[Closed] Continental der baron Projekt 29 tyre - any real world experience?

Run a 26 version and it's dam good on pretty much everything apart from thick dusty trails. You can run a bit less pressure as the sidewalls are strong.

Thanks poah. Strong sidewall is a must for me! Think for Autumn they look like they should do the job well for most conditions between bone dry or mud fests!

Are they particularly broad or tall? Clearance is a bit tight on the rear of my current frame.

I'm curious too. Reviews seem to suggest it's good but a bit harsh on the dry or hard stuff, and also that it's loose fitting so tends to burp.

@Poah - can you confirm, or otherwise debunk in your experience?

I haven't found it loose fitting, had no problems with burping, running with light bicycle 31mm internal rims.

It is not really a tyre for hard pack, it's tread pattern is kind of a cut spike type thing, it is a tread pattern that should cut into something, although I find the black chilli compound provides good chemical grip and the luggs do have leading ramps.

My riding is mainly rooty dirt, sometimes the dirt can become hard packed sometimes either loamy or sandy, not really much in the way of rocks.

@Poah - can you confirm, or otherwise debunk in your experience?

no issues burping but side wall is quite stiff so you might want to run 1-2psi less than you normally do but I've not had any problems with it feeling harsh compared to an HR2 or DHF.

hard pack is ok, is the very loose gravel that I'm not comfortable with but its not like its any worse that other tyres in that type of slidey surface. If it was dry/hardpack I'd run a different tyre for less rolling resistance anyway.

Great year round Scottish tyre (sadly).

Good in dry and wet, but oddly less so in damp conditions. Supportive sidewall and long lasting compound considering how soft/grippy it is. Shame they're so mental expensive, but a great tyre.

Run them on 25mm and 30mm internal rims - better on the latter, though wider would probably square it off too much.

Looser fit than Maxxis, but it's more of a seating issue rather than a burping issue - once on the bead seat it satay put - just more awkward getting it there sometimes.

Update : Got what seemed to be a good deal on a pair (44€ / tyre in 29er). Fitted them yesterday, first ride today in broadly dry conditions (hardpack, dirt, loam, sand, quite a few roots but not many rocky bits).

They went up easily so the loose and burpy is not true in my case (got one of them up with a track pump). Dropped a couple of PSI.

I'm impressed - though they were replacing the stock Onza Ibex that came on the Jeffsy (they are rubbish, in my opinion. I gave them a chance but wish I'd swapped them straight away - they're the only bit of kit that really lets that bike down). They compound feels very tacky, almost like a really soft compound DH tyre or something. Will be interesting how they wear, but at the moment they're very enjoyable. Good sidewalls so feel happy to run them low PSI and they have shed loads of traction. Not easy rolling, but that's not what they're fore (the Ibex is quite easy rolling, but it seems to achieve that by not offering any grip at all 😐 )

@Groundskeeperwilly - don't seem particulary wide or tall (the Ibex are, the Der Baron go up smaller than those).

Have you seen the new 2.6" version?

[img] ?1504132493[/img]

Only in a 27.5 initially I think, due out early next year.

Thanks orangespyderman - can you share where you got them at that price?

chief - 2.6 front in 29er would be great I reckon..

Would love if they did a 2.6 29er version, but it seemed to take forever for the current 29er barons to come to market so I won't hold my breath.

Thanks orangespyderman - can you share where you got them at that price?

Just an update for anyone else curious about this tyre. I bought one which replaced a Minion DHF on the front of my 29er.

Lots better in muddy sloppy conditions, noticeably better on roots than anything else I've ever used. Also been totally fine on dry kitty litter trail centre rides and rocky routes.

Was a bit harder to mount tubeless than Maxxis/Specialized and noticeably stiff carcass when taking it out of wrapper but I'm hoping that just=toughness! Also despite regular use it looks like it has barely worn at all so although expensive looks like it'll be long lasting too!

About to pair it with a Mountain King on the rear as I have tyre brand matching OCD...

About to pair it with a Mountain King on the rear as I have tyre brand matching OCD...

Which Mountain King? The newest or the second version? I'd rather have a Trail King, way better braking and driving traction, similar cornering grip and rolling speed vs the MK2. Not sure about the MK3 as I didn't think it was out yet. The MK1 is not great at all...

On a slight tangent, any idea how wide these size up? There are 2.2 and 2.4 versions, interested but not sure which size. ETA the trail king in particular

How does the Conti compare to the Magic Mary, if you've used one?

I think that the MM gives slightly better grip in dry conditions, but the tread clogs up easier so is considerably worse when it gets damp. The MM is also a fair bit more draggy.

I also prefer the black chilli compound but haven't ridden the latest schwalbe compounds.

Conti actually recommend running the barron front and rear which I think would work and will run on my new bike, I wouldn't even consider running the MM on the rear.

Chiefgroove - its the second gen MK. Picked it up cheap after reading a few positive posts/reviews. Trail King also on my list to try. Are you running it front and rear? Any good as a front?

