For a set of clinchers to race on, is there any real difference between these or does it simply come down to personal preference? Most shops I see locally carry one or the other, or both, to sell to the tri community as a race tire.
I used all of the above
The Pro 2 Race: really fast, but very slippery in wet conditions,
pro 3race: As fast, maybe a bit faster than the pro2, but much better handling
4000S:feels a little bit faster than the pro3, much better cornering especially in wet conditions than the pro3
note that the 4000S has improved a lot over the old 4000
.
What about flatting out? I got a set of the Pro3’s and they are great but I seem to flat out every other time I’m out riding. I put the Vittorias back on and they feel like I’m peddling through soup but I don’t get flats with them.
Continental Ultra Gatorskin Folding Road Tire
Continental Grand Prix 4 Season Road Tire
Michelin Pro 3 Race Road Tire
Price $53.99 $66.99 $62.99
Bead Kevlar - Folding Kevlar - Folding Kevlar - Folding
Max. PSI 120 120 116
Size(s) 700c x 23 700c x 23; 700c x 25 700c x 23
TPI 170 430 127
Weight 230g 220g; 250g 200g
I never race on anything but the Continental Ultra Gatorskin. I see to many people on the side of the road during races to chance anything else. It is at most a one ounce weight difference and I can’t notice a big enough riding/speed difference to make it worth any risk of a flat.
According the the data on biketechreview, the pro 2, pro 3 and 4000 are pretty close. However, a pro 2 Light is faster and can save on order of 7-8 watts on the road.
I have run Conti 4000 and now the 4000S almost exclusively. Knock on wood but in 3 years I have never had a flat. I have heard anecdotal evidence that the the Michelin’s flat more frequently but I think if you always inflate your tires before a ride you will significantly decrease your chances of flatting with any tire.
I just put a new set of 4000S on my bike. I will say that I felt a little more sluggish on a brand new tire so give them a few rides before you make a final determination (this is probably true for all tires). In wet conditions I have always felt that the Conti’s handled great.
ran pro2’s for a few years and loved the handling and road feel.
very low perceived rolling resistance, quick to spin up.
now that they are a bit harder to find, i’ve had to gradually
replace them as they cut very easily and ended up with ultra
gators - mostly bomb-proof but quite ‘dead’ feeling compared
to the pro2’s. wanted pro3’s but they were $$$$ and hard to
find when i needed them(of course, now every shop has them
and they’re still expensive locally. /me → probikekit, cheap,
but not fast)
my QR Caliente came with conti ultra race 23’s stock and i am
not happy with the cornering abilities(not particularly sticky,
and the profile feels like it’s not well ‘planted’ when deep in
switchbacks. i’m about to try the new force/attack chili combo
so i’ll post when i’ve broken them in a bit. i will be trying the
pro3’s on the road bike(kestrel 200ems) this spring(jan/feb)…
I had a very fast former GF who had a similar aversion to flats. She always raced on Ultra Gatorskins (650x23) and among many AG wins, she bagged a win and a second at IMC in her AG…so the tire is fast enough.
TP