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Continental
Traction Pro Tire
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Average Rating
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3.9/5
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# of Reviews
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72
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MSRP
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$
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Weight
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Description:Developed as a cross-country racing tire specifically to provide rear-tire drive in loose terrain, Continental's TractionPro provides superior grip on everything but the driest hard-pack. Large, sturdy tread blocks are placed to provide the traction needed for acceleration, still allowing soil and water to be evacuated to prevent mud build-up. Models include wire and Kevlar bead ASC® tread center and Tubeless versions.
26 x 2.00 650 grams (wire)
570 grams (Kevlar)
26 x 2.00 TL 950 grams (wire, tubeless)
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Submitted by
NA1NSXR
a Cross Country Rider
from Tustin, CA
Date Reviewed: August 5, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Predictability, climbing traction | | Weaknesses: | Rolling resistance | | Similar Products Used: | WTB tires | | Bottom Line: | I have had this same tire back when I livedin the northeast and I still have it on my bike now that I am in Southern California, so I have seen most possible riding conditions with this tire on, except for wet rock. The tire performs very well in all situations, but you pay for this performance as it is a very slow roller. Tread wear in the northeast was acceptable, but riding on rockfaces in the southwest has accelerated the wear greatly. I'm pretty sure this thing is long discontinued by now, but for people out there riding for fun and adventure this is a solid choice if you can find one. If you care about speed at all, this one is pretty hard to reccommend. I had it mounted backwards in the rear. I will probably look to try something else when this needs to be replaced. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Peter St-Amour
a Cross Country Rider
from London
Date Reviewed: February 1, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$38.00 | | Strengths: | Grip, quality | | Weaknesses: | Drag on harder surfaces, not the most advanced design, do rumble strangely on tarmac. | | Similar Products Used: | Panaracer Spike (remember those?), Panaracer Trailraker | | Bike Setup: | XC | | Bottom Line: | An older design I picked up dusty and unloved from the corner of a bike shop. My benchmark for winter tyres are Trailrakers and IRC Mudmads, which are fantastic, although for the sake of experience I thought I'd try something different this year. They grip really well in the deep mud, and keep a line. No problems with wheelspin (I use on the rear only) and it's unreasonable to expect anything to grip over wet or exposed routes or rocks. That said, the hard compound Continental use doesn't help their cause. On balance not as free rolling, light or supple as a Trailraker, but if you need something different for the winter (and if Continental still make them, which I doubt) then give them a spoodle. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ryan
a Cross Country Rider
from Bozeman, MT, USA
Date Reviewed: November 1, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Minnewanka | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | Bow Cycle | | Strengths: | Climbing and cornering traction in wet or soft conditions. | | Weaknesses: | Rolling resistance. Truly staggering amounts of rolling resistance.
Hardpack cornering is poor.
Sidewalls rot quickly.
Heavy (well over 600g for a narrow, foldable 2.0) | | Similar Products Used: | I currently have 20 tires in my garage and all of them are still in service. There are plenty more that have come and gone. | | Bike Setup: | Titus QuasiMoto set up for long-travel cross-country (under 30 lbs., narrow rims). | | Bottom Line: | There is no situation in which these tires are superior to their competition.
The soft side-lugs fold and squirm on hardpack, so you'll get better handling and much lower rolling resistance with something meant for hardpack.
Traction on soft ground is outstanding and mud-shedding is above average, but even in such conditions, the rolling resistance is so high that I can't justify using this tire. You could find similar traction in a faster tire or you could run a mud/soft-specific downhill tire with a light casing and get more traction with similar rolling resistance.
