You know how you know that a mountain bike tire is wildly popular? They start making it in a bunch of sizes and with multiple tire compounds and casing options.
The Continental Kryptotal front- and rear-specific, mixed-terrain mountain bike tires were introduced almost exactly three years ago in 29″ and 27.5″ diameters, and today the brand is adding a slew of new options. Notably, Continental is making the Kryptotal Fr (front-specific) and Kryptotal Re (rear-specific) available in a new 26×2.4″ size featuring their enduro casing and soft rubber compound. On paper, this is a high-performance option for a wheel size that many may have assumed was left for dead.
In reality, bikes with 26-inch wheels never went away, with diehards holding onto beloved frames and young riders finding a good fit with the smaller wheel size. On a related note, Continental is also adding Kryptotal Fr and Re tires in 20″ and 24″ diameters, all 2.4″ wide. With younger riders demanding quality bikes and tires for racing, these new sizes should find an eager audience.
Compared to the iconic Maxxis Minion DHF, however, the Kryptotal Fr has a bit of catching up to do. Maxxis offers the Minion DHF in five different 26″ configurations and two 24″ options, plus one 20″ version.
Tire molds are expensive to create, so brands are cautious about investing in multiple tire sizes and widths. The fact that Continental is rolling out so many options of the Kryptotal at once suggests this has become a very popular tire for the brand in a relatively short period of time. Singletracks reviewed the Kryptotal Re in 2022, and we found the trail version to be a tough tire that brakes and corners well in a variety of conditions.
Softer compounds at a lighter weight
One of the drawbacks I mentioned in my 2022 tire review was “limited stickiness for [riding] steep, slabby sections” of trail. With the 2025 release, Continental has an answer: soft compound options for select tires with trail and enduro casings. Initially, the enduro and trail casing tires were only offered with the brand’s “endurance” rubber compound, and the “soft” and “super soft” compounds were reserved for heavier tires with downhill casings.
“We received many messages on social media and at events specifically asking us to extend our range to include softer compound options in lighter casings,” Continental MTB Product Manager Alexander Haenke said in a press release.
As a point of comparison, a soft compound Kryptotal downhill-casing 29er tire weighs 1315g compared to just 1055g for the same compound with a trail casing, saving almost 300g, or about two-thirds of a pound.
The Continental Kryptotal Fr is now available with either the endurance or soft compound for both trail and enduro casing tires in 29er diameters only. The Kryptotal Re appears to have been available with the soft casing in the 29×2.4″ size already, though this week’s announcement adds a soft compound, enduro casing 26×2.4″ option.
Worldwide Cyclery already has a wide selection of Continental Kryptotal tires available for purchase, with prices ranging from $66.95 to $102.95.
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