Continental GP 4000 or Michelin Pro3 Race

cframe

Alrighty everyone,

I'm thinking on switching out the standard Bontrager Race Lite tyres from my Trek 1.7 for something perhaps a wee bit quicker (and I've also had a couple of rear punctures, probably pinches but you never know…)

I've looked about a bit and it mostly seems to come down to a choice between the GP 4000's or the Pro3's. Now that the Pro3's have actually been out for a little while what would your recommendations be?

I'm not doing much racing yet, mostly weekend runs out the back of Glasgow for 50-60 miles odd although I am considering trying to find a club sometime.

Cheers,
c.

Ste_S

I'd stick with a training tire like the Conti Gatorskin or Michelin Krylion Carbon. Race tires are fantastically grippy, but cut up fairly easy and as such don't last too long

magliaceleste

I'd disagree. I've found the GP4000S (not the regular GP4000) extremely reliable and cut free. I haven't had a single puncture either in aobut 6 months of use. The old GP4000 was terrible in comparision. However I have noticed that the sidewalls can crack over winter, although so far they've been fine.

I'd like to try the Michelin Pro Race 3 myself next to see how they compare.

JesseD

I've used Bonty's and hated them, not enough grip in the corners, and cut up badly.

I have had Pro Race 2's and found them pretty good TBH, but my vote goes for the GP4000s, I have them at the moment and rate them highly.

James_London

For an all purpose, raceable tyre the GP4000S is a good bet. I've had 5,000km without a p******* and similar mileage on the previous GP4000. They aren't the most supple tyre and tend to wear square at the back which is irritating but they grip and corner well and p******* resistance is amongst the best. Life is too short for changing tyres just to race on...

I can't speak to the Pro Race 3 but from what I've read and heard from riding mates either would be excellent. The lack of a pure black PR3 is a little annoying but nothing at all to do with performance!! Seems PR3s may be *slightly* more p*******-prone, due in part to lower weight I expect though this is anecdotal.

I haven't found GP4000s markedly less resistant to cuts than the Gatorskins. The cuts are annoying but they don't do any harm. The very small chance of a sharp object hitting a cut and being marginally more likely to penetrate through the thinner rubber hasn't IME made any difference.

il_principe

GP4000S - great tyre and unlike the 4000s they're a doddle to fit.

cframe

Cheers guys, it was the 4000's that my mate in the LBS was recommending but I'll maybe give the 4000S a go, Ribble have both the 4000S and the Pro3's at just about the exact same price so there's not much in it in that respect.

I'll let you know what I end up on!

Grande_Poulet

jashburnham wrote:

GP4000S - great tyre and unlike the 4000s they're a doddle to fit.

Doddle to fit!!??!!?? :shock: :shock:
I have just invested in a set of the 4000S as the original's on my spec allez cut after 2 rides and seem paper thin.
However I had the devils job getting the damn things on. I hope to god they are very p****** resistant - if I get one whilst out I might be able to get the tyre off but it was a 2 man job to get them on!!
I just wondered if you have any tips as to why it was so hard? they are on the Jalco Dynamics 270 which came with the bike. I have double checked the sizing and it is the same as those which they replaced (700/23c)

disgruntledgoat

If the ProRace 3 is anything like the ProRace 2 then you better live somewhere dry, as I've always found that they turn even a damp road into a skating rink.

Mettan

The GP4000s are meant to be slightly more durable than the Pro Race 3's - as a general training tyre, I'd go with the 4000s - (I'm going with the Pro Race 3's next (racing season) - train on Rubino Pro's though (budget)).

cougie

GP - some rims are just taller than others. My Mavic rims were fine with the Contis. If your rims make it tricky to take off tyres in case of a puncture - maybe you need to go with a 'looser' fitting tyre. Not sure which makes are like that though ?

redddraggon

disgruntledgoat wrote:

If the ProRace 3 is anything like the ProRace 2 then you better live somewhere dry, as I've always found that they turn even a damp road into a skating rink.

Nah, Pro2s are good in the wet, I reckon you've been running them at too high a pressure. I've used my Pro2s solely in North Wales, and about 50% of my rides are wet and I've never had any grip issues whatsoever.

dodgy

I have Pro Race 2 on my hack bike and Pro Race 3 on my good bike, no problems with punctures or grip on either of them.

disgruntledgoat

Maybe we're both right.... The plural of experience is not, afterall, evidence.

I always found however, especially on a steep hill that the ProRace2 would slide under a lot of power in the wet. Excellent dry tyre though.

Epic just sold me some schwalbes they were raving about.

redddraggon

disgruntledgoat wrote:

I always found however, especially on a steep hill that the ProRace2 would slide under a lot of power in the wet.

I get that on all my tyres, but that's because I've got less weight on the back, and the road is slimy. Can't really blame the tyres for that.

Grande_Poulet

cougie wrote:

GP - some rims are just taller than others. My Mavic rims were fine with the Contis. If your rims make it tricky to take off tyres in case of a puncture - maybe you need to go with a 'looser' fitting tyre. Not sure which makes are like that though ?

Thanks cougie, I'm suspecting that Specialized have scrimpted on the wheels & tyres and I'll eventually have to upgrade the wheels :roll: (like I had to on my MTB)
what wheels did you go for? (and how much)?

harveyg77

I've just fitted some Conti GP 4000S 700c 23 folding tyres to Mavic Ksyrium Elite rims and it was easy to fit with my bare hands and I was finished in minutes, so a big thumbs up from me. They feel very sticky and claim to have some fancy lightweight puncture protection layer.

I also run Conti Grand Prix 700c 28 wire bead tyres on Easton (EA30 Cube oem) wheels. They were more challenging to fit, but still do-able with levers. Generally been great, but I did have one off, which turned out to be as a result of a large leaf/sap patch on the front tyre.

Cheers Harvey

k-dog

I've got the same bike and Pro Race 3's were great.

I've only just changed them to the new Pro Optimum because the rear was getting a bit square - took over a year for that though and it didn't really feel any different. Can't remember having a p-word either in that year.

racingcondor

GP4000S will do what you want no problem. They last, they're fast and grippy. The only problem with them is that the ride quality is relatively poor.

Pro3's are a little delicate at times (here they're useless in winter because flint washes into the road, sticks to them in the wet and cuts them to ribbons) but wet and dry grip is excellent and the ride is quite a bit better than the Conti.

If you're looking for better and don't mind paying a little more I'm very impressed by my first couple of hundred miles on the new Pro4. Very similar to the Pro3 but the rubber is slightly harder and less tacky which means it (so far) has been more resistant to cuts. The Conti is your safest bet though (I ride Conti's in winter and Michelin in summer).

hulla the hulla

I had exactly the same scenario as OP. Trek 2.1 Bonty tyres were past their best, went to Pro3 Race and found them perfect in all but foul wet weather. No issues with them cutting up and I'm on the ehem, heavy side so run them at high PSI and still have had no issues with pinches or other P******* related stuff. The GP4000s was the other contender and to be fair, the reason I went with Michelins was cost, the Pro3's being sub £25 at the time.

IMHO either will do you fine and it'll be marginal performance differences that you probably won't notice in use, the rest of it coming down to price and practicality.