Replacement for Conti GP4000s
Discussion
I've had GP4000s' on my bike since April time, covering approx 2000 miles on them in that time on mostly semi-rural roads, they have been relatively reliable so far with only two punctures, both when the weather was bad and the road covered in muck.
However yesterday they let me down, at over 20mph I heard a 'PSSSSCHT' and the tyre lost pressure straight away, pulled over expecting to find a sharp object in the tyre but on close inspection found a vertical split in the sidewall, not impressed, thankfully mamanged to repair the tyre for the 10 mile trip home. I checked the rear tyre when I got back and the sidewall on that one doesn't look massively healthy either.
Which leads me nicely on to my What Tyre? question.
I'm after something fast, grippy and fast! Decent puncture resistance would also be a bonus.
So far on my list are Ultremo ZXs' and Vittoria Corsa Evo.
However yesterday they let me down, at over 20mph I heard a 'PSSSSCHT' and the tyre lost pressure straight away, pulled over expecting to find a sharp object in the tyre but on close inspection found a vertical split in the sidewall, not impressed, thankfully mamanged to repair the tyre for the 10 mile trip home. I checked the rear tyre when I got back and the sidewall on that one doesn't look massively healthy either.
Which leads me nicely on to my What Tyre? question.
I'm after something fast, grippy and fast! Decent puncture resistance would also be a bonus.
So far on my list are Ultremo ZXs' and Vittoria Corsa Evo.
Funny enough I was just about to pull the trigger on a set of GP4000S's when a quick google for 'GP4000S issues' revealed numerous reports of sidewall failures. I am sure that proportionally the failure rate is probably quite low, and most people seem to rate them very highly; however as someone who regularly sees the other side of 40 mph I didn’t want to chance it.
Then in conversation with my riding buddy I also mentioned that I was thinking of buying GP4000S’s (which is what he uses), he raved on about their ride quality etc, then admitted he had a sidewall blowout within a week of fitting them, but the LBS replaced it FOC so he stayed with them!
I have been riding Michelin Krylion Carbons for the past 3,000 miles with no flats or dramas, trouble is Michelin have stopped making them and I could not find any left on the shelves in the colour I wanted.
After a bit of googling and a lot of reading I have settled for a pair of Vredestein Fortezza Tricomp’s, hopefully they should be delivered today so I will let you know how I get on with them.
If you do decide to buy them the cheapest I could find on the .net was from Shiny Bikes, about £16 cheaper per tyre than anywhere else.
Then in conversation with my riding buddy I also mentioned that I was thinking of buying GP4000S’s (which is what he uses), he raved on about their ride quality etc, then admitted he had a sidewall blowout within a week of fitting them, but the LBS replaced it FOC so he stayed with them!
I have been riding Michelin Krylion Carbons for the past 3,000 miles with no flats or dramas, trouble is Michelin have stopped making them and I could not find any left on the shelves in the colour I wanted.
After a bit of googling and a lot of reading I have settled for a pair of Vredestein Fortezza Tricomp’s, hopefully they should be delivered today so I will let you know how I get on with them.
If you do decide to buy them the cheapest I could find on the .net was from Shiny Bikes, about £16 cheaper per tyre than anywhere else.
Edited by MadDad on Tuesday 10th July 11:21
okgo said:
Never heard of anyone I ride with having a blowout on GP4000s, I've not had an issue in 5 sets of them.
Before I bought them I had read several comments about the sidewalls but went with them anyway, by chance I was chatting with a mate who runs 4seasons and he reported the same issue.I feel like trying something different anyway but I have to admit, I am slightly put off the Contis now, which is a shame as they are a very ncie tyre.
I have splits in my 4 seasons and I use them on the turbo only now, same thing happened to a club mate so I doubt its just 'luck'. Haven't heard many bad things about the GP4000s though and an toying with the idea of a set to replace the Ultremo DD's as they are a bit cheaper at the mo. The Ultremo's however have been very good and although cut up haven't let me down *touch wood* in 3-4000 miles, perhaps I'll just get another set?!
One persons favourite tyre is the next man's hated rubber door stop
One persons favourite tyre is the next man's hated rubber door stop
), I toyed with the GP4000S, but they don't come with colour options 
contango said:
Agree with above comments after several thousand miles of use, tried others, always come back to Gp4000S. Have you contacted the retailer or Continental, they may refund and I would expect they would be interested in the fault.
Not yet, I doubt they would be interested, certainly after over a thousand miles as they will more than likely put it down to wear & tear. Still, for the sake of a 'strongly worded' email I've nothing to lose.Are we talking GP4000 (note the lack of uppercase S) or the GP4000S? The former's an older, more training-orientated nowadays tyre, whereas the latter is their top-end clincher race tyre.
