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Just three years after Continental sold its long-standing Top-of-the-range Grand Prix 4000 S tyre model replaced by the 5000 series and thus created the best All-rounder among road bike tyres now has a new promise: the new tubeless model 5000 S TR is supposed to be 20 per cent faster. Is that even possible? Already Continental's predecessor GP 5000 stood out above all for its excellent smooth running.
Let's first take a look at the design: the focus of the development was to make the tyre compatible with all common rims. The new Grand Prix 5000 S is labelled TR - for "Tubeless-Ready". It therefore combines clincher and tubeless in one model, meaning it can be ridden with and without a tube. Unlike its predecessor, it can be mounted on hookless rims such as those from Enve, Giant and Zipp (maximum pressure: 5 bar). This makes life easier for everyone. The only interesting question now is the tyre width: the 5000 S TR is available in 25, 28, 30 and 32 millimetres - the former standard width of 23 millimetres is no longer offered.
Grand Prix 5000 S TR: New carcass with two instead of three plies
We tested the tyre in a width of 25 millimetres. On our test rim with an inner dimension of 18 millimetres, the tyre now measures 24.7 millimetres at a tyre pressure of 5.5 bar; one millimetre less than before. With a 22 millimetre inner rim dimension and 5.5 bar tyre pressure, the width is 26.5 millimetres. The tyre base has been largely redesigned: The thread material has become finer (110 TPI instead of 60 TPI), and the carcass is folded differently: The sidewalls are now three-ply instead of two, with only two instead of three plies in the centre.
A layer of cut-resistant Vectran fabric has remained under the tread as puncture protection. The latter still consists of "Black chilli compound" - Continental's collective term for high-end rubber compounds. The entire tread consists of the same material (single compound). No matter how worn the rubber is, the properties should be the same from the first to the last metre. In view of the hefty list price of 79.90 euros for the new tyre model, this is also necessary. This is because the road bike tyre has the same thin rubber coating as its predecessor, which had a mileage of around 4,000 kilometres. The airtight lining of the inner wall with butyl, which the previous tubeless model had, is no longer required. This makes the tyre significantly lighter: the 25-millimetre version weighs only 246 grams. Sealant is mandatory, as with all other tubeless-ready tyres. Thanks to stiffer fibres in the tyre base, the tyre stretches less, making it suitable for use on hookless rims. A positive side effect: the tyre is much easier to fit than the previous tubeless model.
Test in the TOUR lab: stronger at the sides, weaker in the centre
In our test, the side panel proved to be more robust due to the reinforcement, the Cut resistance increases from 161 to 250 newtons. In the centre, the tyre loses a lot of its cut resistance, but at 504 newtons it is on a par with many competitors. We were unable to measure the grip, but the riding impression is that it remains good. Also in the Driving behaviour we do not notice any significant difference. The Conti tyres GP 5000 S TR is extremely light on its feet.
All good so far. But what about the promise that the Continental tyre should roll even more easily than its lightning-fast predecessor? In our Rolling resistance test scenario on two different surfaces, we cannot reproduce this. The rolling values are even slightly worse: on smooth surfaces, the tyre rolls one watt slower than its predecessor, and on rough surfaces, almost three watts more are required. This may be partly due to the narrower design. In absolute terms, the rolling values are still excellent, as the old Grand Prix 5000 rolled sensationally well - at time trial tyre level, but with the puncture protection of an all-rounder. This also applies to its successor, albeit to a lesser extent. The 5000 S TR also rolls superbly and has already been successful in racing on a wide variety of terrain: Filippo Ganna rode it to the time trial world title, Sonny Colbrelli won Paris-Roubaix on the 32-millimetre version. No road bike tyre has ever offered this range before.
The main advantage for normal users lies in the dramatically simplified tubeless mounting: the tubeless version of the predecessor required, among other things, extremely strong tyre levers, which sometimes broke off. From a practical point of view, the upgrade is therefore a clear benefit for tubeless riders. The previous 5000 S Clincher model will continue to be offered unchanged and remains the first choice for riders who want to insert a tube and use rims with hooks.
Data on the Continental Grand Prix 5000 S TR
- Price: 79,90 Euro >> available here
- Country of manufacture: Germany
- Widths: 25, 28, 30, 32 millimetres
TOUR measured values Continental Grand Prix 5000 S TR
- Weight: 246 gram
- Width (5.5 bar, 18 mm rim): 24.7 millimetres
- Width (5.5 bar, 22 mm rim): 26.3 millimetres
- Rolling resistance on smooth roads*15.7 Watt
- Rolling resistance on rough roads*: 24,7 Watt
- Cut resistance Tread: 504 Newton
- Cut resistance side wall: 250 Newton
Test summary: Very easy-rolling tubeless-ready tyre for road bikes - also for use with inner tubes
*for 35 km/h, 85 kg system weight, each with 5.5 bar
