The Kryptotal Fr has been optimised for aggressive front wheel use and is the mixed conditions specialist in Continental’s Gravity Range – and it excels in this sector with multiple World Cup DH and EWS podiums. The Soft compound is the gummiest option available in the Enduro casing and provides a good balance of traction, durability and rolling resistance. The Enduro casing is robust and supportive while remaining compliant and surprisingly light, making it a great choice for all-mountain and enduro use. Its only real weakness is sticky mud where a more terrain-specific tyre would serve you better.
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Continental Kryptotal FR Enduro Soft 2.4in tyre - Technical details
It's fair to say Continental has had something of a chequered past when it comes to mountain bike tyres. While the brand has developed some of the best compounds in the business with the Black Chilli technology, they've sometimes let themselves down with casing issues and some hit-and-miss tread patterns.
However, the German tyre monger has worked ‘tirelessly’ alongside pro team riders to develop a fully redesigned gravity range of tyres; featuring brand-new casings, compounds and tread patterns that right the wrongs of previous iterations, and hopes to see them back on top alongside the dominant players in the game.
Continental's latest Gravity Range comprises four different tread patterns catering for every type of terrain from hardpack to the thickest of mud. The Kryptotal is available in front (Fr) and rear (Re) specific tread patterns and has been designed to excel in mixed conditions, making it the most versatile of the bunch, with the Argotal stepping in when it gets looser or muddier, the Hydrotal for proper mucky stuff and the fast-rolling Xynotal for hard pack or dry weather use.
The Kryptotal Fr has been tailored specifically for front wheel use, with an emphasis on consistent grip and predictable cornering response at all lean angles thanks to the inclusion of transition knobs and beefy, well-supported shoulder lugs. The 3-2-3 tread pattern has become pretty ubiquitous these days, with most manufacturers adopting this layout on at least one of their tyres, and it would be easy to dismiss the Krypto’ Fr as yet another Asseg(sigh) wannabe. However, I feel the tread pattern has drawn inspiration from two of Maxxis’ signature tyres. The central knob design and layout closely resemble those of the Dissector but with the taller and blockier lug size of the Assegai. Both are awesome tyres in their own right but aren't without their flaws – if Conti can harness the predictable grip of the Assegai with the easy speed of the Dissector it could be onto a winner.
The Kryptotal Fr’s blocky centre knobs are a touch lower in height than those on the Assegai and are more heavily ramped for improved rolling speed, and feature a mixture of either longitudinal or horizontal closed siping on all but the transition lugs. This should allow them to conform to the terrain for added grip without sacrificing lug stability. The aggressive shoulder lugs are angled slightly inwards and feature a ‘scalloped’ inside edge to enhance cornering bite and control. Additionally, they are much better supported than those on the Dissector which should prevent them from folding or tearing when cornering on firmer surfaces.
Continental offers the Kryptotal Fr in 27.5- and 29-inch wheel sizes and a single 2.4in width, and there's a choice of three casings - Trail, Enduro and Downhill and three compounds - Endurance, Soft and Super Soft. Unfortunately, not all compounds are available across all casing options. The stickiest rubber is reserved for the heavy-duty DH casing while the lightest Trail casing is limited to the firmest Endurance compound. The Enduro casing tyre I have on test is shod with the brand's ‘Goldilocks’ Soft compound, for a good balance of grip, rolling speed and wear rate.
It comprises a single-ply 110tpi carcass with two layers of material in the sidewall and three layers underneath the tread. Also present is the latest Apex bead protection to protect against pinch flats and a cool-looking textured pattern on the outer surface said to help stave off sidewall cuts and scrapes. All tyres are Tubeless Ready and feature a folding Aramid bead.
The 29 x 2.4in test tyre weighed a relatively svelte 1,125g on my digital scales which is pretty light for a tough Enduro spec tyre.
I'm pleased to report installation was a breeze, the Kryptotal Fr popped straight on with just my hands and seated with no more than a standard track pump. Historically Continental casings have often been a little porous and took a while to seal up tubeless. Out of interest, I inflated the tyre to 40psi without sealant and left it overnight, and was stoked to find it had only lost 5 psi by the morning. Impressive and a massive improvement from old. After topping up with sealant, the tyre has held pressure very well only requiring a little top-up once every month or so.
I was initially concerned the tyre may be a little narrow for my liking at 2.4-in but I needn't have worried as it blows up with a good volume and is only marginally less girthy than the 2.5 Assagai it replaced. Strangely though, Conti offers the Kryptotal Re in a beefier 2.6 size, and it would be nice to see the Fr offered in a 2.6in size to match the rear tyre.
Continental Kryptotal FR Enduro Soft 2.4in tyres - Performance
The latest tyres from Continental have seen some impressive results since their release last year, with the signature orange hot patch becoming a regular sight on DH World Cup and EWS podiums across the globe and even gracing the first two steps of the 2023 DH World Champs in Fort William under team riders Charlie Hatton and Andreas Kolb. Subsequently, I was excited to get the Kryptotal Fr out on the trails to see if it would live up to the hype.
