ABOUT THE CONTINENTAL ARGOTAL ENDURO SUPER SOFT TIRE
Following the initial launch of their gravity range, Continental answered the prayers of many, releasing the Kryptotal FR and Argotal in the Enduro casing and Super Soft rubber combination. This combined the stickiest rubber in the Continental line with the more supple and slightly lighter enduro casing (compared to their extremely burly DH casing). This Super Soft offering is only available in 29” diameter and 2.4” width, highlighting the focus on the performance-oriented enduro crowd.
Retained on the Continental Argotal is the same tread pattern, with a 2-2-2 design that alternates pairs of lugs with various spacing and siping orientations. Continental avoided creating a channel between the side lugs and center tread, ensuring consistent grip across lean angles. In the center, there’s plentiful space between lugs to aid in clearing mud and penetrating into loam and loose dirt. A ramped face is said to improve mechanical grip, while aiding in rolling speed. The side knobs are given a supportive base to withstand high loads, with a more compliant top and extra edges to find purchase.
The enduro casing is a single-layer design, with an apex added to the bead and sidewall to increase support and reduce the likelihood of pinch punctures. The Super Soft rubber compound is the stickiest in the Continental range, with the primary focus on traction and control. Still using their Black Chili formulation, the result is a tire with impressive wear life for its traction.
The Continental Argotal Enduro Super Soft weight was 1,187g (2.6lbs), and it retails for a MSRP of $104.95 / £79.95 / €74.90.
THE DIRT
I fitted the Continental Argotal Enduro Super Soft tire to the front end of my Scott Ransom 900RC test bike in the middle of summer, when conditions in Scotland were as loose and sketchy as I’ve ever seen them. It remained mounted as conditions transitioned from loose to muddy (much quicker than I would have liked), but the confidence in my front end never faltered.
With the high speeds and harsh impacts that the dry trails encouraged, testing began with a relatively high front tire pressure of 28psi for my 220lbs (100kg) body weight. As trail speeds slowed and the rock and root began to shine, I started to drop the pressure, settling at 24 psi as a safe minimum. Below this, I suffered from vagueness and folding in the harder compressions. The Continental enduro casing holds up comparably well for its weight, feeling slightly better supported than a Double Down Maxxis, and only a hair less sturdy than a Super Gravity Schwalbe tire. It exhibits solid damping properties, without transmitting excessive feedback and vibration when ran at an appropriate pressure.
The standout character of the Continental Argotal was its consistency across lean angles. It displayed excellent ability to latch onto loose dirt in off-cambers, and inspired confidence when transitioning into a turn. Under hard braking efforts, it had a reassuring level of directional stability, and latched on well across a spectrum of dirt conditions. Where loose conditions tires can often feel nervous on rock and keen to deflect on exposed root, the Argotal managed it well. Well enough in fact, that outside of dry hardpack park laps, I’d happily run the Argotal on the front of an enduro or downhill bike year-round. Even the rolling speed feels quite comparable to your typical all-weather enduro tire, avoiding feeling overly draggy when pedalling.
Continental’s Black Chili rubber continues to deliver exceptional wear life for the amount of traction on offer. After over half a year of being transferred from bike to bike, there’s still plenty of life left, and the casing has held up to the abuse amicably. With the Super Soft formulation, there is improved temperature stability, avoiding becoming notably firmer in colder temperatures. That was down to -3C (26F) – thankfully, I haven’t had to ride in any colder weather during the test period.
The Wolf’s Last Word
It’s hard to fault the Continental Argotal Enduro Super Soft tire. Excellent predictability across most conditions, stellar traction, and impressive durability, it’s an exceptional enduro front tire.
Price: $104.95 / £79.95 / €74.90
Weight: 1,187g / 2.6lbs (Enduro Super Soft, 29” x 2.4”)
Website: Continental-tires.com
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ABOUT THE WOLF
Robert’s habitat is the Tweed Valley, Scotland, which is renowned for its root-littered enduro mountain bike trails. Robert has been developing his bike handling skills for the last 16 years. Since he was a pup, he’s been riding everything from BMX through to enduro and downhill bikes. Combining a playful style with occasional speed-focused aggression, he favors supportive bikes, and does his best to push them hard.
Rank: European Tech Editor
Size: 6’2” / 189cm | 220lbs / 100kg
Social: @robert_johnston
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