This Continental tyre replaced the popular GP3000 about a year ago and has some refinements over its predecessor to allegedly make it last longer. In our tests, this seemed to be the case, with the GP4000 hardier and tougher than the GP3000.
The Vectran breaker belt is tougher than the more widely used Aramid fibres. Because of this, it took a long time to wear a flat on the tread and it indeed seems to be more resistant to cuts than the outgoing 3000 model.
The cornering grip of the ASC silica compound used in the GP4000 is good, too, but not quite to the extreme standard of the best here. However, it's still a healthy balance of longevity and grip, which certainly can't be sniffed at.
If you have strong hands, the tyre can be fitted without the aid of levers. What's more, the GP4000 is available in many colour options, including the gold tread shown and three widths ranging from 20mm-23mm and 25mm.