My disappointing experiences with the Vittoria Corse G+ tires gave me some more but a different appetite for alternative 'high end' tires. Thanks to the internet, I've discovered that the German tire manufacturer Continental just released the successor to its highly popular Grand Prix or GP 4000 S , the brand new GP 5000. A new tire means years of research and development, a high investment in manufacturing and marketing. I thought this might be a good opportunity to test these tires.
HISTORY OF CONTINENTAL
The Continental-Caoutchouc- und Gutta-Percha Compagnie was founded in Hanover/Germany on October 8, 1871, as a joint-stock company. Manufacturing at the main factory in Vahrenwalder Street included soft rubber products, rubberized fabrics, and solid tires for carriages and bicycles. In 1892 Continental was the first German company to manufacture pneumatic tires for bicycles.
Today Continental is the only German bicycle tire manufacturer to produce its (high-end) tires in Germany. The technology and development center in Korbach/Germany develops constantly new technologies such as the Black Chili compound and the Vectran™ breaker anti-puncture technology, both used at the top end of their bike race tires.
PRICE
I rode to my trusted bike shop and bought two black folding 700x25c tires in the original box. In Taiwan, there are some 'illegal' OEM or plastic bagged Continentals in circulations but I bought my tires from a trusted shop for NT$1250/€37.80/US$42.45 per tire (Jun 01, 2020) in original box packing.
The matte black rectangular box has a shiny silver '5000' printed beside a cut-out window which shows the tire. The packing shows a lot of information in both English and German, a drawing explains the construction of the tire. The packing included a multi-language manual stuffed in the folded tire.
WEIGHT
My bamboo covered kitchen scale showed me a lightweight 214 g/tire for the black 700x25c clincher tires. 26 g per tire lighter than the Vittoria Corsa G+, these are the lightest tires I've ever owned.
TECHNOLOGIES
The Continental GP 5000 is, in my opinion, a technical masterpiece including:
- BlackChili Compound:
refined special synthetic rubbers with proven natural rubber to high-performance thread mixture. To these mixtures are added soot (impure carbon) particles which optimize in shape and surface properties. The complex compound technology is so sensitive that tires with BlackChili Compound are produced exclusively in the German Korbach plant.
- Active Comfort Technology:
Embedded in the tire construction, the Active Comfort Technology absorbs vibrations and smoothens the ride.
- Lazer Grip
The lasered micro profile structure expands over the tire's shoulder and provides outstanding cornering.
- Vectran™ Breaker
Vectran™ is a synthetically manufactured high-tech fiber from a natural model. Like spider silk, it is a liquid-crystalline polymer (LCP). Vectran is spun from the melted liquid and processed further to a multi-strand thread. The material has an enormous tear resistance at a very low weight: exactly the right properties to process into a premium tire as a puncture protection insert. Vectran is lighter, more flexible, and protects more effectively against cuts than a comparable nylon breaker and does not affect the rolling resistance.
In Continental's line-up the GP 5000 is neither the lightest, nor the fastest, nor the grippiest, nor has it the most puncture protection - it is an all-rounder.
MONTAGE
It was quite an easy task. It took me only two tire levers, one less than the previously used Panaracer EVO3. The fitting was spot on my Campagnolo Khamsin wheelset without any fiddling for a proper seat on the rim. Contrary to some reviews, there is a direction indicator on the wall of the tires - without the right direction, the Lazer Grip would show in the opposite wrong direction...
EXPERIENCE
I haven't ridden these tires yet but mounted them on my 'Italian style' dream built. It has a NOS (New Old Stock) Reynolds 853 frame with carbon rear stays and full carbon fork, a Campagnolo Khamsin wheelset, 3T handlebar, and stem, Prologo saddle plus a complete Shimano 105 groupset. I will try to sell this bike, if I should not succeed, I will ride it by myself.
update (Jul 31, 2021)
I did not sell the Italian style but rode it rather by myself for thousands of trouble-free kilometres. The tires are so great, that I used them on my 2nd bike after the original Panaracer Race D Evo 3 (made in Japan) exploded with a 'big bang' at around 30 km/h.
I pushed my bike with the front to my favorite shop. Unfortunately, the 25 mm wide tires were not available due to a Corona crisis. So I settled for a 23 mm for the front tire while the job owner joked about the 'aerodynamic' advantage of a narrower front and wider rear tire.
During all these kilometres, I had a flat only once. The claimed improved protection paid off on Taiwan rough roads, often littered with small glass parts and debris like sharp stones.
The ride quality is indeed 'racy' but on the smoother side, I felt the difference even on my harsher Scandium bike. I would not call the tires supple, but they surely soften road unevenness like manhole covers and thick road markings. Both 23 mm and 25 mm tires corner and 'caliper' brake very well. Road temperatures up to 45 degrees during summer do not effect the tires at all, during rain they offer good grip on really wet roads and slippery crosswalks.
+ plus: Handmade in Germany, easy to mount, good protection, light weight, reasonable priced.
- negative: Non so far
CONCLUSION
I am so satisfied with the Continental GP 5000 in both 23 mm and 25 mm width, that they became the 'staple' for all of my race bikes. The overall performance for my needs as a light, fast and reliable tire, are my standard to which I will compare its competition in the future.
As a more supple touring tire I would even trust in 28 mm wide Continental GP 5000 tires, this is the largest my caliper brakes could allow on a full equipped gravel bike gear setup!
A Word of Caution
Always ride with a helmet and in a way that you are in control of the bike and not the other way around. Ride responsibly and defensively, be prepared for a worst-case scenario! It is senseless to gain some seconds but spends weeks to recover in a hospital and/or at home for a stupid action! You, your body, your parents, your family, and friends will surely appreciate your precautions before, during, and after a bike ride.
Take care, Gerhard
#Continental #GP 5000 I've owned these tested tires, mounted, and rode them for thousands of kilometers by myself. I paid for my Continental GP5000 tires (1st Generation) out of my own pocket, I am neither endorsed nor sponsored by anyone. Subscribers, followers, and comments are more than welcome!
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