Having demonstrated the repercussions of being blasé about a ‘C’ race and getting several punctures at the Tour de Yorkshire Sportive, today was the day to get proper tyres on the bike.
I’ve previously given my opinion on the best bike tyre for triathlon but my opinion for a good all-rounder for the summer that will also behave sensibly over longer rides would be the Continental Grand Prix GP4000S II. I’d go for the 700×23 for the same width wheel rim (700×25 for wider rim) but would also deflect conversation away from the topic of optimal tyre widths by pointing out that the GP4000 has Conti’s BLACK CHILLI compound. That means it’s fast, basically.
Interesting: Rolling resistance of the GP4000 over different tyre widths
Many of you seasoned riders will, no doubt, not be that impressed by this revelation of a recommendation as LOTS of people use this tyre.
Summary: It’s one of the best all-rounders. You might find something that is better in one characteristic but which would then be worse in another ie rolling resistance, durability, puncture resistance, etc.. It’s a ‘Can’t go wrong‘ kind of choice. If you know better, then you won’t be reading this article! I WILL use different tyres for tri/TT races.
Last Updated on 30 August 2026 by the5krunner
My favourite kit and nutrition
- Garmin Fenix 9 Pro — I’ve just bought one.
- Injinji – Runners protect your toes. Avoid discomfort and minor injury. Run more. Run faster. I use them.
- Garmin 90-degree charging adapter — A small keyring adapter you can use anywhere. Essential when away. I use one.
- Garmin charging puck — the fastest and most reliable way to top up your Garmin before a session. I use one.
- Ravemen FR300 — Front light that mounts directly under your Garmin or Wahoo head unit. Keeps your bars clean and your beam pointed where it matters. I use one.
- Body Glide – The blue anti-chafe stick that all swimmers and many runners use. I use it.
- Maurten — The race nutrition trusted by elite athletes. Gels and drink mixes engineered to be easy on the stomach. I use them.
- Garmin Varia RTL515 — A radar rear light that alerts you to vehicles approaching from behind. Pairs with your Edge or Wahoo. I use this model.
- Favero Assioma Pro RS2 — The power-meter pedals most serious cyclists choose. Accurate, easy to move between bikes. I use this model.
- Garmin Forerunner 970 — A serious choice for a pro-grade triathlon watch. I use this.
- Polar H10 — My daily driver for accurate, waking HRV readings.
- Wahoo ELEMNT Roam 3 — The bike computer that has the feature Garmin lacks: usability. I use mine on most rides.
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tfk is the founder and author of the5krunner, an independent endurance sports technology publication. With 20 years of hands-on testing of GPS watches and wearables, and competing in triathlons at an international age-group level, tfk provides in-depth expert analysis of fitness technology for serious athletes and endurance sport competitors. ID
I’ve got to say that although I love these tyres they are made of some kind of soft cheese. After a few rides there will be chunks of rubber missing, which is rather alarming!
yeah i have a similar thing with s-works gripton compound. my old fave was the schwalbe ultremo zx (not sold now AFAIK)
More at the budget end of the scale (£30/pair) I’ve recently bought some Vittoria Rubino Pro 3. 2.3W worse @ 80PSI than the GP4000, which I can live with.
those watts and grams add up.
someone should coin a phrase for it
or 2.3W better for training depending on your viewpoint 🙂