Continental Rubber Queen 2.2 black chilli tubeless Options

[Suggsey]

Having stuck with Maxxis since my last set of pre black chilli Conti Verts and having destroyed/delaminated two Minnion rears run ghetto tubeless in 6 months I decided to take the plunge (and the expense) of a pair of the new Conti Rubber Queen 2.2 Tubeless black chilli compound tyres. (Pretty good price £78 from Ribble Cycles).
Still mounting them ghetto tubeless but now with SlimePro sealant.
Mounting them onto Hope 5.1 hoops they were the traditional tight Conti fit but also very good quality casings. Seated immediately with soapy water and no air seepage at all. Beads locked in well and side walls etc absolutely straight (nothing more annoying than poor quality control beads or casing with twists).
First ride out was a mix of off piste stuff at Cannock involving a mix of shiny slidey Chase pebbles, mud, deep mud and loose over hardpack as well as dry smooth trails.
Black chilli compound is simply brilliant-super grippy like Maxxis 42a compound but not slow or draggy.
The tyres are directional front and rear and have a nicely rounded tread profile so none of the dreaded edge of the trail grabbing edge tread blocks or sudden changes in grip between centre and edge.
Rear grip was on a par with the Minnion rear but cleared really well in the gloop so in mud was actually slightly better. Wet roots were on a Minnion par too and rear wheel breakaway was predictable and controllable again just like the Minnion benchmark for grip.
Rolling resistance was considerably less than the Minnion and I found that I actually ran them 5psi less on each end with no roll over or burbing issues.
Wear rate is very good even after giving them some stick on purpose and some kids skids on harsh surfaces all the release nipples on the rear carcass are sill in place! I will have to update the review in 6 months with how they are in the long term.
Overall, if you can find them cheap enough they are a great all round tyre but beware they are huge volume and 2.2 is bigger than 2.35 maxxis (similar in volume to the 2.25 Ardents). The 2.4 version come out at about 2.7!!!

[bazza]

Great review. When my front RQ wears out, I'll be picking up one of these to replace it. Great tyre for hard XC riding. Easily about 1in more in diameter than a regular 26in XC tyre.

[jedi]

i used to have them but they kept blowing off the rim and the sidewalls misshaped. i use mtn king 2's in black chilli with no probs