You can find tires that are equally good in soft conditions, better on firm ground, and roll dramatically faster. If you do, for some reason, choose to use this tire, I think it's better on the rear. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ashwin Amanna
a Cross Country Rider
from Blacksburg, VA
Date Reviewed: July 8, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Douthat | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$17.00 | | Purchased At: | icycles | | Strengths: | fairlt light, easy to mount, good in corners | | Weaknesses: | Slips out on wet roots, knobs too hard | | Bottom Line: | I was hoping that the scoop profile of the knobs would make it a good overall tire. And it does do well in dry conditions and holds corners well. However I found it slipping out on any wet root. Even the slightest pedaling on a wet root and it would spin. I think the knobs are too hard and don't grip enough. I'm running it with Stans No tubes with pressures between 30 and 35. With all the rain we've been having these are a bust for me. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Keck Baker
a Cross Country Rider
from Virginia
Date Reviewed: September 7, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | ?? | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | Pedal power | | Strengths: | not many. corners nice in wet terrain | | Weaknesses: | After having this tire for less than a month it is completly destroyed. I ride a alot of different terrain. I went up to the mountains last week to ride up and then down about 20 miles on really narly rock. The tire is dead, knobs are poping off and exposing the brown-tan layer underneith. I have been riding since 1993 and have never had such junk. | | Similar Products Used: | maxxis,panaracer,irc | | Bike Setup: | giant mcmse1 all xt mavic 517 black | | Bottom Line: | buy this tire if you never blaze down rocky terrain | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ryan
a Racer
from WI
Date Reviewed: July 24, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | all | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$10.00 | | Strengths: | Traction/grip in any condition except asphalt. Great Life on tread. Made in Germany. | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | tires | | Bike Setup: | traction pro rear. explorer pro front | | Bottom Line: | I have not used this tire on the front, but it is the best rear tire I used. It may not be the best on the road but as the description says it is a cc tire. I bought two of the older Duro tires used. I have put over 200 miles on the one tire and it still looks the way it did when I bought it.
Great Tire!! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brian
a Racer
from Milwaukee, WI
Date Reviewed: June 12, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Anything Techincal or Fast | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Traction. Reasonable wear. Traction. Very good self-cleaning tread. Traction. | | Weaknesses: | Vibrations on the road. Not the fastest tire out there. Continental has stopped making this tire as far as I can tell. | | Bike Setup: | Airborne Lancaster, SID SL, XT Drivetrain w/SRAM PC-99 Hollowlink chain, Avid Single Digit Seven brakes and levers, Chris King headset, Chris King hubs w/DT Revolution Spokes and nipples w/Mavic x517 rims, Titec Ti seatpost, Titec Phat Head Ti stem, Titec PG Ti handle bars, WTB dual compound grips, Continental Traction(when wet and muddy) or Kenda Kharisma Crystal. | | Bottom Line: | Traction. This tire out climbs and out corners any other tire I have tried. The last two WORS Cups have experienced near torrential down pours either the day of or day before the race. In both races I was able to climb every section of trail, often when other riders had to dismount and climb. Slipped some on wet roots and rocks, but anything is going to slip then. I usually save these tires for a rainy day, so they don't get many miles on them, since they aren't the fastest tire around. On brief road rides to the trails, you can certainly feel the knobs flex, but thats not a big deal since I am using them for the off road traction they provide in wet conditions. This tire got me up a climb that I had failed to be able to accomplish in even the driest conditions with other tires, and it was wet when I tried it with this tire. I use the Traction on both front and back. Not the best all around tire out there, but certainly one of the best when it comes to wet and muddy conditions. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Phil
a Cross Country Rider
from Guildford, UK
Date Reviewed: January 10, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Surrey Hills | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | Dave Hinde | | Strengths: | Traction - it does what it says on the tin. This tyre - paired with an Explorer pro on the front - gets me up wet and dry climbs better than anything before it. It's great in gloop as well and we get a lot of that round here and it has great mud-shedding too. Also, it avoids punctures better than the Trailblaster it replaced. Fantastic combination. And light too in the kevlar version. | | Weaknesses: | Not had it long enough to see it it shows the same problems others have experienced. For the time being, I'm in love with it. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized, Panaracer Trailblaster (overrated - puncture prone and slippy as hell) | | Bike Setup: | Santa Cruz Superlight, Mavic X618 rims on Hope ti XC hubs, Fox Float RL fork | | Bottom Line: | No plans to change this combo - I love it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Robert
a Weekend Warrior
from Savannah, GA USA
Date Reviewed: December 17, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | All the trails around Augusta Ga | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$18.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | So far has good griping power on all types of terrain. Mud, loose rock, leaf covered trails, dry dirt, and over roots. Is directional for using it either on the front or rear rim. | | Weaknesses: | On the road has a weird vibration, I would guess from the heavy knobbies. | | Similar Products Used: | Cheng Sheng knobbies which were great for the last year and a half till they just plain wore out. | | Bike Setup: | Giant Rainer SE with upgraded rims, tires, rear derailer, and a new crank set. | | Bottom Line: | Savannah this time of year is nothing but mud. I am talking 4 to 5 inches deep. Standing water so deep your feet are in it when you pedal and it is loaded with roots.
