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I bought one of the above at Dyfi bike park as I’d slashed my rear tyre the day before and I was a bit of a captive audience. Got the DH casing / ultra soft front one - it’s a heavy beast to pedal so I took it off after the uplift day. Thought I’d chuck it on for BPW in a few weeks time and ride it as a front tyre and see how it is.
The answer is flipping amazingly - went to the Mendips this morning and it was pretty wet there - plenty of deep puddles / oozy mud patches and wet roots everywhere. The tyre literally didn’t slip or flinch at anything - it was stuck like poo to the carpet.
1290g is too heavy for me as an allround tyre but it’s inspired me to order the enduro / soft front version and I’ll probably sell the DH one as I won’t get much use out of it. Shame they don’t do the ultra soft rubber on the trail or enduro casings really. Will also sell the Wild Enduro I had on there before I think….debating getting rid of the Assegai too.
Also the soft / enduro Xynotal that I put on for the summer is still plugging away surprisingly well - despite the heavily ramped blocks it still seems to be finding drive through the muddiest bits and braking pretty confidently. Loving the new Conti tyres so far.
I spent ages agonising over whether that super soft DH casing would be too heavy but I haven’t taken it off since I finally brought one. I can’t honestly say I notice the weight difference over an exo+ maxgrip assegai, I think it’s because the conti rolls better. I’ve got it paired with the enduro soft rear which I’m also very happy with.
I’d buy an enduro or trail super soft if it ever existed, but if I were you (and I am me) I’d just keep it and enjoy all that lovely grip plus some assurance that you probably won’t puncture it.
I’ve only ever punctured 2 tyres and both were on the back. One was a paper thin Maxxis Exo 27.5x2.6” Rekon exo and the other was slashing the sidewall of a Conti Xynotal enduro around the Climach x trail at Dyfi (particularly on the Tony the Tiger descent which I was enjoying / flying down at the time). I live in Bristol and most trails near me aren’t killers of exo level casings.
So enduro / soft is probably a decent compromise between weight and grip I reckon in Conti.
The rear is pretty fantastic too, I went with trail/endurance even though it's a little lighter than I wanted, and it's been faultless. I loved the dhr2 I had before but it edges it out I think. Faster I think, grippier most of the time (though a wee bit more skittish and less predictable on hard/slippy stuff, slabs etc), and I'm pretty comfortable that it's real-world tougher than an EXO+ even though it's a little lighter. Just really bloody good. I'm still tempted to try the enduro/soft on the back.
And the argotal soft/enduro on the front is incredible, definitely one of the best tyres I've ever used... I mean, basically just "take a magic mary and make it usefully better, all the time, with no drawbacks at all except price", and the Mary was already damn good. It's not quite shorty maxxgrip sticky, and I'll probably go back to that on the big bike for real winter, but then it's better all the rest of the time. Again I might try it on the rear, I wouldn't usually put a soft tyre on the back but it rolls faster than it should
They can't keep up the current range in stock right now despite the huge prices, but hopefully once they can, we'll see a wider range of carcasses and compounds, some stickier lighter fronts and hopefully the endurance rubber on some enduro carcasses for the rears. But to cover all the bases does need quite a lot of additional variants even if they restrict sizes. I'd like to see a superfast rear but I guess semislicks are a bit out of fashion
I’ve got a trail / endurance kryptotal rear for when my Xynotal starts to struggle with mud. Tan it last winter and was impressed with it. Similar to a 2.4” DHR2 I reckon - but cheaper. Defo harder rubber than 3c maxxterra but didn’t have too many issues with it slipping. Wouldn’t run endurance compound on the front though
Wouldn’t run endurance compound on the front though
For context, would you run MaxxTerra? Is Endurance grippier or less than it?
IMO this is hard to compare, the Endurance is a lot like the older black chili, it's grippier than it feels. I <think> that conti are using clever rubber chemisty to get more grip out of a relatively hard compound, whereas maxxis more or less just use softness to do the same job. The Endurance definitely feels a lot harder in a pinch test, I reckon it's higher duro probably. And the kryptotal is usefully faster than a maxxterra dhr2. But it grips a lot better than you'd think from all that. It's slower rebounding too I reckon, ie less pingy. Be interesting to see how it wears.
