Tyres have a thankless job. As long as they keep rolling, they don't attract much attention. But don't let the air escape at the wrong time, or the tyres don't have enough grip to sweep round the corners with their skins intact. This is when you realise just how important the tyres are. If you always drive the same tyres, you never notice the differences between the narrow rubber rollers: If the rubber is thin, you feel the road more directly than if you are rolling on a fluffy thick layer. If the rubber is moody, you lack the confidence to whizz through the bends at the limit. If the rubber is hard, the bike rumbles on bad roads. However, if the rubber is ideally mixed, it provides feedback and boosts confidence in your own abilities.
Feel and confidence in a tyre are an important category; a very important one in fact. Another is performance: how well does the tyre roll? Next to air resistance, rolling resistance is the second greatest resistance a cyclist has on the flat. We are constantly pushing a small bow wave of rubber in front of us, which forms when rolling on the hard tarmac. The rubber is constantly being kneaded - it takes strength and energy, just like kneading dough. How much energy the kneading work of the tyre absorbs depends on the bonds between the rubber molecules. There are elastic, rubbery mixtures and those that are more reminiscent of kneading. Of course, you can't expect best times on plasticine tyres. However, the flummi may lack the necessary grip for dynamic lean angles. This is why alchemists are particularly important to tyre manufacturers. Those specialists who mix the rubber to square the circle - a rubber that sticks, rolls and holds.
SHORT & SHORT
Continental's new "GP 4000 RS" competition tyre is the new reference in terms of smooth running - no one rolls easier. In the overall ranking, however, the "RS" with its lower mileage and weaker grip cannot outperform the "GP 4000 S" - the latter remains the undisputed benchmark for a smooth-running, good grip, puncture-proof all-rounder. Maxxis, Michelin and Schwalbe also offer lightweight tyres, but are unable to catch up with the class leader Conti in terms of performance.
You will find these tyres in the PDF download below:
Continental Grand Prix 4000 RS
Continental Grand Prix 4000 S
Continental Grand Prix Attack/Force
Hutchinson Intensive
Maxxis Cormet
Maxxis Xenith Equipe Legere
Michelin Pro3 Light
Michelin Pro3 Grip
Swallow Durano
Schwalbe Ultremo R
Vittoria Diamante Pro
Vittoria Corsa Evo Cx
Downloads:
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