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Continental Grand Prix 4 Season for packed dirt roads?

by Charles-Antoine
Tue, Feb 10, 2015 18:45
8

My rides are about 60% paved roads and 40% dirt roads. Most dirt roads are hard packed, no problem here. But sometimes, I will get 1 or 2 kilometers or loose gravel mixed with dirt.

I have been using Vittoria Randonneur 700x28mm tires for years. I loved them. But their maximum PSI is 85 and I wanted to try something a bit firmer. And also, they are harder and harder to get in Canada (not sure why...).

Last fall I installed a pair of Specialized Armadillo Elite 700x25mm tires. Really good tires, works great of paved road and packed dirt roads. But since their minimum PSI is 110, it shakes way too much when riding on a loose gravel. Of course I slow down considerably when riding in loose gravel/dirt, but even when riding slowly the ride is still way too shaky. Not fun.

I was thinking about the Continental Grand Prix 4 Season 700x25mm tires. Their PSI range is 95 to 120 which seems perfect for me (something like 95 PSI in the front and 105 PSI in the back).

But I’m wondering if the Continental Grand Prix 4 Season tires have enough grip for dirt roads? I’m not expecting miracle in loose gravel, but it needs something that works well on packed dirt roads.

Did anyone tried them on dirt roads?

Thanks.

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8 comments

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Charles-Antoine | 10 years ago
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Thanks folks

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corroded | 10 years ago
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Having just cycled a 35km gravel road (mostly descent) in Australia on a pair of 4 Seasons I reckon I've got some first-hand experience: they stood up well. I was most concerned about durability but there aren't any nicks or cuts. Grip on the hard-packed stretches was good, less so in loose gravel (corners especially) but unless you're on proper CX tyres I wouldn't expect any different. I'd definitely advise 28mm - I was running them at 80 PSI for a bit of extra comfort, which counted in the washboard sections.
However, my first choice tyre remains Panaracer Gravel Kings… when they're available.

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Redvee | 10 years ago
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I put my Conti GP 4Seasons through all sorts, mud, water and even tarmac. Obviously when riding through 2" deep mud the traction slips a little but nothing I don't expect. I ruin 25s on the siingle speed and 28s on the CX bike.

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hampstead_bandit | 10 years ago
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I run Conti 4-seasons in 28c on my endurance bike (Defy) and run them around 90psi which suits my 11.5 stone perfectly.

I've done a number of forays off-road on 'fireroads' and other gravel surfaces and they seem well behaved as long as you are gentle with control input

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joemmo | 10 years ago
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For the kind of riding you describe then I think you'd be best of sticking with 28s. A thinner, harder tyre is probably not going to be faster on that kind of road. For the record I use a 28 continental gatorskin (similar tread to 4 seasons) on my cross/commute bike and find it is fine on gravel and packed stone, just a bit skiddy on surface mud but manageable.

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Olionabike | 10 years ago
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I have one on my pub bike. Handles tow paths fine

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meursault replied to Olionabike | 10 years ago
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Olionabike wrote:

I have one on my pub bike. Handles tow paths fine

You have a pub bike? That's the coolest thing I have heard today. n+1 taken to the max... 4

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Tinternet_tim | 10 years ago
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I have them on my commute bike and can't fault them. One of my routes to work is through a park and includes hard packed gravel which can be a little muddy with puddles. Again, never had any problems.

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