TheRCF

Just wondering if anyone can give any comments on these two tires, which are both pretty new.

The Conti Grand Prix 4000 in 700x23 size supposedly weights just 205 grams, has a low rolling resistance, gets more mileage, and better flat protection than the older 3000 - though I don't know how the 3000 compares to their other tires like the Gatorskin and Ultra-gatorskin.

The Armadillo tires are normally very heavy (like 400 grams!), but they do seem to have the best flat protection. The All Condition Armadillo Elite is, according to a LBS newsletter, about 235 grams - pretty darn light, especially if it is as tough as the older armadillos.

Buying locally, the 4000 costs $55. I think the price for the Elite was about $45.

My main concern is flats (and money is certainly a factor!). But if the 4000's weight is a big advantage and it has anything close to the same flat protection, that would be important.

slvoid

I wouldn't exactly call 60 grams a "big advantage".
That's how much nose hair I have... get the armadillos..

TheRCF

That's how I'm leaning - I already have used tires that are heavier than the new Armadillos are supposed to be which I'm satisfied with. My biggest concern is whether the weight is actually correct. All I have to go on is the comment in the LBS' newsletter that they were "about 235 grams". I tend to lack confidence in such statements unless I know they have actually weighed them properly.

Well, turns out the store is having a sale this week with everything 20% off so, if I recall the price properly, that would drop the price to about $36 - well under the contis the other store carries.

slvoid

Well they said it's 35 grams heavier than the all conditions.
So i'm guessing since the all conditions is 220 grams, these are 255 grams.

TheRCF

Ah, I must have missed that before. So they are heavier than the shop said.

The tires I've used before were:

Huchinson - 200 grams - liked them, but geez, they tore up easily.

Grand Prix 3000 - 210 to 245 depending on bead. Not sure which I had, but I liked them pretty well.

Ultra Gator Skin - 300 grams for wire bead (didn't find a weight for a kevlar bead). This is what I have now. I think I feel some difference since replacing the GP 3000 with them - which probably means I had the lighter weight GP's.

Conti 4-seasons - 250 grams - I've used these the most and liked them. Kinda expensive for how long they lasted. But since they are about the same weight as the armadillos, the amadillos may work fine, assuming rolling resistence is similar.

I guess one big question is how well these lighter Armadillos protect compared to the old heavy ones.