Continental Tires Revised XC Lineup: Dubnital, Trinotal, Magnotal, and the All-New Terra Adventure Gravel/XC Hybrid

Words: Trevor Mejia

Redefining the Continental XC Portfolio

Continental has officially restructured its cross-country and trail tire offerings, introducing three new models—Dubnital, Trinotal, and Magnotal—alongside a new, aggressive gravel/XC hybrid, the Terra Adventure. This move retires familiar names like the Race King and Cross King in favor of a modernized lineup built around current riding trends: faster courses, more aggressive terrain, and the growing overlap between XC, trail, and gravel disciplines.

The new range is designed not only to meet today’s performance standards but to anticipate where off-road cycling is heading. Each of the three new MTB tires is tailored to specific conditions and ride styles. From race-focused speed to technical trail confidence, Continental has segmented the new offerings to suit modern XC racers, downcountry riders, and trail enthusiasts alike. The addition of the Terra Adventure brings a welcome option for riders looking to bridge the gap between gravel exploration and mountain performance.

A month ago in March, Continental sent us out the beautiful Tuscany region of Italy where we got a first hand look at the new lineup, but also to getting to ride Magnotal and Terra Adventure on terrain and trails that tested it's capabilities. More on that at the end of the page. Let's first get into the details about these new tires.  

Overview of the New Tire Range

Dubnital – Speed-Oriented XC Tire for Hardpack and Mixed Terrain

Dubnital replaces the Race King as Continental’s fastest XC offering. It’s purpose-built for speed and efficiency on dry to damp trails, with an updated tread layout that improves traction and cornering control without sacrificing rolling resistance. Designed for hardpack, rocky, and lightly loose terrain, Dubnital balances racing performance with modern trail capability.

Key Specs and Features

• Center Tread: Siped and enlarged knobs for speed and grip

• Transition Zone: Reinforced and siped for off-camber support

• Shoulders: Taller studs with slats for cornering stability

• Compounds: Rapid or Grip

• Casings: Race or Trail

• Sizes:

• 29 x 2.40 (all compound/casing options)

• 29 x 2.20 (Race/Rapid only) 605g 

• 27.5 x 2.40/2.20 (Trail/Rapid only)

• Weight: 650-740g 

Dubnital is Continental’s fastest option in this new lineup and caters to performance-oriented riders who demand speed without giving up too much control.

Trinotal – Versatile Control Across Mixed Terrain

Trinotal is built for riders who need a dependable, all-conditions tire with a focus on agility and consistency. Replacing the Cross King, it’s designed for hardpack to light mixed terrain and performs reliably in both dry and damp conditions. With a reworked tread layout and adaptive casing/compound choices, Trinotal offers control and traction for a broad range of XC and downcountry trails. Tread is similar to a Maxxis Forekaster but with shorter smaller knobs 

Key Specs and Features

• Terrain: Hardpack, mixed, dry to damp conditions

• Center Tread: Larger studs with increased void for traction on mixed soil

• Transition Zone: Siped and repositioned lugs for smoother cornering

• Shoulders: Reinforced, larger blocks with slats for edge grip

• Compounds: Grip or Rapid

• Casings: Race or Trail

• Sizes:

• 29 x 2.20 and 29 x 2.40

• 26 and 27.5  available in Trail/Grip only

• Weight: 640-740g 

Trinotal stands out as a reliable all-rounder for riders who prioritize traction and predictability across a range of trail types. 

Magnotal – All-Round Trail Performance with Gravity DNA

Magnotal is Continental’s most aggressive XC-to-trail crossover tire, positioned between their traditional XC line and the gravity category.  It seems to be the ideal downcountry tire. It replaces both the Mountain King and Trail King, offering improved grip, volume, and all-conditions reliability. Magnotal is suited for riders pushing into more technical, loose, or muddy terrain. While in Italy we had the chance to test these tires on varying terrain from wet and muddy to loose over hardpack, running both tires front and rear and were very impressed with the consistency that they provided. 

Key Specs and Features

• Terrain: Mixed, loose, wet, and muddy

• Center Tread: Large, siped knobs with high void for loose terrain grip

• Transition Zone: Redesigned and siped for stability in variable terrain

• Shoulders: Slatted, reinforced blocks for secure cornering

• Compounds: Grip or Soft

• Casing: Trail only

• Sizes:

• 29 x 2.40 / 2.60

• 27.5 x 2.40 / 2.60

• Weight: 805-985g 

Magnotal brings confidence when trails become unpredictable, especially in wet or rough environments.

Terra Adventure – A Gravel Tire with MTB DNA

Blurring the Lines Between Gravel and MTB

Terra Adventure is Continental’s most aggressive gravel tire to date, with design cues pulled from the MTB segment. It’s built for riders who want a wider, more capable tire for off-road  adventures but aren’t ready to commit to full mountain bike rubber. High volume is all the rage these days and Conti is offering Terra Adventure in a 45, 50, or 55mm width.  While in Italy, we went on a large gravel ride, riding a mixture of pavement, actual gravel, wet and muddy xc trails and old fashion cobbles. The tire was put to the test in a rather extreme way for a gravel tire and we were very impressed with the control it provided, while shedding mud and still rolling quick. 

