Ogsarg

I really like the GP4000SII but need to face the facts that the roads I'm on just have too much debris for the thin sidewalls. I had one blowout on the front a while back and yesterday noticed a good size gouge in the rear. It's holding for now but if I hit something in that spot again (and I surely will sooner or later) it will likely blowout as well.

Can anyone recommend a tire with similar characteristics with a little more durable sidewall?

Spiduhman

Hi Og,

Sounds like you may need something with a more sturdy sidewall - significantly more durable vs "a little more durable..."

From there, more sturdy will not have similar characteristics, tradeoffs, eh?

Cuts in the tread portion that haven't got into the fabric I'll ride on - sidewall cuts go straight inna bin, imo.

Sy Reene

The nice ride quality on the Contis of course is due at least in part to them having pliable sidewalls.. so there's generally always a tradeoff for durability with rolling-resistance and feel. That said, the Michelin Pro4 Endurance or Krylion2's are a good sidewall bump, and don't give up too much speed.

MattTheHat 

I've run several pair of Specialized Roubaix Pros on several different bikes. They don't roll as well as the GP4000SII or GP5000TL but they aren't terrible, either. I've had sidewall damage on both 4000s and 5000s within a few hundred miles, but never on the Roubaix, after thousands of miles. I've never had a puncture on them that didn't seal immediately. (I run them tubeless).

goenrdoug

I eventually got sick of how fragile the conti 4000's were and switched to Schwalbe Ones a few years ago. I haven't looked back.

terrymorse 

According to bicyclerollingresistance.com, the Grand Prix 4000S II has a sidewall thickness of 0.55 mm and a 5 puncture resistance rating.

That's quite thin.

The Schwalbe One Tubeless has a much beefier 1.20 mm sidewall (8 puncture resistance), and its rolling resistance is only slightly higher than the GP.

The site lists other tires with puncture resistant sidewalls, ordered by increasing rolling resistance:

• Schwalbe Ironman Tubeless
• Hutchinson Fusion 5 Performance TL
• Michelin Pro 4 Endurance v2
• Hutchinson Fusion 5 All Season TL
• Panaracer Race A Evo 3
• Continental Gator Hardshell

Lemond1985

On ideal riding surfaces, GP 4000's are probably the best-performing clincher out there. But in California these days, there are very few ideal riding surfaces remaining anywhere.

And the other thing about GP 4000's, in addition to the thin sidewalls, is the fact that goat head thorns are almost magnetically-attracted to them. If there's a goat head within 50 yards, those tires will find it.

I switched to Gravel King "slicks" with the file tread. Much better sidewalls, similar handling ((not quite as good, obviously) and while a goathead will definitely flat one, it's usually a slow enough leak to get at least get home, and and I experience little to no "goat head magnetism" with these tires.

shelbyfv

I've been happy with the Grand Prix GT

Elvo

You want Gravel King 700x35 or 700x38

Ogsarg

I might be able to fit a 28 (currently running 25's) but definitely nothing bigger than that.

Lemond1985

Gravel Kings in 28 mm, run small, around 26 mm on most traditional "non-wide" rims. They clear on all my bikes that won't clear other 28's.

What makes this whole thing confusing is that GP 4000II's in 28 mm measure almost 32 mm on many rims.

I was very surprised to be able to fit 32 mm Gravel King slicks on my Lemond! FWIW, they run true to size, at least on my various rims.



I agree, it goat head can penetrate .55 mm + the thickness of an inflated inner tube, in the blink of an eye. A thicker tread is really the first line of defense against those things.

dmanthree

GP 4 Season. Way more durable, still decent riding tires. I've never flatted one.

canklecat

Continental Ultra Sport II. Good and cheap. I've used them in 700x23 and x25 on both road bikes for a couple of years. Good grip, acceptable rolling resistance, very durable.

Sidewalls are thicker than my Conti Gran Prix Classic skinwalls, but still have good road feel at any reasonable pressure.

And I don't flat any more frequently than with tires that have an additional puncture shield.

berner

I have Specialized Turbo or Turbo Pro on front or rear at 28mm. These are fine tires, long wearing with a comfy ride and flat resistance at surprisingly low weight.