The first thing I noticed was Continental’s Enduro casing is reassuringly robust and I was able to drop my pressures by a few psi without losing any stability. At 95kg kitted up, I settled on 23psi for general riding but ran as low as 19psi during initial slower winter testing to eke out as much grip as possible without the tyre feeling like it was rolling excessively on the rim.
That sidewall support doesn't come at the expense of comfort either. The Enduro casing tracks and conforms to the terrain very well, muting buzz and damping square edge hits for a composed and very comfortable ride feel especially at higher speeds. Speaking of hits, the Enduro casing seems tough with zero punctures during testing.
When it comes to grip, the Kryptotal Fr is a class act. I was initially concerned the (not overly) Soft compound might struggle on damp rock or roots, but Continental has pulled it out of the bag with the Krypto’, with impressive poise and confidence in such conditions. Although the rubber feels less tacky to the touch, it's not all that far behind Maxxis’ MaxxGrip compound in terms of grip but with a far less sluggish ride feel in firmer conditions. As impressive as this is, I'd still love to see Continental offer the Enduro and Trail casings with the Super Soft compound for the ultimate grip-to-weight combo.
Braking traction is top-notch, too, with the multitude of square braking edges hooking up fantastically well in most scenarios. When hauling on the anchors on high-speed tracks the Krypto shuts things down quickly and with minimal fuss; tracking brilliantly and holding a line with the best of them. However, I found it particularly awesome at negotiating steep and slippy technical enduro trails where precision braking is required – it was easy to intuitively feather traction without locking up the front wheel in sketchy terrain, and I could depend on it to stick when endo-turning into super steep switchback turns.
It's a similar story in the corners, with bountiful grip thanks to a combination of the well-designed shoulder lugs, nicely damped casing and grippy rubber. Those intermediate knobs play a big part, too, keeping things locked down at shallower lean angles with no scary lurch as you transfer to the edge knobs, just a confident, seamless connection with terra-firma from edge to edge. I'd say it's up there with the best in class when it comes to tackling flat or off-camber corners. Once railed over, those super-supportive shoulder knobs carve like a champ, gripping reliably on most surfaces with no undue knob flex to undermine confidence.
The only time the Kryptotal Fr struggles is in a sticky winter gloop, where the fairly closely spaced tread can clog up and something like its more open-treaded cousin the Argotal would offer more bite.
You'd assume that all this grip would make the Kryptotal Fr draggier than RuPaul in a parachute. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find it offered a decent turn of speed for such an aggressive, soft compound tyre – it certainly rolls very well. It wouldn't be my first pick for a cross-country race, but I've happily pedalled it around several moorland epics, and it never felt like I was running too much tyre.
The fact the Conti tyres are a good margin lighter than equivalent tyres from other brands adds a little vim to proceedings, too.
Last up, a few words on durability. I'm not sure how the brand has done it, but Continental has seemingly found the magic elixir with its rubber compounds. Despite the Soft compound rubber, my test tyre is showing minimal signs of wear, with just the slightest dulling to the inside edges of the shoulder knobs. There's certainly no undercutting or chunking of the rubber, and as mentioned earlier, the casing has taken a hiding with no pinch flats or sidewall cuts despite my best efforts!
Continental Krpytotal Fr Enduro Soft 2.4in tyres - Verdict
At £72.95 in this Enduro/Soft format, the Kryptotal Fr certainly isn't the cheapest option but it's competitive for a premium tyre of this nature.
The most obvious competitor would have to be the Maxxis Assegai Doubledown 2.5 Maxxgrip. It's a tyre that needs no introduction, being one of the most popular aggressive front tyre options in recent years. At £85 it's an expensive tyre, however, its performance is top-notch in a wide range of conditions making it a fantastic fit-and-forget front tyre for most of the year here in the UK. The grip on offer is huge, especially in the super gummy MaxxGrip compound and the Doubledown casing is tough and supportive. However, it can clog up in thick mud and the Soft rubber wears quickly and rolls very slowly. Also, the weight is high, coming in at 1,395g, which is almost 300g heavier than the Enduro Kryptotal!
Another awesome tyre in the same ballpark as the Kryptotal Fr is EThirteen's excellent Grappler Enduro MoPo 2.5, a tyre I heaped praise on for its surefooted, predictable grip and strong supportive casing. At £69.95 it offers good value for money and the MoPo rubber is fantastically tacky and slow rebounding, and it wears pretty well considering how soft it is. It may just take the edge in muddier conditions, but the Kryptotal Fr rolls noticeably quicker and wears far better.
To sum up, Continental has a winner with the Kryptotal Fr Enduro Soft with it impressing on every level. It's lighter and nippier than equivalent tyres in this category while offering sure-footed and super-predictable grip in a range of conditions. Additionally, the casing and compound have proven to be mega durable, which offsets the premium asking price a touch, making it pretty good value for money, too. Its Achilles heel is sticky winter sludge where the tread can clog more than a more open, mud-specific design will - but that's where the Argotal steps in - for the rest of the time a Kryptotal Fr up front will be all the tyre you'll need.
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