MTB Tire Test: Continental Race King Protection 2015

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  • Continental Race King Protection 2015
Performance compared to all other MTB tires
(100% is best)
Pro Members get 11-point radar charts



Continental Race King Protection 2015 road bike tire on a rolling resistance test machine

NOTE: We have a test available of a newer version of this tire: Continental Race King Protection 2020

The Continental Race King Protection 29 x 2.2 is the toughest member of the Continental Race King family. I've already reviewed the RaceSport, Performance and Sport versions of the Race King. The Protection version uses a stronger 4/240 TPI carcass and the same BlackChili compound that's used on the fast RaceSport version. Continental claims improved side-wall and tread puncture resistance with the Protection series. This review has been partly funded by donations. Thank you supporters!


Ad Buy Continental Race King Protection 2015 at Amazon.com


The Protection series of mountain bike tires are the only tires specified by Continental to be Tubeless-Ready. Although I use RaceSport tires without inner tubes myself, those aren't that easy to seal. It can take a couple of days before the RaceSport tires hold air. Comparing the Race King Protection to the RaceSport side by side, it should be easy to set up tubeless as the side-walls are much thicker and stronger.


Most other Continental cross-country mountain bike tires are available as Sport, Performance, RaceSport and Protection versions just like the Race King. With this last review of the Race King Protection, It should be easier to decide which version fits your exact needs. These differences should be pretty similar for other Continental mountain bike tires like the Mountain King and X-King. Now, let's see how the Race King Protection performs in our tests.


Manufacturer Specifications


Manufacturer Specs
Brand Continental
Model Race King Protection 2015
Year 2015
Supplied By Bought in store
New or Used New
Mileage 0 km
Price Range High
Buy At Ad Amazon.com
Manufacturer part number 0100546
TPI 4/240
Compound Black Chili
Bead Folding
ETRTO 55-622
Size Inch 29"
Width Inch 2.20
Specified Weight 645 grams
Max Air Pressure (psi) 65
Made In Members Only
Available Sizes 29x2.20
27.5x2.20
26x2.20

Continental Race King Protection 2015 Test Results

Continental Race King Protection 2015  mountain bike tire on a rolling resistance test machine

Size, Weight, and Thickness Measurements


Size, Weight, and Thickness Measurements
Specified Weight 645 grams
Measured Weight 629 grams
Measured Width Carcass 55 mm (un-round)
Measured Width Tread 51 mm
Measured Height 54 mm (un-round)
Measured Knob Height Center 2.5 mm
Measured Knob Height Edge 2.5 mm
Measured Total Thickness Center (excluding knobs) 1.75 mm
Measured Total Thickness Sidewall Members Only
All size measurements are taken at an air pressure of 35 psi / 2.4 bars on a 17.8 mm inner width rim.

The specified weight of the Race King Protection 29 x 2.2 is 645 grams. Our tire comes in at 629 grams. On average, the Protection series adds a bit more than 100 grams of weight. Once again: you always pay for protection. Just like the other Race Kings, the size of the Protection is huge. The width of the carcass is 55 mm while the tread is only 51 mm wide. Height is 54 mm which is quite big as well.


Rolling Resistance Test Results


Rolling Resistance Test Results
Inner Tube None (40 ml sealant)

(current protocol)
Conti MTB 29 (225 gr butyl)

(test protocol)
Rolling Resistance
55 PSI / 3.8 Bar
Members OnlyMembers Only
Rolling Resistance
45 PSI / 3.1 Bar
Members OnlyMembers Only
Rolling Resistance
35 PSI / 2.4 Bar
17.6 Watts
CRR: 0.00528
21.1 Watts
CRR: 0.00632
Rolling Resistance
25 PSI / 1.7 Bar
18.8 Watts
CRR: 0.00564
23.3 Watts
CRR: 0.00698
All numbers are for a single tire at a speed of 29 km/h / 18 mph and a load of 42.5 kg / 94 lbs.

Use the formula: RR (Watts) = CRR * speed (m/s) * load (N) to calculate rolling resistance at a given speed and load.

Big surprise! Rolling resistance of the Race King Protection is only slightly higher than the very fast Race King RaceSport. At an air pressure of 25 psi, rolling resistance is 23.3 watts as compared to 22.4 watts for the RaceSport version. At higher air pressures, rolling resistance is 1.1 - 1.3 watts higher than the RaceSport version, which really isn't that much for the added protection and weight.


I'm really surprised by this great performance in the rolling resistance test. I was expecting the Protection version to come in closer to the 25-26 watts range. This really shows that with the right design and materials, protection doesn't have to cost all that much in terms of performance.


Puncture Resistance Test Results

Continental Race King Protection 2015  mountain bike tire on a rolling resistance test machine
Puncture Resistance Test Results (higher is better)
Total Puncture Score Tread 45 Points
Total Puncture Score Sidewall Members Only
Tread Puncture Force Sharp Needle 12 Points
Tread Puncture Force Blunt Needle No Data
Tread Total Tire Thickness 1.75 mm
Sidewall Puncture Force Sharp Needle Members Only
Sidewall Puncture Force Blunt Needle No Data
Sidewall Total Tire Thickness Members Only

Just like the rolling resistance test, the performance of the Race King Protection in the puncture resistance test is great. It scores a PR score of 12, which is much higher than the PR score of 7 the RaceSport version got. With a score of 12, the Protection also beats the Performance version which got a score of 11.


Hard Surface Static Grip Test Results


Static Grip Test Results
Wet Grip Average No Data
Wet Grip Center No Data
Wet Grip Edge No Data
Measured Knob Height Center 2.5 mm
Measured Knob Height Edge 2.5 mm
Grip in points = coefficient of friction * 100
MTB grip test rim width = 30.0 mm
Wet Grip Test and Off-Road Tires (info)

Conclusion


  • Continental Race King Protection 2015
Performance compared to all other MTB tires
(100% is fastest - lightest - highest - strongest)

Pro Members get 11-point radar charts

I must admit, I didn't expect the Race King Protection to have such a low rolling resistance. I expected it to perform close to the cheaper Performance version in both the rolling resistance and puncture resistance tests. Compared to the RaceSport version which has the same price, rolling resistance is only 1 watt higher while you gain a lot of puncture resistance. Also, using the Protection tire in a tubeless set up should be much easier as well.


I definitely recommend the Continental Protection tires. The biggest disadvantage over the RaceSport tires will be the added weight of 110 grams per tire. Race performance = RaceSport, all other use = Protection.


Ad Buy Continental Race King Protection 2015 at Amazon.com


RATING: 5.0 / 5
TEST VERDICT:
Highly Recommended


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