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review

Continental Grand Prix 5000 Clincher

9
£65.49

VERDICT:

9
10
If you aren't bothered about tubeless compatibility, this is one of the fastest, grippiest tyres you can fit
Impressive grip
Durability is good for a race tyre
Tan wall doesn't get as dirty as some
Some will miss the lack of tubeless capability
Weight: 
216g

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

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The Transparent is Continental's tan wall version of the highly regarded GP5000 road tyre. It packs the same punch for grip and low rolling resistance as the black walled version, but gives a nod to tradition. Where though, you may wonder, is the tubeless compatibility?

The difference between this Transparent tyre and a standard GP5000 is that the nylon carcass isn't coated, and so remains visible. This means the tan wall is darker than on many other tyres, but as a bonus they don't get anywhere near as dirty.

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This set has spent the majority of its working life on my Kinesis T2, which means they have seen more wet, muddy and salt-covered roads than if fitted to any other bike. It uses rim brakes too, so you have all the sludge and grime that comes from heavy braking. After about 400 miles, the GP5000s are still looking pretty box-fresh.

2021 Continental GP5000 Transparent Tyre Fitted 2.JPG

Starting at the beginning, the Contis prove easy to fit on some rims, and not so easy on others, but that's par for the course these days.

On these RSP Calavera Carbon CC35 wheels with a 17.9mm internal rim, they fitted easily without needing tyre levers to get the last bit on. That's ideal when you are running tubes.

Tubeless-less

And you're running tubes, because these ain't tubeless ready. This will be an issue for some, if not all.

2021 Continental GP5000 Transparent Tyre Fitted 1 (1).JPG

On the gravel bike I embrace tubeless due to the wider tyres and lower pressures, but on the road, I can take it or leave it. I run my pressures high – 100psi in these 25mm tyres – and no, I don't find it uncomfortable, I don't find it 0.11mph slower, and I don't suffer with punctures.

I probably suffer one per 10,000 miles (though that will no doubt triple if the Puncture Fairy is reading this).

Some tan sidewalls are actually a coloured coating (as on the GP5000 Special Edition), because a natural wall construction is quite porous. As you may have discovered with some WTB tyres, they can weep like a child when you first introduce sealant to them! So, it's no wonder that Continental hasn't marketed these as tubeless ready.

Performance

Still, if you aren't worried about that, you're going to love the performance of the GP5000s. The grip is excellent. Bank these into a roundabout or tight bend at speed and you can maintain a relaxed grip on the handlebar, as there aren't going to be any sketchy moments coming your way.

In the dry they are impeccable, and even in the wet they are very confidence inspiring. They break traction like any other tyre in a greasy situation, but it feels progressive, giving you a heads up it's about to happen.

> Best road bike tyres - rubber for speed, durability and puncture resistance

A lot of this is down to the Black Chili compound, one of Conti's best creations. Nevertheless, rolling resistance is minimal. This really is a quick tyre, something noticeable even on my winter hack with full mudguards.

Riding them in the winter has also shown how durable they are for such a high-performance tyre. With a short test period it's difficult to judge wear levels, but the GP5000s are looking good. There are a couple of little marks here and there from the hedge cutting season, but they haven't punctured yet.

They have a supple feel, too. Even at the pressures I ride, they bring a noticeable cushioning effect to proceedings.

Value

Priced at £59.99 they aren't exactly cheap though. That's the same as something like the Pirelli P-Zero Race TLR, which aslo offers great grip, little in the way of rolling resistance but is tubeless ready (which usually adds a premium to the price).

When Jamie reviewed the Maxxis High Road SL he reckoned the 'ride quality is good and on par with the Continental GP5000,' and it's a tenner cheaper at £49.99 – and superlight at 177g. Durability isn't the best though, and that's the cool thing about the Continental – you are getting race tyre performance with training tyre longevity.

Conclusion

The only real issue I can see is that if you want tubeless and a tan wall, you're out of luck. If that doesn't bother you, you're going to have to go some to find another tyre that delivers the same levels of performance and durability. The GP5000 Transparent is excellent. As long as you're willing to pay for it.