These tires grip great. Going thru the mud and water, I was spending most of my time with my rear tire spinning, I have had little to no slippage. Spots where my old rear tire was spinning out on roots as you climbed, or on turns where the rear tire would slip out from under me in the mud are over.
So far they have gripped great, what small climbs we do have I have been able to climb over, I am not getting the spin out in the mud that I was getting, and when climbing over roots that are wet I am not spinning out either.
The only draw back has been on the road. They have a really heavy weird vibration.
Having saved 10 to 15$ buying on ebay as compaired to the bike shop I give it a 5, as for overall rating a 4 since I have not had a chance to ride any really good trails with it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Giuliano
a Weekend Warrior
from Italy
Date Reviewed: August 26, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Strengths: | Good grip, does not bounce too much. | | Weaknesses: | Poor grip on wet surfaces. Wears fast. | | Bottom Line: | I used it only on the rear wheel. It's a good tire in all conditions BUT when the ground is wet stay away from roots and rocks. I had 3 of these and I never had problems like rips and so. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chainey
a Weekend Warrior
from Saratoga.NY
Date Reviewed: August 18, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | Local Shop | | Strengths: | This tire is lite for its size and will grip most anything in most conditions. | | Weaknesses: | Side walls collapses, tread wears fast and grip goes fast. | | Bottom Line: | This tire gets off to a flying start with good grip hooking up in all conditions. Not so good on the front as it will squirm like crazy under hard braking. On the back it can do the job well until the edges go and then it performs badly.I got these as my previous cross country tire split on the sides and the tractions are replacements, but one of them has blown its side and I'm kind of worried about the other one. In short, a good tire with good grip and lite but watch out on the sidewall scene. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris Smalley
a Cross Country Rider
from Coral Gables, FL
Date Reviewed: August 16, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | still looking | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$10000000.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS in New Zealand | | Strengths: | Great dry climbing. Rolls easily. Good rear tire. | | Weaknesses: | Wears a bit fast. Would not consider it for a front. Could not find one to replace the one I wore out.
| | Similar Products Used: | WTB Velociraptors | | Bike Setup: | GT Avalanche / Rock Shox Psylo XC. WTB Velociraptor on front. | | Bottom Line: | Bought this in New Zealand (Wet conditions). It was pretty good in the wet. Slippery on roots ( is there a tire that isn't?). Moved to Pasadena, CA (Very dry, lots of climbing). Awsome dry climbing, even when pretty worn out. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chuck
a Cross Country Rider
from Dallas
Date Reviewed: August 6, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | The lomg and windy | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Purchased At: | local bike shop | | Strengths: | Surefooted. rolls fast and holds the line. good F & B | | Weaknesses: | Kind of expensive and the sidewalls split | | Similar Products Used: | All kinds | | Bike Setup: | Marin Rift Zone | | Bottom Line: | These tires were great at first but then PoP from no place the sides on both of them splits. Could not believe. Goes to my bike shack and the Guy replaces them both no problem and tells me ........Yeah it happens all the time. So I guess 3 chillis for real good service but its gotta be 1 for a real bad manufacture. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Superboy
a Cross Country Rider
from Massachusetts
Date Reviewed: August 1, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Pittsfield State Forest | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Purchased At: | LOcal Shop | | Strengths: | None | | Weaknesses: | Heavy and slow, holds mud and gravels, sidewalls prone to catastrophic failure, slips on any hard wet surface (roots and rocks in early spring are terrifying on this turkey of a tire!). | | Similar Products Used: | Velociraptors, Hutchinson Alligators, Michelin Hot S | | Bottom Line: | AS winter slowly faded into early spring I decided to give these tires a try in the early Massachusetts wet trail conditions. Worst tires I've ever used, First, the oversized lugs failed to shed mud, they slipped on every rock and root encountered,-everytime I rode on them this spring, I could barely control my bike. And finally my front and rear tires both splits from the sidewall through the tread area within the first month of use. Honestly, over the years I've found that straight-foward medium tread xc tires (Panaracer Fie xc pro, hutch python, michelin wild grippers) out perform the supposed bad-condition mud and muck ires (Velociraptors/ Traction Pros) in all conditions. The xc tires shed mud much more effectively, they roll fast, hook up better on hard (wet!!!) surfaces, and have proven more durable. The continentals blow big chunks..boo hiss! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
