Disappointed after swapping to GP 4000S tyres
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As they get really good reviews, I thought that I had made a good choice by getting Continental GP 4000S tyres to replace the Schwalbe Ultremo ZX tyres that came with my Cube bike. However while they probably are more puncture resistant, they seem a lot harsher going over any speed bumps or uneven road surfaces than the Ultremos, and don't zip up hills quite as fast. Despite having no tread the Ultremos also seem to hold the road better in side winds.
I am therefore thinking of swapping back to Ultremos. As the GPs were £38 each I really expected better, but maybe its just that the Ultremos are better tyres than I originally thought.
I'd be interested to hear from others who have used both tyres.
I am therefore thinking of swapping back to Ultremos. As the GPs were £38 each I really expected better, but maybe its just that the Ultremos are better tyres than I originally thought.
I'd be interested to hear from others who have used both tyres.
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Martin
P.S I'll buy your 4000s' off you if you dont want them
You need to shop around a bit more
I swear by these tyres, I'm on my 2nd set and my wifes uses them also.
Most of the issues you raise appear to be borne of frustration rather than any real tyre issue and relate to a discordance between the idealistic hope of improvement borne of reading reviews and the realisation that there isn't the significant difference in performance you were hoping for.
There may be some merit in some of your comment that could relate to the physical construction of the tyre (i.e. their ride quality on uneven surfaces) but you should expect difference as different tyres are constructed differently with different materials, plus there could be a myriad of other factors that add to and exacerbate small differences.
GP4000s recommend 110psi. I was putting 120 in mine and did notice the ride improvement when I dropped to 110.
The continentals have a rep for riding like you're on garden hosepipes, but they're light, grippy, and not all that bad at staying inflated. I particularly rate them in the wet.
Unfortunately they do also have a worse road feel as you've discovered. I think the reason they rate so highly in UK reviews is that proper race tyres (like Ultremo's, Vittoria Evo and Pro3's) tend to get torn up by flint, especially in the wet, GP4000S don't making them a good compomise between speed, grip and durability.
What were you looking for when you changed? Ultremo's are a great tyre so if you're after something more supple and faster about the only option you have is the Vittoria Evo CXII but unless you're riding on debris free roads they won't last (and the wet grip is downright scary).
The roads are covered with them and after about 3 years without a visit from you know who, and needing to replace a type as the Gatorskin inner was now visible, I changed to a 'faster' tyre, which lasted 2 months before flint cut it to ribbons.
I never noticed the difference in climbing or rolling resistance one bit between the Vittoria Corsa Evo and the GP4000.
Don't you read the mags reviews???
Also the tread is for water displacement not grip, slicks grip best.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aK5Bfqj5fxY
I've now got 25mm Durano Plus tyres on my light training wheels. Much better for the roads round here. Have you also considered these or the Ultremo DD?
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I've generally managed to avoid punctures when out on the road, but I did have one recently on my Ultra Gatorskins on my Audax bike, and the tyre was a nightmare to get off and back on again. I therefore thought that to avoid punctures on my new Cube bike, I needed a tougher tyre. I wanted the same comfort and feel of the Ultremos, but with the additional benefit of more puncture protection, so I was prepared to invest in GP4000S tyres as I thought they would give me that. However my experience so far with the GP4000Ss is that the biggest difference is that the feel harder and the bike rattles a lot over uneven road surfaces, whereas the Ultremos felt much smoother and more comfortable over the same road surfaces. I had the GP4000Ss at 100 psi at first and then put them up to 110 psi.
Maybe the GP4000S would have been better as 25mm tyres rather than the 23mm that I bought. If I do change back to the Ultremos, I'll either keep the GP4000Ss for winter or put they on Ebay as they are practically brand new.
ChrisSA - I did look at Durano Plus tyres when I was about to change, but I think there were about double the weight and I thought they might be a bit sluggish?
aspender - I'll be really interested to know how you find the GP4000Ss after a few rides.