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TECH NEWS

Continental offers hookless compatibility with new Grand Prix 5000 S TR tyres

Tubeless ready option is said to offer greater speed and sidewall protection than the existing Grand Prix 5000 TL, with easier mounting and hookless compatibility

Continental has launched the Grand Prix 5000 S TR (tubeless-ready) tyre that’s said to be lighter, faster, stronger, and easier to mount than the existing Grand Prix 5000 TL, and it’s compatible with hookless rims. Continental describes it as “the ultimate performance-focused road tyre”.

2022 Continental Grand Prix 5000 S TR - 2.jpeg

This is a tyre that has been used loads in the pro peloton over the past few months, including in yesterday’s Paris-Roubaix.

Fans of statistics will be pleased to know that the 25mm version of the Grand Prix 5000 S TR is 20% faster than the equivalent 5000 TL, according to the German brand, 50g lighter thanks to its two-ply structure, with 28% more sidewall protection.

> Read our review of the Continental Grand Prix 5000 TL tyre

2022 Continental Grand Prix 5000 S TR - 4.jpeg

Although the Grand Prix 5000 TL wasn’t compatible with hookless rims, the Grand Prix 5000 S TR is. This is certainly the direction that the market has been moving lately, with ever more wheel brands opting to go hookless.

> Tubeless wheel tech: What’s the difference between hooked and hookless and which is better for you? 

“Available in black or black and transparent sidewall colourways, the S TR utilises Continental’s patented BlackChili Compound for the ultimate balance of rolling resistance, grip and longevity; Vectran Breaker for puncture protection and tear resistance, and Lazer Grip for outstanding cornering,” says Conti.

2022 Continental Grand Prix 5000 S TR - 5.jpeg

Vectran is a synthetic fibre that doesn’t affect rolling resistance, according to Continental, while Lazer Grip is the profile structure that extends over the tyre’s shoulders. Transparent is the name that Conti gives to its tan wall tyres.

Continental says that it has reinvented its approach to tubeless-ready road tyres here.

“The new construction makes tyre mounting easier while providing increased support on the road for confident and dynamic handling,” it says. “The Grand Prix 5000 S TR has been tested in training, racing, and performance laboratories by multiple teams across the professional peloton in 2021. This season it has been ridden by Grand Tour stage winners and world champions alike - including Filippo Ganna’s World Championship time trial victory in September.”

2022 Continental Grand Prix 5000 S TR - 6.jpeg

These Continental Grand Prix 5000 S TR tyres are available with black sidewalls:

 
      Hookless Hooked
 Size  Claimed weight   Max rim width (mm)  Max psi  Max psi
 700 x 25  250g  21TSS/C  73  109
 700 x 28  275g  25TSS/C  73  94
 700 x 30  295g  25TSS/C  73  73
 700 x 32  320g  25TSS/C  73  73

TSS stands for tubeless straight side, referring to hookless rims. C refers to crochet-type hooked rims.

These Continental Grand Prix 5000 S TR tyres are available with transparent sidewalls:

 
      Hookless Hooked
 Size  Claimed weight   Max rim width  Max psi  Max psi
 700 x 25  250g  21TSS/C  73  109
 700 x 28  275g  25TSS/C  73  94
 700 x 30  295g  25TSS/C  73  73
 700 x 32  320g  25TSS/C  73  73
 650 x 30  280g  25TSS/C  73  73
 650 x 32  300g  25TSS/C  73 73 

Mounting a 700 x 25mm tyre on a 23TSS (hookless) rim is not approved by Continental.

The Continental Grand Prix 5000 S TR tyres are available from today at €79,90 per tyre. We’re working on a UK price.

We have Continental Grand Prix 5000 S TR tyres in for review here at road.cc so stand by for a review.

www.continental-tires.com

Mat has been in cycling media since 1996, on titles including BikeRadar, Total Bike, Total Mountain Bike, What Mountain Bike and Mountain Biking UK, and he has been editor of 220 Triathlon and Cycling Plus. Mat has been road.cc technical editor for over a decade, testing bikes, fettling the latest kit, and trying out the most up-to-the-minute clothing. We send him off around the world to get all the news from launches and shows too. He has won his category in Ironman UK 70.3 and finished on the podium in both marathons he has run. Mat is a Cambridge graduate who did a post-grad in magazine journalism, and he is a winner of the Cycling Media Award for Specialist Online Writer. Now over 50, he's riding road and gravel bikes most days for fun and fitness rather than training for competitions.

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16 comments

Avatar
Griff500 | 2 years ago
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I note that like every other cycling site, road.cc has quoted "the 25mm version of the Grand Prix 5000 S TR is 20% faster than the equivalent 5000 TL", so I assume that unlike me, all you cycle journos actually understand what this means. Please enlighten us, before we all rush out and buy a pair expecting our Strava times to drop by 20%. 

 

Avatar
Sniffer replied to Griff500 | 2 years ago
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Claim will be rolling resistance of the tyre is reduced by 20%.

Most of the resistance when riding a bike is from the air, so a small part of the overall resistance is reduced by 20%.

No idea if the claim is true or not.

