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Home | Product Reviews | Tire | Continental Grand Prix MTB | ||||
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Submitted by
Connor
a Weekend Warrior
from Denver, CO
Date Reviewed: 5/12/2008 9:15:52 PM |
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| Duration Product Used: | 1 Year |
| Price Paid: | $44 |
| Purchased At: | Jenson USA |
| Strengths: | Very fast in 26 x 1.0 size-almost road bike speed, limited by MTB gearing. Pump 'em up to 120 psi! Seems more durable than the Hutchinson Top Slicks I have used-those will get slits and cuts in rubber after a very short time. These seem to wear very well. |
| Weaknesses: | $$ Pricy, hard to find even on the 'net. Noted some threads protruding from sidewall-keeping a close eye on this. |
| Similar Products Tried: | Hutchinson Top Slicks 26 x 1.0. |
| Bike Setup: | 96 Trek 970 hardtail/Z-2 Atom 80/BB7 disc fronts. Double wheel set: Contis for commuting and road fun, another set for winter commuting/off-road with Dart/Smoke combo. Takes 3 minutes to switch wheels! |
| Bottom Line: | Can lose a few POUNDS with just a wheel change, and it totally transforms the road experience. On local roads and Denver bike trail system you are as fast as the roadies. However, must keep them pumped up to prevent pinch flats when I ride too aggressively on the street, and impossible to reach proper inflation pressure with my MTB road pump. Need to use a narrow XC rim to safely use the 1.0 size. 650c 18-25 tubes work great. |
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Submitted by
Aaron
a Cross Country Rider
from Columbia, MO USA
Date Reviewed: 9/16/2007 5:09:15 PM |
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| Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years |
| Price Paid: | $45 |
| Strengths: | Very light! Mine weigh in at 206 grams on my postal scale. Thick enough to protect from road debris. They last quite a while. |
| Weaknesses: | Too expensive and can be very hard to find. |
| Similar Products Tried: | Specialized Fatboy |
| Bike Setup: | Gary Fisher SuperCaliber, Rock Shox SID, Rolf Dolomite wheels |
| Bottom Line: | This is an awesome tire! I use them a lot in the fall when the trails are mostly closed due to too much rainfall. They're ridiculously light, so your MTB bike will feel like a road bike so long as you have a lockout, rigid fork, or pump the air chambers to max. They cost a lot for such a small tire, but I only use mine occasionally, so they last me for years. Get some Forte UltraLite tubes and you're all set to keep up with your roadie buddies. |
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Submitted by
Dale
from San Diego
Date Reviewed: 3/6/2006 1:05:27 AM |
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| Duration Product Used: | 2 Years |
| Purchased At: | Given to me |
| Strengths: | Very low rolling resistance. Awesome traction |
| Weaknesses: | Hard to find in stock, locally. |
| Similar Products Tried: | Performance ST |
| Bike Setup: | Miyata Elevation 500, Judy Rockshox, Shimano Deore |
| Bottom Line: | The tires were given to me because a guy said "they make my bike look heavy". Okay, free isn't bad in this case. I went to Lantau Island in Hong Kong, China and let me just say you can almost reach out and touch the road; the hills were that steep! On the way down, this set of tires hugged the road as if they were on roller coaster tracks. With the very low rolling resistance, I easily coasted to over 50mph downhill. Would I try that with a total slick? Perhaps but, cornering at those speeds...Ooo, I don't know! I did it with those and I never had a flat with them. Wear, only the sidewalls but after two years... okay! |
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Submitted by
Steve
a Cross Country Rider
from Glenmore Park, NSW, Australia
Date Reviewed: 5/2/2004 11:52:26 PM |
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| Duration Product Used: | 3 months |
| Purchased At: | Cyclelink |
| Strengths: | Light, quick, acceleration, responsiveness |
| Weaknesses: | Harsh ride |
| Similar Products Tried: | Hutchison Top Slick, Specialized Fat Boy, No-Name slicks |
| Bike Setup: | Diamondback Axis Pro set up for commuting |
| Bottom Line: | Of the other tyres I've used, these are the best. They're light, quick, responsive and accelerate pretty well too and I'm using the wire bead version! I had 2 flats on my first 2 rides but I'm willing to forgive the tyres when they've had nails punched through them. I haven't had a flat since though. The only other trade off I found is that the ride is a little more harsh than the Hutcho's or Specialized's I've used previously, but when you consider that you can pump these babies up to 120 psi, and rolling resistance is minimal, I'm happy to make some concessions. All round great tyre. If you're a MTBer looking for a road training tyre or something to commute on, then look no further. |
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Submitted by
tr snith
a Weekend Warrior
from midland,mich
Date Reviewed: 10/26/2003 4:17:38 PM |
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| Duration Product Used: | 6 months |
| Price Paid: | $20 |
| Purchased At: | Zach s shop, Calif |
| Strengths: | These are the best tires I have ever run, although the vaunted Conti durability against puntures is a laff,,the first ride, I flatted both tires in a slow leak situation. Since then, for five months,,no problem, oh,and did I say they were the fastest tire on earth!!!! |
