Continental Attack/Force combo vs. GP4000s (Or the new s ii if you prefer), both with latex tubes and race lite tubes.
What would be the watts difference between the various combinations? And how much are you giving up moving from latex tubes to the race lite as a general rule?
Assume a pre Firecrest 808 front, and a pre Firecrest 404 rear with a cover.
John
Hard to say, CRR results on the attack have been inconsistent. Some people found it a little worse than the 4000S, some a little better. But then the attack is also a slight aero advantage as well.
I think the attack/force combo is an excellent choice overall, better CRR on the rear tire for sure than the 4000S, maybe better up front too, and more aero up front. Plus they still have a flat protection layer, so a pretty safe tire to run if fairly new.
Latex tubes are saving you 2-4 watts
Hard to say, CRR results on the attack have been inconsistent. Some people found it a little worse than the 4000S, some a little better. But then the attack is also a slight aero advantage as well.
I think the attack/force combo is an excellent choice overall, better CRR on the rear tire for sure than the 4000S, maybe better up front too, and more aero up front. Plus they still have a flat protection layer, so a pretty safe tire to run if fairly new.
Latex tubes are saving you 2-4 watts
Thanks, Jack.
I haven’t been able to find a chart to compare them. I like the security of the flat layer and the race lite, so if I’m only giving up a couple watts, I’m ok with that for now.
John
Hard to say, CRR results on the attack have been inconsistent. Some people found it a little worse than the 4000S, some a little better. But then the attack is also a slight aero advantage as well.
I think the attack/force combo is an excellent choice overall, better CRR on the rear tire for sure than the 4000S, maybe better up front too, and more aero up front. Plus they still have a flat protection layer, so a pretty safe tire to run if fairly new.
Latex tubes are saving you 2-4 watts
Couple of things:
the Attack is may or may not be more aero. Depends on the wheel, and the yaw angle. There are data out there that show each to be faster than the other…
supposedly, the aerodynamics of the Attack goes down quickly as the tire wears–less so on the 4000S.
all of the Conti’s seem pretty inconsistent wrt Crr. None of the 4000S tires have tested as fast for me as I’ve seen on the interwebs (not even really that close). The Attack tested really fast, the Force is the second fastest clincher I’ve tested (though fitment may be an issue–it was huge). So, short of testing the actual tire to be used, there’s a lot of guesswork involved. If I had to guess though, I’d go w/the Attack/Force combo and make sure the front is “race only” so it doesn’t lose its profile.
Install properly, the latex tube may provide more security from flats.
I haven’t been able to find a chart to compare them. I like the security of the flat layer and the race lite, so if I’m only giving up a couple watts, I’m ok with that for now.
John
Have tried the combos you are asking about.
The Attack/Force combo rolls really fast and smooth when new. It did feel a bit faster on rougher roads but very little in it I’d say. However the Force squares off sooner than the gp4000s and becomes much more puncture prone.
The Attack seemd to retain its shape for 1000s of kms. It is a narrow tire and blends better with my front rim.
I currently use a gp4000s/attack combo.
Hey Jack, is that resilience to pinch flats? Had 2 pinch flats using 23mm GP4000s last summer with regular tubes pumped up to ~110psi - both times hit a pothole hard at speed (was racing in a pack, if it had been a non-drafting event I’d have been able to avoid). Normally race on latex tubes and never had a pinch, but LBS was sold out of them and I needed new tubes at short notice. Was wondering whether it was just coincidence.
Possibly yes. Also possibly less likely to flat from tiny punctures, and sealant will work better, if you use sealant.
Hey Jack, is that resilience to pinch flats? Had 2 pinch flats using 23mm GP4000s last summer with regular tubes pumped up to ~110psi - both times hit a pothole hard at speed (was racing in a pack, if it had been a non-drafting event I’d have been able to avoid). Normally race on latex tubes and never had a pinch, but LBS was sold out of them and I needed new tubes at short notice. Was wondering whether it was just coincidence.
That’s been my experience, and it makes sense from a materials property standpoint (latex having higher elasticity).