Continental Grand Prix 4 Season Black Duraskin Bike Tire Review
The Continental M Prix four Season is the all-weather tyre against which all others are measured, and there's good reason for that: it's light, grippy, puncture resistant and gives abroad surprisingly little in performance to its summertime-racing counterpart, the One thousand Prix 5000.
- Pros: Light for an all-flavor tyre, reasonably supple, grippy, good puncture resistance
- Cons: Some might non desire to pay this much for a winter training tyre; no tubeless version
The Grand Prix 4 Season is ane of the best known and best loved tyres of Continental's expansive range. Although the German brand aims to broaden its appeal by calling it an 'all-twelvemonth-round tyre', many performance-orientated riders use it as a grooming tyre during the off-season. Sentinel whatsoever club run roll out between October and March and you're guaranteed to catch a glimpse of the distinctive dark-brown mesh sidewalls.
> Purchase at present: Continental Grand Prix 4 Flavour from Chain Reaction Cycles for £39.00
The reason why the GP 4 Flavor is a favourite with racers during the off-season is because information technology gets the balance exactly right: its weight is not much higher than that of the GP 5000 (235g compared to 220g in 25mm), pregnant information technology isn't slowed down past an excessively thick tread. Despite its relative thinness, however, it nevertheless supplies excellent puncture resistance, grip and durability with suppleness and rolling speed paying less of a penalization than y'all'd expect.
> Heir-apparent's Guide: 17 of the best winter tyres
Continental claims a double layer of its Vectran puncture-protection insert (made from a multi-strand thread spun from a melted liquid polymer, if y'all want the chemistry lesson) supplies enormous tear resistance at a very low weight. Conti besides says it doesn't adversely affect rolling resistance.
The sidewalls, which do experience considerably thicker than those of a summer tyre, are protected by Duraskin – the brown mesh mentioned earlier – which is a polyamide textile wrapping the entire casing nether the tread to supply another layer of protection against strange objects, the edges of potholes or other threats to its integrity.
Betwixt finger and thumb, yous can feel that the GP four Season is stiffer than a lighter summer tyre because of this extra protection, but for the casing Conti uses the same thread count at 330tpi (really three layers of 110tpi) equally it does in the GP 5000s. Compared to rival all-season tyres such equally the Michelin Power All Flavour with its 3 layers of 60pti, it is much more supple.
Functioning
I've been riding the Continental GP iv Seasons since the clocks went back on a set of PowerTap wheels with tubeless-ready DT Swiss R460 rims. There was no problem fitting them with thumbs but, even though tubeless-ready rims can be a struggle. At that place's no tubeless version of the GP iv Flavour however, but as Conti has gone tubeless for the kickoff time with the GP 5000, one can't be far off.
On the rim they measured a nice, broad 27mm and at 100psi felt responsive but non harsh. The ride quality isn't every bit refined as I'd been used to on high-stop summertime tyres even though the weight is similar, and that'south attributable to the extra reinforcement.
Notwithstanding, I found I was nonetheless able to average 20mph around my test loop at around 200 Watts. Interestingly, though, once I started riding the Ability Michelin All Seasons for my review of those, the average speed dropped into the depression 19s for the same ability and setup. Every bit I mentioned in that review, there are many factors at play including air density, colder roads not heating up the tyres, just based on my observations I would say the Yard Prix 4 Seasons are certainly faster than the Michelins, but not as fast every bit nearly pure summer race tyres.
I oasis't had a single puncture on them, nor a dicey moment in the wet. The tread compound feels well judged – not then sticky that it slows them downwardly, and not and then hard that it can't grip.
As for immovability, they're looking good so far, and I have loftier expectations for them in this area.
Value
The high toll could be the only mark against them, but information technology's worth noting that they are rarely sold at their full £54.99. Neat as they are, I would baulk at paying that much. The Michelin Power All Season sells for £47.99, while the Vittoria Corsa Control G2.0 (257g, 320tpi), which is the GP 4 Season'southward direct competitor, is priced to get head to head with information technology at £54.99. The Pirelli P Zero 4S is cheaper at £43, has a thread count of 127tpi and weighs a claimed 220g for a 25mm.
