Quick tire question
 

Looks like my back tire is getting a flat spot and is getting quite chewed up from a lot of glass. I've been reading a lot about the Continental GP4000's here and I wanted to know if the tire would be ok for mostly recreational riding and not racing? I ride about 50-100 miles a week, about 30 miles at a time and I want something that can roll on the trail well and provide a smooth ride.

Also, I sometimes pull my son in his little trailer, and I was thinking about getting a 25 width tire for the rear so I could run a little less pressure and get a little better riding quality out of it. How much will getting the wider rear tire affect my riding with just myself?

I've never used the GP4000 tires, but don't see how they would cause any problems. I really like belted tires myself.
Wider tires will make your ride a little smoother, and you shouldn't notice any drawbacks with 25 (or even 28 if your frame can fit them).

Sweet. Any other tires I should take a peek at? Maybe the gator skins or whatever? I would ideally like a tire that's mainly for regular riding, but in the next month or two when I start hitting up an occasional race it would be nice if that same tire would be good for that as well.

what's the difference between gatorskins and gp4000's? aside from that inner lining.

Anyone tried those CST Ultraspeeds on eBay...? Thinking of giving them a shot since they are only $40 shipped.

I don't race, but with that being said I use Specialized Armadillos. No complaints so far (and no flats (knock on wood)). If you're going to get them, make sure you get the Armadillo Elites - they're a little lighter. The regular 'dillos are pigs.

I tried them, and suggest you look for something else. The price is attractive, but nothing else about them is. Conti 4000's are fine for everyday riding. I'm using the 4000S, which I believe only comes in 23mm. The regular 4000 is available in 25mm, and is a solid choice.

I use 23c Gatorskins - so far they've been bulletproof in 2000kms.

I don't have much else to compare them to, but so far so good with a lot of road debris.

Don't discount the value of a "puncture resistant" inner lining. I've been riding a set of Bontrager Hard Case tires with a similar lining in about 3500 miles on those tires I've had 0 flats, none, zip. I've picked glass out of the tire, it's cut and chewed from glass and debris. Now, I'm not a huge fan of the Bontrager, they roll like rocks. But that liner has saved me from numerous tire repairs. I think for a "training" tire or an "everyday" tire, something with a liner is IMO a "must" or at least a "very nice to have". My next set of tires will be Conti Ultra-Gators.

For those who don't know the "liner" is a fabric material, probably nylon or something (heck, maybe even something fancy like Kevlar) that resides between the outer rubber and the inner part of the tire. If/when something cuts through the outer rubber the fabric often stops it cold. Maybe something sufficiently small and needle-like could get through but in my experience it's pretty impervious to everything you'll find out there.

Take a look at Serfas Seca RS tires on Ebay. They are sold by the pair and some auctions also include tubes too. Great tires for the price.

If you want Conti 4000S, get them from probikekit.com. Last time I ordered them, they were $60 delivered for a pair.

There has been a lot posted here about the 4000s and I think I'm going to grab a set. Just to clarify one more time, it's a good tire for every day riding (I group ride once a week and do about 40-50 miles besides that throughout the week) and pulling the little guy in a trailer (about once bi weekly). Thanks again.

One more, what's the difference between the GP4000S, GP4000, and the GP4000 Black Chili?

As far as flat prevention goes, the Specialized Armadillo Elites are great. In about 3000 miles on two sets, I didn't have a single flat. Having said that, I just switched to the GP4000's and the ride quality is night and day, the GP4's are amazingly smooth. I'm hoping the flat gremlins don't make me pay for my transgressions. :)

Which gp4000's did you end up getting? I can find about 4 different versions of the tire and I don't know which ones to get.

I got the GP4000S (700x23) from probikekit for $80 shipped to MN with a coupon code I found online somewhere. I believe the only difference between the normal GP4000 and the 'S' is the silver colored lettering.

Tried the 4000s when they first came out after years of riding 3000s. They had low adhesion, and the rear did not make it 800 miles before it was trashed. I have heard they have improved since then.
Been using Bontrager Race-Lites, and now Hardcase. Getting 1500-2000 miles out of a rear with one debris caused flat in three years/9k miles.
Jerry