Do the little crowns(?) in between the treads indicate the wonder compound?

I believe if the tyre says made in germany on them then they are the black chili compound.

ride over anything slightly damp.

if you end up on your arse, they’re standard compound.

if you end up thinking you’ll be on your arse soon, they’re black chilli.

pmsl@lovewookie

Crowns on the tread indicate black chilli, made in germany also does but it’s not on some of the new ones.

Or do what lovewookie suggests… 😉

If they are superb in pish conditions but a bit small and really expensive with rubbish sidewalls they are Black Chilli Baron’s.

If their grip is appalling and the side walls sliced/ripped but your mate with a 25lb carbon enduro bike and an audi who has never ridden in the Lakes or Scotland is telling you they are amazing then they are everything else Continental make.

Crowns on the tread don’t. Made In Germany is always black chili, everything else isn’t. If they were cheap then they aren’t – I’ve never seen a black chili tyre at less than £30.

Crowns on the tread don’t. Made In Germany is always black chili, everything else isn’t. If they were cheap then they aren’t – I’ve never seen a black chili tyre at less than £30.

Mine were when I sold them on ebay having got sick of the mud sticking to them 😀

I quite like my BC Rubber Queens.

The Race Sport have wafer thin sidewalls, go for the Protection tubeless ready version, added weight, but the thicker sidewalls & weight are worth it for the performance gain over the RS.

Nuts – that means the pair of new Rubber Queens I’ve just bought aren’t Black Chili as they are made in India – guess that explains why I keep ending up on my arse at the slightest sign of moisture.

Always liked my RQ black Chilli tyres, but yes I ripped a couple – running High Rollers now, tonnes or grip but terrible rolling resistance in comparison – if there’s a tyre that rolls like a rubber queen and grips like a high roller I’d love to know what it’s called!

Protection versions don’t have made in Germany on it as the protection logo goes there. Afaik all protection versions are black chilli though…

The Crown is for Rubber Queen (and presumably now Trail King). Like others said Made in Germany is what you are looking for but also he moulding on the sidewalls is different (kinda chessboard versus cross hatching).

I said it before and I’ll say it again. Arse.

If it isn’t written in big letters then it’s moulded into the tyre. In fact, doesn’t every single vehicle tyre have its country of manufacture shown on it?

Bloody infuriating though, isn’t it? Even more stupid than how Continental call it “black chili compound” when there are dozens of different variants.

S’pose I’d better order some more rubber then. What’s the verdict – Black Chili Trail Kings/Rubber Queens or something else?

It’s not a crown on the tyre – it’s a black chilli 🙄
My vote is with BC Apex/protection Trail Kings. 2.4 if you ride in the Lakes or Scotland and have lots of tyre clearance.

It’s not a crown on the tyre – it’s a black chilli

This same discussion happened some months back. Find a photo that shows these “black chilis” and I’ll believe you – however I’m 99% certain that they’re not, they’re variations on different crowns.

Rubber Queen that are “Handmade in Germany”or the newer Trail King with “Protection” “UST” and “Racesport” are Black chili.
The crown in the tread is nothing.
Some of the older Rubber Queen UST were Black chili but had no makings.

frackit – Member

S’pose I’d better order some more rubber then. What’s the verdict – Black Chili Trail Kings/Rubber Queens or something else?

They’re pretty good. Extremely cloggy in mud unfortunately which spoils them a bit… Excellent straight line/braking grip, tons of volume, really good for smashing over rocks and the like, glom round roots well, maybe not quite as good cornering grip as they could have but still decent. Sidewalls seemed flimsy but I never had any issues to be fair What do you want to do with them?

It’s not a crown on the tyre – it’s a black chilli

Looks more like a trident to me

@Northwind My main aim is to try and avoid crashing in a muddy heap through the winter on the Surrey Hills – new to this mountain biking lark and wanted something a little more sticky than the Maxxis Ikons that came on my Whyte 629

Well no matter what they’ll give you more grip than Ikons. Though also will roll like a paving slab, by comparison. It’s usually a good idea to get locals recommendations, I’ve never ridden round there

I’m heading out with an Ikon up front, it’s dry and dusty and it’s not that sticky 🙂

No reason to play the Conti lottery though 🙂

I’m pretty sure the Crown just ties in with the King/Queen element of the naming.

I’ve taken the approach “if it seems to good to be true” basically that a £15 Conti is going to be the Far Eastern OE version that doesn’t come with grip as standard.

Crowns on the tread don’t. Made In Germany is always black chili, everything else isn’t. If they were cheap then they aren’t – I’ve never seen a black chili tyre at less than £30.

I have £26.99 🙂

I’m pretty sure the Crown just ties in with the King/Queen element of the naming.

It’s on Barons too

You need to give the tyre a good lick.. preferably before a ride encase of remnants of dog shit..
if they r spicy there chilly.. 😀

Touch them then rub your eye. Sorted

It won’t help unless you can actually see the box/packaging before you buy, but the Conti website suggests there is a produce code on the box and you can then tie this to whether they are Black Chilli or not:

Conti Baron Table

To confuse matters further, it looks like Continental now offer some tyres which sit in between the brilliance of black chili compounds and the teflon terror of their cheaper versions: http://www.conti-tyres.co.uk/conticycle/te_PureGrip.shtml

I’ve got a pair of Black Chilli Rubber Queen 2.4’s that I no longer need. Still got the moulding “spikes” on one of them. No visible wear on the other…….

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