Conclusion
To sum it upwards simply: I tin can't merits to accept tested every all-season/winter tyre out there, but out of all the ones I have I would choose the 4 Season.
Verdict
For riders who want to carry their summer speed through the wintertime without puncturing, these are the tyres for the chore
If you're thinking of buying this production using a cashback bargain why not use the road.cc Tiptop Cashback folio and get some top cashback while helping to support your favourite independent cycling website
road.cc test study
Make and model: Continental G Prix iv Season
Size tested: 700 ten 25
Tell us what the product is for and who it'southward aimed at. What practice the manufacturers say most it? How does that compare to your own feelings nigh it?
Continental calls the Grand Prix iv Season "the toughest performance tyre on the market".
"Thanks to its DuraSkin anti-tear cloth and two Vectran anti puncture strips, the One thousand Prix 4-Flavor holds up under farthermost atmospheric condition. In the Paris- Roubaix race, the "Hell of the Northward", cyclists equipped with DuraSkin™ enhanced tyres have the fewest tyre related problems during the race. Incorporating our special article of clothing resistant carbon compound, the tyre is characterized past very good mileage performance equally well as excellent adhesion on moisture roads and at low temperatures.
"With 23, 25, 28 and 32mm versions, the Grand Prix 4-Flavor makes it possible to select the right tyre for various road qualities, blazon of bike and comfort requirements. A double Vectran Breaker belt under the tread raises the puncture and cutting protection to the highest level available on the market. Featuring a full of v plies beneath the tread, plus a sixth Duraskin layer, it's ideal for rough sportives and general bad road weather condition."
Tell united states some more most the technical aspects of the production?
Continental lists:
Styled on the GP4000 Due south II, but with extra protection layers for harsh weather conditions.
Duraskin cutting-resistant layer from dewdrop to dewdrop plus ii actress Vectran breakers.
Blackness "Max Grip Silica" compound optimised for moisture weather adhesion, low temperatures and extended tread life.
Charge per unit the product for quality of construction:
9/10
Handmade in Deutschland.
Rate the product for operation:
nine/10
Strikes exactly the right residue between speed, grip and puncture resistance.
Rate the product for durability:
8/10
I oasis't withal put the thousands of miles on them that they merits to exist able to withstand, merely they're looking practiced a few hundred miles in.
Rate the production for weight (if applicative)
8/10
Very low for this type of tyre.
Rate the product for condolement (if applicative)
7/ten
In that location have to be some compromises if a tyre is to be puncture resistant, so it feels a little stiffer than a summer tyre.
Rate the production for value:
half dozen/x
At its full RRP it's pretty expensive, only no more than than Vittoria's Corsa Control G2.0, and it'due south very good.
Tell usa how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
Superb for the off-flavour.
Tell us what y'all particularly liked about the product
Everybody hates winter (except perhaps cyclo-cantankerous and rails riders) but the Conti GP 4 Seasons make the transition easier because they experience faster than the average winter tyre.
Tell united states of america what you peculiarly disliked about the product
There's nil I disliked near information technology.
How does the toll compare to that of like products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?
The price is at the upper stop of premium, though they're almost ever discounted by most retailers.
Did you lot savor using the product? Admittedly
Would yous consider buying the production? Yes, but non at total price.
Would you recommend the production to a friend? One hundred per cent.
Apply this box to explain your overall score
I would become every bit far as to say that these are the ultimate off-season tyre. If you're looking to carry on riding at a decent speed through the winter, y'all want peace of mind that you're not going to hear the dreaded hiss every time you lot run over a thorn in the rain, and y'all need to stay rubber side down even when the lanes become actually coated, and so these are the ones.
Age: l
I commonly ride: Racer Rosa custom aluMy best bike is: Colnago Chief Olympic
I've been riding for: Over 20 yearsI ride: Most daysI would class myself as: Adept
I regularly do the following types of riding: fourth dimension trialling, commuting, touring, order rides, sportives, school run on a tandem
Source: https://road.cc/content/review/continental-grand-prix-4-season-tyres-269249
0 Response to "Continental Grand Prix 4 Season Black Duraskin Bike Tire Review"
Post a Comment