Product Review: Continental GP Attack + GP Force Tires
Finally, a company has applied front/rear specific technology to bicycle tires. Continental Bicycle Tires of Germany are hand making specially designed tires utilizing what they call, ?tire positioning system? TPS. The front is designed for wet and dry grip in addition to cornering stability. The rear is designed for strength, puncture protection, and power transmission. A special review by road racer Corey Whalen follows.
I will start out with the GP Attack front tire. It is a 700cX22 direction specific front only tire with a 120psi max pressure rating. The tread pattern on the Attack makes the tire a good all-season tire. After 1500 miles being ridden on the set, the Attack still was able to move water away from the center of the tire making traction at training speeds (20 mph ave.) around corners stable. Unfortunately, due to the directional tread pattern it takes some getting used to. It also makes the wear on the tire odd because it can not be rotated to compensate for inconsistent wear in order to make it last longer. The narrowness of the tire makes it a good aero dynamic choice on medium to deep rim wheels as well as a standard 32 spoke wheel. It also makes mounting the narrow tire difficult the first time it is used. I would recommend that when mounting the tire on a wheel for the first time the user should stretch the tire like you would a tubular tire. Fortunately, the tire is near cut proof with a 4ply, 370tpi casing, and I never once had a flat tire in 1500 miles despite riding through glass, sand, and scoria rock on and off paved roads.
Second, the GP Force rear tire. The Force tire is a 700cX23 direction specific rear only tire with a 120psi max pressure rating. The tread on the Force tire creates a phenomenal ride in all weather types. It also creates great acceleration in all weather. Unfortunately, as with the Attack front tire, the tread pattern is directional. The tread on the Force tire is superb when going around corners wet or dry. I never had the Force rear tire slip/slide in any way around corners or during acceleration despite riding in less than perfect conditions. As with the Attack front tire, the Force rear tire was very cut resistant. The 5 ply / 430tpi casing held up to glass, sand, scoria rock on and off of paved roads. Unfortunately due to the Force tire being rear specific and directional, rotation of the tires to increase use is out of the question. After 1500 miles the tire is starting to show the affects of not being rotated.
Overall impression:
After riding the matched set of GP Attack / Force tires for 1500 miles, I would definitely use them to train and race in adverse conditions as well as dry conditions. The tread on both maximize the tires? capability despite the fact that they can not be rotated to extend the life of the tires to the fullest. Despite that fact, they are a great, long lasting pair of tires. I could easily put another 1500 miles on them without a problem. They both have superior cut resistance. I never encountered a flat due to puncture, or a tire cut despite riding through glass, sand, and scoria rock.
If a racer was looking for a good tire set for ?Roubaix? type races, I would definitely recommend the GP Attack / Force tires. I live in Wyoming and have to start and finish my rides on a short dirt road. I have never had trouble with the set of tires off road. The set is slightly heavier than a race specific tire, but I would not have any second thoughts about using this set for racing.
Anyone who has ever used Continental tires knows they are of high quality and reliable.
It seems they have once again produced a superior and much needed product.
Click here to buy the Continental GP tires online.
Visit Continental online at http://www.conti-online.com/.
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