Conti GP4000 SII questions

Panthera

About a month ago, I decided to replace my OE road tyres on my Cube road bike from Mavic Atkinson 700x23C to the above Conti's in size 700x25C from my LBS. I have done a good few rides on them and personally I don't feel as confident on them as I did the Mavic's especially when cornering, they feel like they are going to give way. Also, would changing from 23c to a 25c make a difference in tyre profile? As they seem a lot taller compared.

apreading

Are you running the 25s at lower pressure than you were the 23s? You should be as that is the main reason for getting a wider tyre. However, it may make it 'feel' less confidence inspiring until you get used to it.

The GP4000S in 25mm are also bigger than many other 25mm tyres - they are almost as big as the GP4Seasons in 28mm... So yes, they will be significantly taller.

jrich

Personally I don't think conti tyres feel that great in the corners. They're fine for general purpose riding/training but if I'm racing I much prefer Vittoria - they're rock solid.

Having said that I've never been in a scenario where a GP4000sII has lost traction unexpectedly (in the dry at least), so the grip is there, it just doesn't feel as good to me.

Panthera

Yes I am running them at a lower pressure, but only a bit lower - between the max and min.

svetty

The larger contact patch means that the grip level is increased - sounds to me like a confidence issue?

apreading

I think its just confidence - with the lower pressures, the tyre will move around fractionally more and if you are used to super hard tyres before this will feel disconcerting for a while. How long that feeling lasts is hard to say - everyone is different.

fenix

Never had a problem cornering on them - 23mm or 25mm.

Panthera

Yes, I think you could have hit the nail on the head - confidence. More rides is on the cards.

wishitwasallflat

If the rim is narrow a wider tyre can take on a kind of light bulb shaped profile which personally I find very disconcerting (exactly as you describe). Wider tyres work best on wider rims where you get a nice round profile and it feels great. For example gp4000 25s on open pro = no for me but on my h plus son archetypes I like them. A few mm on the rim makes a huge difference in how tyres feel IMO.

rick_chasey

People often say contis ride like garden hoses, but they put up with them because you won't find a tyre with such low rolling resistance, decent grip and decent puncture resistance.

ayjaycee

Rick Chasey wrote:

People often say contis ride like garden hoses

Genuine question - I have never hear anyone say that before, what does it mean?

sungod

i've usually heard it in connection with their tubs, not tried those myself, but i use a tufo as an on the road spare which maybe is similar to a conti tub, there's a world of difference between a veloflex and the spare

at the same pressure, the more supple tyre seems more comfy

rick_chasey

ayjaycee wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

People often say contis ride like garden hoses

Genuine question - I have never hear anyone say that before, what does it mean?

Feel hard and stiff. Less suppleness.

earth

I remember when I changed from GP4000S to Michelin Pro3s the Pro3s immediately felt more secure when cornering.

rick_chasey

Rick Chasey wrote:

ayjaycee wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

People often say contis ride like garden hoses

Genuine question - I have never hear anyone say that before, what does it mean?

Feel hard and stiff. Less suppleness.

I'm used to this.


*ahem*