LARBIKE
a Weekend Warrior
from San Antonio, TX USA
Date Reviewed: April 29, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | O.P Schnabel | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$15.00 | | Purchased At: | Unicycles.com | | Strengths: | The rear tire hooks up very well in dry conditions. Climbing and rear traction is excellent on dry dirt, gravel, and broken-up limestone. This tire is fairly skittish when used as a front tire, although I found I could reduce this tendency somewhat by reversing the front tire direction. | | Weaknesses: | The major weakness of this tire is on wet/muddy surfaces. They slip on wet rocks and roots, and I have had a couple of unexpected hard falls due to this. These tires also give a noticeably harsher ride than my old velociraptors. | | Similar Products Used: | WTB Velociraptors | | Bike Setup: | Schwinn Rocket 88 | | Bottom Line: | I got these on clearance for $15/each. I think that, for the money, these were a good deal. I believe that the Conti's are superior in dry conditons to Velociraptors but fall short in wet/muddy conditions. Has anyone had similar experiences with silicium compound tires? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gary Brown
a Weekend Warrior
from Germany
Date Reviewed: December 30, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Anything technical | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$15.00 | | Purchased At: | Bicycle in Bielefeld | | Strengths: | Awesome traction
Cool looks
Pretty light | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | Conti Explorer pro, Exporer, Other cheaper stuff. | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale F500 frame Mavic 222 rims, xt drivetrain, avid arch rivals, coda crank, easton seatpost/bars terry fly seat.xmo forks | | Bottom Line: | Just finished a 30 km ride in Snow around some quite technical trails in the nord westfallia area.The tyre which I only fitted two days ago performed outstandingly, Yesterday I did a similiar route and had my first ever pinch flat. Decided to up the pressure and hey presto no pinch flat today and great performance for only 35DM APPROX £12.00
This tyre took me thru terrain that I would never have previously managed,now my mates are also getting a set. Matched with an Explorer Pro on the front, Bought this tyre after reading this review page.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Marty
a Cross Country Rider
from Cleveland, OH USA
Date Reviewed: October 10, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | raccoon happyland | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | bicycletires.com | | Strengths: | Great Handling, tough, everything I could want. | | Weaknesses: | Zero | | Similar Products Used: | Velocirators (like them), Michalin Wildgrippers (hated them) | | Bike Setup: | 1999 Ibis Alibi, Superfly, XTR, Raceface. | | Bottom Line: | My Michalin Wildgrippers blew their belts before the end of thier first season and started rubbing into my Maguras. I asked a rider freind of mines who also rides 5 days a week what he reccommends, he said "Spend the extra cash get Conti's and never look back". He was dead on. I put an explorer pro on the front and a traction pro on the back and had the best traction season ever. When I thought the bike was going to wash out it wouldn't. Ohio can be real muddy and has nice hardpack, they performed great on both. Buy them. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Christian Long
a Cross Country Rider
from Montréal, now living in Denver, CO
Date Reviewed: July 8, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Colorado Trail | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Purchased At: | Westside cyclery | | Strengths: | - Light
- Excellent grip when new | | Weaknesses: | - Wears very fast
- Price (I got it on sale though) | | Similar Products Used: | Too numerous to list | | Bike Setup: | 2000 Specialized FSR XC Pro, RaceFace Next LP crank, Light Speed rear suspension upgrade, Shimano downhill pedals, Specialized Titanium ergonomic seat. | | Bottom Line: | The best traction I've ever experienced for Colorado/Utah conditions (dry, rocky, sandy). I only had optimal traction for about 2 weeks, then I rode about 20 miles on slickrock, that totally destroyed the tire. I would assume that pavement would do the same. Knobs started coming off after about 5 weeks of riding. I kept it for about 2 months, traction was completely gone by then (about 500 miles/860km). Low rating because of the unacceptable tread wear. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joseph Stanczak
a Cross Country Rider
from NE Ohio
Date Reviewed: May 26, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Vultures Knob | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$14.00 | | Purchased At: | Universal Cycles | | Strengths: | Grip like no one's business. I can't believe how well I can climb and do pipes with these on the rear!
