It’s notable that while the tubeless tyre road market was expanding fast, Continental steadfastly refused to join the party, but that all changed with the introduction of the Grand Prix 5000.
Now available with a tubeless option for the first time, the wait was very much worth it. This is a tyre that offers near-identical performance to the clincher but with tubeless benefits, such as reduced puncture risk.
Installation of the GP5000 tyres is a painless affair, although Continental forbids the use of hookless rims, which rules out some modern wheels from Hunt, ENVE and Zipp, to name a few. Compatibility issues aside, once fitted they retain air pressure nicely.
The construction is a little different to the clincher version. The casing is made from three layers of 60 TPI compared to the 110 TPI of the clincher tyres. An airtight liner is added and the bead is modified for easier fitting and better air retention.
There’s the same Active Comfort – a vibration-damping technology embedded into the tyre – and a Vectran strip for added puncture protection. As with the clincher version, the Black Chili compounds give astounding levels of traction. They feel quick in the dry with no hint they’re holding you back.
Onto damp roads and they continue to find excellent grip, allowing you to ride with confidence in tricky conditions.
Descending ability is similarly impressive. Durability and puncture protection are excellent, too, making these fantastic year-round, fit-and-forget tyres.
How we tested
We put 12 tubed and tubeless clincher 28mm road tyres head-to-head to see which you should spend your money on.
28mm is considered the sweet-spot width for rolling speed, comfort and weight, with wider tyres offering lower rolling resistance and more traction. Even though they’re heavier and less aero than 23mm tyres, for example, the positives can outweigh the negatives, especially over long-distance cyclists.
Tyres are an easy upgrade, too, and add more comfort to your ride with a greater volume of air between you and rough roads.
- Bontrager R3 Hard Case Lite TLR 28mm
- Cadex Race
- Challenge Paris-Roubaix TLR Vulcanized 27mm
- Continental Grand Prix 5000 clincher
- Goodyear Eagle F1 Tubeless
- Hutchinson Fusion 5 Performance 11Storm
- Michelin Power Road Clincher
- Pirelli P Zero Race TLR 28mm
- Schwalbe Pro One TLE
- Specialized S-Works Turbo
- Vittoria Corsa TLR G2.0
Product
| Brand | continental |
| Price | 119.00 AUD,75.00 EUR,66.00 GBP,87.00 USD |
| Weight | 325.0000, GRAM (700 x 28mm) - |
Features
| br_TPI | 180 |
| br_bead | Folding |
| br_punctureProtection | Vectran strip for added puncture protection |
