Continental Kryptotal Review (w/ Maxxis Comparisons)

The Maxxis tires I refer to in this video:

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[CalebD]

Jeff. Giving us the reviews we actually need!

[glenn]

IDK why your subs aren’t through the roof. As always, a video chalked full of useful and honest opinion with some of the sickest riding around. Thanks Jeff!

[ericsharp]

Been on Kryptotals since last spring after maxxis for the last 4 years and they are amazing tires. 2.4 in the rear is nothing to worry about, it was smaller than I have ran in the past but it’s got lots of grip!!

[pheonixfps]

Hi Jeff, I have actually just done the same personal comparison. I had a 2.6 Assegi EXO and a 2.5 DHR 2 EXO on my Slash 8. I tried the Kryptonal F and R 2.4 trail on the bike, and was absolutely blown away. I lost weight on the bike overall, I gained compliance, I gained expectancy of behaviour, I gained speed, I gained braking and I gained agility. The Kryptonal are so predictive and so trustworthy, I was sticking my bike on lines more confidently, after breaking my wrist 10 weeks ago, than I was with the maxxis previously. In my area in Australia, we have a bike park with very varying ground textures from one end of the park to the other, going from wet, sand, loose, gravel, hardpak, and mud, plus the various large and small slippery roots, rocks, features and wooden curved rails. To say these tyres are a do it all, is truly not doing them justice in their versatility. The tyres do need a break in period. I will also admit, I'm a 105kg guy, so these tyres got pushed, and FUCKING HARD. I was running 105psi in the Zeb 250 psi in the deluxe select shock, EX511 rims rebounds at half way, and I simply couldn't get this bike to give out in areas it has before. I would love to see these more readily available, and a 2.5 variant for the front as well for racing, but I won't be going back to Maxxis.

[GD-gjmn]

I'm breaking the rules and running an Assegai up front with a Kryptotal RE out back, amazingly confident combo. Definitely prefer the Kryptotal over the Aggressor it replaced. Also I didn't align the logos with the valve stem.

[zwingler]

What I really like about continental is the consistancy. For maxxis tyres sometimes you have ones where your rim is straight, the tyre is set but somehow you still have a wobble from like manufacturing tolerances.

[paolo_siega]

for the rear tyre, I prefer the Xynotal over the Kryptotal RE. The Xynotal in an enduro casing is what I would consider a better dissector. More predictable grip, better braking, more confident when leaned in. It does roll a wee bit slower but honestly its a good trade off for a much better tire all around

[nicholashines]

Just put mine on. The Xynotol rear is my new favorite rear tire off all time. Better than the dissector in every way. Rolls and grips better and has a thicker sidewall.

[energt]

I absolutely love these Kryptotal 2.4 set that I have now. I’m just using the trail compound and these things really grip super well. In fact I just got a two Strava KOMs and a 7th overall on a local trail system in Bend with over 2600 recorded times. So I am sure the tires have def helped in part with my confidence on the corners. The best part is that these tires are only $65 each ($59 when I bought them). I may run a Xynotal on the rear at some point, since it rolls a bit faster, but that obviously hasn’t held me back at all.

[jk]

Yes worth the hype, best tires I've run I have Kryptotal Fr front and back. Climb really well, fast, great cornering and grip. Would recommend.

[jonathanneely]

I’ve been running the the Kryptotals for a few months now after my LBS owner/shredder was raving about them. Came off Assegai/dissector combo. Really liking the the Contis. Started with trail casing front and rear….destroyed the casing on the rear (didn’t lose air but must have busted it as it became insanely wobbly and the rim was true) LBS warranted the rear. Put an enduro/soft on the rear and a DH/super soft up front. Amazing. Light and fast enough for trail riding….burly and grippy enough for gnarly East coast DH tech runs

[willbros]

Great review as always! I've been running the new Conti's since they were released right at around BikeFest in Bentonville last year. I can say without a doubt that the "Endurance" compound, which you didn't test, is the one that has garnered all of the discussion locally, based primarily on the lower price point vs Maxxis. However, that compound on the front is a NO-GO, because of two reasons. 1) It's abysmal in the wet, and not very good even on dry rocks. Too hard. 2) It has a quirky trait where the side lugs and sidewall don't conform to the terrain well. If you're riding in a straight line and hit even a very small raised rock or root that's at an angle to the trail, it won't go over it. The front wheel will slide. VERY BAD issue. I'm not the only one who has noticed that anomaly, and Maxxis 3C doesn't do that. I don't know if it's the harder compound providing less grip, side lugs that are too firm, or a more rigid sidewall with less compliance....or maybe a combo...but there's definitely an issue there, and I've had two bad crashes on total front wheel washes that I've never experienced before on Maxxis tires. I'd love to say that goes away with everything EXCEPT the Endurance compound, but since I can't get the freaking "Soft" compound, I can't say that. Frustrating.

So for those reading this, SKIP the "Endurance Compound" and go with soft or super soft. Which...brings up a HUGE STICKING point, which is that you have not been able to get the Kryptotal in 2.4 in Enduro casing with SOFT compound for months now, and they are saying it will be at least August. So inventory has been a big issue, and pushed me back to Maxxis for that reason. Conti was here at BikeFest in Bentonville as a primary sponsor and I was so hopeful that they would have the soft compound and enduro casings, but they didn't have them...in any tire. Huge bummer. So to topple the giant, they are going to have to do better.

[MattPula]

I bought a Kryptotal/Argotal combo earlier this year after doing zero research on them, and have been really liking them.

[enzochoi]

Hey Jeff! love the review, comprehensive deep dives are one of the great things you bring to MTB youtube.
I think you have a video editing error at around 9:59, where, at least for me, a blue bar with some editing interface appeared.

[funkentratzer]

Had to smash the like like button about 2.4 seconds in. As a new dad, I’m learning how far I still have to go to get my dad puns where they ought to be.

Didn’t get much sleep last night, but I still belly laughed at “get straight to the skid marks”… love it!

[jschneiderpao]

Riding the kryp rear 2.4 enduro casing here in Phoenix - it’s fantastic

[Kyle_Lindell]

Loving these component reviews, its good to get some feedback on product choice from a rider whose been pushing their bike's capabilities.

[sparksfly]

Great video. My only suggestion would be to end the video with a “final thoughts / conclusion” wrap up.

[JustSnowglow]

Holy crap this is literally perfect timing. Thank you Jeff 🙏

[PaddleAsia]

My collar bone almost broke just watching this video... mad skills!