The completely new tread is slightly lower than its predecessor, but has inherited its aggressive side lugs. The tested version has the in-house rubber compound "Black Chili", which has also been revised. The tried-and-tested ProTection carcass continues to protect against punctures. The tire is available for all wheel sizes, the German tire manufacturer even offers 26-inch tires.

In the past, there have occasionally been problems fitting Continental tires in tubeless setups. Obviously they have done their homework here. Milk in, compressor on and "bang", the tire fits and is tight. Compared to the models of previous generations, there is also much less pumping required.

A tire for long, alpine tours
Compared to its predecessor, the new "Bergkönig" shines with noticeably lower rolling resistance. Traction is sufficient as long as the surface is not too loose, as the tread lacks lug height. The Black Chili rubber compound has proven itself in recent years. It also offers good grip on wet roots, where many tires fail. In general, the tire shows few weaknesses and proves to be very puncture-resistant thanks to its reinforced carcass and weight of only 760 grams. The tester rode the tire with 1.2 to 1.4 bar depending on the surface (at a weight of approx. 70 kg, including equipment) and never had any problems with
Depending on the surface, I rode the tire at 1.2 to 1.4 bar (at approx. 70 kg including equipment) and never had any problems with punctures or other handling issues
.

Deep mud is certainly not the ideal terrain for the Mountain King, although it holds up quite well there too. Traction is good for a non-mud tire and self-cleaning is sufficient. Downhill on gravel or on trails with a lot of loose material, the tread has little grip, the rear wheel quickly starts to slip, but can be controlled well thanks to the aggressive side lugs. The same happens when braking very hard.

The Mountain King III is a pleasant companion, especially on long tours with lots of vertical meters in alpine terrain. It rolls nimbly uphill and offers reliable puncture protection - as long as you don't push too hard downhill. You quickly notice that it is not an enduro tire. The grip can't quite keep up with its thicker colleagues. Manufacturer Continental positions it as an all-mountain tire with enduro ambitions.

Conclusion
The new Mountain King is a good all-rounder for year-round use on a trail bike. It also cuts a fine figure in wet conditions and is unrivaled in this weight class. There are more suitable candidates for a more aggressive riding style, but that's not what it's designed for. As an all-mountain tire, however, it can wear the crown with pride.


RRP: CHF 75.00
www.continental-reifen.de