Top CONTACT II vs Ardent Race review

In this entry we are going to compare and review Continental Top CONTACT II vs Maxxis Ardent Race tyres. Both manufactured by different brands, Continental and Maxxis respectively, these tyres have been designed to be used for different purposes. Whilst Continental Top CONTACT II is better for Urban/Tour activities, Maxxis Ardent Race is a great choice if your needs are more aligned to mountain activities.

Top CONTACT II

Ardent Race

Premium-allrounder: Riding fast and safe on the road, gravel or forest paths. Outstanding rolling characteristics fostered by a broad central tread pattern and a high-end fabric breaker.ECE-R75-certified: Recommended for e-bikes up to 50km/h.

The proven fast trekking all-rounder

A meaty XC tread

Premium-allrounder: Riding fast and safe on the road, gravel or forest paths. Outstanding rolling characteristics fostered by a broad central tread pattern and a high-end fabric breaker.ECE-R75-certified: Recommended for e-bikes up to 50km/h.

The Maxxis Ardent Race shares many features with the Ikon – small, ramped center tread – but offers improved cornering performance with more substantial side knobs.

Features

E50
Suitable for E-Bikes
For our E-Bike tire we fall back on over 100 years’ experience with moped and motorcycle tires. All of our city/trekking tires are rated to a standard speed of at least 25 km/h. Those tires marked e50 are also certified for S-Pedelecs. With their high quality structure, puncture protection is high and the rolling resistance is low offering protection from premature wear brought about by the additional driving force.
Vectran
The benchmark in puncture protection
Vectran™ is a synthetically manufactured high-tech fibre from a natural model. Like spider silk, Vectran™ is a liquid-crystalline polymer (LCP). Vectran™ is spun from the melted liquid polymer Vectra and processed further to a multi-strand thread. Spider silk like Vectran™ has an enormous tear resistance at a very low weight: Exactly the right properties to process into a premium Continental bicycle tire as a puncture protection insert. A Vectran™ Breaker is lighter, more flexible and protects more effectively against cuts than the comparable nylon breaker. Vectran™ Breaker does not adversely affect the rolling resistance.

Features

EXO sidewall protection
60 TPI or 120 TPI casing options
Dual compound or 3C MaxxSpeed options
Select specs are Tubeless Ready (TR), confirm in table below

Usage

XC (Cross Country)

Trail

Technologies

Tubeless Ready Tubeless tires provide the rider with many benefits: the ability to run lower air pressures, which improves traction; lower rolling resistance when compared to a tube-type tire; and less chance of flatting because there is no tube. Liquid sealants should only be used in the following types of tires: tubeless road, tubular, and tubeless ready. The use of liquid sealants in any other Maxxis tire will void the warranty.
EXO An extremely cut-resistant and abrasion-resistant material added to the sidewalls of select mountain tires. This densely woven fabric is also lightweight and highly flexible, ensuring that the performance of the tire remains unaffected. Choose EXO Protection for exceptionally rocky, treacherous trails where the chance of sidewall cuts and abrasions is high.
3C MaxxSpeed Used primarily in cross country and enduro tires, the two compounds in the outer layer are specially formulated to reduce rolling resistance and optimize treadwear and traction.

Specifications

"28"

Article: 0100439
ETRTO: 47 - 622 Dimension: 28 X 1.75 Technology: Vectran Breaker Color/Sidewall/Bead: black/black foldable Reflex TPI: 3/180 g: 770 PSI: 65

Article: 0100358
ETRTO: 42 - 622 Dimension: 28 X 1.60 Technology: Vectran Breaker Color/Sidewall/Bead: black/black foldable Reflex TPI: 3/180 g: 760 PSI: 85

Article: 0100441
ETRTO: 37 - 622 Dimension: 28 X 1 3/8 X 1 5/8 Technology: Vectran Breaker Color/Sidewall/Bead: black/black foldable Reflex TPI: 3/180 g: 610 PSI: 85

Article: 0100573
ETRTO: 32 - 622 Dimension: 28 X 1 1/4 X 1 3/4 Technology: Vectran Breaker Color/Sidewall/Bead: black/black foldable Reflex TPI: 3/180 g: 525 PSI: 85

Article: 0100615
ETRTO: 28 - 622 Dimension: 28 X 1 5/8 X 1 1/8 Technology: Vectran Breaker Color/Sidewall/Bead: black/black foldable Reflex TPI: 3/180 g: 470 PSI: 102

"26"

Article: 0101735
ETRTO: 50 - 559 Dimension: 26 X 2.00 Technology: Vectran Breaker Color/Sidewall/Bead: black/black foldable Reflex TPI: 3/180 g: 735 PSI: 65

Specifications

26

Part #: TB72374100
Size: 26X2.20 ETRTO: 56-559 TPI: 120 Bead: FOLDABLE Weight (g): 686 Compound: 3C MAXXSPEED Max PSI: 60 Tech: 3C/EXO/TR Color: BLACK Application: MOUNTAIN

27.5

Part #: TB85918100
Size: 27.5X2.20 ETRTO: 56-584 TPI: 120 Bead: FOLDABLE Weight (g): 714 Compound: 3C MAXXSPEED Max PSI: 60 Tech: 3C/EXO/TR Color: BLACK Application: MOUNTAIN

Part #: TB85945100
Size: 27.5X2.35 ETRTO: 60-584 TPI: 120 Bead: FOLDABLE Weight (g): 730 Compound: 3C MAXXSPEED Max PSI: 60 Tech: 3C/EXO/TR Color: BLACK Application: MOUNTAIN

29

Part #: TB96742100
Size: 29X2.20 ETRTO: 56-622 TPI: 120 Bead: FOLDABLE Weight (g): 767 Compound: 3C MAXXSPEED Max PSI: 60 Tech: 3C/EXO/TR Color: BLACK Application: MOUNTAIN

Part #: TB96726100
Size: 29X2.35 ETRTO: 60-622 TPI: 120 Bead: FOLDABLE Weight (g): 786 Compound: 3C MAXXSPEED Max PSI: 60 Tech: 3C/EXO/TR Color: BLACK Application: MOUNTAIN

Top CONTACT II vs Ardent Race review

Features

E50

Vectran

Features

Usage

Usage

Technologies

Technologies

Specifications

"28"

"26"

Specifications

26

27.5

29