... or is it all just marketing?

"All right," I thought to myself, "let's find out whether the tried-and-tested 2.3 and 2.4 inch wide tires will soon be a thing of the past!" When one of my personal favorite tires was presented in the 2.6-inch version at Eurobike 2017, it was clear: "I have to have it."

I admit it, I'm one of the few people who like plus-size tires. Whether on a hardtail or a fully. But so far, only very few models have appealed to me. I like "plenty of grip" and bikes with little suspension travel. The current 2.3 and 2.4 inch wide tires are often a bit too narrow for me. 2.5s are almost only available in heavy downhill versions and as long as I'm not riding in the bike park, I don't like tires weighing 1300 grams.

When I test tires, I usually mount the rear one with a tube and ride it tubeless on the front. That way I can test both setups at the same time. The thick Baron can be fitted in both options without any problems. With a width of 65 millimetres, it has a decent volume and the weight of around 900 grams is tolerable.

Otherwise, Continental relies on its proven technologies: Black Chili rubber compound and ProTection Apex carcass against punctures. The lug layout is identical to its thinner 2.4-inch brother. However, the profile is slightly lower and there are larger gaps between the lugs.

A hybrid that can do a lot, but not everything

The differences to the classic 2.4-inch-wide Baron project are noticeable within the first few meters. The original never shone with its low rolling resistance - its strengths lie elsewhere - but the fat tire rolls noticeably worse. Especially on asphalt, the coarse profile is noticeable with strong vibrations.

Although the tread pattern is very close to the original, the handling is completely different: it's more like the balloon-like feel of plus-size tires, just not as pronounced. Whether wet or dry, the grip is always good. Once you have found the right air pressure, for me with 70 kg ready to ride it was just under 1 bar. The positive characteristics of a plus-size tire are noticeable without feeling spongy when cornering. The pressure only needs to be increased on hard, groomed downhill sections. The prominent side lugs in combination with the width of the tire give you a whole new dimension of cornering grip. You have to shoot through the bends at a decent lean angle before you reach the limit in terms of grip.

Conclusion

What is the 2.6 Baron project: a narrow plus-size tire or a wide enduro tire? For me, its handling is closer to that of the plus tires, but it has fewer weaknesses than them: I had no punctures. On muddy ground, it floats on top and is no fun. Then its narrower brother scores points. Is 2.6 inches the measure of all things? Everyone has to find out for themselves. I'm very happy with the "semi-plus" Baron and will be having fun with it for a while yet.

RRP: CHF 89.00

www.continental-reifen.de