Haven't had a pinched tube since putting these on. | | Weaknesses: | Wear is less than ideal, but not too bad.
Moderately heavy. | | Similar Products Used: | Matrix Pirhanna; Conty Explorer Pro's | | Bike Setup: | '95 Trek 850 w/Avid SD-7's, STX shifters, XT RD, Alivio FD, Alivio hub, Matrix wheels. | | Bottom Line: | I'm a heavier rider (220#) and had problems with the rear tires either slipping on uphills, or wearing out too fast. These Conty's solved that problem for me.
They corner as if on rails, never slide out on me, and were cheap!
Have not had any issues with mounting on my Matrix rims. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Neil Cain
a Cross Country Rider
from London, UK
Date Reviewed: February 20, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | The secret one in Thetford... | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | Buckley-Saxon Cycles | | Strengths: | Sticks to the ground like sh*t on a stick, corners like it's on rails, reasonably light (in the kevlar version), works on both front and rear. | | Weaknesses: | Expensive (these babies cost as much as my car tyres!), bugger to get on my rims (Mavic 221's). | | Similar Products Used: | WTB Veloc, Panaracer Smoke / Dart, various Speshy stuff, Bonties. | | Bike Setup: | '97 Paragon, ESP 9.0sl, XT, SX ti, Conti, Time Carbons. | | Bottom Line: | These cuties grip to the trail like a doberman with a serious grudge! I'm on my second set now, and got kevlar beads this time round to cut some of the weight. They still aren't the lightest tyres in the world, but for when the trails aren't sun baked, these rule (when the trails are sun baked I'm on semis). They clear and grip in all but the nastiest clay (which there is a lot of around here) and you can lay them through corners with total confidence. I've been cornering on these when the guy behind me on Wildgrippers has felt his bike begin to go. The Continental sidewall also gives a lovely plush ride (you'll notice it when you stick a new set of Contis on...).
My only real gripe is they are a pig to get on and off my M221 rims (esp. the kevlar beaded versions) and cost a packet to replace. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
pm2
a
from Dallas
Date Reviewed: January 22, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Strengths: | This tire provides more than enough grip for most situations and is very predictable. I run it on the rear w/an Explorer Pro on the front. | | Weaknesses: | In truly muddy conditions when only a mud tire will do, these will let go. They have a fairly high rolling resistance compared to Conti's Explorer Pro. | | Similar Products Used: | Psycho K's, Velociraptors | | Bottom Line: | This tire is hard to beat. If the rolling resistance were lower it would be better, but then it probably not grip as well. It just hooks up everywhere on a wide variety of surfaces. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
ron
a Cross Country Rider
from bakersfield,ca
Date Reviewed: January 5, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | sand canyon | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | snider's cyclery | | Strengths: | awsome traction in all conditions,low rolling resistance. | | Weaknesses: | wieght, but for the price you can't complain | | Similar Products Used: | conti x-country,conti explorer pro,tioga factory xc | | Bottom Line: | THIS TIRE HOOKS UP IN ALL KINDS OF SITUATIONS!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brady
a Cross Country Rider
from Tuscaloosa
Date Reviewed: October 7, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Oak Mountain 17m loop | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$34.00 | | Purchased At: | Came on bike | | Strengths: | Great handling, very good sidebite, brakes well too. | | Weaknesses: | One annoying weakness, likes to pick up leaves a lot and put them in your brakes | | Similar Products Used: | Conti Atlanta | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale SuperV 500 | | Bottom Line: | This tire really does awesome in corners. I really appreciated the tire when I went off a jump and landed sideways, the tire did not slip out from under me, dug in and allowed me to stay on the bike without visiting the ground below me.
