Replacement for Michelin Pro 4 Endurance?
#1
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From: Alameda, CA, an island city on the edge of San Francisco Bay
Replacement for Michelin Pro 4 Endurance?
Hi, I've been riding Michelin's for a long time, most recently the Pro 4 Endurance model. But they've recently succumbed to premature sidewall rot, the bead is showing. No flats yet, but for safety I want to put on new tires.
I'm thinking of switching to Continental. What's the closest equivalent to the Pro 4 Endurance in the Continental line?
Thanks for reading!
I'm thinking of switching to Continental. What's the closest equivalent to the Pro 4 Endurance in the Continental line?
Thanks for reading!
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#2
Advocatus Diaboli

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I've seen a bit of the Pro4E rot you speak of. I'm still riding I think my last pair from the storage closet, but picked up some Vittorias -- both the regular Corsa G, and the Corsa Control G (the "Control" model would be closer to an "endurance" model).
Conti's equivalent I think would be the GP 4Seasons.
Conti's equivalent I think would be the GP 4Seasons.
#3
- Soli Deo Gloria -
Joined: Aug 2015
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From: Northwest Georgia
Bikes: 2018 Rodriguez Custom Fixed Gear, 2017 Niner RLT 9 RDO, 2015 Bianchi Pista, 2002 Fuji Robaix
I've seen a bit of the Pro4E rot you speak of. I'm still riding I think my last pair from the storage closet, but picked up some Vittorias -- both the regular Corsa G, and the Corsa Control G (the "Control" model would be closer to an "endurance" model).
Conti's equivalent I think would be the GP 4Seasons.
Conti's equivalent I think would be the GP 4Seasons.
There are Corsa Control tires listed at the reseller websites but they are no longer listed at Vittoria.com. This leads me to believe the Corsa Control may no longer be produced.
The Vittoria Rubino Control is probably just as good as the Michelin Pro 4 endurance.
#4
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#5
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From: Alameda, CA, an island city on the edge of San Francisco Bay
Thanks for all the comments.
My original question was about Continentals. I ended up ordering a pair of GP-4000S II from Competitive Cyclist as they have a good price right now. When I spoke to them they said that their experience was that they have better longetivity than the Michelins, since the Michelins tend to suffer from dry rot, which of course has been my experience.
The mention of Vittoria reminded me that I have some Vittoria Open Tubulars in my closet, so I may put them on while I'm waiting for the Competitive Cyclist order to come in. I think they're not heavy duty puncture proof, but I might as well try them out.
My original question was about Continentals. I ended up ordering a pair of GP-4000S II from Competitive Cyclist as they have a good price right now. When I spoke to them they said that their experience was that they have better longetivity than the Michelins, since the Michelins tend to suffer from dry rot, which of course has been my experience.
The mention of Vittoria reminded me that I have some Vittoria Open Tubulars in my closet, so I may put them on while I'm waiting for the Competitive Cyclist order to come in. I think they're not heavy duty puncture proof, but I might as well try them out.
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#6
Moved to Road from General per OP request.
#7
I used the Michelin Power Endurance, the successor to the Pro 4, for over a year. It had good grip, wore slower than the Conti GP2KS and had good puncture resistance. However, it wasn’t as supple as the Conti GP2KS. No dry rot encountered and rarely any cuts seen. I’ve recently switched to tubeless Schwalbe Pro Ones and have found them to be really supple and fast, but wear rate is unknown yet.
Review: Michelin Power Endurance road.cc
Review: Michelin Power Endurance road.cc
#8
The sidewalls are a weakness of the tan sidewall Continental tires (gatorskins, gator hardshells, GP 4 seasons, etc.)
I haven't tried the black sidewall tires.
I also thought my GP 4 seasons tire wore down quicker than expected.
Anyway, I like the long wearing of the gator hardshells, but wouldn't recommend them to someone already complaining about weak sidewalls in another brand.
I haven't tried the black sidewall tires.
I also thought my GP 4 seasons tire wore down quicker than expected.
Anyway, I like the long wearing of the gator hardshells, but wouldn't recommend them to someone already complaining about weak sidewalls in another brand.
#9
The sidewalls aren't exactly a strength of the black sidewall Contis. That said, the issue is overblown in my experience - between my wife and I (who basically always run GP4KSs or Attack/Force) we've had one sidewall tear each in half a decade. Both were from hitting construction gravel in exactly the wrong way, and we've both been subjected to a bunch of construction gravel here in Austin. I'm not really convinced that many other road tires would have been able to survive that either.
#10
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From: Cambridge UK
Bikes: Trek Emonda SL6 .... Miyata One Thousand
I wanted a pair of tyres that will give me lots of trouble free miles and I'm trying the IRC Pro Wet clinchers on my commte bike (220Km/week) .... Amazing looking tyres (the tread and puncture resistance band is from bead to bead) .... Grip is amazing. Rolling resistance is similar to Gators and Durano Plus . I've only had them for a week and so far so good.


#12
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Ironically, I was thinking of switching over to Pro4 Endurance from Continental 4000S IIs due to poor sidewalls. According to https://www.bicyclerollingresistance.com/ the Michelins have much better puncture resistance, especially in the sidewall.
