Probikeshop advice · Continental
Road tyres and tubular tyresHow to choose your Continental road tyres
Start with your type of riding and tyre setup, then choose the level of protection.
1. Three things to consider when choosing
Your riding style
Racing, training or everyday and winter riding: you don’t expect the same things from a time-trial tyre and a commuting tyre.
Your tyre setup
Tubeless Ready (TR, without an inner tube), TubeType (with an inner tube) or tubular tyre (glued to a tubular rim).
Width
25 to 28 mm is now the standard; 30 to 32 mm offers more comfort on rough roads. Check your frame clearance.
Speed
Grand Prix 5000 S TR, TT, Aero 111: maximum performance.
Durability
Grand Prix, GP 4 Season, All Season: grip and longevity.
Protection
Gatorskin, Gator Hardshell: ride without worrying about your tyres.
Your configuration
2. Find your tyre
Choose your type of riding and tyre setup: we’ll suggest a tyre and an alternative.
Complete both fields to see the recommendation.
3. Continental road tyres
From racing performance to puncture protection.
| Model | Terrain | Riding style | Setup | At a glance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Prix 5000 S TR | Road | Racing | Tubeless Ready | The benchmark tubeless racing tyre: speed, grip and protection. |
| Grand Prix 5000 TT | Road | Time trials · triathlon | Tubeless Ready | Minimal weight and rolling resistance. |
| Aero 111 | Road | Racing | Tubeless Ready | Aerodynamically optimised for use on the front with deep-section wheels. |
| Grand Prix 5000 | Road | Racing · training | TubeType | The classic inner-tube tyre: performance and versatility. |
| Grand Prix | Road | Training | Tubeless Ready · TubeType | A new generation: fast and durable for training. |
| Grand Prix 5000 All Season | RoadWet | Winter · all seasons | Tubeless Ready | Grip in wet and cold conditions, with enhanced protection. |
| Grand Prix 4 Season | RoadWet | Training · winter | TubeType | A highly durable, all-season training tyre. |
| Grand Sport Race | Road | Training · leisure | TubeType | Good value for money. |
| Ultra Sport III | Road | Leisure | TubeType | A reliable entry-level option for everyday riding. |
| Hometrainer II | Road | Turbo trainer | TubeType | A compound designed for wheel-on turbo trainers: quiet and generates little heat. |
| Gatorskin | RoadWet | Training · commuting | TubeType | A bestselling durable tyre for rough roads and winter riding. |
| Gator Hardshell | RoadWet | Puncture protection | TubeType | Maximum protection against punctures and cuts. |
4. Continental tubular tyres
A tyre sewn around its inner tube and glued to a tubular rim.
| Model | Terrain | Riding style | Widths | At a glance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Competition TT | Road | Time trials | 25 mm | A lighter version of the Competition for time trials. |
| Competition | Road | Racing | 22 · 25 mm | The benchmark racing tubular tyre: BlackChili compound and Vectran Breaker. |
| Sprinter | Road | Racing · training | 22 · 25 mm | Fast and reliable: criteriums, triathlons and training. |
| Giro | Road | Training | 22 mm | An affordable training tubular tyre. |
| Sprinter Gatorskin | RoadWet | Training · protection | 22 · 25 mm | A reinforced Sprinter with cut-resistant DuraSkin sidewalls. |
5. Continental technologies
Protection · from lightest to most robust
Vectran fibres: high protection with minimal weight.
A robust puncture-protection layer beneath the tread.
Cut-resistant fabric on the sidewalls (Gatorskin, Hardshell).
Compounds and comfort
Performance, grip and durability.
Grip and longevity.
Absorbs vibrations (Grand Prix 5000).
A micro-texture on the shoulders for grip when cornering.
6. Frequently asked questions
Grand Prix 5000 S TR or Grand Prix 5000?
The S TR is the tubeless version and the current benchmark for racing. The Grand Prix 5000 without a suffix is fitted with an inner tube.
What’s the difference between All Season and 4 Season?
The Grand Prix 5000 All Season is a fast, all-season tubeless tyre. The Grand Prix 4 Season is a highly durable training tyre used with an inner tube.
Which tyre helps prevent punctures?
Choose the Gatorskin for training and rough roads, or the Gator Hardshell for maximum protection. The GP5000 All Season offers a good balance of performance and protection in a tubeless tyre.
Tyre or tubular tyre?
Tubular tyres, glued to tubular rims, remain popular in racing and on the track. Tubeless tyres now offer comparable performance and are easier to repair.
What does TR mean?
TR (Tubeless Ready): fitted without an inner tube on a tubeless rim, using sealant.
Explore further: How to choose your Continental mountain bike tyres · How to choose your Continental gravel tyres · What tyre pressure should I use? · How to choose your tyre sealant
Positioning based on Continental’s descriptions (continental-tires.com) and the specialist cycling press. Available versions vary by size.