This tire came originaly on the rear, the front was a Conti Atlanta that had to go. I moved this tire to the front and placed a Conti Comp Pro on the back. This has turned out to be one hell of a setup! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John
a Cross Country Rider
from Newfoundland, Canada
Date Reviewed: September 27, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | South Side? | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | used from a friend | | Strengths: | Good traction, light weight, good handling | | Weaknesses: | A little narrow, expensive | | Similar Products Used: | Panaracer Hardcore Smoke/Dart, Michelin Wildgripper Lite S | | Bike Setup: | '95 Giant ATX 880, '97 Judy XC, Mavic 217 front, Campy rear, original STX-RC derailleurs, LX cranks, XTR cassette, XT BB, 747s | | Bottom Line: | I got this tire when I bought a rear wheel off a friend of mine. It was worn through the orange, and had a rip in the sidewall but I rode it for a year, and its a really good tire. A little pricey though, so I went for some Wildgrippers when I finally got new tires. I rode the tire in technical, rooty, muddy, and generally wet conditions. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ron Clemins
a Weekend Warrior
from Phoenixville, Pa, USA
Date Reviewed: September 6, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Valley Forge Park | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$26.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike Line - Exton, Pa | | Strengths: | They stick to everything, especially when wet. Very durable. Resistance to punctures and pinch flats. Easy to put on and take off. | | Weaknesses: | Weight | | Similar Products Used: | ATB all terrainasaurus, Specialized dirt master? (stock on Stumpy comp) | | Bike Setup: | 2000 StumpJumper M2 Comp, Old Specialized gel saddle | | Bottom Line: | This review is for the non-Pro version of the tire, which is heavier than the Pro Kevlar version. I am a newbie MTB'er. I started on a hybrid Marin Madrone Trail with the semi-slick ATB's with horrible results on climbs. I put the Conti Traction on the rear of my hybrid and got surprisingly better at climbs even on my hybrid. After breaking every component on the Marin weekly (the bike was not meant for off-road riding whatsoever), I upgraded to the StumpJumper comp. Stumpy came with a Specialized Dirt Master (I think) tire in the rear and a Dirt Control on the front. The Dirt Master did not perform well in the rear at all except for on hardpack (and I am a 220 lb Clydesdale). They just would not hook up in semi-loose to very loose conditions on climbs and would hang and spin out on the smallest of roots. And if they got wet at all and I had to traverse roots or rocks, it was like someone greased my rear tire! Well, I pulled the heavy Conti Traction off of my broken down Marin and installed it on the rear of my new Stumpy. Ahhh! Nirvana! The Stumpy climbs like it was meant to climb, sometimes it beats me up the hill. The best part about the tire is it's AWESOME wet traction ability. It's like the thing is glued down. Nothing stops this tire. In fact I had to change my riding style to keep the nose on the ground during climbs. The tire gets me out of the saddle and leaning way up the nose of the bike. I have not had any flats with the tire yet, but in switching it from bike to bike, found it incredibly easy to remove and put back on. I wish I could say the same for my Specialized Dirt Control on the front! When the Traction finally wears out, I will try the lighter weight Traction Pro.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jason K
a Cross Country Rider
from Essex Jct., Vermont
Date Reviewed: July 6, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Catamount | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Tread space, dual compounds, conti's reputation, weight vs. performance, Sick looking orange strip! | | Weaknesses: | Price $55 for dual
can't afford another for back-up
| | Similar Products Used: | S-team, conti's, smokes, darts, mich., topo, wilderness | | Bike Setup: | FSR XC stock | | Bottom Line: | Rode tires 7 times prior to review. foloow up is coming in a month.
