Hutchinson launches Kraken 2.4 tyre - its first-ever downcountry-specific tyre
The Kraken 2.4 is the French brand’s response to the growing popularity of the MTB discipline
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French tyre manufacturer Hutchinson has launched a new downcountry-specfic 2.4in tyre called Kraken. The new tyre aims to be fast and yet grippy for when things get rowdy on the descents and sits in the brand’s Racing Lab range that has been developed in collaboration with Hutchinson’s top-level XC and enduro athletes.
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Downcountry as a mountain bike discipline is relatively new, but it has quickly picked up in popularity which led to Hutchinson completely redesigning its existing cross-country Kraken and making it bigger. The new Kraken 2.4 draws inspiration from the Griffus enduro tyres featuring elongated, higher-volume central knobs and a smaller number of knobs around the circumference of the tyre.
2023 Hutchinson Kraken 2.4 tyre rear tread, by Hutchinson
Hutchinson said these changes create a more open tread pattern, resulting in a more aggressive tyre on loose and rocky terrain with better levels of grip than the original Kraken.
The new tyre gets 66 TPI casing and bead-to-bead Hardskin puncture protection layer for the durability and protection needed for the enhanced demands of downcountry mountain biking. Hutchinson’s proprietary RaceRipost XC tri-compound technology should keep rolling resistance to a minimum by strategically placing different rubber compounds around the tyre. The Core comprises 65 ShA (shore hardness) rubber, the centre layer of 60ShA and the sides have even softer 50ShA rubber.
2023 Hutchinson Kraken 2.4 tyre rear side, by Hutchinson
There is a tan sidewall and black version of the Kraken 2.4 available. The black version weighs 836g, just 68g more than its smaller brother the Kraken 2.3 (768g). The Kraken 2.4 retails at £57.95.
Find out more at Hutchinson's website.
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