Continental factory visit - Der Baron Projekt 2...
Continental produces high-quality tyres in their Korbach factory. Seeing how they do it, showed me the level of craftsmanship it requires.
Review: the Continental Der Baron Projekt 2.6 tyre
The new Der Baron Projekt has grip, is easy to mount tubeless and shreds without end.
It has arrived! Continental has introduced its first plus sized tyre, Der Baron Projekt 2.6. I was lucky enough to get my hands on a set and test them to see if they are new standard in the world of plus.
Me riding 2.6”?
The test began with a phone call from our product management department. “Hey, Stefan your bike fits plus tyres right? You need to test the new Baron for us!” After trying to get them to realize how happy I was with my 29” wheels and that I was sceptical of 27.5+, they still persisted. So the next day I found a set of Santa Cruz Reserve 30 wheels and Continental Der Baron Projekt 2.6 tyres next to my bike…
Getting ready to ride.
The wet and muddy ground condtions were perfect for testing.
The sign says it all, 'Tyre Tested.'
First impressions and installation
Picking them up, the tyres felt really good. I immediately noticed the stiff carcass and the sticky BlackChili compound. So, on to the tubeless setup. Continental put a lot of effort into making these tyres truly tubeless ready. As soon as I started pumping, Der Baron popped into the bead and sealed up quickly. That’s the way tubeless tyres should mount.
Wet and muddy just like Der Baron likes it.
The plus advantage: grip
After the quick tubeless installation, I hit my local trails. The winter here has been wet, and the first trail looked more like a scouting location for a Strongman run. Mud, puddles and water everywhere the eye can see, but these conditions are exactly where Der Baron excels. It provides grip to no end, no matter how soft the ground is.
Time to ride.
My previous experience with plus tyres were on test bikes with 2.8” of rubber and an air pressure around 1.1 bar. Because Der Baron is a little bit narrower, I started at 1.5 bar and dropped it down to 1.3 while testing.
It provides grip to no end, no matter how soft the ground is.
For me, I weigh 75 kg, 1.3 bar was where Der Baron really dug in and gave the extra comfort plus tyres provide. At this low pressure it also stays upright when cornering, which can be chalked up to the Apex insert.
Der Baron Projekt 2.6 also climbs well.
Wet roots aren't even a match.
It also looks real good.
The ideal compromise
Every trail I hit, Der Baron preformed the same. It was at home on every type of terrain, which made me start to question my 29” setup. Why should I give up the massive amounts of grip, when I still have the agility and low rolling resistance like before? The 2.6” width combines the best of both worlds: wide enough to have plus tyre advantages, but narrow enough to not feel like you’re riding a fat bike.
After a while, a few things became clear. Plus isn’t always plus and 2.6” will turn all the sceptics into believers. The new Continental Der Baron Projekt 2.6 is a true monster of grip and is worth every dime. Having also seen how these tyres are produced, I must say, 100 % handmade in Germany! The new carcass is great for a tubeless setup, the BlackChili compound is one of the best on the market and the new tread design is ballin’!
Hitting one last trail before heading home.
Summary
This is really the perfect tyre! Though I was hesitant to go plus, I know I’ll be riding Der Baron Projekt 2.6 this season. I can only recommend it to every Enduro and Freeride enthusiast on the trail!
