These Continental ContiAttack SM2 tyres took everything we threw at them on road and track

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Supermotos may be light, but they ask a lot of their tyres – whether they are being used for urban commutes or wild, sideways action. For that reason, a supermoto tyre has to deal with a lot. Not only does it have to perform in all conditions, but also soak up a level of stress that a normal hoop doesn’t have to contend with. Continental claim that they’ve achieved all of this with the new ContiAttack SM2.

So what’s new?

For starters, there’s a fresh compound which has new resin and silica tech, a different construction, a solid backbone down the centre for longevity in a straight line (instead of using multiple compounds) along with a slightly lighter and more flexible carcass.

There’s even an altered tread pattern, which has been designed to not only be deeper for better mileage, but has been constructed to allow flex, grip and feedback. Continental stress that this is a premium tyre, built using their very finest compounds – and on the road, they feel that way.

Dealing with the norm

Even though we didn’t have the chance to try them in cold or proper wet conditions, on the road the SM 2s are sublime. With a fleet of Husqvarna 701 Supermotos (with the odd KTM thrown in for good measure), some Austrian roads and over 180km of riding, at no point was there a lack of grip or feedback, nor any noticeable issues in terms of stability and noise.

For fast road riding they take everything that is thrown their way, although the temperature sat in the high 20s and the tarmac was warm, too – meaning that we didn’t manage to get a true indication of the warm-up time in cooler climes. 

On the limit

It’s as track tyres where the SM 2s come into their own. The test track had heavy braking zones, fast, flowing corners and big changes of direction, and the Contis took everything in their stride. Not only are they grippy with bucket-loads of feedback both front and rear, but they cope seriously well with the stresses that a supermoto puts on a tyre.

There’s a fine balance between offering enough grip and enough slip that the SM 2s strike well, meaning that getting the rear tyre out of line on the way into corners isn’t just easy on the way in, but also safe on its return back into line without being too stuck to the ground and snappy. 

There’s enough support through the carcass to brake hard, yet enough flex at lean angle is added in that the tread pattern can generate loads of feedback and confidence, which is fed straight through the ’bars.

Although it’s a road tyre built to cope with rain, cold and big mileage, the ContiAttacks can be ridden seriously hard on track. We even managed to snag a few laps on a KTM 390 Duke, which was transformed into a peg scraping weapon, pretty much over-gripped and, in fact, unable to work the tyre to its full potential.

The only downside is that they aren’t the sharpest hoops for the transition from the middle of the tyre to the edge on corner entry, meaning that turning in requires a little bit more a push on the ’bars, especially when the front tyre is loaded.

With a bit more time I’d like to have tried with a slightly higher tyre pressure on the front, and feel like that would be helped out slightly in cooler temperatures too, considering the tyres did not get a break.

Although there was no sign of wear after a full day of thrashing at almost 30°C, we’ll have to test them in the UK to see how they cope with warming up and retaining heat in cold temperatures.

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