I rode Pro3's and then Pro4's in 23c for years. I decided to make the move to 25c and heard good things about the 4000's so after I pinch flatted at 30mph on a corner on the Pro4's I decided it was time to mount up the 4000's. I do a lot of climbing (avg, 1000' per 10 miles) so when I first jumped out of the saddle on a 10% grade I actually looked back to see what was going on. I really felt like I was dragging something and couldn't believe tires made that much difference. I'm not sure whether the move from 23c to 25c made the difference or if it's the Pro4's are that much better than the Conti's but my next set of tires will be the Pro4's in 25c.
The jury is still out on durability but I can say that I flat more often on the Pro4's than the guys I ride with. That said I'd rather replace a tube now and then as long as I can climb like a goat.
Both tires are easy to put on the rim using only hands which is what I prefer to avoid pinched tubes. Although I've never ridden Conti gatorskins I've heard they are hard to put on.
I like the overall road comfort on this tire! Was disappointed that I got a flat the first week I had them on!
I use this tire as my racing and training tire. Long lasting and extremely puncture resistant. It can handle more psi than advertised as well. I have this tire on all of my road bicycles.
Bought a pair of the new Ess Two to replace my long-wearing set of GP4000S Chili's and was dismayed to find that Continental has changed the size for the updated version. What used to be a generous tire (often referenced as a 24C width) and a perfect fit for my Scott is now just another skinny little sub-23mm tire. Size up, if you can.
Fwiw, I typically get 3000k miles out of a set, and the only punctures I've had over the several sets I've used have been two pinch flats, both from rushing out for a ride and not checking my tire pressure. Would like to assume the new model has kept the Black Chili's epic grip characteristics and Vectran's robust puncture resistance. Five stars for legacy performance and value...
I have recently switched to the Conti GP 4000 Sii 700x25 and I have nothing but good things to say about them. I had been riding Conti's GatorSkins 700x25 and thought that was an awesome tire, but the 4000 Sii is superior. I bought the GatorSkins because I wanted something durable with great flat protection and they certainly excel in those areas. I have had GatorSkins for 3 years and about 10,000 miles. Went through 2 tires on the rear and never did change the front and it was just now starting to get a bit of a flat spot. Also, only 1 flat over those 3 years. However about 6 months ago, I had to get a new rear rim because a spoke pulled out and I borrowed a rim from a LBS and it came with a GP 4000 S on the rim which I rode on for a few months with no issues or flats. My bike seemed faster and more comfortable, but I did not think it was the tire. But as soon as I switched the rear back to the GatorSkins I realized just how hard of a ride they are. I instantly felt slower and the ride was much harsher. I ordered the a pair of the 4000 Sii's right away. On my first ride, I could instantly feel the difference, the bike just seems to go! It almost seems effortless compared to the GatorSkins! Not only does it roll faster, it is a much smoother ride. I felt so much fresher at the end of a long ride due to the lack of road vibrations. Only time will tell if the 4000 Sii offers comparable mileage and flat protection to the GatorSkins, but many reviews and my 2 month loaner pointed to similar results. These are expensive tires, but they provide a ton of value by improving so many aspects of my riding, I feel it is money well spent!
I've been asking around my local bike shops, and the cyclist i see on the bike paths, and i have been asking them all the same question What's a good tire i should run?. They all have been steering me towards this Continental Grand Prix 4000 S2 tire, and now i see why. These tires must have glue in the tread because when i take my corners i can feel the bike just stick to the road, i feel safer, and more confident. Also the increase in acceleration is there i know because i can feel myself being faster than the Bontrager R3 that i replaced for the continental's. I am going to use this tire for the rest of the year to see how many miles i can really get out of them. I ride to and from work, and i am a daily cyclist commuter. Not because i don't have a car but because it is better for the enviroment. This was the best upgrade i could have done for my road bike. I highly recomend this tire, and also be sure to get the continental light race tubes for this tire, it will really make the dirrerence. those tubes are only a few grams lighter than the standard butyl tubes.
I rode the original GP4000S tires for 6 or 7 years before leaving them in search of something with a little better ride quality. After searching around a bit, I found that the Michelin Pro4sc is a better tire for my purposes. They are roughly equal in traction and handling, but the Pro4 has a more supple road feel and has more volume when comparing the 25mm versions. I also prefer the more subtle looks of the Pro4. What I gave up is a bit of longevity and an even larger bit of puncture resistance. Ive averaged 2-3 flats per year on the Pro4 (all in the rear,) where Id get one every 2-3 years on the GP4000s. Thats annoying, so I gave the new GP4000sII a try in both the 25 and 28mm sizes, hoping for the same puncture resistance I loved with, hopefully, a slightly improved ride quality. The decrease in comfort/ride quality moving from the Pro4 to the GP4000sII is definitely noticeable for me and Im willing to accept more flats for a better ride. For the rider who would rather error on the puncture resistance side of what is still an awesome handling race tire, the GP4000sII is outstanding. Worth noting is that the 25 measures a bit over 27mm on my slightly wide rims. The 28 measures a WHOPPING 31mm and is rather tall as well. It would not clear the seat stays on my Giant Defy Advanced frame, which has much more room than most frames. I have clearance for the width, but not the height. If you have tight clearance, take note. The Schwalbe One 28mm is just a touch smaller than the GP 28mm and the Pro4 25mm is only a little smaller than the One 28mm.
So I just replaced these tires after 4,381.19 on the front and 4,362.36 on the rear. I took a rock hit and decided to preemptively replace them.