JLTD

Sounds like you're having true sidewall cuts rather than the notorious sidewall wear of the GP4000s, so this might not apply, but I feel like after a season on the GP5000 (clinchers) Conti seemed to have solved the wear issue on the sidewalls.

MagicHour

The GK 700x28s have been good to me. Not too heavy and ok rolling resistance on the road. Have been durable and allow me to move way over into the shoulder in the s**t when I sense a dump or pickup truck coming in hot on rural roads. Also can survive the occasional unpaved road or trail, but 32+ would be better there.

bpcyclist

Sidewalls are always dicey in my experience, but if you aren't looking for a racing tire, I have had good luck with the Gator Hardshell. Riding in town here this time of year there is just a ton of branches and twigs and rocks and crap all over the bike lanes. No way to avoid running over some of this stuff if you are moving at a decent clip, no matter how careful you are being. Anyway, I just do not get flats on these tires. Like, ever. Absolutely love them.

canklecat

Yup, almost everyone I ride with uses Conti Gatorskins on their road bikes, at least for the longer weekend 30-60 mile rural routes where we often ride the wide shoulders or occasionally scoot over the edge to allow vehicles to pass. There's a bigger risk of punctures and slashes from debris.

But many of those same folks switch to Conti GP4k or GP5k, or comparable fancy Euro marque racy/trainer tires for the shorter weekday rides on mostly well maintained city streets and trails. I don't know of many folks who actually enjoy riding Gatorskins. They just consider it a necessity.

I've tried several training clinchers with decent rolling resistance, most of which have at least a thin puncture shield, but still haven't found a readily available tire I like better than Conti's cheapest road bike tire -- the Ultra Sport II. They're really good for the money and don't puncture any worse than other tires. And if one gets cut up, no biggie -- they cost only $15. I have over 3,000 miles on one set and 1,200 on another. Still plenty of life left in both.

Recently I was given an old wheelset with one Vredestein Fortezza Tricomp. Wow. Fast, grippy, remarkably nice ride even at 120+ psi, tough and resistant to nicks, cuts and punctures despite being a fairly lightweight tire with a thin puncture shield. The sidewalls are just a wee bit stiffer than the Conti Ultra Sport II and much stiffer than the very thin Grand Prix Classic skinwalls. That one tire held up well on the same rural roads and highway shoulders where most folks ride Gatorskins. Naturally the Vredestein is no longer available. But if they start making it again I'm gonna buy a couple of sets.

Ogsarg

Thanks for all the input. I ordered a GP 4 season to try. I'm still riding the almost new GP4000SII with the sidewall gouge but it's bulging slightly and I figure it needs to go.

One thing about tires is they don't last forever. If you don't like it, try something else next time.

dmanthree

You'll get good service from the GP 4 Season tires. I wear out the GP 4000s in about 1200 miles on the rear tire, but about 3,000 miles for the 4 Season. It's not a race tire, but it's an excellent tire.

wheelreason

Worst tire ever. The only tire I've actually taken off and replaced with something else after a couple of rides.

canklecat

Yup, a friend said the same thing and offered to give me her unwanted Conti Ultra Sport II tires.

I like 'em. I've compared them with Schwalbe One V-Guards, Vredestein Fortezza TriComp and a couple other high end training clinchers suitable for racing. The Ultra Sport II feel pretty much the same to me. A tiny bit slower but not enough to matter, and much more durable than the Schwalbe. On 20-50 mile rides the Ultra Sport II might be 1/2 mph slower, but I also ride them at fairly low pressure for comfort.

I can't feel any difference between the Ultra Sport II and Gran Prix Classic in 700x25. The Classics look nicer with skinwalls. They don't ride any different, although I haven't compared them on wet roads.

They're much better than some comparably priced bargain tires like the Vittoria Zaffiro (worst road bike tires I've ridden). And better than the Conti Sport Contact II, which are grippy in the wet but sluggish with mediocre road feel due to the thick, rigid sidewalls and thick tread.