| Weaknesses: | Not as good at flat protection as most say ! |
| Similar Products Tried: | Spec fat boy, IRC Primos, etc |
| Bike Setup: | Burley Limbo, recumbent with a few add ons. |
| Bottom Line: | Great tire, and if you can get them at a reasonable price like I did, all the better. Dont buy if you are in a high broken glass area though, the flat resistance isnt as good as a heavier tire at all. |
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Submitted by
Siegfried
a Cross Country Rider
from Beijing, China
Date Reviewed: 5/13/2003 12:33:29 AM |
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| FavoriteTrail: | Mt Sizuolou |
| Duration Product Used: | 6 months |
| Price Paid: | $19 |
| Purchased At: | Somewhere in Germany... |
| Strengths: | Superlight (206g), superfast, doesn't puncture, and mounting is a real breeze. |
| Weaknesses: | None so far. |
| Similar Products Tried: | Hutchinson 26x1.20 and 26x1.00 |
| Bike Setup: | Giant MCM carbon frame, Extralite Ultrabar, Extralite Ultrastem UL, Extralite The Head, Extralite Ultrapost, Extralite Ultraclamp, SRAM X.O shifters and derailleur, Storck Powerarms Pro, Steinbach Micro Kurz brake levers, Steinbach CC-Superlight fork, Tune Speedneedle Lycra, Tune AC38 bottom bracket, Tune AC16-17 skewers, Tune RH-1 bar ends, Tune Mig75-Mag200 + Mavic X517 + DT Rev wheels, Crank Bros Eggbeater pedals (6.85kg). |
| Bottom Line: | * As a sad old 80-kg gramhead I love these tires, and even my riding buddies (http://themob.404.com.au), who used to scorn them, now want a pair too. * This tire is normally used on roads, but I also use them when I do uphill MTB rides and races where the dirt road is in a fairly good condition. This saves a lot of energy during the ride, and you go much faster. But don't try them on downhills! * They are indeed pretty hard to ride on, but we are looking for speed here, and my motto is: hard = responsive = fast. * I haven't decided whether or not I like the brown side colour yet, but apart from that, they are worth 5 genuine flamin' chilis. |
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Submitted by
Urban Lauski
from London UK
Date Reviewed: 5/2/2003 2:42:31 PM |
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| Duration Product Used: | 3 months |
| Price Paid: | $23 |
| Purchased At: | http://www.settlecycles.co.uk |
| Strengths: | Amazing straight line speed. Lightweight. Not as hairy in the wet as one might think. Very reasonable price. Silent ride. |
| Weaknesses: | Very harsh ride. |
| Similar Products Tried: | Specialized Fat Boy, Michelin Citygrippers |
| Bike Setup: | 52T single Tiagra crankset with single LX shifter. Deore rear derailleur/LX cassette. X221s with Deore V's. Specialized rigid cro-mo fork. Claude Butler 7005 w/Cane Creek integrated h/set. Deda Nero stem. |
| Bottom Line: | These Contis are the easiest and cheapest way to increase your top speed on asphalt. If you only ride your mountain bike on the road then it makes sense to lose the road hum, gain some speed and make it easier on yourself if you get a puncture - thin slicks require less air in them. (Keep them pumped up to 90-100 psi and punctures are not really an issue.) The small grooves in the Contis seem to make for surer-footed cornering in the wet compared to (totally slick) Fat Boys though whether this is a psychological thing is uncertain since the Contis are 1/4 inch thinner than the Specializeds. I personally like the thin rimmed MTB e.g. Cannondale Bad Boy, but 2 of my friends who ran the Hutchinson Airlights which come as standard soon changed after a spate of punctures. Contis are the same dimensions as the Airlights and in my eyes look a classier ride with the brown sidewalls - not to mention more puncture resistant. The ride is harsh since the air pocket is small but it is really a small sacrifice; and anyway, if you're on the road all the time, suspension is more or less redundant. Any concerns in this area - buy the Specialzed Nimbus which is wider. Exercise common sense when riding in the wet - avoid manhole covers and painted lines and these tyres will get you places on your bike more quietly, not to mention more importantly - quickly. |
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Submitted by
martijn
a Cross Country Rider
from H.I.Ambacht
Date Reviewed: 2/9/2003 11:04:42 PM |
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| FavoriteTrail: | Schoorl |
| Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month |
| Price Paid: | $25 |
| Purchased At: | www.bike2build.nl |
| Strengths: | Light and super fast |
| Weaknesses: | none |
| Similar Products Tried: | none |
| Bike Setup: | Cube Airwing Blackline, XTR, Magura HS33, Thomson seat and post, King/X618Ceramic/CX-Ray wheels, Sid front and rear and SLR Evolution |
| Bottom Line: | Wow, this feels good! My bike feels like a small rocket, super fast! The rolling resitance is minimal to none! I feel G-force when I enter a corner:) |
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Submitted by
Dave
from L.A. CA USA
Date Reviewed: 3/8/2002 1:52:34 AM |
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| FavoriteTrail: | Griffith Park - Observatory via the "back way" |
| Duration Product Used: | 6 months |
| Price Paid: | $35 |
| Purchased At: | cambria bikes - online |
| Strengths: | Super light weight, true 1.0, stury |
| Similar Products Tried: | Specialized Fatboys and Specialized Turbo ATBs (discontinued) |
| Bike Setup: | 2001 Specialized Stumpjumper Comp hardtail |
