Say hello to The Family ‘Tal! The Xynotal, Kryptotal Fr, Kryptotal Rr, Argotal and Hydrotal are the models of a massive revamping for Conti’s mountain bike tyres.
Enough yakking. JUST SHOW US THE TYRES!
Here you go…
Continental Kryptotal Fr
Mixed terrain, front use
Continental Kryptotal Re
Mixed terrain, rear use
Continental Argotal
Loose terrain
Continental Xynotal
Hardpack and dry conditions
Continental Hydrotal
Wet and muddy conditions
All five of these tyres are not-XC tyres. Some are more gravity-based than others but they aren’t all just full-on bikepark and capital D Downhill tyres. This new range of tyres are aimed at Trail riders and Enduro-heads as well as the uplifted brigade.
Having said that, the design and development of these new tyres has seemingly been mostly influenced by Downhill racers.
Obviously, the Athertons are the big names here but let’s not underestimate the endorsement of racers like Bernard Kerr and Andreas Kolb. Kerr claims to have had zero punctures during last year’s World Cup season whilst using these tyres.
Regardless though, it was the Athertons who did a whole load of R&D. Especially on the casing construction. 80 tpi vs 110 tpi and all that. The Athertons don’t like stiff, dead feeling tyres. But nor do they like flatting on race runs or during various insane video shoots. Chasing – and finding – the balance took a very long time.
All five of these tyres are for riders who prioritise descending performance, no matter how much travel their bike has, but the compound and carcass options are intended to cater for as wide as range as possible within this not-XC spectrum.
This launch is a big thing for Continental. It’s the biggest move for the brand since the launch of Black Chilli rubber sometime in the 17th century (okay, mid-noughties). It’s the culmination of a project started back in 2018. The project being ‘to go all in on gravity’ (according to Alex Haenke, project leader). The Athertons joined the project in 2019, by the way.
It can be really tricky trying to explain clearly a whole new range of tyres and the variations they come in. I don’t envy Continental having to do such a thing. But such a thing is necessary or else the customer is just going to walk on by (as it were) and stick with what they know.
‘Basically’ then…
Five tread patterns.
Three compound options.
Three casing options.
As ever, you can’t get every tread in every possible possible combination of compound and carcass. That would be 45 different tyres (I think!). And that’s before you get into wheel sizes and tyre volumes. But I think Continental has done a good job of offering a good level of appropriate choices.
And hallelujah they’ve done away with the less-than-helpful catch-all of ‘Black Chilli’ when it comes to describing the rubber compounds. Endurance, Soft and SuperSoft. Much clearer.
Similarly clear, the casings are arguably the best of any tyre brand when it comes to logical and understandable nomenclature. Trail, Enduro and Downhill. Take note MaxxiSchwalbe.
And, depending on rider/customer feedback, Continental may expand the combos on offer ie. they aren’t ruling out offering the SuperSoft Compound on Trail Casing tyres for certain treads.
Kryptotal Fr & Rr – for mixed terrain
“Available in distinct front and rear optimised versions, Kryptotal’s tread pattern features a balance of positive profile and open areas designed for the best performance in complex terrains or trails that feature multiple surfaces. The use of steep and shallow ramps offer riders a sweet spot of grip, self-cleaning and low rolling resistance. Whilst the tread pattern for Kryptotal Fr is optimised for front-end grip and cornering stability, Kryptotal Re is optimised for the rear wheel demands of braking and rear-end stability.”
Having said that, Continental did say to us that you could run a Kryptotal Re as a front tyre with good results too.
Argotal – for loose terrain
“Supported in-line shoulder studs and a highly supportive structure result in Argotal offering maximum mechanical grip and cornering stability on loose dirt. The open tread pattern design and pronounced studs with steep ramps generate the best possible interaction with a loose surface whilst supporting self-cleaning, to inspire confidence at every stage of the trail.”
Xynotal – for hardpack and dry conditions
“Optimised for the most demanding dry and / or rocky trails, Xynotal’s tread pattern features angled in-line shoulder studs for predictable cornering. Combining a pronounced positive profile with a large number of contact areas, it maximises grip on both hard and slightly loose surfaces when moisture is not a factor. Pronounced ramps in the direction of rotation ensure low rolling resistance without compromising traction under load.”
Hydrotal – for wet and muddy conditions
“Tapered and supported stud elements paired with an open tread pattern design supports maximum grip on wet and muddy terrain. With a self-cleaning capability critical to riding in the sloppiest conditions, in-line shoulder studs and an optimised support structure ensure grip when cornering aggressively in low grip situations.”
The odd-looking staggered tread is also designed to be trimmable for certain racing conditions (essentially a good ol’ cut spike).
Casing and compound options
The Trail Casing features three layers of carcass material under the tread.
The Enduro Casing adds an Apex layer under the carcass for increased durability and protection against pinch flats.
The Downhill Casing has six layers of carcass material, additional carcass reinforcement and an Apex layer.
Endurance Compound is designed for maximum longevity.
Soft Compound offers a balance of grip and rolling resistance for ‘descent orientated riders’, or as a rear tyre.
SuperSoft Compound offers maximum grip on the most extreme trails.
The range is available from today, 7 April 2022.
Pricing starts at €59.95. UK pricing TBA.
We have a big bunch of these tyres winging their way to us as we speak. Stay tuned for our thoughts.
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