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The Continental Top Contact II Road Bike Tyre features an improved tread pattern for a smoother cornering feel and even faster rolling.
Just like its predecessors, it is ahead of its time thanks to new materials and design features. State of the art polymers in the rubber compound, Vectran breaker belts under the tread for the best and lightest puncture protection available in bicycle tyres today, and the prevailing German production quality all work to set the Top Contact apart from other tyres.
Features:
- Durable 3ply/180 threads per inch polyamide casing
- High puncture resistance thanks to the cut resistant Vectran Breaker
- Excellent performance on all kinds of surfaces due to the smooth centre and siped shoulder blocks
- Optimised tread compound for fast rolling, improved grip and high mileage
- Reflective sidewalls for added road safety
- Continental Top Contact Ii 700c Tires – 700 X 37c Review:
- Continental Top Contact 2 Tire Performance
My Continental TKC 80s lasted about 4000 miles. The tread was worn out and the casing needed regrooving. I was hoping for more mileage since the TKC 80s were rated to 7000 miles. The Top Contact has about 300 miles on it and I can’t say it wears any better. I would suggest it wears like about the same as TKC 80. The reason I say that is the Top Contact handles a bit differently. The cornering feels a bit squirmy compared to my TKC 80. The Top Contact is a bit more under-steery in the corner. However, the Top Contact has a good rolling feel to it. I can’t say I’m interested in mounting my TKC 80s on my wheels after I greased them. I rode my TKC 80s to some very low pressures (30 psi) while I was training for the Tour of Utah. The Top Contact would last even longer if I dropped the pressure to that level…but I’ll take the TKC 80’s off-road handling and give the Top Contact the smoother on-road feel instead. So far, I’m very satisfied with the Top Contact.
Continental Top Contact 2 Details:
Tread pattern: Four diameter shaped closely spaced down-tread grooves in between wider square-shaped side-tread blocks for optimal gravel and dirt grip.
Weight: 220g claimed / 254g actual (590g per pair)
Tread: Open profiled for fast rolling and grip in most conditions with the exception of mud.
Sidewall: Soft compound. The soft sidewall compound should give the Top Contact a longer life than the Durano.
Sidewall: Vectran belts. Continental claims the Vectran belts will protect the tube better than its nylon-based counterparts, and will do so with little sacrifice in rolling resistance.
Tube: Reinforced tube sidewalls with the addition of a Vectran fiber belt.
Casing: The Top Contact’s casing uses Continental’s top-end triple layer version of their Black Chili compound.
Size: 25-622, 27-622, 28-622, and 700c x 28-622, 700c x 32-622.
Pressure Rating: 45-85psi.
PROS:
- Looks great and is available in a variety of colours
- Faster rolling than the TKC 80s
- Better wear resistance than the TKC 80s
CONS:
- No available K-Guard version (At the time of this writing)
- It did not last as long as claimed
- A bit squirmy on the corners.
I was very optimistic about the Continental Top Contact tires. When the TKC 80s wore out after 4000 miles, my wife and I decided to try something new. I was expecting the Top Contacts to last at least as long as the TKC 80s. It appears the Top Contact does not last as long as the TKC 80s. We have about 300 miles on them. I have approximately 5,000 miles on my TKC80s. The Top Contact’s casing looks in good shape at 300 miles, but it’s hard to tell for sure. The Top Contact feels fast on the road. It’s not as good on the corners as the TKC 80s, but the Top Contact feels grippy and roll smoothly. The Top Contact looks to be a good all-around road tire. It does not last as long as the TKC 80s. Nor are they as good in the corners. The Top Contact is probably a better all-around tire, but it doesn’t really seem to be a better all-around tire than the Kenda Kriterium Sport than my wife and I ride now. The Kenda Kriterium is slightly more squirmy in the corners and doesn’t last as long, but it does last a lot longer than the Top Contacts. I believe the Kriterium is a better long-term tire. The Top Contact is very slightly better than the Kenda Kriterium in the corners. The Top Contact has better longevity, but it’s not so much better longevity that I consider the Top Contact a better long-term tire. The Kenda Kriterium has more thread, and I’m not convinced the Top Contact’s top-end casing rubber is any better quality than the Kenda Kriterium’s. I still believe the Top Contact is a worthwhile tire, and I’m glad I tried it. We’ll have to see how long it lasts. I know my wife didn’t like the Top Contacts when she tried them. She never tried the Kenda Kriterium, so she doesn’t have a point of reference. I have not tested the Kenda Kriterium, so I can’t compare the Kenda Kriterium to the Top Contact yet. I’m going to test the Kenda Kriterium before I make a final decision. I can’t say the Top Contact is really better than the Kenda Kriterium yet. It may be, but we’ll have to wait and see.
