Continental GP5000 32mm Tested as a Gravel Tire

I just saw the BRR test of the Continental GP5000 32mm as a gravel tire.  Whats interesting is that at Gravel pressures it is not the fastest tire.  It also is only 1 watt lower than a 35mm Terra Speed.  In light of these results, I don't know why you would use a slick tire for gravel when you can have knobs and only give up 1 watt.   It also highlights how fast the Challenge Strada Bianca really is.   I guess if you ride a lot of pavement mixed with smooth gravel (or rail trail) and keep the tires pumped up pretty high it might benefit you.  

https://www.bicyclerollingresistance.com/cx-gravel-reviews/continental-grand-prix-5000-tl-32

I've ridden the 32 mm GP5000 (tube type) and the 36 mm SBP.  Both seem fast but I can ride the SBP at much lower pressures so it's much more comfortable and feels more stable on rough surfaces.  BRR measured the SBP 5.1 mm wider and 23 g heavier than the GP5000.

I've never ridden the Terra Speed but I've seen several reviews which mentioned short tread life.  BRR measured the 35 mm Terra Speed 1.8 mm narrower and 15 g lighter than the 36 mm SBP and rated the Terra Speed puncture protection significantly lower.

Thanks for posting that, as I was about to buy a set of GP5000s for hardpack roads!  I am really surprised that at gravel pressure, the fastest wide road tires don't offer much over the fastest gravel tires and give road tires give up grip and puncture resistance, its a no brainer for me to simply ride with the Terra Speeds all the time.

None of my road tires grip well off road.  But all of my road tires are far more puncture resistant than any of my gravel tires.  I've had maybe 20 punctures in the last 5 years, all but one with gravel tires.  And that one was from a nail which went through both the top and bottom of the tube.  Those punctures have all been in the tread so I can't comment on sidewall punctures.

I had planned on ordering a pair and now I'm unsure. I run a 650b wheelset for actual gravel, but around home most roads are hardpack dirt, the bike paths are paved and crushed stone, and I do a fair amount of road riding with my 700c wheelset. Additionally I use the Feedback Sports roller/trainer thing with this bike and want a quiet tire. The GP5000 seems like it would be well-suited to this and last longer than the Strada Bianca on the trainer. My concern is how hard it will be to mount them. I'm currently running GK SS+ and haven't tried them on the trainer for noise. 

My only complaint with this test is that it was done with a 17.8mm inner width rim. It seems strange to use something so narrow for a gravel tire test, but it looks like that is what they use for all tests. I'm sure the tire would be wider on my 25mm rims.    

Om my 25mm (inside) rime the 32 mm GP5000 measures about 34 mm and the 36 mm SBP measures about 38 mm.

So far I have around 900 miles on my SBP.  This is mostly road with a lot of climbing.  The front looks new and the rear is still showing some of the fine herringbone tread even in the center.  I wouldn't worry about tread life.

The SBP is definitely difficult to mount the first time. It does relax and remounting on the road is easy.

bender16v wrote:I had planned on ordering a pair and now I'm unsure. I run a 650b wheelset for actual gravel, but around home most roads are hardpack dirt, the bike paths are paved and crushed stone, and I do a fair amount of road riding with my 700c wheelset. Additionally I use the Feedback Sports roller/trainer thing with this bike and want a quiet tire. The GP5000 seems like it would be well-suited to this and last longer than the Strada Bianca on the trainer. My concern is how hard it will be to mount them. I'm currently running GK SS+ and haven't tried them on the trainer for noise. 

My only complaint with this test is that it was done with a 17.8mm inner width rim. It seems strange to use something so narrow for a gravel tire test, but it looks like that is what they use for all tests. I'm sure the tire would be wider on my 25mm rims.    

Apparently there's a new version of the GP5000 coming out (not sure when) that's easier to mount. I like those tires with tubes and have been wanting to try the tubeless version, so fingers crossed. 

Thanks for posting!  Ok, it took me a while and a fair amount of work, but I found the flaw in this test.  

Look at this chart I made from BRR (I'm using 60 psi for my baseline).

28mm + butyl = 14.2 watts
25mm s-tr + sealant = 11.8 watts
25mm TL + selant = 11.6 watts
25mm + latex = 11.8 watts
28mm + latex = 10.9 watts
32mm + latex = 10.3 watts
32mm TL + butyl = 15.7 (avg 66 & 55 psi)

Putting a butyl tire tire on a TL tire is not efficient - especially at low pressure. Looks to me you are losing 5.4 watts (certainly more than 3 watts) even at 60psi.

This test is worthless for most of us (sorry to disappoint).  But a tubeless tire with sealant in it is not going to be as inefficient as this test (heck, if you need a tube & to be efficient, at least use latex);  

I CX, but no, I don't put a tube in a tubeless tire for CX - not to say they don't in Germany ;-)  

Between 60 and 40 psi, tubeless, I'm gonna call a rolling resistance between 10-14 watts.  Nothing like what is in that table.