But where the conti really loses out is just that predictability- a dhr2 on the back is superb when it slides, just so confidence inspiring, even on the front it's more managable when it breaks away than most tyres. The conti endurance, I think not so much, it grips well when it grips but it's a bit more abrupt when it doesn't. A much worse trait in a front than a back! Haven't used it on the front, have no plans to.
(Then again I stopped using maxxterra too on the front, it gives away too much compared to maxxgrip, and gains too little)
Currently running Argotal front and Kryptotal rear on both my enduro bike and eeb.
DH supersoft on both fronts and DH supersoft on the rear of the eeb and enduro soft on the rear of the G1.
Replaced Assegai maxxgrip fronts and DHR maxxterra rears.
Only had one puncture in the enduro rear so far.
Definitely more grip both front and rear.
Both rears are lasting so much better than DHR maxxterras.
I'd say the DH supersoft has lasted twice as long as the DHR it replaced and it's still got a few weeks of life left in it.
I'll be switching all my other bikes over as and when.
I think Endurance Conti rubber is less grippy then 3c Maxterra Maxxis rubber - I’m generally happy with maxterra as a compound for most of my riding - I think on the front the endurance compound in Conti would be a bit more slippery. Where the tread pattern is important it’s great but where you need to stick to something I think endurance is a little lacking for a front.
I think of endurance to be a bit like maxxis dual compound - which I’m happy to run on the back but not the front.
@OP -which bits of Mendip did you ride? I looked at the Kryptotal, but since its pretty much a copy of the Assegai, I thought it would probably clog up on the 'dips.
Might get away with it on the built stuff in Rowberrow though.
@scienceofficer - I parked by badass bikes and pedalled up ham lane all the way to the top of Rowberrow. On the way up there was some pretty boggy mud stuff - one puddle went almost up to my hubs. I mostly rode the built stuff on the downs but it was pretty greasy and had some huge puddles on - especially on the way into jumps - the Kryptotal just ploughed dead straight through them with confidence. Probably going to try and ride Risca this coming weekend (unless I come down with something - got a bit of a cough this morning).
Probably less greasy in terms of what I’d ride (except Conda can be amusing) but I find the Assegai can slip in the few corners where there’s some loose stuff accumulated there (Hillbilly just grips through it). Will be interested to see how the Kryptotal does there.
Oh this is good timing as my current magic mary is getting a bit tired coming up to winter, so reckon give this a try then?
This the correct one?
https://www.tweekscycles.com/continental-kryptotal-front-tyre-4000597/
Yeah that’s the one I’m talking about - I’ve gone for the following option in terms of ordering to try. In terms of the one I rode on this weekend it’s the downhill super soft version - but it’s a chunk heavier.
I suspect vs something like a 2.6” soft magic Mary it’ll give a little bit of grip away in the sloppiest conditions, but everywhere else you’ve got more rubber in the ground / less flex on the nobbles. So better than a DHF / Wild Enduro - I reckon it’s a bit like an Assegai but with better mud manners.
The Argotal is probably more similar to the Magic Mary as the tread is a bit more open so should clear mud a little better.
We have plenty of Contis on a variety of bikes and loving them. After having a Krytotal fitted to the rear of their bike child no. 2 pleaded for one on the front too saying "they're bloody magic..... you can go ....like.... twice as fast". Some youthful exaggeration there of course! <br /><br />No punctures in more than a season of enduro and DH. The supersoft we had on the rear of one bike far outlasted a Maxxis maxgrip.
What are the side walls like? Cont tyres used to a complete joke - couldn't run lower pressures with them at all.
@Scienceofficer One child who uses Enduro soft now runs 17psi front (with an ARD) and 24 rear (with a tubolight HD insert) for some fairly enthusiastic riding. He was down to 21psi rear with a DH carcass.
The enduro 2.6" Argotal was OK down to 16psi but prob could do with a >30mm rim.
The only one have noticed an issue with is the 2.6" trail kryptotal on my HT. Even my weak "schralping" at Tarland in the bone dry caused some sealant leaks at ~22psi. Solved with an insert. Again would have benefited from a wider rim.
