Sidwewall blowout Conti GP4000 S
Hals1967
Posts: 231
Had my front tyre blow out a mile into my ride today. No warning just an almighty bang, luckily wasn't going fast and even more luckily it didn't happen on the 40+ mph descent I had planned into my route later on. The sidewall had split away from the Kevlar bead. Annoying because the tyre is only a month old with about 300 miles on it. I've read about problems with them before but I guess it can happen to any tyre. I did check my pressures prior to the ride and the tyres looked ok, properly seated etc.
After a walk home and fitting a spare tyre I was back out again but was wary for the whole route and took it very steady on the descents. :shock:
After a walk home and fitting a spare tyre I was back out again but was wary for the whole route and took it very steady on the descents. :shock:
1967 Engine
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may have been ut by a bit of debris or catching the edge of one of the millions of dents/cracks in the awful uk roads, but i'd also check...
rim for any sharp edge/burr
brake pad alignment
...i've used these tyres for years, they are fairly light, so more vulnerable to damage, but never heard of any general quality issue
if you're convinced it's a manufacturing fault, claim it under warranty, you'll get a replacementmy bike - faster than god's and twice as shiny0 -
I think you'd happily get a new tyre from Conti.
Out of interest, where did you get the tyre from?0 -
This is very interesting because I just changed to a new set of GP4000s as my old ones lost threads between where the clincher lip meets the wall of the tyre!!
There was a thread about this disintegration issue on here a couple if months back. There's also same reports on other forums if you do a Google search.
viewtopic.php?f=40013&t=12935132&p=18798569&hilit=gp4000#p18798569
Black threads worked loose on the tyre in this area but it didn't seem to have effected the inter threads and wall itself.
Wonder if this is related ?????0 -
sungod wrote:may have been ut by a bit of debris or catching the edge of one of the millions of dents/cracks in the awful uk roads, but i'd also check...
rim for any sharp edge/burr
brake pad alignment
...i've used these tyres for years, they are fairly light, so more vulnerable to damage, but never heard of any general quality issue
if you're convinced it's a manufacturing fault, claim it under warranty, you'll get a replacement
As above, check that the brake alignment is not rubbing against the tyre.0 -
It get's forgotton that they re a Race Tyre not a training tyre and so will wear out quicker than other tyres and also sacrifice longevity and (in your case) protection.
In Holland with beautiful bike paths and smooth tarmac mine lasted for ages but I have but say I ve been surprised how quickly they ve worn in the UK (have to say that I can't remember exactly when I put them on to say how far they ve gone) and I'm going to put something a bit tougher on now that can cope with London roads...not sure what yet though...We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
- @ddraver0 -
I used to love GP4000's but a spate of sidewall failures has seen me lose faith in these tyres. The 4 seasons on my training/commute/winter bike have been fine as have my Ultra sports on my training wheels.0
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andi1363 wrote:I used to love GP4000's but a spate of sidewall failures has seen me lose faith in these tyres. The 4 seasons on my training/commute/winter bike have been fine as have my Ultra sports on my training wheels.
were the failures rips and holes in the side wall itself or the thread problem?0 -
Was the sidewall failure the cause or the symptom of the blowout? I find it difficult to believe the sidewall failed on it own, unless it was damaged by a cut, or by the inner tube exploding0
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I think it's telling that there are so many stories of GP4000 S sidewall failures on various cycling forums around the internet. Maybe the sidewalls are not failing on their own per se but they sure seem to be very susceptible to damage from either ham-fisted fitting or road debris.
When compared to equivalent tyres from other manufacturers I think they are expensive and as such are bargepole territory for me. Why pay more for something which has no performance benefits and could be basically flawed with catastrophic results?0 -
I've used these since 2008 and I think I've had just the one p*ncture with them. No blowouts. Much better than the Vredesteins and Michelins I used to use. They're not cheap tyres - but they've been great performers for me.
As to performance benefits - they always come out top in tests ?0 -
hypster wrote:I think it's telling that there are so many stories of GP4000 S sidewall failures on various cycling forums around the internet. Maybe the sidewalls are not failing on their own per se but they sure seem to be very susceptible to damage from either ham-fisted fitting or road debris.
When compared to equivalent tyres from other manufacturers I think they are expensive and as such are bargepole territory for me. Why pay more for something which has no performance benefits and could be basically flawed with catastrophic results?
number of stories of failure is irrelevant
number of failures per unit distance is the relevant statistic
i certainly do not know this number, but from years of direct experience and general observation i would bet it is no worse that any tyre of comparable weight, performance and purpose
because of their good performance, especially in the wet where some otherwise similar tyres perform poorly, these are popular tyres, widely ridden, for many years, it would be remarkable if there were not many reports of failuremy bike - faster than god's and twice as shiny0 -
sungod wrote:number of stories of failure is irrelevant
number of failures per unit distance is the relevant statistic
i certainly do not know this number, but from years of direct experience and general observation i would bet it is no worse that any tyre of comparable weight, performance and purpose
because of their good performance, especially in the wet where some otherwise similar tyres perform poorly, these are popular tyres, widely ridden, for many years, it would be remarkable if there were not many reports of failure
You'd bet your life on it would you? Because that's what you are doing.0 -
Think it's a case of some people being unlucky. I did about 5500 miles last year using Gp4000s tyres. One puncture, which was a small (5-6mm long) rip in the sidewall on the rear. This was caused by hitting a pothole about 30mph, no fault of the tyre. I don't think any tyre would have survived that.0
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Happened to me last year but was fairly minor, my tyre was about 1000 miles old....
