Commuting - Continental GP 4 Season v. Continental Grand Prix 4000?

I know, I know...this is a perennial question.
After riding the summer on Vittoria Rubino Pro's (which I love for their "stickiness"), It's time to get a pair of "rough-riders" for the upcoming colder seasons (which always yeild more crap in the streets) for my new bike.
The gist of my question is...
What is the recommendation of either the Continental GP 4 Season (http://www.probikekit.com/display.php?code=Y1094) or the Continental Grand Prix 4000 (http://www.probikekit.com/display.php?code=Y1337)?
Other than weight, (15g doesn't really matter to me)
The 4-season has 430 tpi and the 400 has 330 tpi, which leads me towards the 4-season...
The 4-season's list with Duraskin... While the 4000's use Vectran, will that make a significant difference?

I have GP 4000 on my road bike. Not crazy about them. I previously had GP 3000 which I liked a lot.
Not sure if they'll work well for commuting if you ride in all types of weather and in crazy traffic.

My commuter has Panaracer Pasela TG (http://www.panaracer.com/eng/products/index_ur.html#c) kevlar (aramid) belted for puncture resistance. Much better for commuting. :beer:

My commuter has Panaracer Pasela TG (http://www.panaracer.com/eng/products/index_ur.html#c) kevlar (aramid) belted for puncture resistance. Much better for commuting.

I agree with Ron. I've used several models of Continentals and never been very pleased with any of them. I use the same Pasela TGs and haven't been dissapointed.

Well I love Conti's but if one of your main concerns is debri in the road, then I would go with the Conti Gatorskins with tireliners. That is what I use for my general riding and I rarely get flats, I don't even remember the last time I got a flat other than from a bad valve stem. I allways think of the Grand Prix tires as being more of a racing tire.

Four Seasons are a very good commuting tire if you are looking for something fairly light and fast.

They just do not cut up very easily. They don't collect glass. I've been very happy with them. No flats to date after 2000 Miles. They also have a bit of tread which is helpful if you have to deal with loose surfaces now and again. I have allot of confidence in them.

The duraskin is a sidewall mesh that protects the casing from cuts. It's saved me some bother on more than one occasion when running the side of the tire against construction plates as an example.

GP 4000 are a good tire but they pick up glass which if you don't get it out quickly will eventually puncture the Vectran belts. This isn't a fault. It's just the softer compound used in the 4000's. They cut up under bad road conditions too. I've used them for commuting. A good tire but not if you have allot of glass to deal with. I haven't had a huge number of flats, but; it's a constant battle avoiding glass and picking out what you do manage to collect. It's also wearing having to constantly worry about and keep an eye out for every little bit of glass.

The Four Seasons are what I use on my commuter wheels exclusively these days.

I've gotten to the point where I know that if I take the bare minimum of precautions as far as looking out for debris goes; it's just not a problem.

Thanks for the detailed review jwbnyc. I have been very pleased with my Kenda Kontender tires, no flats and good wear, but I do constantly pick glass out of them. I am looking for a tire that doesn't pick up so much glass next time around, and the Four Seasons sounds like just what I need.

You're welcome.

The one down side is that they aren't cheap. They go 50-60 bucks around here.

Bike Tires Direct had them for something like $35.00 a while back.

One thing I've noticed with both the GP 4000 and the Four Seasons: you have to run them in for awhile before the start to ride nicely. They tend to be a little harsh to start with. They get more comfortable after you ride on them for awhile.

I have Continental Ultra Race Kevlars 700x23 on my road bike (which is what I commute on). I only have a couple hundred miles on them though so the jury is still out. So far, so good though. :)

You're welcome.

The one down side is that they aren't cheap. They go 50-60 bucks around here.

Bike Tires Direct had them for something like $35.00 a while back.

One thing I've noticed with both the GP 4000 and the Four Seasons: you have to run them in for awhile before the start to ride nicely. They tend to be a little harsh to start with. They get more comfortable after you ride on them for awhile.

They cost 32$ + free shipping at probikekit.com (http://www.probikekit.com/display.php?code=Y1094)
that''s why I'm considering them ... seems like a good price.
And the Ultra Gatorskins (http://www.probikekit.com/display.php?code=Y1094) are 25$
I think I'm gonna spend the few extra clams and get the 4 seasons...