Oh this is good timing as my current magic mary is getting a bit tired
I'd go for the Argotal as a mary replacement.
anyone care to attempt to describe how much slower rolling a DH supersoft argotal would be compared to a maxxis assegai exo+ maxterra, when fitted to the front?
I already have a kryptotal enduro soft on the rear, and have been pretty pleased with it, currently have a assegai max terra on the front, which is wearing out, so due for replacement soon, and I'm not averse to trying the argotal out , as long as its not going to be mega draggy.
I’ve not run the Argotal but with the weight difference it might feel a bit more sluggish getting up to speed (in DH casing). I’m assuming the Argotal has bigger knobs than the Assegai (pretty sure the kryptotal does - although I’d have to pop down to the garage to check) which could also add to the higher rolling resistance on certain surfaces.
Without running the tyres back to back in similar conditions it’s really hard to tell though.
The Assegai in exo+ and maxterra is probably most like the Kryptotal in soft / enduro flavour.
I think Endurance Conti rubber is less grippy then 3c Maxterra Maxxis rubber – I’m generally happy with maxterra as a compound for most of my riding – ......
I think of endurance to be a bit like maxxis dual compound
I'm running Enduro casing soft and, while they've not had a lot of miles on them, still surprised how little wear they're showing.
Maxxis do a multi-layer thing I think. The 3C has a hard base with medium compound in the centre tread and soft on the shoulders. That means the shoulder knobs wear pretty quickly and then tear off. https://www.maxxis.com/uk/technology/bike-technology/. I'm guessing the dual compound is just hard base and medium right across (would make much more sense for a rear tyre but they don't seem to offer it in their modern WT tyres)
Conti use the same compound throughout so, on older black chilli tyres, they seem to wear much more evenly. Endurance compound on Enduro carcass for the rear would be good
I'd say that when I switched from an EXO+ Assegai maxxgrip to a Argotal DH super soft I was expecting it to roll slower.
The reality was i didn't find it any harder going at all.
But i did find a difference from maxxgrip and maxxterra Assegais, so by default I'd say Argotal supersoft was a fraction slower than a maxxterra Assegai.
Just went out and did a bit of measuring - I reckon the knobs are slightly taller in the Kryptotal vs the Assegai - I’d also say they’re spaced slightly further apart. Both of which seem to support my view that the Kryptotal is better in mud than the Assegai. Few photos - the Kryptotal is mounted to a rim - the Wild Enduro and Assegai aren’t
I’d go for the Argotal as a mary replacement.
High praise indeed.
@beargease - thanks, but without knowing the weight of the riders and their riding styles, using psi as a proxy for sidewall stiffness/durability is kinda difficult to interpret.
Those pictures are quite informative. Nice one!
@Scienceofficer 77kg and racing SDAs and Tweed Valley enduros in the seeded U18 class. So faster than your average STWer! :-))
Also based on testing the vast pile of used tyres in my garage I feel that the Conti tyres have more structure than the equivalent Maxxis e.g. the Conti Enduro is about as siff as a Maxxis DD. etc
I've just bought a Krypto and an Argo for some testing over winter.
Which Kryptotal - front or rear? I’ve got a rear and it’s pretty good vs a dhr2
Dunno. I messaged a mate on Whatsapp and he sent me a list... i said "i'll have one of each, you can tell me what one i'm running where and when".
Apparently the Kryp can be used front or rear in medium dry to soft. The Argo more suited soft-wet. I'll likely throw one on the front of mine for a few rides as the boy has the MMary and likes that on the front.
There are front and rear specific Kryptotals - although the person at Dyfi bike park said ‘some of the pros’ run front on the rear and vice versa 🤷♂️
Aye, considering the facts, i'll take his word for which to fit where over any magazine review 😀
Collected both the Argo and Cyrto both in DH super soft
I haven't tried it but the kryptotals don't really seem massively end-specific, tbh I wouldn't have wanted to bet on which was for which end if they hadn't told us? Might pick up a front soft to experiment with. Considerng the limited range they'll definitely have done it for sensible reasons but that doesn't mean it's right for any one person.
The Re looks a bit DHR2 / Big Betty like to me. Slightly different number of knobs down the middle but similar. Dhr2 is used by some people on the front so could see the Kryp Re could be too.
