Continental Cross King
XC
Front+Rear
Continental Cross King vs Specialized Air Trak
Short answer: Rolling resistance: Specialized Air Trak leads with 24.5 W, Continental Cross King trails by 3.9 W.
Specialized Air Trak
XC
Front+Rear
Configure your build
Width, casing, compound and pressure – every value on this page follows your pick.
Continental Cross King
Specialized Air Trak
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.
Specialized Air Trak: 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 King | Specialized Air Trak | |
|---|---|---|
| Width | 2" · 2.2" · 2.3" · 2.6" · 2.8" (50 · 55 · 58 · 65 · 70 mm) | 2.35" (60 mm) |
| Wheel sizes | 27.5" · 29" | 29" · 27.5" |
| Weight | 745 g | 596 g |
| Casing | Protection | Flex Lite |
| Casing | Trail | Light |
| TPI | – | – |
| Tread type | Intermediate | Intermediate |
| Tubeless ready | yes | yes |
| E-MTB approval | no | no |
| Price from | €41 | €54 |
| Model year | 2021 | 2025 |
Rubber compounds
Hardness scale 1 = hard and fast to 5 = very soft and grippy (our own classification).
Both tires sit in the same grip class – the watt comparison is fair.
Specialized Air Trak offers the softer compound range – more grip, usually at the cost of wear.
Lab data per version
| Continental Cross King | Specialized Air Trak | |
|---|---|---|
| Rolling resistance (W) | 28.4 W | 24.5 W |
| Wet grip measurement (points) | 64.0 points | 69.0 points |
| Weighed weight (g) | 745.0 g | 596.0 g |
- Source: Bicycle Rolling Resistance
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 2.2 | 29 x 2.20 | 24.5 W | 66 | 32 | – | 52 mm | 615 g | – |
| Cross King Protection 2.3 | 29 x 2.30 | 28.4 W | 64 | 37 | – | 55 mm | 745 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
Specialized Air Trak
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.
- 27.7 W at 24 psi (1.65 bar) · Reference
- Wet grip (lab)
- 64
- Puncture
- –
- Weight
- 615 g
- 27.7 W at 24 psi (1.65 bar) · 0.0 W
- Wet grip (lab)
- 69
- Puncture
- –
- Weight
- 596 g
- 32.1 W at 24 psi (1.65 bar) · +4.4 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 2.2 | 24.5 W | – | 615 g |
| Continental Cross KingCross King Protection 2.3 | 28.4 W | – | 745 g |
| Specialized Air TrakAir Trak Flex Lite T5/T7 2.35 | 24.5 W | – | 596 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: Specialized Air Trak rolls easier at 24.5 W.
- Wet roots and slippery ground: Specialized Air Trak has the better wet grip.
Tested
- Rolling resistance: Specialized Air Trak leads with 24.5 W, Continental Cross King trails by 3.9 W.
- Wet grip measurement: Specialized Air Trak leads with 69 points, Continental Cross King trails by 5 points.
- Weighed weight: Specialized Air Trak leads with 596 g, Continental Cross King trails by 149 g.
Tests and sources
Specialized Air Trak
The all-new Specialized Air Trak was tested as a fast front tire for XC race courses. It rolls noticeably faster than comparable models while still offering sufficient control in fast corners. Paired with the Fast Trak, it forms a well-matched race combo.
MTB-News.de