John wrote:Thanks for posting that, as I was about to buy a set of GP5000s for hardpack roads!  I am really surprised that at gravel pressure, the fastest wide road tires don't offer much over the fastest gravel tires and give road tires give up grip and puncture resistance, its a no brainer for me to simply ride with the Terra Speeds all the time.

ljsmith wrote:I just saw the BRR test of the Continental GP5000 32mm as a gravel tire.  Whats interesting is that at Gravel pressures it is not the fastest tire.  It also is only 1 watt lower than a 35mm Terra Speed.  In light of these results, I don't know why you would use a slick tire for gravel when you can have knobs and only give up 1 watt.   It also highlights how fast the Challenge Strada Bianca really is.   I guess if you ride a lot of pavement mixed with smooth gravel (or rail trail) and keep the tires pumped up pretty high it might benefit you.  

https://www.bicyclerollingresistance.com/cx-gravel-reviews/continental-grand-prix-5000-tl-32

References:
https://www.bicyclerollingresistance.com/cx-gravel-reviews/continental-grand-prix-5000-tl-32
https://www.bicyclerollingresistance.com/specials/grand-prix-5000-comparison#rrlatex
https://www.bicyclerollingresistance.com/road-bike-reviews/continental-grand-prix-5000-tl-2018
https://www.bicyclerollingresistance.com/road-bike-reviews/continental-grand-prix-5000-s-tr
https://www.bicyclerollingresistance.com/road-bike-reviews/continental-grand-prix-5000-2018

my 32mm 5000 TL is a LOT faster than my terraspeed.    I use them when I am doing a mix of asphalt and hard pack (and realistically my gravel bike is fast enough to do road races on with these tires).

Rolling resistance

15.7 Watts Challenge Strada Bianca Pro HTLR
17.0 Watts Continental Terra Speed TR (Protection) 35
10.3 Watts Conti 5000 32mm TL  (as the 25mm is the same with latex or tubeless, I'm assuming the 32mm will show similar results).

the above measurements are at 60psi, as that is all that is available, without putting a resistant tube in a tire that holds air without any inner tube.  

ljsmith wrote:It also is only 1 watt lower than a 35mm Terra Speed.  In light of these results, I don't know why you would use a slick tire for gravel when you can have knobs and only give up 1 watt.  

bender16v wrote:My concern is how hard it will be to mount them. I'm currently running GK SS+ and haven't tried them on the trainer for noise. 

Jumbo wrote:
Apparently there's a new version of the GP5000 coming out (not sure when) that's easier to mount. I like those tires with tubes and have been wanting to try the tubeless version, so fingers crossed. 

The new version is out now, and I don't think you can buy the old version.

Although the "performance" is the same according to BRR (not 20% faster as conti says), there are some significant changes:
- It is the first tire to conform to the new (top secret) Tubeless Road Tire standards*.  While conti says you can run either of these hookless under 5 bar, the new one is reported to be a LOT easier to mount (thank goodness)
- The tires are no longer tubeless, but are tubeless ready - meaning they will not hold air without sealant (IMHO, this is a good thing).
- Oddly, the construction has changed:

• New TR tire: the 3x110 ply only applies to the sidewall, the tread has 2x110 tpi. 
• The older TL tire was 3x60tpi which made my tires harder to tear (good) but easier for a small puncture (irrelevant with sealant).   
• The road tire is 3x110 tpi on the tread, and 2x110 on the sidewalls (which made me a bit nervous for gravel, as most of my tears are in the sidewall, with punctures in the tread).x

Interestingly, as hookless always has had a 5 bar limit, that is the limit for hookless on 23, 25, 28, 30 & 32mm.  Wonder if that is why they changed the construction.

*that standard doesn't really make any difference unless your wheel and tire both comply, but good luck getting info on that.  Fingers crossed. 
  

John wrote:its a no brainer for me to simply ride with the Terra Speeds all the time.

stu wrote:I've never ridden the Terra Speed but I've seen several reviews which mentioned short tread life.  BRR measured the 35 mm Terra Speed 1.8 mm narrower and 15 g lighter than the 36 mm SBP and rated the Terra Speed puncture protection significantly lower.

Well, I can't ride the terra speed all the time as they wear out so crazy fast (maybe not if you only ride gravel, but I ride a mix).  

They are the fastest treaded tire (according to BRR), but for better tread life and puncture protection, I'm thinking the Pirelli Cinturato Gravel H, or the Michelin Power Gravel are a better choice (for me) as the difference in rolling resistance is negligible.  

chas wrote:

The new version is out now, and I don't think you can buy the old version.

