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Recent Reviews
Fast pace group rides.
Have been using these and the previous model for years now. For me the overall feel is what I like best. Connected to the road but very supple. I seem to get about one flat a year with these and most of the time the sealant keeps the tire from going flat. They do not last as long as some harder tires but the handling and feel are well worth it. I now run about 90psi in the back and 85 up front in the 25s. I get almost two to one on changes front to back.
I run this tire as a tubeless and get about 3000 miles on chip and seal roads.The rear tire (~2600-2800 miles) wears faster than the front (3200 miles). I like the weight, traction, cornering charcateristics. I don't like that they seem to be prone to gets tears, lacerations, and small chunks out of the rubber, and wear rather quickly. From what I understand, these are the racing version of the GP5000 lineup (vs the AT-S version. The AT-S version is .33# heavier per pair, but have thicker rubber/wear longer). These are easy to mount and seal on my Hunt 44/54 wheelset. For me, it's a balance of weight vs performance/longevity. I'm running the 28mm, which has been great for smoothing the chip n' seal roads I encounter, and much better when descending than a 25mm IME. I like the way they grip the road. They seem faster when new. While they aren't perfect, I think they hit the balance between weight and performance. They are speedy, but I buy 2-4 tires at a time when they're on sale, so I always have at least one spare in the shop. Western Bike Works has these on sale quite a bit, and are quick to ship them. The 28's were out of stock for awhile this summer at just about all retailers (premium price/in stock on Amazon though).
I'm a road cyclist that wants a tire that rolls fast and has good grip--the Continental Grand Prix 5000 hits the mark. They might not have the best puncture protection, but that's to be expected from a tire that's lightweight and has low rolling resistance.
After a series of flat tires, 5 or six flats over a 6 month period, an extremely unusual experience for me, I chose to tubeless. I rode the same routes where I had repeatedly flatted w/o a problem. I have ridden these tires about 1800 miles since installing them and had only one flat, a week after I installed. Beyond being far less prone to flatting, they were noticeably faster than my tubed GP 5000s. They also corner noticeably better, and, at the same time, have to same wonderful road feel I expect from GP tires. I have been using Continental tires for more than 40 years. These are, by far, the best I have ever used. The wear dimples are still showing after 1800 miles of chip seal rides, so they look like they will last well into the 3000 mile range. Tubeless systems do require rims specifically designed for the purpose, and a pump capable of delivering an initial burst of air sufficient to set the bead of the tire before it can be inflated. It is much easier than I anticipated, and having done it, I will never go back. Continental, as I said, is my go to first choice, and they have never disappointed me.