MTB Tire Guide

Continental Cross King vs Pirelli Scorpion XC RH

Short answer: Rolling resistance: Pirelli Scorpion XC RH leads with 16.7 W, Continental Cross King trails by 11.7 W.

Configure your build

Width, casing, compound and pressure – every value on this page follows your pick.

Continental Cross King

Tire width
Wheel size
27.5" wheel
29" wheel
Pressure (context)
Measured point

Pirelli Scorpion XC RH

Casing
Pressure (context)
Measured point
Measured value available
How we calculate

Width, casing and compound decide how a tire really rides. We only show what was actually measured – and label estimates honestly.

Continental Cross King: Reference: recommended pressure 24 psi (1.65 bar) – an assumption, not a test pressure.

Pirelli Scorpion XC RH: Reference: recommended pressure 24 psi (1.65 bar) – an assumption, not a test pressure.

More pressure: less rolling resistance, less grip, less comfort. Tougher casing: more protection, more weight. Softer compound: more grip, more rolling resistance.

Modelled values are assumptions based on the stated measurement points – not a lab test.

Size, weight and casing

Continental Cross KingPirelli Scorpion XC RH
Width2" · 2.2" · 2.3" · 2.6" · 2.8" (50 · 55 · 58 · 65 · 70 mm)2.4" (61 mm)
Wheel sizes27.5" · 29"29" · 27.5"
Weight745 g637 g
CasingProtectionRace Lite
CasingTrailLight · Trail
TPI––
Tread typeIntermediateSemi-Slick
Tubeless readyyesyes
E-MTB approvalnono
Price from€41€64
Model year20212026

Rubber compounds

Hardness scale 1 = hard and fast to 5 = very soft and grippy (our own classification).

Continental Cross King

Grip class: Speed-Grip

Pirelli Scorpion XC RH

Grip class: Speed-Grip

Both tires sit in the same grip class – the watt comparison is fair.

Both tires sit on the same step of our editorial hardness scale.

Lab data per version

Continental Cross KingPirelli Scorpion XC RH
Rolling resistance (W)28.4 W
16.7 W
Wet grip measurement (points)64.0 points
69.0 points
Weighed weight (g)745.0 g
637.0 g

Continental Cross King

All tested versions

Test series: Bicycle Rolling Resistance – MTB-Messreihe

Measured values per compound and casing from the same laboratory test. Empty cells mean no reliable value was published.

Cross King Protection 2.229 x 2.2024.5 W
66
32
–52 mm615 g
–
Cross King Protection 2.329 x 2.3028.4 W
64
37
–55 mm745 g
–

Wet grip is measured in the lab on a hard wet surface – it is not off-road grip.

Rolling resistance

lower is better

  • Cross King Protection 2.224.5 W
  • Cross King Protection 2.328.4 W

Pirelli Scorpion XC RH

Compounds & versions as curves

Up to three versions at once: the curve is modelled rolling resistance across pressure, the dot is the real lab measurement. Click the legend to show or hide a version.

8.825.742.559.476.3121927344249Pressure (psi)WBicycle Rolling Resistance: 16.7 W at 28 psi (1.93 bar) (measured)Bicycle Rolling Resistance: 24.5 W at 28 psi (1.93 bar) (measured)Bicycle Rolling Resistance: 28.4 W at 28 psi (1.93 bar) (measured)
  • 18.9 W at 24 psi (1.65 bar) · Reference
    Wet grip (lab)
    69
    Puncture
    –
    Weight
    637 g
  • 27.7 W at 24 psi (1.65 bar) · +8.8 W
    Wet grip (lab)
    64
    Puncture
    –
    Weight
    615 g
  • 32.1 W at 24 psi (1.65 bar) · +13.2 W
    Wet grip (lab)
    64
    Puncture
    –
    Weight
    745 g

The curve shape is a physics model, not a measurement. Labs do not measure grip across pressure – we do not invent that curve. Wet grip is a lab value per tire model, not per version.

Three curves at most – hide one first.

Variants head to head

Every measured variant of the selected tires – the same model in another compound, width or casing sits right next to it. Empty fields mean no reliable measurement.

Continental Cross KingCross King Protection 2.224.5 W
–615 g
Continental Cross KingCross King Protection 2.328.4 W
–745 g
Pirelli Scorpion XC RHScorpion XC RH Race Lite Team Edition 2.416.7 W
–637 g

Charts

Rolling resistance (fewer watts is better)

Impact protection (higher is better)

No values are available for this selection.

Editorial rating (higher is better)

TestedYour build – derived

Recommendation by use

  • Fast laps and long climbs: Pirelli Scorpion XC RH rolls easier at 16.7 W.
  • Wet roots and slippery ground: Pirelli Scorpion XC RH has the better wet grip.

Tested

  • Rolling resistance: Pirelli Scorpion XC RH leads with 16.7 W, Continental Cross King trails by 11.7 W.
  • Wet grip measurement: Pirelli Scorpion XC RH leads with 69 points, Continental Cross King trails by 5 points.
  • Weighed weight: Pirelli Scorpion XC RH leads with 637 g, Continental Cross King trails by 108 g.

Tests and sources

No test references are on file for these two tires yet.

More head-to-heads