The 25mm is a super comfortable ride. Grips well in all conditions and offers a bit of extra comfort on rough roads. I weigh 165lbs and run 95psi.
I bought the 25mm Michelin Pro 4 Service Course to replace them (bought about 3,000 miles ago as I didn't think the Contis would last this long) and am already disheartened with the difference. I like the lack of tread pattern on the Michelin's (as Sheldon Brown says, there's no need for tread on a road tire), but their response and comfort is definitely less than the Conti's.
You really can't go wrong with these tires, especially if you can get them on sale.
Ride mostly on weekends. Roadie. 50 to 80 per ride. The grip when turning with the conti
4000 ll S handles very very well, and does not skid when applying brakes in an emergency. Totally recommend.
Just a note on this year's sizes. The 28mm version, on a rim that is 21.5mm outside
width (measured across braking surfaces) is 31mm wide.
The 25mm verson on a 20mm rim is 26mm wide.
I have been using a 28mm Conti 4 Season on the same rear rim, it measures 28mm wide.
So I think a 25mm GP4000 will be wide enough on back for my next order.
. . . But the tube didn't. Still scratching my head about that one. They do have a good feel to them, but ridiculous quality control issues. Also had trouble with a 4 season. Don't trust Conti's anymore.
I love these tires. They are durable as hell and grip the road well too. They may not be the lightest tire, but come on now, can anyone really tell the difference? Get a set and try them out. All I use are Conti's on my bikes. Great tire.
Had the common sidewall bulge on the beloved GP 4000 I tires and decided to give Contis another try. First, I tried the 28 size on my Trek 5500 frame and miscalculated by about one billionth of a mm and had to exchange for 25mm. Also, tried the reflective wall version. A small increment, to be sure, but I believe the GP II tires may even be more smooth than the earlier incarnation. I believe it's true and it seems to roll just as well too. The reflective side wall is amazing. I do ride at night and sometimes in traffic. ANYTHING that makes me more visible at night is a good thing. When light hits these at night, they light up like a search light! Amazing. Increase your safety and get some, I respectfully suggest.
Exchange was easy and trouble free, btw.
I have been ride Conti's sine 1991. I have tried other brands just to see if I am missing something and always get the same answer. Great ride quality, long lasting and great for training and racing.
I bought a set of 4000 S's about 4 years ago and have logged about 4,000 miles. Very little wear, no signs of cracking and best of all NO FLATS!. These have been the best tires I have ever owned in about 20 years of cycling. I will be replacing them soon with a set of your 4000's II. It would be nice if these were made in a 26IN. tire size for I now own a LWB Recumbent also.
I've used the 4000 S II's since February '14, when I upgraded to new wheels (Fulcrum Racing 3's). Use has been road riding on variedhilly terrain, on less-than-perfect roads (lots of potholes, gravel, tar & chip, etc.), and crits & road races. With almost 5000 miles on them, they remain my tire of choice.
As a former expertpro motorcycle road-racer, I have very high expectations of tires. Grip (dry and wet) and predictable handling are what matters most, with reliability & puncture-resistance also important, light weight a consideration for racing, and tread life a nice benefit.
Tires are always a compromise. If you want ultimate grip on a dry road, forget about tread life and wet grip. If you want ultimate grip in the wet, forget about dry grip. If you want lightest weight, forget about durability & puncture-resistance. If you want best durability, forget about grip and weight...
For fast road riding and racing, the 4000 S II is the best mix of these traits that I've yet experienced in a bicycle tire. The grip, both dry and wet, is superb, and even when that level of grip is exceeded, they're smooth & predictable like a good racing tire must be. They're not the lightest racing tire, but close enough that it's not an issue for me. When I compare this tire to the lighter racing tires, this one delivers better all-around grip, better handling, and better durability, so the few grams I could shed with the others are simply not worth the trade-off.
The few negative reviews seem to me just users who had unrealistic expectations andor trouble that wasn't the fault of the tires. I had one flat all year. Other than maybe Gatorskins, I couldn't have done any better. These tires take a beating. Considering how much grip they offer, and the light weight, the durability is amazing.
They seem expensive considering they're just a bicycle tire, but the product quality is what I expect from a leading German company, and I figure I'm also paying for some R&D expense. I'm happy to pay it for tires this good.
I have been a GP4000 S customer for some time and I needed some new tires this summer and I liked the look of the new S II tires.
Currently I have 1640 miles on this set and there have been no issues in performance or ride comfort. actually the front tire still has some of the mold flash showing.
I have ridden on hard pack Dirt roads and some of the roughest country roads Virginia has to offer and had no problems.
I have ridden down some steep mountain roads at almost 50 MPH and had no vibration or instability. I may crash and burn tomorrow or have a flat tomorrow' but these tires are very satisfactory for all types of road riding!!
Durable and lightweight with phenominally low rolling resistance. Lacks a certain amount of road feel, though as Black Chilli evolves, that is improving. Go to for training and can be raced, though there are better racing tires.
I rode these 450 miles accross the Pyrenees in 6 days. No flats, great traction, always felt confident even on the fast descents.
I primarily used these on my race wheels. They feel fast and ride really smooth. The best part about these tires is that I think they are a perfect compromise between low rolling resistance and durability. There are tires that feel faster, but wear out quicker. I can usually get a whole season of racing and weekend riding out of these before the wear indicator gets too low. The only thing to note with these is that they run a tad big - I ride 23mm which is almost the size of some other companies' 25mm tires. They're more bulbous rather than wide. The only reason I found out is because I had 25mm of another brand on an aero bike with race fenders installed for the winter. When I switched to the Conti's, in 23mm, the fenders no longer fit!