Greyspoke - I've not formally measures it but it looks tall. I've gone 2.4 baron and MK on a Smuggler and Fox 34 fork with no worries.

Chaka - for me the baron is better as I ride a lot of muddy roots and it's better than the Mary there imo. It looks more hardwearing too and certainly seems tough. Mary probably better on trail centres and slick rock like Laggan.

Cheers both, very good appraisals, A+

Thanks willy.

I had the 2.4 MK2 Protection black chilli front and rear on a Spectral hire bike in Mallorca a few years back. At the same time I was running 2.2 Trail King Protection black chilli on both ends on my Spitfire.

With the MK2 I didn't like the gap between grip, slip and grip when turning into corners and I couldn't understand how it managed to have so much less grip in a straight line but didn't roll any faster (except on tarmac - but who cares about that?) On the rear the less than confidence inspiring transition wouldn't be such an issue but the braking grip vs not very fast rolling would still annoy me.

I still think Continental's best black chilli compounds beat everyone else's, especially once you include wear rate. I haven't tried the new Baron Projekt but the old Baron had amazing grip for its durability and rolling speed.

I'm on a Shorty 2.5, High Roller 2 2.4 or Minion DHF 2.5 (all 3C Exo) up front depending on conditions. At the moment still on the DHF but the Shorty will replace that once it get wetter. HR2 will stay on the other bike - it's not quite as good as the other two at anything but it's very versatile on natural trails in any conditions (wet, dry, hard, mud, loose, rock etc).

I'd also have a Trail King over a MK2 for exactly the same reasons as above.
For me, the MK2 2.4 only really 'works' as a soft conditions tyre. The lack of braking grip is due to a lack of surface area (small widely spaced knobs on a very rounded carcass).
Seems to be a fairly common complaint as by the looks of the new MK3 they have taken steps to correct these flaws and make it back into more of an all rounder.

About to pair it with a Mountain King on the rear as I have tyre brand matching OCD...

If this is a problem for you then the difference in carcass size between the Der Baron and the MK is going to screw with your mind 😀 Assuming the Mountain King comes up like the Trail King / Rubber Queen / whatever it is called that I paired my Der Baron with.

Great tyre, although I found mine used to weep stans during colder periods which was annoying.

Black chilli seems to be excellent rubber, but conti can't seem to do their carcasses right.

Used trail kings on one of my bikes for several years. Great grippy predictable tyre, but yes, conti's sidewalls are fragile. They wept fluid quite alot and I'd also get wear just above the bead seat. On one tyre it actually tore through at this point. Their protection carcases are slightly better, but still not perfect.

Assuming the Mountain King comes up like the Trail King / Rubber Queen / whatever it is

It doesn't, it's much smaller. 2.4 MK2 = 2.2 TK/RQ.

Apparently for 2018 Continental are changing all their sizing so it's accurate. I'll believe it when I see it...

I'm right through the rubber and into the treads on the bead seat. Disappointing as theres tonnes of life left in the tread.

I've no experience of the 29er, only the 26er.
The carcass and bead are a bit hitty, missy.
The bead is definitely looser than a maxxis. My first Projekt went up with a track pump. My second blew off the rim when being set up and deformed. So I got a warranty replacement. This one needed an airshot to get it to seal.
The carcass is robust and very happily survived lots of different conditions including Ard Rock.
However they have ALWAYS leaked sealant through the sidewalls and required topping up regularly.
They are great all-conditions tyres. They only really struggle on hard pack and loose gravel. In horrible, wet manky conditions they excel.
A DHF turns with more authority but struggles when the conditions turn more wintry. However they are a much better trail centre and dry conditions tyre.
I have had them on both ends for the past 9 months, but I'm bored of the leaky sidewalls and the drag on some flatter trails.
So I'm keeping a Projekt on the front and putting a DHR2 3C DD on the back.
If a rode vertical, sloppy trails all year round I would not hesitate to run them both ends.But I think outside of that on the front only, or swap out come late spring.

A lot of my winter will be mucky and rooty as mentioned above hence going for the baron on front. I did consider it on the rear too and Trail King also on my radar now too. Think an Airshot might be useful too...

Scienceofficer - Member

I'm right through the rubber and into the treads on the bead seat. Disappointing as theres tonnes of life left in the tread.

The old Baron did that too.

Just got one to try, tbh I don't expect it to replace my 2.5 shorty but I want to see if it can be a "not horrible, just squishy" tyre for when the minion runs out of tooth. Guess we'll see.

Disappointing as theres tonnes of life left in the tread.

I've been out on them again this afternoon. I'm still loving them. It's getting damper and some parts are pretty sloppy now after a week of rain. It's a hoot. One of the best tyres I've tried and unless they go off really quickly, which they don't have a reputation of doing so, I'd have another set in the blink of an eye - especially at 49€/tyre. Running them front and rear, on my Jeffsy if anyone is wondering.

Just put a pair on my Four. Initially thought it a bit OTT to go with them front and back but the slight extra drag is worth it to me for the grip they give in the current Calderdale slop!