The front Kryp however I think definitely feels more front specific.
According to Dan athertons bike check, for the dolomites video he ran the kryptotal FR on the front and rear.
https://m.pinkbike.com/news/bike-check-gee-athertons-am170.html
person at Dyfi bike park said ‘some of the pros’ run front on the rear and vice versa
Ben Cathro said some of the Pinkbike team did because the front has a smoother transition from centre to edge, rear has a firmer cornering hold and clears mud better. I can imagine Fr/Fr and Re/Re combinations, but a Re/Fr (if they actually do that) seems weird, would be like a DHR2 on the front with an Assegai rear.
kryptotals don’t really seem massively end-specific
The rear one is squarer.
I can see myself ending up running part worn fronts on the rear and replacing the front (as I end up doing with most tyres). Though I've got another new rear in the box after bikeinn shipped the wrong tyre when I was looking everywhere for fronts
I've just fitted the boys Pro5 with the Argotal front for tomorrow at FoD for him. I'm testing the Hillbilly on the Trek tomorrow, but i must admit, his Argotal looks really nice. Both of his are DH Supersoft which arguably isn't much use to me otherwise i'd have stolen one.
That's good news, thanks bikesandboots! I guess I'll hold fire and get a trail front soft when they come along.
It's a step in the right direction but I'd like a Super Soft trail Argotal please.
Hill billy t9 is a very good tyre.
I fitted an argotal dh super soft on the front last week, it's pretty good, it doesn't feel wooden like maxxis doubledown/dh tyres can, it feels really supple and nicely damped, not pingy. It has loads of grip, you can really lean on it, even when it's wet.
It doesn't feel too slow rolling either, but I am using it on an ebike albeit a low powered ebike (trek fuel exe).
Would recommend.
That’s good news, thanks bikesandboots! I guess I’ll hold fire and get a trail front soft when they come along.
I'd emailed Conti about compounds since I was considering stocking up on Der Baron Projekts while I still can. The response didn't say anything to my other question about Trail Softs, but the way it was worded was enough to get me googling "tyre name + trail soft".
Ah, now I know why the OP started this thread!
Not the Kryptotal, but the Argotal, on the rear. In the wet. Wet leaves, surface mud, chalk and wet roots at QECP. Had to get out, had this new bargain tyre and it seriously made the ride more fun than it had the right to be!
Fitted tubeless in minutes on the Emtb's WTB rim, pumped up with Lidl pump, one big PANG! and done.
Wish I had the dosh to grab a few more while they are £34
https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/p/continental-argotal-trail-mtb-tyre-endurance?color=black&wheelSizeWidth=29%22+%7C+2.6%22
Mmmm the boy has been running the Argotal recently and happy. Just fitted him a kryptotal in the 29 rear tonight for upcoming race.
I may get 2 of those if good though got the Fuel , although I have bought 6 tyres this week already
2 Argotal super soft DH
2 kryptotal super soft DH
2 magic Mary.
One of the lads bought the Endurance version of the Argotal and fitted it for Peaks ride this weekend, along with a Krypto rear... He was absolutely blown away. So i ordered 2 Argotals in Endurance to go along with the other pile of rubber i've bought this week.
forgot, I took an exciting photo on Saturday 😀
One professional review of the argotal that I read was not very complimentary about the endurance compound. They loved the soft and super soft compounds though.
I went with supersoft, and it is brilliant
Why oh why cant we have lightweight tyres in soft compounds ? after initially being a sceptic I am now totally sold on the benefits of tyre inserts (Tannus are bloody amazing). I used to get loads of pinch flats and ruin hundreds of tyres but now im convinced I would never have another pinch again even if I ran XC tyres with no pressure. So why do I have to have these daft car tyres just to get a soft compound ?! I get some people (probably most people) dont run inserts but with all the different brands and all the godzillion different combinations that are out there I cant believe there isn't room in the market for this tyre!!! Just bought 2 Argotals in trail compound out of stubbornness - one is going on the front....will report back if I survive the winter. Rant over.
Would be interested to know how draggy it is in SuperSoft, is it full DH/SS ?
