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Item 711641
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REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviewsPros
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Reviewed by 21 customers
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Comments about Continental Sport Contact Tire - 26 x 1.6:
I've owned a lot of bikes and have changed many tires. I can't convey to you enough how much more difficult those tires are to mount than anything else I've ever encountered. For reference, they were being mounted to Mavic Crossmax ST's. No tire should be THAT hard to mount and it would be misery to change a flat on a ride with these. Forget swapping these for other tires as the season conditions changed. They are being returned first thing tomorrow. Disappointed to say the least.
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Comments about Continental Sport Contact Tire - 26 x 1.6:
I've used these tires for about a year. In that time I must have had 4 flats. So the idea that these are puncture resistant is lost on me. With the last flat, after I changed the tire, there was a lump. I thought maybe the tube was bad. It turned out to be the tire. This is the only tire I have ever had do this in my life. If it wasn't for the flats and the lump, I would be happy. On the bright side, the front tire is still working...
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Comments about Continental Sport Contact Tire - 26 x 1.6:
These are the first street slicks I've used. I put these on my 1993 diamondback mountain bike and they are a delight.
I bike to work at least once a week. Most of the trip (about 15 minutes) is on paved streets with a short portion on gravel. I haven't noticed any loss of grip on gravel. I find that I'm using a higher gear on average than before, which cuts down my travel time.
The increase in speed is very noticeable. I get more power and acceleration with what seems like less effort. Plus, I like how much quieter these tires are.
I had to adjust a bit to how responsive these are compared to my old mountain bike tires. Other than that I have no complaints. I haven't tried these in rain yet.
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Comments about Continental Sport Contact Tire - 26 x 1.6:
I should have bought these sooner, great for turning that mountain bike into a serious commuter. I put them on my Trek Navigator and it is like riding a whole new bike, lighter and faster. I have been riding them for over a month now on the streets and trails around Minneapolis and haven't had any flats. If you are replacing standard mountain bike size tires, make sure you get the correct tube size. Mounting them was difficult the first time, had to use 3 levers, tight but not impossible, would recommend for anybody riding on pavement
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Comments about Continental Sport Contact Tire - 26 x 1.6:
Got a second set of wheels for my mountain bike to use commuting in the dark and put these on to give me lower rolling resistance. They are great. I've used them for about 1500 miles so far. No flats or crashes by me when riding on the road. My son however doesn't like to take the time to trade wheel sets before he hits the dirt fire roads outside of town and he's managed to slide and crash a few times. So, for road riding I whole heartedly recommend them. For off road riding, either go to knobbies or prepare to enjoy the slide.
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Comments about Continental Sport Contact Tire - 26 x 1.6:
I ride 16 miles each way on paved trails and roads. The surfaces aren't always perfect, and I love the shock absorption I get from fat MTB slicks vs. a road bike with skinny tires. I was riding the Kenda semi-slicks with raised shoulders. They were a big improvement over the stock MTB tires, but the nice round profile and true slick surface on these Contis makes them a real joy to ride.
The only issue is when I try to cut across dirt or grass that's even a little wet. It only works if I keep going pretty much the same direction and speed or things get iffy. My current commute doesn't involve much of that at all, so these are great.
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Comments about Continental Sport Contact Tire - 26 x 1.6:
When I first rode my single-speed cruiser, I was worried that I had made a terrible mistake with my long-awaited bicycle purchase. The included nubby balloon tires -- probably 2.5 inches wide -- made pedaling a chore, even on smooth pavement.
A visit to REI's Berkeley store yielded a solution: a helpful staff member showed me Continental's TravelContact and SportContact tires, the difference between being that SportContact is smooth all over whereas the TravelContact is smooth on the bottom (for low-resistance straight-ahead travel) and nubby on the sides (for extra traction in turns).
Wanting to err on the side of caution, I chose TravelContact. There was a notable reduction in rolling resistance, and pedaling became much easier.
After about a month, I have graduated to SportContact, and I am once again pleased. Rolling resistance has dropped further. I find that I rarely have to leave the seat for extra pedaling leverage. Under good conditions, my speed is faster than ever before. These tires handle well even on rough pavement.
My one suggestion for those who have 26-inch wheels, typical of BMX and cruiser bikes, is to consider the 26- by 1.3-inch SportContact in addition to the 26- by 1.6-inch version. Either way, use the specifications for your old tires, and the information on Continental's Web site, to check whether SportContact tires will fit your bike's rims. You must compare apples to apples, that is, compare European Tyre and Rim Technical Organisation (ETRTO) figures.
You may also need smaller-than-expected inner tubes, the constraint being the outer circumference of the tire, rather than its inner circumference (reported as one of the ETRTO numbers). If you are buying in person, it's good idea to partially inflate a the proposed inner tube and place it inside the tire. I found that, due to SportContact's small cross-section, a 26-inch tube would not fit. A 24-inch one worked fine. Your results may vary.
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Comments about Continental Sport Contact Tire - 26 x 1.6:
I LOVE THESE TIRES! I put these on my mountain bike and then rode it across the state of Michigan for 6 days straight! I have even rode a few miles on a singletrack and except for getting a little sideways in some sand, I always felt in control. They have a slightly plush ride (very comfortable), but it doesn't feel slow at all. I have gone downhill on asphalt at over 35+ mph and never felt out of control. Like the title says: BUY THESE TIRES!
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Comments about Continental Sport Contact Tire - 26 x 1.6:
I've got a 10 yr old mountain bike with front suspension. I started riding to work, and riding on knobbies really isn't a huge deal for the short distance I go. But switching to these slicks makes the ride so much more enjoyable and snappy. Tons of grip. Smooth ride. Fast. I preload the shocks as much as possible. The tires look a little funny on my bike being so much thinner. Anyway, very happy with my purchase.
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Comments about Continental Sport Contact Tire - 26 x 1.6:
Wow! I've been riding on the stock Specialized M/B tires between 4 to 6 hours a day that came with the bike I purchased. I decided to grab these very reasonably priced treads at the same time by Brother was buying a new street bike. I figured there was no way I could keep up with him so why not toss these on my bike and see what happens. Honestly, was expecting a minimal difference in performance. Needless to say, I was wrong. These tires will change any m/b into a dream to ride on concrete/asphalt. Highly suggested!
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