Continental GR 4000SLll vs Continental 5000
 

I'm looking for 2 new tires for my Ironman. Neither the 4000SL2 or 5000 can be found at a decent price
in 28mm..I found 1 set of 4000SL2s in 25mm for $80 to my door or I can buy a set of 5000s for $96 to my door.
I've heard the 4000 sl2s run large which I would prefer .I'm not sure about the 5000s. Is there much difference in these 2 tires?

They're pretty much both 'gold standards' as far as road clincher tires are concerned, But in my experience the 4000s is easier to get on the rim than the 5000.

Ignoring the cost issue for now, the GP4KSII 28-622/700c is known to run significantly wider than labeled, but I don't think the same is true for the 25mm versions. I've used the 28s, and they were pretty close to 30mm on modern/wider rims. I've never used the 25s, but I've also never heard that they were similarly oversized.

I've used the GP5K in 28 and 32. The 28 is pretty accurate to size on wider i19mm (19mm inner width) rims. I'm assuming the 32 is as well, since it's under 31mm on narrower i14mm rims.

Conti seems to have introduced a 30mm version of the GP5K as well, it's shown on their website now, but I haven't seen any offered from US retailers yet. Though I haven't checked recently, maybe they're trickling into the pipeline?


Lowest price I've seen the GP5K at is around $40ea, used to be a pretty regular price at bikecloset.com. They're o/s on 28/32 now, showing a $50ea price (rounding up the penny here). Really good tires are seldom any cheaper than $40ea. I don't think covid has helped increase availability or lower pricing.
https://bikecloset.com/product/conti...ute_pa_size=25

Best buy on light/supple tires right now IMHO is Soma's blowout of non-tubless Supple Vitesse SL tires, limited widths/colors, at $30ea. I use a lot of these, and find the 28s run as marked on wider rims, and 33s run a little narrower than marked. But it seems like they're down to 28 & 38 in black/black only now.
https://www.somafabshop.com/shop/pro...?search=supple

I'm only seeing 48-700c listed there for new tubeless Supple Vitesse SL/EX tires now, guess they're waiting for more from Panaracer?

I had assumed GP5k were superseding GP4K. Is that not the case and Conti is still selling both? Do they fill a different niche or are they competing against each other?

[QUOTE=robertj298;22053112]I'm looking for 2 new tires for my Ironman. Neither the 4000SL2 or 5000 can be found at a decent price
in 28mm..I found 1 set of 4000SL2s in 25mm for $80 to my door or I can buy a set of 5000s for $96 to my door.
I've heard the 4000 sl2s run large which I would prefer .I'm not sure about the 5000s. Is there much difference in these 2 tires?[/QUOT


here are 5000 in 28 merlin 2 for $89.24 with tubes https://www.merlincycles.com/en-us/c...ir-129803.html

I have them mounted on mavic open pros and they measure right at 28mm they mounted without need to tire jack

the 5000s are considered an upgrade.over the 4000

I don't see the GP4000 on conti's website any more, so I'm assuming they've officially been replaced by the GP5K. I don't know whether Conti still has GP4K inventory, or if what we're seeing is distributor/retailer leftover inventory. I'd think that if Conti still had inventory they'd still have it on their website, but whadda I know?

[QUOTE=squirtdad;22053444]Shipping is over $28 to the US

These were being sold by an individual.

Gotcha. I was replying to tricky's post asking whether the GP4K were still current or not.

There still looks to still be spotty new GP4K inventory at retailer level, but nothing cheap.

[QUOTE=squirtdad;22053444][QUOTE=robertj298;22053591]and bike tire direct is about $111 or 55 and change a tire https://www.biketiresdirect.com/cart/viewcart

at some point if you want a world class, top performing tire you have to pay. Everyone's philosophy is different, I have learned that better tires, which means paying more (though clearly I look for deals) resulted in way better ride, handling and performance. it was an absolute mind blower the first time I rode high end tires

ymmv

I ended up getting the 4000 SL2s .I've read the 25mm SL2s are wider than the 5000s thus more comfortable .From
what I've read the slight differences between the 2 tires aren't that great. The 5000s have less rolling resistance
but not as comfortable or as long lasting or as puncture resistant as the 4000SL2s.. Both are great tires but I like
the fact that the SL2s are close to being 28mm wide.

Having ridden both models over many miles, here are my observations:
- 25mm gp4000 s2s are, for all intensive purposes, about the same size as 28mm gp5000s (27mm actual width for gp4s on my rims)
- tubeless gp5s are a tighter fit than non tubeless gp5s, and for good reason
- gp5s supposedly have a ~10% lower RR, but I haven't noticed a difference riding around Seattle
- Conti claims gp5s have improved puncture protection but the compound seems softer (to me) and more prone to little cuts

@robertj298, if I wanted the Continental tire now, I would follow @pcb's advice and get the Soma tires he recommends. They are made by Panaracer.