I still ride GP4000s tyres, they're great.... With so many people riding these tyres, it's no wander there are so many people with these sorts of stories to tell, they are one of the most popular "race bike" tyre out there so of course with higher use, there'll be higher number of these stories.0 -
junglist_matty wrote:Happened to me last year but was fairly minor, my tyre was about 1000 miles old....
Looks like a cut from road debris to me0 -
ddraver wrote:Interesting that they ve put the snakeskin thingum on the new version...
except they haven't....0 -
ddraver wrote:well you re a pleasant individual arent you...
No they have nt, some vectran thingum instead
The GP4000S has always had a vectran layer, but never had the 'gatorskin' band. Apologies if my correction upset you. Next time, I will add a load of smilies to make it more bearable...0 -
Good summary of the GP4000S II here: http://www.slowtwitch.com/Products/Thin ... _3946.html
Seems that coloured sidewalls and a new 28mm size are the differences.0 -
rickeverett wrote:This is very interesting because I just changed to a new set of GP4000s as my old ones lost threads between where the clincher lip meets the wall of the tyre!!
quote]
Inspecting the tyre today it looks like this above is what's happened, the threads in the clincher lip have separated from the tyre wall and caused the inner tube to bulge out and most likely caught the brake causing the inner to blow. I was riding on a reasonably smooth section at the time so can count out hitting a pothole or any kind of debris.
I've ordered a new GP4000 S anyhow as I'm happy with them and will put this one down to a bad tyre (I didn't mention this is the third set of GP4000's I've used so can vouch for their general quality and good performance).
Now if the next one blows...oh crikey I've ordered on Fri 13th
1967 Engine0 -
Hals1967 wrote:rickeverett wrote:This is very interesting because I just changed to a new set of GP4000s as my old ones lost threads between where the clincher lip meets the wall of the tyre!!
quote]
Inspecting the tyre today it looks like this above is what's happened, the threads in the clincher lip have separated from the tyre wall and caused the inner tube to bulge out and most likely caught the brake causing the inner to blow. I was riding on a reasonably smooth section at the time so can count out hitting a pothole or any kind of debris.
I've ordered a new GP4000 S anyhow as I'm happy with them and will put this one down to a bad tyre (I didn't mention this is the third set of GP4000's I've used so can vouch for their general quality and good performance).
Now if the next one blows...oh crikey I've ordered on Fri 13th
was it like these pics (mine was the 2nd pic) ?
viewtopic.php?f=40013&t=12935132&hilit=gp4000&start=800 -
apreading wrote:Good summary of the GP4000S II here: http://www.slowtwitch.com/Products/Thin ... _3946.html
Seems that coloured sidewalls and a new 28mm size are the differences.
See this thread
viewtopic.php?f=40013&t=129713610 -
rickeverett wrote:
was it like these pics (mine was the 2nd pic) ?
viewtopic.php?f=40013&t=12935132&hilit=gp4000&start=80
Very similar except the sidewall had split away from the beading along a length of about three inches with multiple strands that comprise the beading coming apart.
Anyhow, I've put this to bed now but it's a good general heads up to have a closer look at your tyres more often.
1967 Engine0 -
Hals1967 wrote:rickeverett wrote:
was it like these pics (mine was the 2nd pic) ?
viewtopic.php?f=40013&t=12935132&hilit=gp4000&start=80
Very similar except the sidewall had split away from the beading along a length of about three inches with multiple strands that comprise the beading coming apart.
Anyhow, I've put this to bed now but it's a good general heads up to have a closer look at your tyres more often.
For the thousands if not millions of these sold world wide there always bound to be a issue now and then. TBH it sounds like something shredded through.0 -
A friend has a Conti 4000s front sidewall blow out descending the Cormet de Roselend last week - just managed to keep it from throwing him. He's since heard that this is a recent frequent failure on the tyres from a mechanic.0
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g00se wrote:A friend has a Conti 4000s front sidewall blow out descending the Cormet de Roselend last week - just managed to keep it from throwing him. He's since heard that this is a recent frequent failure on the tyres from a mechanic.
Shit. Wonder if he had the thread decay issue too? Has to take a catalyst of some sort to blow out a wall.0 -
I've had two brand new GP4000 tyres blow out like this in quick succession.
First one blew suddenly, sent it back to Wiggle, they sent a new one and that blew in exactly the same way this eve, a small tear in the sidewall that allowed the inner tube to bulge through slowly and then - BANG !
There must be a manufacturing fault, I've used these tyres for donkeys years, always fit them the same way and the rims are fine.
I'm steering clear now as lost confidence in them if this is a new design.0 -
ddraver wrote:Hmm we'll I broke and got some Schwalbe Ones off of ze Germans so I be probably failed to go for a more durable tyre but they were sooooo cheap...
Tried these today. Feel really good (although it's a classic case of old tyre v new tyre). If you re looking for an alternative I can recommend these, although they do feel a tad thin...We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
- @ddraver0
