GP 4 seasons alternatives

feisty

I currently use GP 4 seasons on my best bike which is used all year round on Sunday rides.

I've found the tyres generally to be good; comfy and with few punctures. However, the last two times I have had a puncture the sidewall of the tyre has also collapsed. This may be complete coincidence and I am not blaming continental. But I figured I'd try out some other tyres for a change

What others do people use that are of a similar type to GP 4 seasons; i.e. a good mix between puncture protection and ride quality?

Vredestein Fortezza Senso All Weather road bike tyre (http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/reviews/ ... edbhAEd.99) seems to be an option

Panaracer Race D Evo2 seems another

Schwalbe Durano ?

The_Wicker_Man

Vittoria Corsa G+

dj58

I ran a 25c Panaracer Race D Evo2 on the rear wheel of my bike for 2000mi without puncturing on some poor road surfaces. It is now a back up wheel as I bought a second set of wheels and I am now trialling the Panaracer GravelKing tyre.

Alex99

feisty wrote:

I currently use GP 4 seasons on my best bike which is used all year round on Sunday rides.

I've found the tyres generally to be good; comfy and with few punctures. However, the last two times I have had a puncture the sidewall of the tyre has also collapsed. This may be complete coincidence and I am not blaming continental. But I figured I'd try out some other tyres for a change

What others do people use that are of a similar type to GP 4 seasons; i.e. a good mix between puncture protection and ride quality?

Vredestein Fortezza Senso All Weather road bike tyre (http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/reviews/ ... edbhAEd.99) seems to be an option

Panaracer Race D Evo2 seems another

Schwalbe Durano ?

Michelin Pro4 Endurance v2 always gets glowing comments. I've not had good experiences with the Vredestein option (tread cracking up and cutting quickly). Corsa G is an out and out race tyre, so not really in the same category. Durano + goes on and on, very puncture ressistant, but a bit slow. I only really use it in winter when I don't care that is costs me 0.5 MPH. Regular Durano is probably quite solid, not fancy and good value. Vittoria Rubino range is also a fair option. The older Rubino Pro III were good too.

bendertherobot

feisty wrote:

I currently use GP 4 seasons on my best bike which is used all year round on Sunday rides.

I've found the tyres generally to be good; comfy and with few punctures. However, the last two times I have had a puncture the sidewall of the tyre has also collapsed. This may be complete coincidence and I am not blaming continental. But I figured I'd try out some other tyres for a change

What others do people use that are of a similar type to GP 4 seasons; i.e. a good mix between puncture protection and ride quality?

Vredestein Fortezza Senso All Weather road bike tyre (http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/reviews/ ... edbhAEd.99) seems to be an option

Panaracer Race D Evo2 seems another

Schwalbe Durano ?

Can you fit 30c? If so Schwalbe S-One

OnTheRopes

I use GP4000s all year round, great tyre and I rarely puncture

mostly

I've been using the pro 4 endurance for a couple of months and they have been excellent. 25's come up at nearer 27mm which is a wee bit tight on my tcr. Would certainly purchase again.

deejaysee

Was running 4S for about 6 months and had about 8 punctures in that time - wasnt impressed.
Went to Pro 4 and been using for about 4/5 months and not had one puncture yet.

Way prefer the pro 4

drlodge

I liked the Pro4 Service Course, so expect the Endurance will be similar but stronger/tougher.

chilling

I recently swapped down to GP4000S II's from using 4 Seasons. I can't say I can tell the difference apart from in my pocket. Not had a puncture in the last 3 months of commuting and weekend rides.

Yeah I know, tonight's ride home will now be a puncture fest, give me a little wave if you see me on the side of the road

Tom Dean

is there a tyre available with weaker sidewalls than a gp4000?

mcstumpy

Another rec for pro4 endurance

lostboysaint

And another. So much nicer than the GP4 (wet grip, roll, ride quality - because the volume means you can crack about 5-10 psi out of the tyres).

MrSweary

Tried Pro4s - didn't like the ride, grip or the sudden rash of punctures. Back on GP4S now!

figbat

I'm quite liking the Schwalbe Durano Raceguard Dual Compounds I fitted (25mm). After some epic rainstorms last week the roads are covered in gravel and who-knows-what but so far so good.

quarkrad

+2 for Durano. Had them for 5 years on summer bike and no puncture! I ride Schwalbe Marathon on my winter bike - some laugh at these tractor tyres, but for 6 years I've had no punctures - I do about 200 - 250 miles a week. The Marathon do not look nice and are heavy but on a winter bike who cares(?) - when it is cold, having no puncture is a blessing. Same for Durano in the summer - although they do look good. A bit heavier than some but if you are not racing so what? I know I have been extremely lucky re punctures - but on forum experience these are good puncture resistant tyres.

feisty

Thanks all. Very helpful. I've also got a tubeless wheelset that I may use just in winter. But I shall start a separate thread on that

onionmk

I too am experiencing sidewall failure with the GP 4 Seasons- Shame really, as other than that it's a great tyre. I'm eyeing up the GP 4000SII's or Michelin Pro4 Service Course as I could do with the extra grip in the wet that racier tyres usually provide. I'm willing to risk a little puncture protection as I usually find punctures are caused by objects pretty much no tyre mentioned on this thread could ward off.

mikenetic

Winter riding for me is Michelin Pro 4 Endurance, way better in my experience that 4 Seasons. Better puncture resistance and sidewall strength. I have ridden GP4000ii which are OK, but the surface of the tread is prone to cutting on flint.