I've ripped two GP4000S', both invoving a pothole or kerb. The sidewalls are thinnish, but then again so are all other lightweight race tyres, including the ones you've suggested. The Vittoria Open Corsa particularly so. Schwalbes are just s
t and unreliable: plenty of instances of Ultermos breaking up, sidewalls ballooning etc...and I'm not talking about that "bad batch" that came through a couple of years ago.
I've ripped two GP4000S', both invoving a pothole or kerb. The sidewalls are thinnish, but then again so are all other lightweight race tyres, including the ones you've suggested. The Vittoria Open Corsa particularly so. Schwalbes are just s
t and unreliable: plenty of instances of Ultermos breaking up, sidewalls ballooning etc...and I'm not talking about that "bad batch" that came through a couple of years ago.Jimbo. said:
Are we talking GP4000 (note the lack of uppercase S) or the GP4000S? The former's an older, more training-orientated nowadays tyre, whereas the latter is their top-end clincher race tyre.
I've ripped two GP4000S', both invoving a pothole or kerb. The sidewalls are thinnish, but then again so are all other lightweight race tyres, including the ones you've suggested. The Vittoria Open Corsa particularly so. Schwalbes are just st and unreliable: plenty of instances of Ultermos breaking up, sidewalls ballooning etc...and I'm not talking about that "bad batch" that came through a couple of years ago.
I'm talking the 's' version I've ripped two GP4000S', both invoving a pothole or kerb. The sidewalls are thinnish, but then again so are all other lightweight race tyres, including the ones you've suggested. The Vittoria Open Corsa particularly so. Schwalbes are just s
t and unreliable: plenty of instances of Ultermos breaking up, sidewalls ballooning etc...and I'm not talking about that "bad batch" that came through a couple of years ago.
Looking at Veloflex as well, £35 (online) seems to be the going rate for top end tyres, it's a shame most shops up this way don't have a decent selection, may have to take a trip over to Planet X tomorrow.
TheFungle said:
I'm talking the 's' version
Looking at Veloflex as well, £35 (online) seems to be the going rate for top end tyres, it's a shame most shops up this way don't have a decent selection, may have to take a trip over to Planet X tomorrow.
If you think Contis are fragile, you'll hate Veloflex! They're about as lightweight as a tyre gets: short life and f. all puncture resistance.Looking at Veloflex as well, £35 (online) seems to be the going rate for top end tyres, it's a shame most shops up this way don't have a decent selection, may have to take a trip over to Planet X tomorrow.
Jimbo. said:
TheFungle said:
I'm talking the 's' version
Looking at Veloflex as well, £35 (online) seems to be the going rate for top end tyres, it's a shame most shops up this way don't have a decent selection, may have to take a trip over to Planet X tomorrow.
If you think Contis are fragile, you'll hate Veloflex! They're about as lightweight as a tyre gets: short life and f. all puncture resistance.Looking at Veloflex as well, £35 (online) seems to be the going rate for top end tyres, it's a shame most shops up this way don't have a decent selection, may have to take a trip over to Planet X tomorrow.
Perhaps I'll admire them from afar then
Jimbo. said:
Are we talking GP4000 (note the lack of uppercase S) or the GP4000S? The former's an older, more training-orientated nowadays tyre, whereas the latter is their top-end clincher race tyre.
I've ripped two GP4000S', both invoving a pothole or kerb. The sidewalls are thinnish, but then again so are all other lightweight race tyres, including the ones you've suggested. The Vittoria Open Corsa particularly so. Schwalbes are just st and unreliable: plenty of instances of Ultermos breaking up, sidewalls ballooning etc...and I'm not talking about that "bad batch" that came through a couple of years ago.
My experience is limited to the Ultremo DD but it is quite tough and rolls well. Interesting to see that a recent mag test placed the ZX at the top which is what people seem to have the main problems with. Which ones failed on you out of interest? Also is the 4000S their best clincher, what about the Attacks and the Ultra Race?I've ripped two GP4000S', both invoving a pothole or kerb. The sidewalls are thinnish, but then again so are all other lightweight race tyres, including the ones you've suggested. The Vittoria Open Corsa particularly so. Schwalbes are just s
t and unreliable: plenty of instances of Ultermos breaking up, sidewalls ballooning etc...and I'm not talking about that "bad batch" that came through a couple of years ago.yonex said:
My experience is limited to the Ultremo DD but it is quite tough and rolls well. Interesting to see that a recent mag test placed the ZX at the top which is what people seem to have the main problems with. Which ones failed on you out of interest? Also is the 4000S their best clincher, what about the Attacks and the Ultra Race?
Ultermo DDs on my SS and they're breaking up around the bead and sidewall: fraying, splitting etc. Know a few people that have had other Ultremos fail on them, too.Attack/Force is nigh-on the same as the GP4000S, just 22mm at the front and 24mm at the rear.
The Ultra Race is a low-end training/commuting tyre at best. Fitted as OE to my Genesis: cheap, horrible, wooden.
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