cave12man

Been running Conti GP4KS's for a while now and they're due for a change up. Saw PBK is running a 45% off the Michelin PRO4 Race Service Course's and was contemplating making the switch. Worth it for the deal or no? Looking for opinions from those who've run both. I really love the Conti's but I feel like getting the Michelins for $30 is a pretty good deal. Thoughts?

BoSoxYacht

I've used both tires, and both are great. The Michelins are a tiny bit more likely to get thorn/wire punctures, from what I've experienced, but the ride much better(IMO). Mileage is about the same.

I use the Michelin tires, but both are great tires. The Continentals cost more, and the Michelins ride better, so I roll on Michelins.

cave12man

Appreciate the insight, think I'll take the bait. I usually use Mr. Tuffy's with whatever tire I roll anyway for the added protection when on the really crappy stretches of road so not worried about it.

MingusDew

They have the GP4000s for $36 iirc

sreten

Hi,

Why ruin good tyres with tyre liners when you can buy cheaper / better /
tougher / longer lasting decent tyres with allround better puncture
protection making liners essentially totally superfluous ?

IMO nice tyres + liners = an odd choice of your options.
IMO liners belong in budget tyres, least harm, most benefit.

rgds, sreten.

Slackerprince

This tire will give you what you need for $20:

https://www.biketiresdirect.com/produ...FVNo7AodDEoAxA

I've been riding these and don't see much discussion of them.
Ride nice, flat protection, reasonable price, Grand Prix-inspired tread.
I can't say enough good things about them.

S

PS-I'm a Gold member at Bike Tires Direct, so not sure the $20 price will show for you.

Dunbar

Tempting but I have two spares so I think I'll wait for the new GP4000s II to be released in the spring.

Smokehouse

I switched to the Pro4 SC over the GP4000s this year a LOVE THEM. They ride better at 100-105 psi than the Conti does at 90. Both handle great so it's a wash in that area...but the ride quality...WOW.

cave12man

Good to hear! Thanks!

cave12man

I'm curious how tire liners harm the tire? Never heard of that, not disagreeing with you, just curious how that is...

Bah Humbug

I think he means how tire liners add rolling resistance and reduce ride quality. A nice tire is better for those qualities, so the penalty of the liners is magnified.

That's just my guess, though.

SpeshulEd 

Because gatorskins still ride like **** compared to GP4000Ss with liners.

Bah Humbug

Irrelevant, because I'm not going to run either.

SpeshulEd 

Ha! Well, just saying.

kps88

Just ordered them. Thanks for the heads up. I also have ridden 1,500 miles on my current GPS 4KS's and really like them. I have nothing else to compare them to (Im a newbie). But for $30 and overall very good reviews, why not try them. for next year.

Clipped_in

Michelins are great tires and I've put a lot of miles on the endurance model over the past few years. I think that if you use liners with your SC's you will loose most of the performance benefits of a quality tire. With the tuffies, you may as well go with any ol' cheap tire...

Jakedatc

This seems like a good time to try 700x25

sreten

Hi,

IMO its dubious discussing the ride quality and rolling of nice tyres
if your going to use tyre liners with them. You may as well use
cheaper heavier tyres with built in all round puncture protection.

Tyre liners harm the qualities of the tyre - the reason you buy
nice tyres in the first place - and live with the consequences
of low weight etc - for the ride quality, baby and bathwater ....

If you look at the tyre SP linked to :

Continental SuperSport Plus

And read up on them they sound a bit slow, a bit heavy,
but hard wearing and great all round puncture protection.

My money is on that more expensive nicer tyres used with tyre liners will
be no better except perhaps for outright grip due to a softer compound,
worse in some respects, like tyre life and overall puncture protection.
I can't really comment in things like ride as I've never used tyre liners,
just going on what other people say, liners compromise rolling and ride.

A decent $20 tyre (with built in "liner") or a nice $30 tyre + $10 liner ?
(At R.R.P. $40 versus $60 + $10 I guess)

The gains and losses for the extra money don't add up to me, YMMV.

As liners are reusable IMO they make most sense fitted to budget
tyres with no real puncture protection, where they will affect the
rolling, ride and weight less than when used with nice tyres.

There are some minor issues with fitting and using liners
that don't apply to tyres with built in puncture protection.

Your arrangement may work well, its JMO with modern tyres
liners are anachronistic, when you can buy tyres with the
gains and losses of better puncture protection built in.

rgds, sreten.

All my (4) tyres have built in puncture protection.

cave12man

Interesting...i honestly just figured I was giving myself another layer of protection, not hindering the performance. Thanks for the heads up, next time I'll leave my tuffies at home for the beater bike.