Although the "performance" is the same according to BRR (not 20% faster as conti says), there are some significant changes:
- It is the first tire to conform to the new (top secret) Tubeless Road Tire standards*.  While conti says you can run either of these hookless under 5 bar, the new one is reported to be a LOT easier to mount (thank goodness)
- The tires are no longer tubeless, but are tubeless ready - meaning they will not hold air without sealant (IMHO, this is a good thing).
- Oddly, the construction has changed:

• New TR tire: the 3x110 ply only applies to the sidewall, the tread has 2x110 tpi. 
• The older TL tire was 3x60tpi which made my tires harder to tear (good) but easier for a small puncture (irrelevant with sealant).   
• The road tire is 3x110 tpi on the tread, and 2x110 on the sidewalls (which made me a bit nervous for gravel, as most of my tears are in the sidewall, with punctures in the tread).x

Interestingly, as hookless always has had a 5 bar limit, that is the limit for hookless on 23, 25, 28, 30 & 32mm.  Wonder if that is why they changed the construction.

*that standard doesn't really make any difference unless your wheel and tire both comply, but good luck getting info on that.  Fingers crossed. 
  

Good stuff--thanks!

Anecdotally, I've found that the tubed version of the GP5000 is also quite a bit faster than the Terra Speed, at least on asphalt.

chas wrote:... for better tread life and puncture protection, I'm thinking the Pirelli Cinturato Gravel H, or the Michelin Power Gravel are a better choice (for me) as the difference in rolling resistance is negligible.

I've been happy with the 45 mm Cinturato Gravel H for off road riding.  They're big, comfortable, have a little tread, and roll pretty well but are on the heavy side.  Mine have no noticeable wear after about 250 miles.

I'm shocked that if you run a road tire at basically flat pressure it doesn't roll well.  

Volsung wrote:I'm shocked that if you run a road tire at basically flat pressure it doesn't roll well.  

Flat pressure?  The Tyre wiz app says I should run 52psi in a 32mm tire.  In the test it was rated at 44psi for gravel use.  Dropping 8psi isn’t exactly flat pressure and sounds appropriate for using a slick tire on gravel.  Even at 55psi it’s not blowing away either the Terra Speed or Challenge SBP.

I'm shocked that if you run a road tire at basically flat pressure it doesn't roll well.  

It helps if it is not just a road tire, but a tubeless road, with a butyl lining so it will hold air, then put the slowest butyl inner tube in it just to see how inefficient you can make it.  Then you let most of the air out.   ;-)

that is how you increase the rolling resistance by 50%

(and even still, it is on of the fastest tires out there).

ljsmith wrote:

Flat pressure?  The Tyre wiz app says I should run 52psi in a 32mm tire.  In the test it was rated at 44psi for gravel use.  Dropping 8psi isn’t exactly flat pressure and sounds appropriate for using a slick tire on gravel.  Even at 55psi it’s not blowing away either the Terra Speed or Challenge SBP.

They tested it down to 33 psi with a simulated 188 pound rider though.  As a sometimes 188 pound rider that would feel awful squirmy.

Volsung wrote:They tested it down to 33 psi with a simulated 188 pound rider though.  As a sometimes 188 pound rider that would feel awful squirmy.

I think the premises - which invalidates the test for most of us - is that you are racing CX, and need a tube so the tire does not burp, and need to run it at extreme low pressure.    (My last cross race I was at 17psi and it was squirmy).  I can't imagine ever choosing a small slick on any of the CX courses I've been on.  For road/gravel,  I'll happily use this tire on my mixed courses that are 1/2 road 1/2 summer smooth hardpack.   I'll go down to 40psi (front) for that stuff.  

ljsmith wrote:
Flat pressure?  The Tyre wiz app says I should run 52psi in a 32mm tire.  In the test it was rated at 44psi for gravel use.  Dropping 8psi isn’t exactly flat pressure and sounds appropriate for using a slick tire on gravel.  Even at 55psi it’s not blowing away either the Terra Speed or Challenge SBP.

Correct, 55 is a reasonable pressure.

But actually, it does blow away the other tires (speaking from experience)
I ride those conditions, and they blow away myTerra Speed.
BRR Tested RR at 55-60psi, for two tires:
20.6 Watts  - GP5000 32mm
35.8 Watts - Terraspeed

15 watts is noticeable when I'm running hard.  
Its 20+ watts when I'm running really hard.

That is on a smoothish surface, but (obviously) on gravel (not the smooth stuff), tire volume and lower PSI of a high volume tire is going to negate anything in this test.

John wrote:... its a no brainer for me to simply ride with the Terra Speeds all the time.

I spent this past September riding Terra Speed 40mm tires in Spain. First Girona, then Andalucia. I would have liked to have my road wheels along, especially for the Terra De Remences grand fondo, but I was consistently impressed with how fast they were, and how well they handled the Girona singletrack and very lumpy gravel in the Alpujarra. 

Then there are the Panaracer slicks 32 (35s and 38s) which are by far the fastest gravel tire I've run (I've tried everything mentioned above and more). At $50, they are the gravel champs. Nothing even compares.

As a side note, I've never ridden them in mud conditions but if it's dry, I've never had a traction problem cornering or steep climbs.