These tires look like they won't work as well as they do. I thought these would be limited to terrain till I rode them.
Roots and wet rocks are a charm. traction is great. they also roll very well on semi-hardpacked trails and braking is up to par. The best part about these tires is you can predict washout WAY before they happen. This tire is great for giving feedback and also cleans itself well. This on the rear with an Explorer on the front makes a sweet ride for VT's rocks and roots mixed with wet mud and hard pack. in other words- THESE TIRES WILL DO ANYTHING YOU WOULD WANT TO DO ON YOUR XC BIKE AND A LITTLE MORE.
4 for value and a flaming chili for the sick orange strip. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Adam
a Cross Country Rider
from Philly
Date Reviewed: May 19, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Looks Sweet. High Quality. Good Grip. | | Weaknesses: | Heavy and Squirelly | | Similar Products Used: | Other Contis | | Bike Setup: | Merlin Mountain | | Bottom Line: | These tires look great and they grip well (dual compound grey & wire bead model). However, I just changed from the continental cross country on the rear, and I can say for sure the cross coutry is a better tire. It is nearly 200g lighter, and it grips just as well. More importantly, the cross country model handles predictably--it never seems to slide out when cornering. I'm switching back. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nate
a Downhiller
from Berkeley
Date Reviewed: April 24, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Big Trees | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Great traction, hardly ever slips, even when standing on loose terrain. | | Weaknesses: | Hard to put back in after a flat | | Similar Products Used: | IRC Kujo DH | | Bike Setup: | Santa Cruz Super 8 | | Bottom Line: | Great traction, good flat protection, sheds mud. Not a good Cross country tire because of rolling resistance. Best in cornering. Not for you if you get frequent flats. It sucks to get it back in place. Not very expensive, either. Does not last too long, but I like it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mykor
a Cross Country Rider
from Clarion PA (NW PA)
Date Reviewed: April 4, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | power lines/ single track | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Grips anything. Looks awesome. Chicks dig it.
Light (for a knoby 2.1 inch tire). Sheds mud like a cat sheds hair.
| | Weaknesses: | kinda pricey (in Kevlar form) at almost $60 | | Similar Products Used: | Panaracer Smoke, Specialized Traction Control. | | Bike Setup: | GT, Manitou, XT/LX, Avid | | Bottom Line: | I got this tire when I had a new wheel built for me, (I killed the other one). After getting everything installed,(the bead was a tight fit), I took it to a local trail and almost cried for joy at what I had found. I'm a college track runner and I had trouble getting the tire to break loose! It stops great, especially for a rear tire. i even put all my weight foward on a steep up hill to see what it could do, it performed magnificently. I've even ridden up hill on a solid sheet of ice. This tire knows no bounds. It reminds me of the Smoke... on steroids.
I live in a hilly area in western Pennsylvania. The trails here are mostly loose dirt, light gravel, and some heavily rock-and-root strewn stuff. This tire is ideal for these types of situations. Upon pondering the situation, I've concluded that hard pack trails probably aren't the ideal environment for Conti's beast.
I tend to run relatively high pressure (50-55 PSI) so your personal results my be different.
The Orange stripe is kickin'. Everybody asks about it. I've had no problems whatsoever with the tire. Thank you Continental. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Stuart
a Cross Country Rider
from Hamilton, New Zealand
Date Reviewed: March 20, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Dirty Harry, Tokoroa | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Seems to grip pretty well. Turns really quickly. Pretty orange stripe. Price pretty good. | | Weaknesses: | Noisy on pavement (yeah, yeah, but got to get to the track somehow). | | Similar Products Used: | Dart and Smoke, Bontrager Jones and most recently Vredestein K-Nobs | | Bike Setup: |
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