Which tires, Conti GP Force/Attack or GP4000s?

billysan

Want a set for 4th cat crits & club TT's etc. Have short listed both of the above. Like the idea of the force/attack combo, but have heard that they steepen the head angle by a noticable amount due to the 24mm/22mm size.

Price is similar, as is weight. Any thoughts?

Also which front would have the most shear grip?

Cheers

Anonymous

I much prefer the Force Attacks to the GP4000s.

Handling is great with the FA combo...

solsurf

GP4000s are great so would get my vote, far better than other ones I've tried, I have heard good things about the force attacks though.

Anonymous

solsurf wrote:

GP4000s are great so would get my vote, far better than other ones I've tried, I have heard good things about the force attacks though.

The force attacks feature all the good points of the GP4000S but give you better handling.

gabriel959

Only bad thing about the Force/Attack tyres is that in bad weather be prepared for lots of punctures.

solsurf

thanks for that I'll try them next, oprobably got another 1000 miles in my 4000s so I'll have to wait a couple of months. Just bought those zipp bars and stem and other bits so I have really been spending my budget.

cheers for the heads up.

Moaner

gabriel959 wrote:

Only bad thing about the Force/Attack tyres is that in bad weather be prepared for lots of punctures.

Why in bad weather?

cougie

Not used the Force/ Attack- but the GP4000s are great and very resistant.

If you flat in a typical RR - you're not getting back to the bunch unless you're very good.

Anonymous

gabriel959 wrote:

Only bad thing about the Force/Attack tyres is that in bad weather be prepared for lots of punctures.

What difference does bad weather make?

redddraggon

In the presence of water rubber is more easily penetrated/cut.

Anonymous

redddraggon wrote:

In the presence of water rubber is more easily penetrated/cut.

Why is that?

Then doesn't that apply to all tyres then?

rake

the rear has more plys than the front so maybe hold more mileage. it seems a very good idea to have a drive and steering tire to match the demands. my winter bike has 25 rear and 23 front because they were on offer and the shop didnt have two. i prefer it now the 25 has more cushioning and should wear a little better. i havent noticed any loss in speed.

redddraggon

NapoleonD wrote:

Why is that?

Well I'm not a polymer scientist, but I guess it's because in the dry the cutting/puncturing implement grips onto the rubber and so takes more energy to overcome the frictional forces.

NapoleonD wrote:

Then doesn't that apply to all tyres then?

Some more than others

rake

what about chinese tyres.

bompington

I really liked the F/A combo for the couple of months they lasted, apart from the punctures. They were so cut up that I had to throw them very quickly. GP4000s are going strong after nearly a year, only one puncture so far, and that was caused by hitting a pothole.
Difference in head angle is going to be something like riding down a 0.2% gradient, or 1 in 500: is that really noticeable?

EDIT Dohhh... I just noticed we're talking about the GP4000s not the GP 4 Seasons that I've got...

nickwill

I did about 4000 miles on the Attack/Force combo last Summer. 1 puncture on Cumbrian roads suggests to me that they are pretty tough, certainly better than 4000s.
As has been said the handling and grip are superb. One added benefit is that they are much easier to get on and off tight Campag rims than the 4000s.
I will be using them again next Summer.

skellator3

i would go for michelin pro3 race light, grippy

gabriel959

I have done around 500 miles on them (may be a few more) and most of them have been on dry roads and they been amazing and most importantly – no punctures. Great handling and speed but both times I have been out with them in foul weather, and by foul I mean, lots of rain, wind, mud and crappy roads I’ve had 4 punctures.

tomb8555

I've taken my F/A over loads of nasty roads, in the rain, over broken glass i've seen too late to avoid, on gravel, over roads littered with twigs/leaves etc and not had a puncture in about 800 miles.

I've had a few nasty cuts from tiny bits of gravel from the richmond park resurfacing, but dug out the gravel and they're fine.

shockedsoshocked

Are the Force/Attacks still available, the LBS said they don't sell em anymore :?

But both choice of tyres are good. I use the GP4000s all year round, training, racing, summer, winter. Great tyres and hardly ever an issue. Had 1 puncture all year, and that was a behemoth of a thorn.

Anonymous

ShockedSoShocked wrote:

Are the Force/Attacks still available, the LBS said they don't sell em anymore :?

But both choice of tyres are good. I use the GP4000s all year round, training, racing, summer, winter. Great tyres and hardly ever an issue. Had 1 puncture all year, and that was a behemoth of a thorn.

Try these -

Cycleswag

It's where I got mine from, although I called in as they are local to me to save the fiver postage.

rokkala

Is there such a thing as a really good wet weather tyre? And by that i mean for wet weather grip rather than increased puncture protection.

Currently run GP4000s and they seem ok, though i'm still pretty edgy about going round corners at anything like the lean i would in the dry. Don't seem to inspire confidence, so I have the feeling there may be better out there for the wet?

gabriel959

Personally the next tyres I am going to get are the Vittorias Open Paves in green which NapD and others recommend. What do you guys reckon of the Open Corsas?

Anonymous

Open Paves are Da Bom.

Next time I get some tubs they will be Vittoria Corsas...

solsurf

Personally found the Vittoria tyres skittish I changed from these for the 4000s and I'm much happier especially in the wet, one thing I can truely say I'm an expert in, living around here. although it hasn't rained for 2 whole days now!

what I need is a pit stop crew to try different types out.

Anonymous

solsurf wrote:

Personally found the Vittoria tyres skittish I changed from these for the 4000s and I'm much happier especially in the wet, one thing I can truely say I'm an expert in, living around here. although it hasn't rained for 2 whole days now!

what I need is a pit stop crew to try different types out.

Oddly I went the other way, found the GP4000s not quite so good in the wet whereas the Vittoria Open Paves are sublime...

billysan

I ended up with the F/A combo. I asume can still get them, my LBS didnt seem to think they were in short supply!

Looking forward to seeing what they are like. Cheers for the recomendations people.

Kentrider

I had the F/A combo-but got so many puntures on the back tyre that I've not changed to a Vittoria Open Pave on the back and kept the Attack on the front. thought it would look a bit strange-but it's actually ok and touch wood no punctures so far!!