Bought these tires to ride a Gran Fondo that included some gravel. The comfortable ride and added stability from these wider tires has me thinking I won't go back to the previous brand. They seem very durable but also roll well on all the paved roads I like to ride.
These are my go to tire. Love the 4000s which just retired and have the new 5000s. The 4000s sidewalls has a tendency to blow after so many miles though. These 4 season have good flat protection, good roll and great grip. Rode 4000s and dura skin for years. These are all I ride now. I put on 10000 miles or more a year between commuting and weekend rides and good wheel sets, tires and saddle make all the difference.
The Continental GP 4 Seasons tire is an awesome all around clincher tire. I am currently using these on all of my machines, 700x25c and 700x32c. They have great protection and stick really well in the dry heat and cold and wet road conditions. I have been using these tires for over five years and get great mileage out of them, especially if you rotate your tires from front to back every 1,000 miles. They were designed for the Paris-Roubaix race. I have no complaints at all toward these fantastic tires. I had put 4,000 miles on a set of these one time.
I've ridden several tire brands for the last 26 years - Continental has always been durable but not necessarily long-lasting in my experience (in the competitive-race category tires).
It was a pleasant surprise to realize I rode almost 3000 miles on this rear tire (granted, it was off-season), 2000-2500 is more the norm for my usual go-to brand. So if there's something new with the Grand Prix 4 to make it tougher than before, then I can vouch it's true!
I have been using the Continental Grand Prix 4 season tires on my road bike for a few years now, and I hate to jinx myself, but ZERO flats . Zero.
First a confession - this review is for the non-black version of this tire as I have yet to use the black ones, but am reasonably certain the difference is cosmetic only.
I've tried many brands of tires, and many varieties within each brand, and for my use Conti's Grand Prix 4 Season is tops. They are a tiny bit less supple and grippy than many others, but more than make up for it in durability. They roll well, are nicely grippy, and really last. I have gone over 3000 miles on a pair, but find that by then, the rubber has squared off and does not have as strong a grip as I want, so I'm now running them about 2000 miles a pair, and that seems to be a good compromise. When I change them, they still look totally usable. That's always going to be an individual call.
As for durability, these tires will win out over the kinds of glass, rocks, thorns, etc that have flattened pretty much every single other road tire I have tried. On a recent ride, I goofed and rode over a large, sharp rock. No flat. When I got home, and inspected the damage, i could see that not only had I sliced open the riding surface, but had sliced clean through the fibre body of the tire as well! In spit of this catastrophic damage, it was still ridable, although I did replace the tire rather than risk it blowing on me.
Rides well on dry or wet pavement.
If you are patient and wait for the sale, you can also pick them up at about half price, which is frankly a steal.
I ride gravel trails with the grand kids and occasionally commute on debris laden deteriorating city streets with inattentive drivers. Good side wall protection is a must and thus have avoided many opportunities for punctures. Adjust the air pressure to the terrain 40 - 55 lbs. and ride with confidence. I have not made a direct comparison with comparable Compass tires but I think they are close in speed and comfort - on sale well worth the price. Had been using 32 mm Gatorskins and these are better for all weather traction, comfort and speed. The black edition actually improves the appearance of my beater VO campeur. To sum up, A tire that does its job very well.
If you like to spend more time riding and less time repairing flats out on the road this tire is for you. What you give up in rolling resistance (this tire is slower than the 5000) and grip, you gain in puncture protection. Been using GP 4 Seasons for several years after being sick of flats on the 4000S series. Zero flats, zero. One downside is they are tough to mount, but I think most all conti's are.
I love Continental tires, so I'm a bit biased, but these are fantastic tires! I put these on my Peugeot commuter about 2 months ago and I've only had one flat on these since then (it was a nail). These are much lighter & more supple-feeling than Gatorskins, which is great for longer rides. The all-black color scheme is a great look, too.
I live in Minnesota and I need road tires that can handle extreme weather conditions (e.g. hot summers and VERY cold winters). I have tried everything and I always come back to the Conti 4-Season tires. They have Gatorskin-like durability, but are lighter and fast rolling. They are not as fast as the GP 5000, but they are absolutely the best tires for training - durable and great grip under all weather conditions. Highly recommended!
I have put around 2,000 miles on these tires and have experienced zero flats. And the wet grip is good. I'm very pleased with these tires.
I was looking for a road tire to use on my gravel bike. Something wide enough to handle poor roads and the occasional unsaved trail but with low rolling resistance and a great ride. These fit my needs perfectly. Continental is my go to brand and the tires definitely live up to my expectations.
I have been using these tires for the last year and now I put them on my wife's bike and she is happy with them.
First rear tire threads starting unraveling at the rim causing wear in side wall and then the front tire had started doing the same. Had purchased a new tire but I am returning it since the front tire is having the same issue. fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me. I'm going back to Conti 5000s .
I have been using Continentals for a long time without any serious issues. The quality control seems to have improved. They go on easier and seem to seat better. It's too early to tell about the durability, but so far it is starting to look better as well.
After years of trying brand after brand of racing and enthusiasts all around road tires, I was fortunate to come across the GP 4-season "black edition" and its now been my only choice for replacement. Long miles and great on protection from road debris. Stop with the frequent flat repairs that hold you back, and ride for hours without the worry of having to call for SAG.
I log 6000 miles per year on several bikes and only use Continental tires. The GP 4 season is one of my favorites. My county does a poor job of accommodating cyclists so that riding is on county roads and shoulders that are filled with debris. The GP 4 does an excellent job of soaking up the rough pavements with minimal punctures.
These don't feel faster than GP5000's; however it last 3x as long. Solid tires for all seasons if you're in the North Coast. I never got any flats to the roads we have here in NYC. I'm happy with Continentals and will be using them forever.
Portland has some rough paved streets throughout town but these tires (the old set of the same tires) held the test of time and handing highly variable pavement conditions for more miles than I anticipated them lasting with only one flat that could not be blamed on the tire's performance. Additionally when taking them for a whirl around the area, they held tight to the road in high speed curves and cornering.
It's a great tire in the wet and dry. I feel more confident riding with these on. It's a bit pricey and the treads seem to easily pick up little bits so you may want to double check often that nothing sharp is caught in there.
