I'm training for a big event later this year and need to convert my Reilly Gradient into less of a 'gravel/adventure' bike (it's current role) and into a road bike.
It's got Hope 20Five wheelset on it at the moment - and not sure I can afford to 'lighten' those (unless you have some great deals in mind) so I'm thinking probably 28mm minimum and maybe 32mm for a bit of comfort for the crappy roads of Kent.
So, what tyres? Light weight and slick.
Michelin Power Cups can be had for less than 35 quid currently (assuming tube type, tenner more for tubeless). Superb tyre at a great price. They inflate quite large, so a 28 will usually be at least 30mm, depending on rims.
GP 5000S TR for the last couple of summers, 5000 AS on the winter bike.
Both been really good, so not really sure why I'm switching to Vittoria Corsa Pro TLR for this summer - other than I fancy a change and the tan walls look fantastic.
Conti GP5000 TR AS here in 32mm
Merlin have a deal for a pair with Stans. Can be had with cream walls or black.
Also available cheaper at Bikeinn
Another suggestion for GP5000 in 32mm.
Yeah, GP5000 in 32mm. "S" variant for fast and lightest, "AS" for slightly more longevity. I've not tried the slightly more budget "TR" version.
TBH, i've never been impressed with the GP series of tyres, the latest 5000 TL that came on my last bike were equally uninspiring, and let go a handful of times in corners.
So i got so Challenge Strada Pro, think they were only 12 quid a pair more that the Contis and they feel much better, and seem to corner more confidently. No letting go in the 3-4 months i had them on before the bike went away for the winter anyway.
I've had GP4000, 5000 etc. Great tyres. But pricey. I'm currently trying these Goodyear versions....half price at Tredz. Impressed so far (2000 miles in) Maybe just go cheapo for the training period...350-400g a tyre and normal tubes...then pop lightweight tubes and tyres on the week before the event...you may notice a decent difference with 200g+ off each wheel (and the training will be that touch harder too)
i went vittoria rubino pro as i wanted something potentially tougher and maybe not quite so expensive...
did a few 100 miles... no complaints
TBF, im a fan of Vittoria's a cross the board now...
Gp5000. They’re a bit more money. They’re very good
I like them on my road bikes
I like my Vittoria's until the tread started to peel off the carcass.
GP5000 (can be had in 35mm flavour of All Season, ~£60 each)
Pirelli P Zero (can be had in 35mm and 40mm flavour)
Hutchinson Blackbird (can be had in at least 30mm flavour, if not bigger)
Hutchinson Caracal Race (40mm tan lower rolling resistance than black sidewalls and very quick apparently, 45mm not quite so low rolling resistance but more comfort, black 45mm ~£45 each at Tredz)
I'm keeping an eye on 40mm tan Caracal Race for my gravel ebike this year to replace 40/35mm Marathon Supremes, at least for rear, might go 35/40mm GP5000/P Zero on front instead.
I like my Vittoria's until the tread started to peel off the carcass.
+1
Gp5000 for me.
Doesn't matter - miles matter. Just get something cheap and cheerful from Banana Industries or Planet X.
My Gradient is wearing Conti GP5000 TR AS in 32mm in its winter road bike guise. Very happy with them. The ASs are a bit heavier than the standard TRs but I think it's worth it for the shitty winter road conditions.
Yeah, GP5000 in 32mm. "S" variant for fast and lightest, "AS" for slightly more longevity. I've not tried the slightly more budget "TR" version.
The GP5000 range is confusing, there's no plain S which there was in the 4000.
You've got GP5000 (no suffix) for tubes, "S TR" for tubeless, "AS TR", all season tubeless and "TT TR" for racing.
I have to run S TR as my rims require tubeless. Otherwise plain version with TPU tubes are slightly lighter and a couple of watts lower rolling. The tan walls also have slightly higher rolling resistance than black!
If anyone is interested I have some AS TR and S TR in 28mm with little wear. Am considering going up to 32mm, which would be my choice these days.
+1 for michelin power cups. Had them on for about 18 months, only had one puncture in that time (25mm* running about 80 PSI, tubes). Wet grip is good, nice and easy to get on and off, barely need a tyre lever.
*rim brakes innit.
As I'm another Kent boy I will recommend Pirelli PZero TLR 30mm. I found the 5000STR too fragile and the 5000ASTR not as compliant as the Pirelli and a tad slower
Recent negative experience: a Pirelli P Zero 28mm developed a bulge.
Positive experience: Hutchinson Blackbird in 28mm and 30mm
I've had a couple of Conti GP4000 and GP5000 over the years and they've always been an absolute bugger to fit, just FYI. It's probably my rims but thought it might be relevant to mention...
The GP5000 TL were infamous. Really tight in most rims.
The latest ones, post TL, were generally much better. So if you tried TLs maybe you'd be OK, but if you tried post-TL then it is indeed probably your rims!
Doesn't matter - miles matter. Just get something cheap and cheerful from Banana Industries or Planet X.
This I currently am running some tyres I got for £20 a pair in bargain bin at shop. 32mm they are whatever come on Giant Defy's. They work.