Key Specs and Features

• Terrain: Gravel, loose soil, mixed surfaces, dry to wet

• Center Tread: 3-3-4 stud layout for traction, braking, and rolling

• Transition Zone: Ramped rear knobs for mechanical braking

• Shoulders: Angled and slated side knobs for cornering grip

• Compound: Grip

• Casing: Trail

• Sizes:

• 700 x 45 / 1.75 (540g)

• 700 x 50 / 2.00 (620g) 

• 700 x 55 / 2.20 (730g) 

This tire sits at the intersection of gravel and trail as the two sports evolve and blur lines, offering real off-road capability in a drop-bar or flat-bar compatible format.

Casing Options: Trail vs. Race

Continental’s new XC and gravel tire lineup is offered in two casing constructions: Trail and Race. The Trail casing is a single-ply, reinforced design built for durability and adaptability on demanding downcountry and trail terrain. It features a reinforced sidewall and crown for puncture resistance, while maintaining ground conformity for traction. The Race casing prioritizes low weight and supple ride feel, optimized for competitive XC and downcountry racing. Both casings are tubeless-ready, hookless-compatible, and use a foldable aramid bead for easy setup and improved reliability.

Compound Options: Rapid, Grip, and Soft

The lineup includes three compounds tailored to different ride priorities. Rapid is Continental’s fastest compound, focused on efficiency and acceleration on climbs and flat terrain—ideal for racing. Grip is the most versatile, delivering a balance of rolling resistance, traction, and damping for a wide range of XC, trail, and gravel conditions. Soft is tuned for descending performance, offering enhanced grip and compliance, best used on the front or both wheels in aggressive trail and all-mountain setups. All compounds feature Continental’s proven BlackChili rubber formula for improved longevity and performance.

Ride Impressions: 

Back in March, Continental was kind enough to send us out to the Southern Tuscan region of Italy, in between Florence and the ocean. Aside from getting to explore Florence, we stayed right below the old town of Massa Marittima at a specific bike hotel, Massa Vecchia. This is a popular destination for riders on holiday, professional team camps, and the up and coming location for Grinduro Italy. A perfect place and landscape to test out some gravel and xc tires. They even had a VeloSolutions track on premise, and a free dirtjump bike to ride while staying there. We were joined by Paige Onweller continental athlete and pro gravel racer who ended up 3rd at Unbound and 3rd overall in the lifetime grandprix in 2024. Some of the Scott-SRAM team was also there at the same time training for the up and coming world cup season. 

Our first test was a gravel ride on Terra Adventure 50’s front and rear at around 30psi. It had rained for a week straight prior to us getting there but thankfully had sunny skies for riding. The terrain we covered varied from old country roads, dirt paths through vineyards, muddy and wet xc trails and proper gravel to cobblestones. It was a true test for the tire and definitely the most extreme gravel ride I have ever done! I was impressed by the versatility of the tire. It allowed us to rip up and down smooth pavement with the ramped knobs, yet also have complete control when things got slick and nasty. It is definitely a tire for loose conditions whether they are wet, or dry, it will give the confidence that is needed when it matters the most.

The next test was on the same day, aboard Magnotal front and rear on downcountry xc bikes in the 130 travel range. The tires were a soft compound in the front and grip in the rear, set at my personal standard of 24F and 28R psi. We explored a trail system where Nino Schurter often trains for its variety and mild climate relative to the rest of Europe. Riding from the hotel, we got to ride 3 different downhills, connected by singletrack and fireroads. A dry, loose over hardpack single track, a full jumpline and a muddy sloppy downcountry track were on the agenda and they were all a perfect test for the Magnotal. The 3-3-4 center tread keeps things ultra consistent, fast rolling and controlled braking. The side knobs were able to dig in when the bike was leaned over which allows for the tire to be pushed hard. I could feel the tires squirm a little on the jumpline, but this is to be expected from such a light tire and pushing it to its limits at that air pressure. I can see this tire being excellent as a rear specific trail setup, or even front and rear as we ran it for a balance between rolling speed and maximum grip. 

Final Thoughts

Continental’s new tire lineup marks a clear evolution in how the brand approaches cross-country, trail, and gravel riding. With the all new models in Dubnital, Trinotal, Magnotal, and Terra Adventure, Continental has moved beyond simply updating its classics—instead, it has re-engineered its range to meet the demands of today’s more aggressive, versatile riders taking after the recent success of its gravity line.

During our time in Tuscany, we had the opportunity to test the tires in terrain that was as varied as it was challenging—hardpack, slick mud, rocky singletrack, cobbles, and more. The new models delivered across the board, each excelling in its intended use case with refined tread patterns, reliable casing options, and compounds that feel purpose-built rather than repurposed.

What stood out most was the cohesiveness of the lineup and it pedigree from Continental gravity lineup . Whether you're looking for pure XC speed, a balanced trail setup, or something that can bridge the gap between gravel and MTB, Continental now has a dedicated, modern solution.