Continental GP4000S vs. Schwalbe Ultremo ZX

monkeypants

Morning all,
As discussed in a previous thread, I need a new tyre. Currently I'm running 700x23c Schwalbe Ultremo ZXs as they're the tyres that came with the bike. However, I notice that the Continental GP4000S is around the same price and has received good reviews. They're selling for €27 plus delivery here.

Has anyone ever run both tyres and can tell me which one they preferred and why?

AstraMonti

I had Ultremo R1, then Ultremo ZX and then went to Continental attack/force (same material as the gp4000s). The continental feels a lot more grippy and gives me more confidence in tight corners, something I didn't feel with the Ultremo's.

When my Continental wear out I will be trying the Veloflex Corsa 23 which from popular belief seem to be a scale up from Continental/Schwalbe.

niceonetom

I've found GP4000Ss to be a lot more robust than ultremos. They last a long time and have at lest as much grip in Irish conditions. I felt no difference in rolling resistance, but that's very hard to judge anyway.

I've just put a set of Veloflex Corsas on my race wheels. I've only done a couple of spins on them (just to test) but first impressions are very good, but I don't think anyone claims they're as long-lived or as puncture resistant as the GP4000Ss so they'll be reserved for racing only. GP4000Ss will remain my default choice for now.

seamus

I've ridden the Ultremo R1's and have the Conti's on my bike at the moment and for me the Contis win hands down. Great grip and built like a tank.

I've only about 500km on the Contis at the moment, but I've only found one tiny rock embedded in them, they're otherwise still perfect. The Ultremos by comparison were so shredded after 1,000km that I had to replace them. I remember thinking when I put the R1's on that the tread was exceptionally shallow, and I was right. They felt more like I was putting a thin rubber cover around my tubes rather than an actual tyres.

Maybe the ZX's are more hard-wearing, but I'd be wary of buying any high-end schwalbe tyres in future.

ROK ON

monkeypants wrote: »

Morning all,
As discussed in a previous thread, I need a new tyre. Currently I'm running 700x23c Schwalbe Ultremo ZXs as they're the tyres that came with the bike. However, I notice that the Continental GP4000S is around the same price and has received good reviews. They're selling for €27 plus delivery here.

Has anyone ever run both tyres and can tell me which one they preferred and why?

I have had precisely three Ultremo ZX's (black and white)> I got precisely once cycle from each of them before I stopped using them.

First one punctured badly cycling a new bike away from the shop.

The other two, well one blew out on the first cycle in Wicklow - I used a fiver inside to seal the gap to get me home.
The final one has not been used. It sits in my shed.

I have had great experiences with Conti GP4000 and GP4000S.

That said I did get four punctures this weekend (front and back) on the GP4000S.

I live in a place where it is normally wet, and there is a lot of descending. The GP4000 and 4000S are far better than what I had been running in wet descents on poor roads. I like them a lot.

Lumen

I like high-end Schwalbe tyres, they're light, fast and grippy. They're not as "good" all round as the GP4000S, and at 23 or 25mm it's hard to recommend them, but I like them in the 28 size.

karlmyson

I've run may different types of tyres over the years and the Conti GP4000s is the best I've ever used. I will use nothing else on all my bikes now. Light, strong, puncture resistant, fast, grippy. The all singing, all dancing tyre. When they're available at a good price, there's nothing to beat them imo.

ROK ON

karlmyson wrote: »

I've run may different types of tyres over the years and the Conti GP4000s is the best I've ever used. I will use nothing else on all my bikes now. Light, strong, puncture resistant, fast, grippy. The all singing, all dancing tyre. When they're available at a good price, there's nothing to beat them imo.

Bloody hard to get off a Fulcrum rim though;)

kennyb3

Im a ZX fan myself, I dont think they last as long as a GP4000s but i just find them nicer to ride on, extremely puncture resistant (only had 1 on 2 sets of tires). I got pee'd off finding bulges/holes with the side walls of gp4000s's. I ve never had this issue with the zx's and thats the main reason i kept on using them.

Plastik

ROK ON wrote: »

Bloody hard to get off a Fulcrum rim though;)

They're an absolute nightmare to get on/off my Easton rims also when they're new. A bit easier when they've stretched a little, though I still need big hefty Pedros tyres levers for them.

Iwernia

The Continentals would be my tyre of choice here in Donegal, they just seem to suit our rough country roads better than all the rest.

columbus_66

The Continentals are better all round, maybe the ZX for speed on a good surface as they don't have much rubber. Another tyre that is extremely good is the Vredestein Fortezza Tricomp Pro, both for wear and grip.

squeaky crank

Plastik wrote: »

They're an absolute nightmare to get on/off my Easton rims also when they're new. A bit easier when they've stretched a little, though I still need big hefty Pedros tyres levers for them.

Ditto - I nearly called the wife one day from roundwood to come get me cause I couldnt get the bugger back on my Easton with cold hands.
Im told if you put them in a clothes dryer for a few minutes it makes it easier to get on. (I know the added weight of a Zanussi effects cornering jokes)

Im think of switching to Schwalbe Durano Plus 28mm - Does anyone use them??