MTB Tire Guide

Continental Kryptotal Rear vs Specialized Hillbilly

Short answer: Rolling resistance: Continental Kryptotal Rear leads with 33.2 W, Specialized Hillbilly trails by 20.3 W.

Configure your build

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

Continental Kryptotal Rear

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

Specialized Hillbilly

Tire width
Wheel size
27.5" wheel
29" wheel
Casing
Compound
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 Kryptotal Rear: Reference: test pressure 24.7 psi (1.70 bar).

Specialized Hillbilly: Reference: documented test pressure of the source (24.7 psi (1.70 bar)).

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 Kryptotal RearSpecialized Hillbilly
Width2.4" · 2.6" (60 · 65 mm)2.4" · 2.6" (61 mm)
Wheel sizes27.5" · 29"27.5" · 29"
Weight1,230 g (29x2.4 Enduro Soft)1,070 g (29x2.4 GRID Trail T9)
CasingEnduro Casing · Apex · 2-plyGRID Trail
CasingTrail · Enduro · DownhillTrail · Enduro
TPI11060
Tread typeAggressive–
Tubeless readyyesyes
E-MTB approvalyesyes
Price from€56€60
Model year20222022

Rubber compounds

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

Continental Kryptotal Rear

Grip class: Grip

Specialized Hillbilly

Grip class: Max Grip

Different grip classes: the softer tire must roll slower. Read the watts with that in mind.

Specialized Hillbilly offers the softer compound range – more grip, usually at the cost of wear.

Lab data per version

Continental Kryptotal RearSpecialized Hillbilly
Rolling resistance (W)33.2 W
53.5 W
Impact protection (%)17.3 %
28.7 %
Puncture resistance (N)409.4 N
–
Weighed weight (g)1,199.0 g
1,065.0 g

These two tires have no measured values from the same test series. A direct comparison of numbers would not be sound.

Continental Kryptotal Rear

Specialized Hillbilly

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.

15.744.372.8101.4129.9121927344249Pressure (psi)W
  • 30.9 W at 26 psi (1.79 bar) · Reference
    Puncture
    –
    Weight
    1134 g
  • 33.2 W at 26 psi (1.79 bar) · +2.3 W
    Puncture
    17.29 %
    Weight
    1199 g
  • 51.4 W at 26 psi (1.79 bar) · +20.5 W
    Puncture
    28.68 %
    Weight
    1065 g

Without a lab test pressure we anchor the measured watt value at the recommended pressure. 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 Kryptotal RearKryptotal Re Soft Enduro · BIKE-Labor30.9 W
–1134 g
Continental Kryptotal RearKryptotal-Re Soft Compound Enduro-Casing33.2 W
17.29 %
1199 g
Specialized HillbillyHillbilly T9 Grid Trail53.5 W
28.68 %
1065 g

Charts

Rolling resistance (fewer watts is better)

Impact protection (higher is better)

Editorial rating (higher is better)

At least one tire is missing too many editorial scores for a radar profile. We never draw missing values as zero.

TestedYour build – derived

Recommendation by use

  • Fast laps and long climbs: Continental Kryptotal Rear rolls easier at 33.2 W.
  • Bike park, rocks and e-MTB: Specialized Hillbilly protects better with 29% impact protection.

Tested

  • Rolling resistance: Continental Kryptotal Rear leads with 33.2 W, Specialized Hillbilly trails by 20.3 W.
  • Impact protection: Specialized Hillbilly leads with 28.7 %, Continental Kryptotal Rear trails by 11.4 %.
  • Weighed weight: Specialized Hillbilly leads with 1,065 g, Continental Kryptotal Rear trails by 134 g.

Tests and sources

Continental Kryptotal Rear

  • In this comparison test, the Kryptotal combo is examined as a trail tyre duo and compared against the Magnotal at the rear. Testers highlight the confident grip and the good balance between rolling resistance and traction. The combo is clearly recommended for demanding trails.

    BIKE Magazin
  • The editors tested the Kryptotal as front and rear tyre in Enduro and DH casings over several months. It impresses with high grip on varying terrain and good puncture protection. Overall, the hype around Continental's all-rounder is judged to be justified.

    MTB-News.de
  • ENDURO's lab test measures 64 MTB tires under standardised conditions (20 km/h, 1.5 bar, 50 kg wheel load) for rolling resistance, pinch-flat protection and puncture resistance. Key takeaway: weight and pinch-flat protection are closely linked, while rolling resistance depends mainly on the rubber compound. Summarised in our own words; details and measured values at the original.

    ENDURO Mountainbike Magazine – Labortest

Specialized Hillbilly

  • The updated Specialized Hillbilly was tested over several weeks on loose and muddy ground. The widely spaced knobs provide excellent self-cleaning and dependable grip even in wet conditions. It remains the go-to choice for soft terrain in the American brand's lineup.

    MTB-News.de

More head-to-heads