My bike gets ridden a lot, so I am not sure if the sidewall rot is related to distance or simply time. I will go through a tire in well less than a year.
My bike gets ridden a lot, so I am not sure if the sidewall rot is related to distance or simply time. I will go through a tire in well less than a year.
#13
Ironically, I was thinking of switching over to Pro4 Endurance from Continental 4000S IIs due to poor sidewalls. According to https://www.bicyclerollingresistance.com/ the Michelins have much better puncture resistance, especially in the sidewall.
My bike gets ridden a lot, so I am not sure if the sidewall rot is related to distance or simply time. I will go through a tire in well less than a year.
My bike gets ridden a lot, so I am not sure if the sidewall rot is related to distance or simply time. I will go through a tire in well less than a year.
I continued to use the tire until the threads began to appear, without any issues.
Last edited by noodle soup; 06-11-18 at 10:42 AM.
#14
I had some dry rot on michelin Pro4s but the tires had been off the bike and hanging in the shed for probably 2 years. Still, seemed odd.
I used Pro3 for a while, but they were frail so I switched to the forum favorite GP4000s and those damn tires just wouldn't last. I never wore one out, they always got retired by a cut somewhere. The Pro4 endurance have been great for me and I think I still have a few on hot standby when my current set wears out.
I used Pro3 for a while, but they were frail so I switched to the forum favorite GP4000s and those damn tires just wouldn't last. I never wore one out, they always got retired by a cut somewhere. The Pro4 endurance have been great for me and I think I still have a few on hot standby when my current set wears out.
#15
https://planetcyclery.com/michelin-krylion-2-endurance-tire-700x25mm-black?&utm_medium=cpc&adpos=1o1&scid=scplp24235&sc_intid=24235&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI1KiHvYnM2wIVmK_sCh1 yowtkEAQYASABEgKtzvD_BwE
#16
I *thought* krylion was the model name prior to absorbing the endurance line into the Pro lineup? They change model names more often than I can keep track though. I think the Power lineup is the "new" current mode.
#17
The Krylion2 Endurance seems to be the same tire as the Pro4 E (which has been discontinued),
The "Power" series is all new.
#18
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I USED TO LIKE THE Michelin Pro2 series - the ones that were made in France. The Krylion or Krylion Carbons some of them originally were made in France but eventually I believe they were all sourced from Thailand. The Krylion previously had a good reputation as a decent performing high mileage tire. I would be curious about the lot that Planet Bike is selling. Are these new old stock from 8 or 10 years ago or did they resurrect the Krylion name to position a tire below the “Power” series? I will say that my experience with the Pro4 series was spotty - the middle portion with the long wearing tread wo/Ludie seem to start to separate from the sidewalls prematurely making the tires toast a lot earlier than comparable tires.
#19
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I had some dry rot on michelin Pro4s but the tires had been off the bike and hanging in the shed for probably 2 years. Still, seemed odd.
I used Pro3 for a while, but they were frail so I switched to the forum favorite GP4000s and those damn tires just wouldn't last. I never wore one out, they always got retired by a cut somewhere. The Pro4 endurance have been great for me and I think I still have a few on hot standby when my current set wears out.
I used Pro3 for a while, but they were frail so I switched to the forum favorite GP4000s and those damn tires just wouldn't last. I never wore one out, they always got retired by a cut somewhere. The Pro4 endurance have been great for me and I think I still have a few on hot standby when my current set wears out.
my exact experience as well.
#20
I USED TO LIKE THE Michelin Pro2 series - the ones that were made in France. The Krylion or Krylion Carbons some of them originally were made in France but eventually I believe they were all sourced from Thailand. The Krylion previously had a good reputation as a decent performing high mileage tire. I would be curious about the lot that Planet Bike is selling. Are these new old stock from 8 or 10 years ago or did they resurrect the Krylion name to position a tire below the “Power” series?
Planet Cyclery has had them since last summer, and they preform just like the Pro4 E.
#22
- Soli Deo Gloria -
Joined: Aug 2015
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From: Northwest Georgia
Bikes: 2018 Rodriguez Custom Fixed Gear, 2017 Niner RLT 9 RDO, 2015 Bianchi Pista, 2002 Fuji Robaix
#23
- Soli Deo Gloria -
Joined: Aug 2015
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From: Northwest Georgia
Bikes: 2018 Rodriguez Custom Fixed Gear, 2017 Niner RLT 9 RDO, 2015 Bianchi Pista, 2002 Fuji Robaix
You are going to love them and might not want to switch.
#24
Thread Starter
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From: Alameda, CA, an island city on the edge of San Francisco Bay
I had some dry rot on michelin Pro4s but the tires had been off the bike and hanging in the shed for probably 2 years. Still, seemed odd.
I used Pro3 for a while, but they were frail so I switched to the forum favorite GP4000s and those damn tires just wouldn't last. I never wore one out, they always got retired by a cut somewhere. The Pro4 endurance have been great for me and I think I still have a few on hot standby when my current set wears out.
I used Pro3 for a while, but they were frail so I switched to the forum favorite GP4000s and those damn tires just wouldn't last. I never wore one out, they always got retired by a cut somewhere. The Pro4 endurance have been great for me and I think I still have a few on hot standby when my current set wears out.
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#25
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