GP5000 are nice but a bit fragile in winter for my riding
I liked Vittoria Corsas, but they were to fragile. By contrast, the GP5000a of various widths and tubeless taste have been super. My widest are 30c, which come up about 28c on old fashioned narrow wheels. You don’t need wider than 32c. My tubeless 25c version have been excellent too but live on my race carbon wheels.
Another boat here for the continental GP 5000. I would go for the 32 to 35 millimeter and I absolutely would not go for the s version. I used to have the s versions on my bike and the puncture pretty much every time I was out. I swapped out to the as version and the only difference that I can discern is I haven't had a puncture yet
Well I'm on conti gatorskins on my road bike. Everyone hates them.
But then again I commute into town on potholed and glass ridden Leeds urban roads.
And throw in the odd short offroad section or small stair set 😎
And I haven't had a puncture yet.
So they're staying on
GP5Ks +1
GP5000 S TR are too puncture prone. Especially when compared to the TLs that came before them. I’ve never had tubeless tyres which were so puncture prone. Two different sets have had more punctures in the past 7 months than I’ve had in the past 5 years on the TLs. I’ve swapped to AS TR.
Left field suggestion for fit and forget if ultimate performance is not the objective and you want some durability.
Giant Fondo 1 in 28mm or 32mm
I'm 100kg in my kit and I have battered mine loaded up on tours and just general road riding on grotty back roads.
The reviews are not especially kind but then they're usually written by very speedy roadies used to high value gear.
The GP4000s I had on my road bike before eldest put holes through them were nicer to rider but fragile as heck in comparison.
I'd rather ride than fix blow outs YMMV!
After many happy years on GP5000s I bought the PZeros last year to go on some new Hunt wheels rims. It's the only combination that completely defeated me - and that's after many years of working in bike shops, supporting events and handling all sorts of strange tyre/rim combos. I sent them back to Sigma and got a full refund, no questions asked. The GP5000s slipped on a treat.
I went to 4 seasons.Well I'm on conti gatorskins on my road bike. Everyone hates them.
Oh, that's the other thing Conti still haven't fixed, threads coming off the sidewall and bead on all their GP tyres, been a thing since the GP2000 came out. Had enough come off on the last GP4000sII that i had that the bead actually came off after about 3000 km. That was exciting.I like my Vittoria's until the tread started to peel off the carcass.
Gp 5000s or corsa next
Cheap road tyres work, but they suck.
They've not had a shout yet but I e always favoured Schwalbe tyres and would opt for either Ones or Pro Ones or even G One Speeds, all available between 30-35 mm.
Tangentially similar to the OP I'm also in the same boat but really stuck on going tubeless or tubed.
I've not had the best luck tubeless on the road bike as the last puncture, before reverting back to tubes, wouldn't seal and allow me to maintain riding at 60psi (I'm ~100kg) - perhaps user error.
Are the GP5000 is tubed format simple to get on and off the rim*?
I'm a big fan of Vittoria tyres for gravel and mtb but everyone keeps banging on about these GP5000s 🤣 🤣 🤣
*I guess this is rim dependant.
Are the GP5000 is tubed format simple to get on and off the rim*?
Good experience here. GP5000 (tubed) 32mm on Specialized stock alloy box things and Reserve 34 37. All fitted by hand easily. Also 28mm GP5000 AS TR and S TR on Zipp 303s hand fit no levers.
Schwalbe Pro Ones. I put some of those on my gravel bike for road rides and they're great. They're holding up fone on the Kent pot holes so far. Have a look on ebay for a second hand set of wheels. I picked up some nice light carbon wheels for not a lot of money last year.
Are the GP5000 is tubed format simple to get on and off the rim*?
See my comment above about trying the PZeros. I've never had any trouble with the tubed GP5000s.
FWIW my road bike is the only one not running tubeless. I've seen to many unsealed leaks on other folks bikes to want to try it.
Have spent a lot of time on the Thanet lanes on the road bike over the last few years. In general GP5000 S TR have been OK tubeless in terms of puncture resistance, but if you venture (OK, get lost) onto some of the more broken up lanes, they do puncture. In the end I changed the rear for an AS, can't say I notice any speed difference. That said I have holed that one once and it struggled to seal initially. On that note, when running tubeless it is worth mentioning sealant - I had been using Joe's no flats as that's what I had for the MTB, I think it's just too viscous, my tyres also always lost a lot of pressure between rides. I bought some expensive Silca stuff specifically for higher pressure road tubeless and whilst I haven't ridden it much since, the tyres barely seem to be losing any pressure now so I am hopeful to see a real improvement in sealing
Bloody well jinxed myself there! Towards the end of this morning's ride I went through a bit of roundabout debris and holed the front, tubeless spaff everywhere! Only looked to be a 1mm by 2mm hole, max, but it would not seal, me and the bike looked like a plasterers radio. Had to use a Dynaplug (and i don't think they are all that either but that's another story).
Think I'll be getting a GP5000 AS for the front as well.... 