I was thinking of fitting it but was worried it'd be proper slow and draggy, i'd be running this on my manual bike.
after initially being a sceptic I am now totally sold on the benefits of tyre inserts (Tannus are bloody amazing)
Continental say NO.... No no no.... They change the way the tyre reacts due to changing the air volume (i think), but either way, according to Continental, don't run any inserts. I know Ethan wasn't running them on his GT this year and suffered very few issues.
I’ve been running Kryptotal DH on my new bike and they’re pretty draggy and *feel* heavy when pedalling in sloppy/muddy conditions, whereas in summer they were fine. Unless I’m riding uplift then the endurance/soft seem a good compromise if you need to pedal. Have two Argotals on order to get me through winter.
Continental say NO…. No no no…. They change the way the tyre reacts due to changing the air volume (i think),
They wouldn't be mush use if they didnt change how the tyre reacts 🙂
Would be interested to know how draggy it is in SuperSoft, is it full DH/SS ?
I'll prefix this by saying its gone on an ebike, a low power ebike - trek fuel exe, but still an abike all the same.
I fitted the DH super soft on the front (with no inserts). It doesnt feel draggy - and the battery range has not noticably decreased. There's two things I noticed immediately, one is loads of grip - almost like dry levels of grip. The other is the damping of the tyre, you dont get any pinginess from it,no harshness, its a very well damped feeling.
I'm a total convert to inserts. I love the effect they have on the handling and damping of a tyre.
I'd be fitting my Rimpact inserts if I bought a Kryptotal/Argotal combo. I didn't realise Continental had forbidden them.
It doesnt feel draggy
I missed the edit window - but was going to add that it doesnt feel draggy compared to the maxxis assegai exo+ in maxx terra compound that I had fitted before the argotal
I only discovered the Magic Mary last winter after several years of running a shorty and now I have to change? 🙂
I've just put a new one on the front, an ADDIX Ultrasoft with the Super DH casing, it's heavy! But I didn't notice the extra weight on yesterdays pedally ride over the Peak district. It worked really well in some of the worst conditions I've ridden.
I'm coming to the conclusion that DH casing (on the front) along with supper grippy rubber is the way to go. I was able to run it with lower pressures than I normally would without it squirming, the grip was by far better than anything else I tried previously.
Now it looks like the MM is being usurped!
I'm changing up a wheel size in the coming month or two so looking for tyres, bookmarked for feedback!
Continental are due to be bringing out the enduro case in supersoft.
IMO they are a step up from the Maxxis offering, much better levels of grip, wear is much better (I'll be lucky if I get 12 weeks out of a DHR on the back, and we are talking no sideknobs left, centre section is still good to go!)
Currently have an Argotal DH SS up front and a Kryptotal DH S on the rear on a Kenevo SL, no real difference to the range compared to Maxxis. No need to run inserts either.
Would be interested to know how draggy it is in SuperSoft, is it full DH/SS ?
Maybe read some of the previous posts or even fit them and try it for yourself...
One mans draggy is another mans fine to do huge days with.
I thought I read there maybe a trail / soft coming out as well. Would be a good trail tyre on the front Kryptotal. Maybe like an exo+ 3c maxx terra sort of thing. But perhaps a bit burlier than an Assegai knob height wise.
I've just fitted the Trail compound/Endurance to the Trek for this weekends ride. Not because i'm unhappy with the Hillbilly, but just to experiment with this and see how it feels.
julians
Free MemberOne professional review of the argotal that I read was not very complimentary about the endurance compound. They loved the soft and super soft compounds though.
TBH I just don't think it makes much sense for the argotal- the soft isn't exactly draggy considering what the tyre's for, and tbh with the knobbliness of the tyre I think most people would go softer rather than harder, and if you want harder you'd also go less knobbly. Or put it another way,it's like a shorty, if a shorty is the right answer then maxxterra is probably the wrong compound.
I don’t know about that comment 100% - I think with knobbly mud spikes it’s often the tread itself finding the grip digging in - as much as the compound. An old Hillbilly Gripton I had (old rubbish rubber) worked amazingly in the mud. It’s just when it found roots and rocks the crap compound got found out.<br /><br />
So for muddy bridleway sort of stuff the Argotal endurance may work - just for steep tech muddy and rooty / rocky stuff I’d want soft or ultra / super soft.
