I got 15 bikes and tried most of the tires.
These are far the best All around tire ever.
One time l was descending and a motorcycle just accelerated really loud next to me and thought ke struck me. Bike wiggled big-time to the point where it so stewards and l was was just waiting for it to skid. But surprisingly it didn't and l was able to pick it up. Descending about more than 35mph. These tires are really amazing and won't settle for anything else.
As a 71 year old retiree I have the privilege of riding a titanium Habanero crosstour bike with disk brakes for 150 to 250 miles each week. Plus the Continental tired Habanero takes me on 2 or 3 tours of 300 to 400 miles each summer. I pack light (- 40 lbs) and the 4 Season 28 mm tires carry that total 225 lbs over country roads and hard packed gravel with ease. I buy a new set for the summer tours then ride them out in the wet falls and winters of the Willamette Valley. They flat seldom. Unavoidable road debris cuts the tread but the tough core protects the tube. The slight increase in tire weight provides a security tread for all conditions increasing my confidence in cornering at high speeds. Yes, 71 year olds can attain high speeds and corner without causing heart attacks or strokes. I trust this tire more than any (and I have bought and replaced many tires). I could but wont' name a few duds that cost about the same.
I really enjoy riding on Continental tires. Typically in nice conditions I'll be on Conti GP4000IIs tires but, when I know conditions will be poor and the road may not be very nice, I like to slip on these Conti GP4-Seasons.
I've used these tires for when I'm going to do a long ride in the rain or when I'm going to be going over more difficult roads. I feel quite confident taking these tires through a slightly rough gravel trail section without having to worry about a puncture.
I also used these for a criterium which took place in the rain. A few guys fell in a set of technical corners but I was able to get through with confidence with these tires.
All in all, I would recommend having a set of these 4-seasons on hand in case you are going to be riding in off weather. Or if you expect to be riding on mixed roads, they are quite robust in terms of puncture resistance.
Ride about 2,000 miles per year and have used the GP 4-season for 15 years or so. I have had very few flats, probably less than one per year on average. Great traction and handling. Hard to beat this tire at the sale price.
I've been riding the 28mm version of these tires in the beating down rain, crud, gravel, branches, rocks and muck on the side of the road in Pacific NW springtime. No flats, traction is very reassuring and the tires feel great. I ride them at low pressures (65-70 PSI) on wide-ish rims. Did I mention the ride feel is great? Comfortable, not harsh. I've ridden other 28mm tires at the same pressure and those others are not as comfortable. Can't speak to long-term durability but so far they are holding up great with a few hundred miles on them.
Note these are muck and grunge training or commuting tires, not racing tires. That's what I rated them as. If you want lightweight racing tires with low rolling resistance, these ain't those. But as winterspring training tires, these are the best tires I've run in years. Very satisfied.
I picked up a pair of these while on sale at a great price. I use them for general road riding/training and for a few gravel-grinder organized rides (Hell of Hunterdon, Fool's Classic). After using several brands/models of tires, these have held up the best for the gravel roads. MUCH better than GatorSkins which I have had terrible luck with tearing the sidewalls on several. This is a much better tire IMO and a better price. Supple enough to use as a daily road tire as well.
I'm 140lb and the 25mm work well for me - I don't like the ride/feel of wider tires. Zero punctures, flats, or tears after many miles of rough gravel.
I run 28s on both my winter training gravel bike (CX) as well as a tandem. I've ridden on all kinds of gravel roads and even on a few MTB trails with them. On the tandem we've recorded descending speeds of over 60mph and find them totally trustworthy. Logically, they are slightly heavy, but otherwise great handling, super durable, and hard wearing. My go-to tire.
Have always had good luck with Continental tires, and I especially like the GP 4-Seasons for my winter bike due to its nice ride quality, excellent grip on wet pavement, and decent flat resistance. The tread compound does seem fairly soft, which is undoubtedly why they grip so well, so they may not last as long as tires with a harder compound - but for me that's a worthwhile trade-off. I'm happy to get 1,500 - 2,000 miles on a set of tires and the GP 4-Seasons will do that easily.
Love this Tire rides So Smooth on Road. I Ride Between 60 and 80 Psi and I do a Lot of City riding with Lots of Trash on side of Roads. Running less Air helps a lot for Riding Comfort and That's what I Love about these Tires. Haven't had a Flat Yet even with running low Air Pressure. Tire has a Lot of Support also.
This has become my tire of choice for year round use. Yes, the Conti 4000 may be marginally faster but Im not racing. The Gatorskin ride is very poor in my opinion which is a huge limitation.
So an excellent wearing, very flat resistant, good feeling tire describes this model perfectly. Occasionally after some rain rides, Ill inspect the tire for imbedded glass. Inevitably I find some but apparently the Vectran has done its job. Ill pick the pieces out, put a spot of superglue in the hole and forget about it.
In short I love this tire!
This tire is pricey. But with 430 TPI, puncture protection, and relatively light weight, there really isn't another tire like it on the market. I roll with it on both my road bikes year-around. And I only buy it when it's on sale.
I ride 4000 road miles plus a few MTB miles annually. As a mature but still aggressive rider (70), I appreciate a tire with good durability and performance characteristics. This is a great tire for dependable training and non-race events. Light enough to be an efficient road tire, but tough enough to ride through occasional gravel sections. Very durable and puncture resistant, even in Arizona.
