Conti GP 4 Seasons Quandry

[Mallory]

Ive been using the 23mm version on my carbon pride and joy for around 18 months in most conditions and have had no issues with them. While I know they don't have top end grip like the GP4000s or other more expensive tyres they grip like I would expect. They are run at a very high PSI and even on wet lines/manholes they never scare you, they will just give you a little warning

The same cannot be said for the 28mm versions that I run on my hybrid as in the rain they are so slippery. Coming home Friday on anything that it not smooth tarmac the wheels slipped and slid all over the place. This morning I almost face planted the pavement as I lost my front wheel on a manhole cover. Some lightning quick reactions to grab the metal fence alongside saved any further blushes and missing teeth.
Again coming home the rear wheel especially the rear had very little grip on the wet roads. Sprinting away from the lights (i say sprinting but i'm NO Hoy/Cav) and the real wheel was slipping

For the hard winter months/days (Im in London so could only be a few) i've got Marathon Winters Studs but was wondering if the Conti Winter Top Contact would be a good transition tyre from the summer season to the Winter?

 

[leemo]

I've found the 28mm gp4season grippy but haven't tried the 23mm.

I dont think the tyre would be less grippy because it is wider - it's the same rubber as the 23. Maybe your 28s are from a bad batch or some other factor is at play?

Winter contacts should work well in the wet being made of soft rubber but the tread is more for the snow than rain me thinks.

 

[topcat1]

you shouldn't be riding "hard" in the wet over manhole covers, slow down for corners and make sure you don't brake while turning

as for riding on the pavement some surfaces will be very slippery giving no grip at all

 

[Paul99]

I use 28mm GP4S and haven't had any grip issues.

If you try to ride at the same pace in the wet as you do in the dry then you are going to come off eventually no matter what tyres you are using.

 

[fossyant]

I run 23mm GP 4 Seasons all year round. Only switch to my Ice bike when it's icy or snows. Faultless grip.

You need a new bike

 

[Mallory]

I use 28mm GP4S and haven't had any grip issues.

If you try to ride at the same pace in the wet as you do in the dry then you are going to come off eventually no matter what tyres you are using.

10kph and the zarks were slipping. Any slower and I may as well walk

 

[fossyant]

Greasy road after dry spell. Oil ?

 

[400bhp]

Greasy road after dry spell. Oil ?

+1

 

[HLaB]

Other than the cost (which is a serparate issue) I cant fault the performance of 4 Seasons, fwiw I've had 23mm and 28mm and never found them lacking for grip.

Edit: what might have caught you out in addition to what said above (1st rain after a dry spell = greasy roads) is the different balance and braking performance of the road bike vs town bike.

 

[the_mikey]

My experience of GrandPrix4seasons 23mm tyres is faultless, good grip and tough, even on wet roads. As others have said, sometimes greasy roads make the first rain after a dry spell particularly slippery. If we had dry roads all year round I'd go with gatorskins, but in the wet gatorskins become unpredictable, this is why I chose GP4Seasons.