With the front Kryptotal I’m less convinced on the endurance compound - I’ve gone for a soft one in enduro casing now to save weight over the DH one bit with better rubber than endurance.
I think the endurance compound is more suited to a rear Kryptotal probably - like running the equivalent of a Dual compound maxxis dhr2 on the rear. Rolls a touch faster and lasts longer.
Anyone else having problems ripping the sidewalls on the enduro casing Kryptotals? I'm generally been pretty easy with tyres but now killed 2 fairly new rears in 6 months running around 25psi +/- (I'm about 71kg).
Love the tyres but getting frustrating/expensive. Anyone running a dh casing (soft) Kryptotal rear on a bike they do a lot of pedalling on? Not sure an insert would save them as they've both been quite big slashes.
anyone else having problems ripping the sidewalls on the enduro casing Kryptotals? I’m generally been pretty easy with tyres but now killed 2 fairly new rears in 6 months running around 25psi +/- (I’m about 71kg).
Love the tyres but getting frustrating/expensive. Anyone running a dh casing (soft) Kryptotal rear on a bike they do a lot of pedalling on? Not sure an insert would save them as they’ve both been quite big slashes.
I run an enduro kryptotal on the rear, no issues so far (600 miles) , I'm usually pretty hard on rear tyres but this one has been hassle free, running 20psi, no inserts etc, in rocky peak district trails, southern spain etc.
Anyone else having problems ripping the sidewalls on the enduro casing Kryptotals? I’m generally been pretty easy with tyres but now killed 2 fairly new rears in 6 months running around 25psi +/- (I’m about 71kg).
Love the tyres but getting frustrating/expensive. Anyone running a dh casing (soft) Kryptotal rear on a bike they do a lot of pedalling on? Not sure an insert would save them as they’ve both been quite big slashes.
ive given up on lighter casings on the rear. we have alot of flints our way and, it must be how i ride - (i like sliding the rear end about?), but i tend to cut slashes in lighter tyres. DH tyres i seem to be OK. Every now and again i break and try a lighter tyre but it always gets cut before it wears out. no experience with Contis though but i am very conti curious!
I ripped an enduro soft Xynotal in Dyfi forest - 2-3cm slash in the sidewall. I think it wa as freak issue as down here in south wales /‘Fod / Mendips / Bristol I’m fine with a trail casing Kryptotal. Smashed one round bike park wales on the weekend fine with no dramas too. Running a Kryptotal front enduro soft and loving that so far - at bike park wales it was just glued everywhere.
I ran a Kryptotal front on the rear in DH / super soft and it was a bit of a draggy thing tbh. Can you get the rear DH in a soft compound maybe?
I picked up one of the cheap Argotal endurance for the front of my ebike (Trek Rail). I do a lot of boring miles to meet my mates and didn’t want to wear out a soft quickly. Got a cheap Assegai from Peaty’s bike bonanza on the rear. Apart from the obvious risks of mixing brands it’s working really well. Plenty of grip in loam/mud but also surprisingly ok on sandstone.
My lad has a gen 2 Shorty Maxx Grip DD on the front of his bike. He says it’s amazing (good rider).
Side by side the Argotal & Shorty look very similar, block pattern is almost the same, the Argotal having much taller blocks.
Apart from the obvious risks of mixing brands
You mean being ridiculed?
Exactly. I’m in mismatch logo Hell.
Here’s an Argotal on the left and a Shorty Gen 2 on the right. Very similar apart from some differences in the sipes on the centre blocks.
and a different shade of yellow on the logo 🙂
colp
Full MemberMy lad has a gen 2 Shorty Maxx Grip DD on the front of his bike. He says it’s amazing (good rider).
He's right, it's an incredible tyre, but it's also like pedalling a paving slab- maxxgrip is a very sticky rubber but also slow rebounding and the doubledown is pretty much a light dh carcass. Love mine but it's got to be properly terrible conditions or uplift before I fit it. It's even a noticable go-slow on most descents never mind getting it to the top.
TBH this is basically why the argotal soft's such a fantastic success for me, it's not really the grip , it's the speed.
Having read so much praise for the Conti's I ordered a Kryptotal F and Xynotal both Enduro/Soft to try from Bikeinn last month.
