SQUIRREL_13651378
The Continental Grand Prix TR attracts attention because it carries the famous Grand Prix name. It promises a halfway-house tubeless option to fit between the WorldTour-spec Grand Prix 5000 S TR and the venerable Grand Prix 4 Season clincher tyre.
In fact, it has most in common with the Grand Prix 5000 AS TR all-season tyre, thanks to its reliance on a four-ply construction – the ‘extra’ fourth ply acting in place of a dedicated puncture-protection belt.
In theory, this improves suppleness compared to having a dedicated belt made of a tougher, but less flexible material, but offers the essential protection you might need.
The Grand Prix TR is priced at £54.99 / $67.95 / €61.95.
Continental Grand Prix TR key specs
- Weight: 340g
- Size tested: 28mm
- Available sizes: 25, 28, 30, 32mm
- Carcass (threads per inch): 4x60
- Compound: Continental BlackChili
- Puncture protection: 4 ply (compared to typical 3)
In practice, this is half-true. The 60 TPI carcass material has the lowest thread count of any of the four tyres I tested together. Therefore, the Grand Prix didn’t feel quite as informative as those with higher counts. However, it’s still tactile enough to enjoy pushing into descents and corners with ample confidence, likely because Continental has done away with the belt.
The Grand Prix TR smoothed out road buzz notably well – my Vernier calipers recorded 29.1mm at 80psi on the 22mm-wide Hunt test rims. The experience is best described as ‘calm’, similar to the Vittoria Rubino V tyre, which measured an almost-identical 29mm wide.
The BlackChili compound is a proven quantity and offered class-leading grip from the get-go. This, alongside the lack of harsh vibrations, goes some way to making up for the lack of feel. I could trust the tyre to stick as well as some of the best race tyres around, while not being bombarded by too much sensory input through the bar – arguably an upside of a more insulating lower thread count.
It feels quick, too, a conclusion supported by bicyclerollingresistance.com’s lab testing, which revealed it gives up 13.7W – undercutting the also-impressive Michelin Pro5 Competition Line by 0.1W, and 2.6W more efficient than a 32mm Grand Prix 5000 AS TR.
Shelling out for the racier GP5000 S TR saves around 4 watts per tyre, according to the lab tests.
How I tested
I tested the four sets of tyres on a set of Hunt 50 Carbon Disc wheels, chosen for their established performance benchmark. The rims have a 22mm internal width and a hooked bead, enabling me to test the 28mm-wide tyres on rims that should make the most of the nominal size.
I ran an initial tubeless-installation test for each tyre, before installing each set in turn for testing (totalling three setups). I recorded weights and inflated widths at 80psi / 5.5 BAR.
Tyres tested
- Continental Grand Prix TR
- Michelin Pro5 Competition Line
- Vittoria Rubino V Tubeless
- Pirelli P Zero Road TLR
Some might be put off by the Grand Prix TR’s 340g weight. It’s hefty compared to the Michelin and Vittoria Rubino V tyres, but just as important is the competitive rolling resistance.
I’m not convinced the Grand Prix TR will last as long as its rivals, given it's showing early signs of wear on the central rolling section. The same issue afflicts the other latest-generation Grand Prix tyres with the BlackChili compound.
You might get around this by splitting your mileage between the Grand Prix TR and another tyre, but this represents further investment of money and effort.
The Grand Prix TR is around £5 cheaper than its rivals in the UK, which is a plus, and priced similarly in Europe and the US.
For most, the largest 32mm width will be ample, but bearing in mind the current trend towards wider rubber, and the fact that the others on test are available in a 34 or 35mm size, the Grand Prix TR is lagging behind as things stand.
I had no problems worth noting with mounting or dismounting the tyres.
Continental Grand Prix TR bottom line
While not perfect, the Continental Grand Prix TR offers an appealing alternative to its Grand Prix 5000-series tyres, without the high price tag.
It manages this with relatively few drawbacks in the real world, which makes it a class-leader.
SQUIRREL_13651378
