dmanthree

On this morning's ride I hooked up with a couple of other guys for a few miles along the coast. During the ride, the lead rider shouts "glass" and since it happened quickly, and nobody wanted to swerve out into traffic lands, we all rolled through it. The lead guy missed most of it, but me and the guy behind me hit is square. He flatted, I didn't. The revelation?

A Conti GP 4 Season with air is faster than a Conti GP 5000 without. No damage to my tires. Could be just dumb luck, too.

CAT7RDR

Sample of 2 speaks volumes?

WhyFi

Uh, cool?

Like most things, tire choice is a compromise and we all have different priorities. You were happy with your compromise today - good for you. I'd be willing to bet that the guy that flatted is still happy with the compromise of his choosing, though he may have been momentarily upset.

dmanthree

Uh, just a little tongue in cheek humor. But, well, despite the small sample size I'm pretty sure that the GP 4 Season is more durable than the GP 5000.

GrainBrain

Maybe? I've also double flatted gator skins on a downhill, not sure what I hit just "pfft! Hiss". I never flatted a GP4ks2 on my front but I've flatted plenty with a 4 Season on the rear.

znomit

If you had been riding a 5000 you wouldn’t need to wheelsuck?

illdrag0n

Here's my revelation. Get better riding mates that know how to look down the road and call out hazards before they become a problem

dmanthree

No, "wheelsuck" is my middle name. Besides, those guys were at least 15 years younger than me.

dmanthree

we didn't know each other. I started solo and we hooked up mid-ride. Also, given the specifics of the situation it couldn't have happened any other way, unfortunately. All happened very quickly. No blaming anyone, not hardly.

illdrag0n

Ah. Can't do much about that them. Seems the fella you were with is just a victim of circumstance.

In my experience, the right bit of glass will go through everything except a concrete block.

I've ridden all those tyres. My preference has always been the S-Works Turbo for duribility, speed, comfort and grip. It's my unicorn tyre

dmanthree

I've heard good things about that tire! My 4 seasons are wearing, so maybe I'll take a look at them for my next set. How has the durability been? Can you ride over crushed glass without flatting?

;-)

illdrag0n

There is some concessions when it comes to a race tyre, but they have been great for me in the past. I put 4500km on mine without a puncture before a sidewall cut (that didn't flat me) ended it's life. If you want a bit more protection the Turbo Pro's come with a thicker puncture belt and same compound, but i had a great time with the S-works so would rather the lighter/plusher ride

dmanthree

That's pretty much why I'm riding the GP 4 Seasons right now. I was riding Michelin Power Road tires, but hit some road debris, sliced the rear tire, and broke a spoke. So I put the "winter" wheels on and just kept them. They ride better than you'd think, and seem to roll easier than their "BRR" rating. And they're LONG wearing.

But I think I'm done with 'race' tires. Gladly trade a little speed for peace of mind.

dmanthree

I've ridden both, and I agree; the 5000s are not as durable as the previous generation. I moved to the Michelin Power Road because they seemed to have characteristics closest to the 4000s tires.

Seattle Forrest

​​​​​​It's your fault glass can break! 🤬

dmanthree

Obvious solution: drink beer in cans.

dmanthree

I'm a pretty loyal Conti user, as well. I'm riding the GP 4 Season now, but only bcause my local support system is gon for a while. I'll switch back to the Michelins in a week or two. The Power Road, their "in between" Road tire is excellent. I did flat one recently, but it clearly was not the tire's weakness, but road debris that killed the tire with an unpatchable slice and then kicked up and took out a spoke. So I threw the "winter" wheels on and just left them there for a bit. But really, the 4 Seasons are excellent tires that, for me, seem to roll a lot better than the BRR numbers might indicate.

So if the 5000s don't work out, the Power Road is something I've got to believe you'll really like.

eduskator

Lucky guy! You should buy a lottery ticket. Are you running TL?

Got to agree on that one. I ride with both experienced and inexperience cyclists and man, it does make a difference.

dmanthree

I play the lottery, but, well...for me it's still a tax.

The guys I was with were strangers I hooked up during a ride. I did my best to slow them down, too. ;-)

eduskator

A tax that's also taxed when you win! Never understood that of the great US of A.

Off topic, I know