I found Pro 4 Service Course to have very delicate sidewalls. They ride very well, are light, but not all that robust.

sparklehedgehog

feisty wrote:

I currently use GP 4 seasons on my best bike which is used all year round on Sunday rides.

I've found the tyres generally to be good; comfy and with few punctures. However, the last two times I have had a puncture the sidewall of the tyre has also collapsed. This may be complete coincidence and I am not blaming continental. But I figured I'd try out some other tyres for a change

What others do people use that are of a similar type to GP 4 seasons; i.e. a good mix between puncture protection and ride quality?

Vredestein Fortezza Senso All Weather road bike tyre (http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/reviews/ ... edbhAEd.99) seems to be an option

Panaracer Race D Evo2 seems another

Schwalbe Durano ?

I'm between 17 & 18 stone and have done over 2500 miles on two bikes which each have a set of the GP4 seasons on and have never had a puncture on Lincolnshire roads which are more like off roading tracks than asphalt with the amount of potholes etc. I really really rate the GP4s as an allround tyre

pblakeney

Me too. My guess is that there was a bad batch. I've been happy with 4 Seasons for 5 years now.
Around 2000 incident free miles this year on a set put on in January.

iPete

Michelin Pro4 Service Course in 25c on the race bike and Endurance on the Commuter.

I see people boasting about 3,000 miles from Conti 4 Seasons. The Michelin on the race bike are now over 9,000 miles front and 5,000 miles rear. Commuting and racing.

cycleclinic

Its nothing to do with a bad batch. It is luck. I was always unlikely with tubed tyres. 4 seasons where the worst. Tried for two years went through 8 tyres. They never lasted more than 500 miles. Many get on with them but some dont.

N0bodyOfTheGoat

Have any of you tried Durano DD, for extra puncture protection (5.5/7 vs 4/7) at the cost of a bit more rolling resistance over the Durano (3.5/6 vs 4/6)?
http://www.schwalbe.com/en/road-reader/durano-dd.html

The new G-One variants look promising, but the "speed" is only rated 2/5 and the "all-round" 3/5 for durability.

ollie.williams260

vittoria open pave, are my standard go to winter tyre every year. I've had much better luck with these than the Conti's, with the added bonus of grip over Conti's

drlodge

ollie.williams260 wrote:

vittoria open pave, are my standard go to winter tyre every year. I've had much better luck with these than the Conti's, with the added bonus of grip over Conti's

Open Paves are a nice rolling tyre, but in my experience get cut to shreds so so easily. Would never use them for a winter tyre.

bendertherobot

NitrousOxide wrote:

Have any of you tried Durano DD, for extra puncture protection (5.5/7 vs 4/7) at the cost of a bit more rolling resistance over the Durano (3.5/6 vs 4/6)?
http://www.schwalbe.com/en/road-reader/durano-dd.html

The new G-One variants look promising, but the "speed" is only rated 2/5 and the "all-round" 3/5 for durability.

http://www.schwalbe.com/en/offroad-read ... speed.html

that table? They are mega quick. In terms of durability I think, to be fair, they use that in context. So while the One are rated highly for on road use, the concession that these are for the road less travelled means that they will cut up and wear out sooner. Don't worry, they last long enough!

ollie.williams260

drlodge wrote:

ollie.williams260 wrote:

vittoria open pave, are my standard go to winter tyre every year. I've had much better luck with these than the Conti's, with the added bonus of grip over Conti's

Open Paves are a nice rolling tyre, but in my experience get cut to shreds so so easily. Would never use them for a winter tyre.

True they do cut easily but I'd rather that, than vague grip on other tyres

svetty

Hardly ever puncture on 4 Seasons throughout the winter. I agree with Malcolm that luck is more of a factor than which brand you ride

Tom Dean

ollie.williams260 wrote:

drlodge wrote:

ollie.williams260 wrote:

vittoria open pave, are my standard go to winter tyre every year. I've had much better luck with these than the Conti's, with the added bonus of grip over Conti's

Open Paves are a nice rolling tyre, but in my experience get cut to shreds so so easily. Would never use them for a winter tyre.

True they do cut easily but I'd rather that, than vague grip on other tyres

I never found them too bad for cuts but they do wear quickly. They stopped making them - not sure which vittorias are the equivalent now - Rubino pro control?

wolfsbane2k

After 600 miles on GP4 seasons II on the rear that i'll probably have to bin tonight, which has shocked me - £30 for 600 miles? Yowch.
Loads of small cuts/nicks etc in it, and one 1 mm circular punch through from a stick this morning.

I thought it was supposed to be a "tough tyre"? I've not seen a tyre with that many small nicks etc on it after such a short time out ( previous was Vitorria Randonneur Pro II) that did ~1000 miles before the sidewall suffered a cut, which is £12 a tyre.