(electronic swoosh)
- Continental made its first tire in 1871,
it's fair to say the German brand knows a thing or two
when it comes to making tires.
And it's no coincidence that they are
the most popular brand in the pro peloton.
Now the GP 4000 was first introduced 14 years ago
and it's long been regarded as the best
all-round road bike tire available to humanity.
I'm a big fan of the GP 4000,
but now it's being replaced.
(dramatic music)
This is the Continental GP 5000,
yup, it's not the 4000 S3,
because it's a completely new tire,
with a completely new design.
Outwardly, well, it's got a sleek new black look
and a sexy new box, but let's get them on my bike
and learn a bit more about them.
I can't believe I'm this excited about a pair of tires
(laughs) I think I've got a problem.
(gentle music)
So this is my first go at mounting the new GP 5000.
You've got a more precise tread pattern on the new tire
and this is down to Continental's molds
now being laser-cut, rather than machine.
And it's said to improve cornering grip,
but I've got 'em on my bike now,
so let's get 'em out on the road.
Continental reckons that the new 5000
has 12% lower rolling resistance than the 4000.
And this is in part down
to a new improved Black Chili compound
and a higher, 330 TPI, that's threads per inch carcass.
It's also got 20% more puncture protection,
which is attributed to an improved Vectran Braker.
And it's five grams lighter in a 25 millimeter,
than the previous 4000.
It's also said to offer more comfort
and reduce road vibrations
and this is down to a new way in which Continental
actually constructs its tires and the way the tire is built.
But one of the most exciting things,
is that there's actually also a tubeless version
of this tire, it's a separate tire.
Now I haven't got one here, but rest assured,
once I manage to get my hands on one,
I'll be testing it out & I'll show it to you,
because it's really exciting.
The tubeless version is said to be even faster,
with 17% better rolling resistance than a GP 4000.
But how was it developed and what makes it so special?
Well this may surprise you,
but Continental isn't claiming that the 5000
is the fastest tire, or the one with the most grip,
or the one with the most puncture protection
or the lightest.
But that's the whole point,
the design objective with the GP 5000, like the 4000,
is to produce a tire with the best all-round performance.
You could have the lightest tire in the world,
but it'd be pointless if it meant that you got a puncture
before the end of the race.
You could have a tire with the lowest rolling resistance,
but that also would be pointless
if it meant that you had no grip and slid out on a corner.
Much like a track stand, it's all about the balance.
(smooth music)
Continental has performed extensive research
and development into road bike tires.
And a key component of that
has been the development of the new compound.
But why is the compound so important, you ask?
Well, you can't design the optimum compound
until you fully understand the demands placed upon the tire.
Now, Continental's research suggested
that the actual contact patch on the road
is much smaller than previously thought.
So take a look at this road, for example,
from here it looks pretty smooth,
but when you get down close and take a closer look,
you can actually see that it's very bumpy and imperfect.
And well if you were a bacteria,
this would be like the Himalayas.
Now the result of this is that,
well Continental thinks that the contact patch
is actually just 15% of what you'd actually expect.
Of that measly 15%, Continental believes
that 98% of a tire's grip is attributed to the compound.
That said, the material properties
of that compound become hugely significant.
You want it to be grippy,
but not too grippy as that will make it slow.
You want it to have low rolling resistance,
but if it has too low a rolling resistance,
then it won't have enough grip.
Some other tire companies buy in their rubber compounds,
but the Black Chilli compound is exclusively developed
and constantly improved by Continental.
Now the exact ingredients and procedure
that go into making it are top secret.
But how do you have good puncture protection in a tire,
without compromising the rolling resistance?
Well the answer is Vectran.
But what is Vectran? I hear you ask.
Well, chemically speaking, it's a polyester,
formed by the polycondensation of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid,
with 6-hydroxynaphthalene-2-carboxylic acid.
But in non chemistry nerd terms, it's a fiber
that has really high tensile strength,
similar to that of Kevlar
and in actual fact it's used in Mars Rovers.
It's used in tires like the 5000
as a very densely woven layer,
but still very thin, so it adds a great deal
of puncture protection, like a stab vest,
but without compromising the rolling resistance.
Something else I should tell you
is that the tires are gonna be available
in 23, 25, 28 and 32 millimeter widths.
And the tubeless version,
well that's gonna be available in 25, 28 and 32.
Now if you've enjoyed this video,
then please give it a thumbs up
and if you'd like to watch another tire related video,
then click down here on the tires,
for one on how to set your tire pressures.