| Bottom Line: | - Fatboys: For going to the post office, riding over rough pavement and maybe a little dirt. - Turbo ATBs - Great for the occasional century. - Contis - They are awesome for staying up with friends who are fast on their road bikes. No doubt about it - these are the lightest, narrowest tires for making my mt. bike feel like my road bike. These tires are far lighter than any other 1.0 mt. bike tire designed for the road. Push on the pedals and acceleration is near instantaneous. Turn the handlebars and response is almost scary. These tires add a new dimension to biking - they turn any mt. bike into thoroughbred hybrid. When they see my bike with the Contis on, bike riders will frequently ask me "What kind of bike is that?" Hybrid, maybe, cyclo-cross? Street machine? They're even more amazed when the pick up my bike and discover how light in weight it is with the Contis. I don't baby these tires. They are not afraid of a little road debris or rough sections of pavement - for example, they've rolled over the rough "back road" above the Griffith Park Observatory, in Los Angeles - one of my favorite locations for a workout on the road - with nary a flat. Five flamin' chilis - they are worth the whole enchilada! |
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Submitted by
Greg
from Gig Harbor, WA
Date Reviewed: 8/6/2001 2:26:02 PM |
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| Duration Product Used: | 1 Year |
| Price Paid: | $38 |
| Strengths: | Light weight, responsive - great street ride. |
| Weaknesses: | The are glass magnates. Soft rubber attracts and holds onto glass until it causes a flat. |
| Similar Products Tried: | tom slick |
| Bottom Line: | Great street tire if your streets are clean, otherwise expect a lot of flats. I'm giving up on mine and buying something with better protection. Hate to do it because I love the ride but I am tired of getting flats. |
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Submitted by
Bruce
a Cross Country Rider
from Mountain View
Date Reviewed: 7/11/2000 8:31:19 AM |
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| FavoriteTrail: | Third Divide |
| Duration Product Used: | 3 months |
| Strengths: | Light, fast, no flats so far |
| Weaknesses: | none so far |
| Similar Products Tried: | Avocet Crossmax, slicks |
| Bike Setup: | Kestrel CSX, Manitou SX Carbon with lockout, Mavic 517 rims, Chris King hubs |
| Bottom Line: | These tires make a lightweight mountain bike into a rocking road bike. They are light, fast and great handling. I think the small wheels make for faster acceleration than the larger wheels on a traditional road bike. My Kestrel weighs about 22 lbs with this set-up and that is with a front shock and a suspension seat post. And it is just a tire change away from being back to a classic NORBA racer. I have used Avocet road tires for about 50,000 all weather commuting miles on my mountain bike and they hold up well but are hogs compared to these. Think Checker Marathon versus Ferrari. I normally wouldn't review a set of tires before I wore them out, but these feel so great I couldn't resist. I don't know how they will wear, but so far after about 500 miles they still look new. I have not babied them either - they are paving my commuting route and have really ground up the road. I have missed transition jumps and run them through road debris and still no flats. I would recommend these to anyone that wants to go fast on the road on their mountain bike. Kudos to Continental for making a great road tire in a 26 inch size. |
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Submitted by
genghis
a Cross-Country Rider
from erehwon
Date Reviewed: 12/23/1999 |
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| Duration Product Used: | more than 3 years |
| Strengths: | light, fast, puncture resistant, durable tread |
| Weaknesses: | sidewalls get abraded easily when used off-road (but they're not meant for this...) |
| Similar Products Tried: | Spec. Turbos (various), Michelin Hi-Lites, etc |
| Bike Setup: | Allez Epic (carbon), Mavic Open 4CD rims |
| Bottom Line: | I've been using a pair of 700x23C Kevlar bead GPs since 1992 (!) on my road bike, and they're still going. I have had zero punctures on this bike... The tyres are light, reasonably comfy, the tread is just starting to crack due to UV/ozone (but hasn't worn out in 20,000+++ km). The sidewalls don't hold up well to use on gravel; they tend to get frayed looking -- but still no flats...I would recommend any Conti tyres to anyone who doesn't like flats or wearing tyres out. I will probably replace these with GP3000's in 28C to get a softer ride, or use the new lightweight 23s for hilly rides. |
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Submitted by
Ira Blumberg
a Weekend Warrior
from Portland, OR
Date Reviewed: 8/6/1999 |
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| Duration Product Used: | less than 1 month |
| Strengths: | Light, narrow fast street tire |
| Weaknesses: | No kevlar belt leaves it vulnerable to flats |
| Similar Products Tried: | Performance Fast City, Specialized Fat Boy |
| Bike Setup: | Performance Ti frame with Shimano XT, XTR components, rigid aluminium fork |
| Bottom Line: | Great street tire, makes the bike feel and roll like a road bike. Narrow profile gives great handling. Minus one chili for no kevlar belt since I got a flat from a puncture at the border of the sidewall and tread. |
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