Test: With the Continental Grand Prix 5000 TL, the tire bakers from North Hesse present their first road tubeless tire. And Velomotion can confirm: the long wait was worth it.
The fact that Conti refused road tubeless tires for years surprised the experts and frustrated some end users. The all-round convincing function of the Grand Prix 4000s II in a tubeless version – wasn't that the holy grail of racing tyres? The reason given for Conti's reluctance was that the people from Korbach would not put any tires on the market that could not handle twice the specified maximum pressure, and 100% overload reserve is quite a lot when you consider that the inner tube is under also serves to press the tire bead firmly into the rim bed. But now this hurdle seems to have been cleared. Because not only that, after various updates, Conti recently presented a real successor to the GP 4000 - a tubeless version was also immediately made available, and of course it makes you particularly curious.
First a few numbers: The Conti GP 5000 is said to offer 12% less rolling resistance than its predecessor, while offering 20% better puncture protection. That sounds too good to be true, but it has already been partially confirmed by an independent source: the tire specialists at www.bicyclerollingresistance.com already had the GP 5000 on the dynamometer and now put it in fourth place on their RoWi list of the best, which includes over 60 tyres. These also include a number of tires optimized for smooth running, which require clear compromises in terms of puncture protection and mileage. In third place, for example, is the Conti Grand Prix TT, a super-light competition tire with limited mileage - and it rolls just 1% lighter (0,1 watts) than the new GP 5000.
Continental Grand Prix 5000 TL: Better without a tube despite the extra weight?
The tubeless version of the new Conti should work even better. According to the manufacturer, it offers 5% better performance than the GP 5000 with a tube in terms of smooth running and puncture protection, not even counting the sealing milk, which according to Conti should be filled in, but is not mandatory. The tire is also airtight: under the tread there are three layers of fabric, each with 180 TPI, plus an airtight “liner” whose groove structure can be seen very clearly when you turn the tire over. This makes the tire pretty "thick" - almost 3 mm on the tread; Not a lightweight either: Our samples with a width of 25 mm weigh 304 and 308 grams, a little more than the specified 300. This means that the new tubeless tire is a good 80 grams heavier than the conventional GP 5000 and also around 20 grams heavier than a Schwalbe Pro One of the same width , currently the reference when it comes to road tubeless.
So you can't get a weight advantage with Conti's new ones, but that's not the point. Rolling resistance and puncture protection are paramount, and it can be worth upgrading for that. Especially since the GP 5000 TL is fairly easy to mount: on the DT Swiss front wheel, the normal floor pump is enough to get the tire sealed – the square shaped tire foot pops under the rim flange on the first try. We don't need tire levers; the tire can be pushed over the edge of the rim with your thumbs. The asymmetric rear rim requires a little more effort and two extra layers of tubeless tape. At medium pressure, the tire is almost exactly as wide as advertised – 25,4mm on the DT rim, which stretches some other 25s to a whopping 27mm. Overnight we leave the tires inflated to a good 6 bar in the basement and the next day we are pleased to find that neither the front nor the rear tires have lost air. So Conti did a good job with the shape of the tire bead.
Quickly fill the tires with sealant and off we go - and we think we can feel the qualities of the new Conti immediately. With a pressure of around 6,5 bar, the 5000 TL rolls softly and comfortably, but also feels more snug than some thin-walled racing tires - perhaps this is the vibration-dampening "Active Comfort Technology" that the manufacturer has given the new models. At a brisk pace, you think you can feel the low rolling resistance. When pedaling out of the saddle, the Conti appears handy and lively, which of course also has to do with the pleasant width.
Continental Grand Prix 5000 TL: Successful balancing act!
The profile known from the GP 4000 has been further developed; the shark fin-shaped structure now consists of small, roughened fields that feel very soft and should improve cornering grip. It feels like this is at a high level, although we don't even come close to pushing the limits on damp autumnal roads. Anyone who knows the Grand Prix 4000, however, knows how securely it already sticks.
Conti offers the GP 5000 TL in three widths: 25, 28 and 32 mm. The latter should be interesting for current disc racers; the 23er, which is still available as a standard version of the new tyre, will of course not be missed. Because even with the same pressure, a 25 tire rolls more easily than the narrower tire. However, one must not forget that the tubeless Conti can be filled with a maximum of 7,5 bar, the conventional variant with a width of 23 and 25 mm with 8,5 bar. Tubeless fans will not care - they are usually interested in an optimal balance between rolling resistance and comfort, and the GP 5000 TL manages this balancing act perfectly. Those who are new to tubeless technology will appreciate the ease of assembly and the fact that you can ride this tubeless tire without sealant. There is no need to be afraid of punctures anyway, and in the unlikely event that a sharp foreign object penetrates the protector, the air will only escape slowly. And then? – you can simply pull in a tube that many tubeless drivers have with them anyway as an emergency reserve. With a slightly higher rolling resistance, but still fast and comfortable, you can then continue your journey with the new Conti...
Michael Zurmoehle says
I couldn't seal the tire on a DT - SWISS rim. After 15 minutes he lost a lot of air.
Is there a trick here???
Michael Faiss says
What matters is where the air escapes from. This is relatively easy to check: Mount the tyre, inflate it and coat the tire and rim extensively (with a brush or similar) with soapy water. Then you can see directly where the air is escaping.
If the carcass is bubbling: distribute more milk and/or better in the tire.
If it's bubbling on the rim flange: remove the tyre, coat the sidewall with soapy water and remount it.
If the valve is bubbling: check the installation (the o-ring on DT Swiss TL valves tends to get stuck).
If the spoke nipples are bubbling: Check that the tubeless rim tape is correctly seated and re-stick if necessary.
Achim Ludwig says
I was already convinced by the Conti 23rd GP5000 version on my rain bike, I had previously mounted the Vittoria Pace and the Vredestein Fortezza Senso All Weather. Today I mounted the GP5000TL on my dry training bike, with a mounting lever it was easy to lever onto the rim. When first pumped up, the tire sealed immediately, both front and rear. The subsequent test drive immediately gave me a good driving and handling feeling. I'm curious about my training times. Was previously on the road with the Conti GP TT…….
Hein Muck says
>> "And then? – you can just pull in a hose”
In such a report, it should also be written in fairness that it is not even that “easy” to pull in a hose.
Even if modern rims are usually wider, the tire flank must be placed exactly in the middle of the rim well so that you can get the tire over it. Depending on the rim and tire combination, this can be a real challenge even with tire levers.
My Pacenti Forza rims can still be fitted with tubes (albeit with 4000 tires). It's very difficult to get the tire on my dt-swiss prc1400 without a tube. With a tube and then outside, possibly in the cold and wet.... just to save 20-30gr milk? Definitely not!
Especially since you shouldn't forget that a being only has to go through the tire, with a tube it also has to poke through it and subjectively I have a puncture much more often with tubeless (if you're not that fast you can hear it, you can see it too later where I left).
I strongly advise you to fill in a little milk (20-30ml is enough) and put on the tire with a tube beforehand under ideal conditions.