Verdict

If you aren't bothered about tubeless compatibility, this is one of the fastest, grippiest tyres you can fit

road.cc test report

Make and model: Continental Grand Prix 5000 Tyre - Transparent

Size tested: 25mm

Tell us what the product is for and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Continental says: "The best allrounder in the field, brought to a whole new performance level. Ride faster, more comfortable and with increased puncture protection. Made to make you better."

The GP5000 really is a benchmark tyre.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

BlackChili compound: "With our unique tread compound, which is produced only in Germany, we have revolutionised the sport of cycling. With the legendary BlackChili Compound we have answered the eternal question of the best balance of grip and rolling resistance for cycling. Regular test wins confirm the measureable and noticeable advantages for the cyclist, established in the laboratory and on the road. The latest polymers as well as specially developed carbon black particles and filler materials guarantee unique performance."

Active Comfort: "The revolutionary approach in cycling. Embedded in the tyre construction the Active Comfort Technology absorbs vibrations and smoothens your ride."

Lazer Grip: "To make you one with the road. The lazered micro profile structure expands over the tire's shoulder and provides outstanding cornering."

Vectran: "The benchmark in puncture protection Vectran is a synthetically manufactured high-tech fibre from a natural model. Like spider silk, Vectran is a liquid-crystalline polymer (LCP). Vectran is spun from the melted liquid polymer Vectra and processed further to a multi-strand thread. Spider silk like Vectran has an enormous tear resistance at a very low weight: Exactly the right properties to process into a premium Continental bicycle tire as a puncture protection insert. A Vectran Breaker is lighter, more flexible and protects more effectively against cuts than the comparable nylon breaker. Vectran Breaker does not adversely affect the rolling resistance."

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
9/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the product for weight (if applicable)
 
8/10
Rate the product for comfort (if applicable)
 
9/10
Rate the product for value:
 
5/10

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Great road tyres that bring a real balance of grip, speed and durability.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Excellent performance.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Can be a tight fit on some rims.

How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

They are at the upper end, especially for a non-tubeless tyre, but still competitive with the main competition (some of which I have mentioned in the review).

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your overall score

I've ridden quite a few variations of the GP5000 on various test bikes, and they have always impressed. While pricey, they are some of the fastest and grippiest tyres out there, but still manage to deliver on durability too.

Overall rating: 9/10

About the tester

Age: 42  Height: 180cm  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: This month's test bike  My best bike is: B'Twin Ultra CF draped in the latest bling test components

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed,

As part of the tech team here at F-At Digital, senior product reviewer Stu spends the majority of his time writing in-depth reviews for road.cc, off-road.cc and ebiketips using the knowledge gained from testing over 1,500 pieces of kit (plus 100's of bikes) since starting out as a freelancer back in 2009. After first throwing his leg over a race bike back in 2000, Stu's ridden more than 170,000 miles on road, time-trial, track, and gravel bikes, and while he's put his racing days behind him, he still likes to smash the pedals rather than take things easy. With a background in design and engineering, he has an obsession with how things are developed and manufactured, has a borderline fetish for handbuilt metal frames and finds a rim braked road bike very aesthetically pleasing!

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4 comments

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Basemetal | 4 months ago
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I've just fitted a pair of these and read the instructions(!)... Surprised to see a cross  through and exclamation mark against fitting Latex or lightweight tubes? Not something I've ever seen mentioned in reviews. But I fitted latex anyhoo.

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Yorky-M | 3 years ago
0 likes

Any easier to fit than the 4000?

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MattieKempy | 3 years ago
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I think they come in a max 28mm size, in which case, pretty as they are, I won't buy them. My aero bike takes up to 32mm tyres and I prefer 30-32mm tyres as they're appreciably more comfortable. I'd happily use these if my tyre clearance was more limited though.

Avatar
Cristox replied to MattieKempy | 3 years ago
0 likes
MattieKempy wrote:

I think they come in a max 28mm size, in which case, pretty as they are, I won't buy them. My aero bike takes up to 32mm tyres and I prefer 30-32mm tyres as they're appreciably more comfortable. I'd happily use these if my tyre clearance was more limited though.

Nice story, but who cares?

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