Avatar
Sam3 | 2 years ago
0 likes

Do these tyres have built-in butyl liner like the GP5000 TL? Or is the absence of the liner, the source of the 60 weight savings?

I have the 5000TL in 32mm and its a great tire, runs well on 25mm internal width rim, though the spec says 21mm max.

Avatar
DukeNewcombe | 2 years ago
1 like

Will Giant approve of them though?

From Conti website '25-622 [development rim 19C]: hookless maximum 5.0 BAR / 73 PSI' 

Sounds like I cant ride these at the pressures Giant recommends for a 82kg rider, about 10 psi off. what gives?

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chrisos | 2 years ago
0 likes

Sounds like they know they messed up with the TL's, I gave up after spending an entire afternoon and a fair bit of thumb skin trying to get them onto my mainstreem wheels. 

Hopefully the rolling resistance guys give these TR's a good report...

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Sam3 replied to chrisos | 2 years ago
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So did I......but I took them to my bike shop and they popped them on in like a couple minutes. Was child's play for them.

I suspect that a lot of people thought they were more skilled at tyre mounting than they really are. And tighter product manufacturing specs and tolerances exposed the lack of skill and technique.

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holtyboy replied to chrisos | 2 years ago
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I feel your pain. I switched from Schwalbe One Pro's to 5000TL for this reason. The Conti's went onto my Hunt wheels without issue, and I have just popped the beads on both sides to check I can manage roadside (which I could not with the Schwalbe's).

It seems everyone has a slightly different expereience, which I think speaks to the lack of standards in this early period for the tech. This is worth a listen:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/4Q4Dxa8kZ21lGEUIUUT2i0?go=1&sp_cid=10bd...

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lio replied to chrisos | 2 years ago
0 likes

I guess it must be very wheel specific.  I've used up several GP5Ks and they've all gone onto Roval C38s with just a track pump.

Had some Michelin gravel tyres that I like but have been much harder to fit for me.

 

I always wonder how much is down the to the wheel spec and how much down to the tyre.

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sparrowlegs | 2 years ago
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I said this would happen. The GP5000TL was Conti's first foray into tubeless and they played it safe with carcass thickness, puncture resistance and rim compatibility. Unfortunately, IME, this meant it's a pig to fit and they aren't the comfiest of tyres due to that carcass thickness. Not the lightest either. They currently reside on my winter bike.

These GP5000TR should hopefully address all of those issues. If so, yes, I'll be getting some.

Avatar
Creakingcrank | 2 years ago
2 likes

But but but....I've just sacrificed several hours, a tyre lever and whole bag of cable ties installing a pair of the "old" GP5000 tubeless. Now I won't be able to ride my bike for fear of other cyclists laughing at my outdated tyres.

Can't imagine how they are going to come off either.

Maybe I'll just have to cut them off when my hands heal.

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Miller | 2 years ago
1 like

If these things are actually available, I'm in.

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AlsoSomniloquism replied to Miller | 2 years ago
1 like

I'm interested in the "easier to get on" aspect. The last 5000's took two mechanics to do it.

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Sevenfold replied to AlsoSomniloquism | 2 years ago
1 like

AlsoSomniloquism wrote:

I'm interested in the "easier to get on" aspect. The last 5000's took two mechanics to do it.

On my front wheel (Zipp 30), none of the mechanics at my LBS could get it to seat tubeless - now being used tubed. I'll wait for some feedback on how much 'easier' these are to fit & for the current one to wear out before 'investing'. The Michelin Power now on the rear went on relatively easily, replacing the worn out Conti 5000 which was an absolutel b*****d to fit. The only issue with the Michelin was air retention initially but the sealant seems to have found all the little leaks & only needs pumping up every three days or so.

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maxdabrit replied to Sevenfold | 2 years ago
1 like

'On my front wheel (Zipp 30), none of the mechanics at my LBS could get it to seat tubeless - now being used tubed.'

Hmmm, tubed in a tubeless tire with straight side rims ? I would love to see a chart of the complete set of rules for the do's and dont's of hooked and hookless rim/tire combos. 

Can the new TR tires be used with hooked rims? It was all so easy before tubeless road tires came along ! 
 

Avatar
AlsoSomniloquism replied to maxdabrit | 2 years ago
0 likes

The Zipp 30's are tubeless ready, so I assume are normal like mavics, hunts and others. It was the new 303's that were hookless.

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Roady replied to AlsoSomniloquism | 2 years ago
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Yes 30 Course are hooked, 303 S and others hookless. Best TL tyres for mounting on 30 Course I found where Specialized '2bliss'. I had an absolute 'mare with Hutchingson Fusions TL on them - ran with tubes to try and stretch then took me 6 hours and heavy duty tools over several days to get them off, nearly cutting & binning the tyres. Same tyres straight onto Fulcrums no problem. Same Hutchingson tyres onto Zipp 303 S no problem, hookless rims and not convinced the tyres are hookless compatible (I've burped sealant three times now) I'll be swapping to these GP5000 S TR.

I don't expect issues with 303 S, but think the 30 Course are just a tight rim. I found GP4000sii (tubed) tight on them too, but Mitchelin (tubed) where ok.

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