I bought it in a store myself). I am also not sure how much the extra 40 grams will influence the results; I might test this in the future.
Rolling Resistance Test Results
| Rolling Resistance Test Results | |
|---|---|
| Inner Tube | Conti MTB 29 (225 gr butyl) |
| 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 |
20.0 Watts CRR: 0.00600 |
| Rolling Resistance 25 PSI / 1.7 Bar |
22.4 Watts CRR: 0.00671 |
| 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. |
|
On the most important measurement for off-road usage which is at an air pressure of 25 psi / 1.7 bar, rolling resistance is a very low 22.4 watts. At higher air pressures, rolling resistance is best in class as well. It will be very hard for other manufacturers to get close to the rolling resistance of the Race King RaceSport
Puncture Resistance Test Results
| Puncture Resistance Test Results (higher is better) | |
|---|---|
| Total Puncture Score Tread | 29 Points |
| Total Puncture Score Sidewall | Members Only |
| Tread Puncture Force Sharp Needle | 7 Points |
| Tread Puncture Force Blunt Needle | No Data |
| Tread Total Tire Thickness | 1.7 mm |
| Sidewall Puncture Force Sharp Needle | Members Only |
| Sidewall Puncture Force Blunt Needle | No Data |
| Sidewall Total Tire Thickness | Members Only |
Unexpectedly, this tire is able to score 7 points in the puncture resistance test. 7 points is average but excellent for such a fast tire. I did not expect the RaceSport to perform this well in the puncture resistance test because the tire feels fragile and flexible.
Hard Surface Static Grip Test Results
| Static Grip Test Results | |
|---|---|
| Wet Grip Average | No Data |
| Wet Grip Center | No Data |
| Wet Grip Edge | No Data |
| Measured Knob Height Center | 2.5 mm |
| Measured Knob Height Edge | 2.5 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 RaceSport
(100% is fastest - lightest - highest - strongest)
The Race King RaceSport is a race tire as performance in the rolling resistance test is great. Although knob height at the edge of the tire is low with a height of only 2.5 mm, there are a lot of knobs to make up for it. I probably wouldn't want to use it as a front tire unless you're riding a lot on a very hard surface. Volume is very high as well, with a casing width of 55 mm and height of 55 mm it's is the biggest 2.2 rated tire I've seen yet.
Low rolling resistance, average puncture resistance, low weight, small knobs: If you want to go fast and don't need a whole lot of grip, buy a Race King!
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RATING:
5.0
/ 5
TEST VERDICT:
Highly Recommended