Long term fan of Conti tyres here. I like the shape that gives predictable slide (they lack the transition that seems to blight many Maxxis), and the single compound genuinely seems to give that combination of grip and long life. Again on multi-compound tyres I find the soft side knobs tend to rip off much more quickly than those on my coatis.
However, I fitted mine to a Race Face Turbine R30 wheel which I think is the same ARC rim as above but just 3mm wider internally. I’ve never had such a tight combination or rim and tyre – once I’d fought it onto the rim both beads were sat so tightly in the centre dip that no amount of blasting with an Airshot would shift it. Eventually fitted a tube and left it overnight and after a lot more fighting (having left one bead locked) finally got it inflated, but I’m dreading when I have to remove it. Odd.
