Originally Posted by
mstraus
Not sure if I really need the 4-seasons part of it as we really only have three seasons here
That said grip when wet will be an important factor for me so i may have to look at these. They seem to have a lot more "tread" then the gators, does that impact ride/handling/grip?? They only go up to 28 from the website, so that choice would eliminate the option of 32s. I may try a pair this winter even if its just for the wet grip.
Bear in mind that when I say four-seasons it's a lot different than when tire manufacturers (and other cyclists) say four-seasons. To almost everyone else, the fourth season is rain, not snow. (For snow, I use Nokian Hakkapeliitta W106 studded snow tires in 35/38mm.)
As for the Conti GP 4-Seasons, it's the tread compound that impacts the grip. The rubber is just plain stickier. Construction and the use of a Vectran breaker instead of Kevlar is what does it for the ride. Handling comes from a little bit of each, I expect.
Don't forget, the bigger your tire, the lower the pressure. I run my 28s (on the wide 23mm rims) at between 60 and 65 in the front, and 70-75 in the rear. See
Tire Drop for details.
EDIT: The best pricing on Contis I've found in the States is from
TireManiacs.com. Their prices include shipping to the lower 48.