28 days later, they showed up yesterday. I decided to fit them before I went out riding, replacing a WTB verdict L/H and a Breakout T/H I've been running for a while.
The Kryptotal was a pain to seat. I had to use a tube to seat it, the Xynotal was easy. Both seemed to be slippery to handle. Once fitted I picked my bike up and it was noticeably lighter.
First impression was they were much easier to pedal than the WTB's. Local riding is chalk & clay which was has dried out a lot but not turned to dust just yet, these are my favourite conditions for these trails.
Initial impression was how fast they were and how much cornering feel they had.I then had a shock braking on a short steep section on trail. Braking grip was nowhere close to the WTB's.
I then crashed on my second descent. I was couldn't slow down for a off camber awkward section and got in a mess braking and turning, and now I have bruised ribs.
The Kryptotal reminds of a Wild Enduro Gum X, and a Vittoria Mazza. The cornering bite was like the Michelin, but it doesn't have the braking. With a Mazza it's very fast but you have to brake in a straight line and I realise it's going to be the same with this. I liked the casing feel compared to the WTB'S which a find a bit wooden.
They have some upsides but the braking is worrying. I set pressures to my usual 24/27 when they were cold and then rode 15 minutes on warm roads to the trails. I do wonder if they warmed up and the pressure increased, but this would only be a minor amount.
I have another set of wheels with an Assegai Exo+ Maxx Grip & DHR2 Maxx Terra on that I like and I will do some back to back testing once my ribs are better.
I can’t say I’ve found the Conti’s any worse under braking than most other things I’ve used. The Xynotal will probably give up some grip to the Kryptotal rear in this respect. Currently running Hillbilly t7 front / Kryptotal Trail rear and it’s been epic through all the recent mud. I w had grip on corners where other people have been sliding.
Will shortly be switching to Kryptotal front (soft / enduro) Xynotal rear (soft / enduro) and will run that until it gets properly biblical again.
I think the 2.4 Kryptotal rear is very similar to a dhr2 2.4 - but the trail / endurance one is stronger than an exo or exo+ casing but lighter than DD.
Kryptotal front is like an Assegai but better for me - deals with mud better.
Xynotal is interesting - I found it’s a great all rounder / rolls ok / finds more grip than you think it might do with the ramping on the centre knobs.
Edit - just to add on pressures I mostly run 23 psi both ends. Unless it’s muddy / steep tech and then I go down to about 20
Xynotal is meant to be more of a hard condition tyre (certainly in NE England there's not much of that at the moment) with more and more closely spaced blocks than the Kryptotal. I have one waiting to go on the non-e-bike to replace a Kryptotal rear. That is an awesome tyre but fairly draggy, so hoping to trade off a bit of grip for speed. Argotal up front in both cases, and all Enduro casing soft compound.
Kryptotal front is like an Assegai but better for me – deals with mud better.
Which just goes to show how much the terrain you ride is the variable I guess, as this is the exact opposite to my experience. I think the Krypt is a good tyre, but so far for me, in all the rain we've had, the Assegai edges it, and I've taken off the Krypt and I'm waiting for it to dry out a bit more.
Interesting - maybe it depends on the mud. I’m comparing an exo / 3c maxxterra Assegai with a Kryptotal enduro / soft. The Kryptotal bites better and clogs less for the most part round here.
I just swapped from a krypototal enduro soft rear to a xynotal enduro soft on the rear wheel - under braking it feels about the same as the kryptotal, it is noticably worse for traction uphill on soft surfaces though, which I guess you'd expect from the heavy ramped knobs, it spins out quite easily. The xynotal feels a bit easier to pedal than the kryptotal though. I'll be keeping the xynotal on for the summer.
I have a argotal downhill supersoft on the front - and I'm shortly (just waiting for a longer period of dry weather) going to swap that for a kryptotal front enduro soft , or maybe the rumoured trail soft version thats not yet available.
replacing a WTB verdict L/H
Ah well, you were swapping from the best front tyre in the biz (in my opinion) 😉
Or were you not so keen on it?
I like WTB tyres and the Verdict is superb for the winter. The Breakout is my all time favourite rear tyre. The one I took off is very worn and I have one more with some life in it.