Michelin Pro2 Race or GP 4000's

Jcyclist said:

Im deciding which tires to put on my racing wheels and cant decide between the two.

Basically, GP4000 give better pucture protection and longevity, whereas the Michelins give a slightly better ride, but there's not much in it.

Personally, I'd rather not pucture at an in-oportune moment rather than go 0.01 mph faster.

Is there a problem with the sidewalls on the CONTINENTAL GRAND PRIX 4000's.

Jcyclist said:

Is there a problem with the sidewalls on the CONTINENTAL GRAND PRIX 4000's.

It's normally the michelins that go in the sidewalls, not the GP's

Performance wise, I see nothing between Pro2 and 4000's.

I've had no problems with sidewalls on the Pro2.

4000's possibly have fewer punctures.

Pro2's are cheaper.

What about other brands, such as the Vittoria Corsa X or whatever its called?

Jcyclist said:

Is there a problem with the sidewalls on the CONTINENTAL GRAND PRIX 4000's.

GP3000s did. Then again I don't mind riding across short sections of unpaved road, so others experience may vary. I had several sidewall failures before I switched. I have not had a problem with tires other than the GP3000s. Maybe the GP4000 fixed the problem but I am not going to spend any of my money to find out.

The latest is GP4000S.

Jcyclist said:

Im deciding which tires to put on my racing wheels and cant decide between the two.

I have been using both the tires for training and racing.

I have to say that Michelin is better- faster if you go to a race but you must know the the possibility for flat tire is bigger.

The Gp 4000 are better in rain contusions and having match less possibilities for punctures , so if I go to a racing then I take the risk and have Michelin on except if I know that is going to be raining then the Gp 4000 are the top. I trust them more and I am very fast with them at cornering and I never feel unsafe.

That is just my opinion from my experience.

Greetings from Crete

I've given up on conti tyres, all types.

Road bike and mountain bike slicks, all ended up peeling along the side wall, and the commuting slicks got a large buldge that you could feel while riding.

My girl friend has Pro Race IIs on her road bike now, she likes them as they are yellow.......If she can stay puncture free I'll out them on my road bike at the next tyre change (end of winter perhapes).

Phill P said:

Road bike and mountain bike slicks, all ended up peeling along the side wall...

That happend to all my Contis that did not get sidewall cuts. About mid way through the tire's life, the ends of the tire that wrap around the bead start to shed and you get long threads that have to be pulled off. As the tire gets even older the fabric can peel away far enough that it will touch your brake pads.

ives said:

Basically, GP4000 give better pucture protection and longevity, whereas the Michelins give a slightly better ride, but there's not much in it.

Personally, I'd rather not pucture at an in-oportune moment rather than go 0.01 mph faster.

I have riden Michelins both the Pro and Pro 2 for 6 years. My wife has had the Pro and Pro 2 for a couple of years. I personally ride more than 3,000 miles each summer not counting the fall and spring. I have never had a flat on these tires. I did have a problem with the Pro with an indoor trainer in which the tire overheated and ruptured. The same thing happened to my wife. We switched to a Continental indoor trainer tire without a problem. For outdoor use the Michelin tires have been good for me.

Rolling resistance wise the Michelin Pro 2 is almost unbeatable.. at lower speeds that speeds you up a fair bit. It's not the most durable, but isn't bad.

-bikeguy

The sidewalls on the GP 4-Season and the 4000 are fine, all other Continental tires before them had the dreaded 'sidewall issue'. One season was all I could reasonably get out of the older tires, I got nearly 3 years out of my last set of 4-Seasons (and that in harsh CO ultraviolet conditions).

I'm currently running Pro2's, my first non-Conti tires in nearly a decade. I do like them, they feel a bit more lively, but must admit I've already got one small sidewall slice that I don't think I'd have with the 2 above-mentioned Conti's. The Pro2's do 'feel fast', though I'm sure it's just in my head. 🙂

Pro race2 for me. I've had no trouble at all, and they ride very smoothly.

If I had to choose between those two, I'd pick the Pro2 Race. I had zero luck with GP 4000's: 3 flats in a week, with the very first being a 6mm gash through the limply built sidewall. The other flats were through the tread and that allegedly tough Vectran belt. IMHO, this backs up the claims of others that Conti's Vectran belt is not particularly densely woven.

If I were allowed to go off the board for $100, Jack, I'd choose Schwalbe Ultremo clinchers. I've got a little over 500 miles on my current set and I have no cuts but one largish hole where a big, nasty goathead tried to violate my tube but was repelled by the Ultremo casing. The tires seem to roll muy nice, but that's only what my ass tells me: your's might tell you something else.

alienator said:

If I had to choose between those two, I'd pick the Pro2 Race. I had zero luck with GP 4000's: 3 flats in a week, with the very first being a 6mm gash through the limply built sidewall. The other flats were through the tread and that allegedly tough Vectran belt. IMHO, this backs up the claims of others that Conti's Vectran belt is not particularly densely woven.

I had the exact opposite experience 3 flats in two rides with the Pro2's. Switched to GP4000s and even kept them on through the winter. Just check my log and Wear indicators went at about 3100 miles on the rear and kept it on till I finally got a flat at 4163. Front just broke 5k today at 5026 miles with no punctures and a fair amount of tread left. Best luck with wear and punctures I have ever had with the pretty losuy raod condisions and debris around here. They don't ride as well as the old Michelin SuperComps HD's used to but I've yet to find a clincher tire I liked the feel of as well as them. The sidewalls are a bit thin so I didn't think that I would fair that well over the winter. I usually switch to 25mm Gatorskins for the crappy road salt fairy season. Don't ride as well as the old Michelin SuperComps HD's used to but I've yet to find a tire I liked as well as them.

Seems like every time there's a discussion on tires people always seem to have widely divergent experiences. A lot of my friends swear by Vredestein, but I have always had terribly experiences with them. The only tires that I have ever had significant problems with casing/tread separation is Hutchisons. As always YMMV.

Not much to choose between theses two imo

The Vittoria equivalent is likely the Open Corsa CX

Also worth a look are the Challenge Elite

Flats are such a ramdom event that its hard to judge from just your personal record. I've had a bad run this year so far, with 7 flats. Thats on 2 wheels, 4 different tyres, 3 different brands of tyre and no relationship between each flat. Who knows, I might go the rest of the year without a single flat.

mikesbytes said:

Who knows, I might go the rest of the year without a single flat.

You wish! :p

Jcyclist said:

Im deciding which tires to put on my racing wheels and cant decide between the two.

I've been happy with the GP4000s. I switched to them from the Michellins because I kept getting flats and cuts in the side walls on the Michellins. I did like the fell and ride of the Michellins though.

No matter which you choose, you are getting a good tire.