Continental’s premium road tyre, the Grand Prix 5000, has a new variant named the Continental Grand Prix 5000 Transparent.
Despite road tyre fashionistas loving the tan-wall or skin-wall look, Continental has never really had a foot in that door as the GP5000, and its benchmark-setting predecessor, the GP4000S II has only ever been available in black, save that is for a limited edition tan-wall available during the 2020 Tour de France (which, of course, completely sold out).
That limited model, with its very pale sidewalls, was only ever available in 25mm sizing. It was also heavier than the standard 5000 as the coloured wall was actually a layer of rubber.
The new Transparent uses a colourless ‘adapted construction’ in the sidewalls, according to Continental, and that allows the natural golden-brown of the nylon carcass to show through.
In the flesh, our test sample set of 28mm tyres have a rich, almost biscuit-like colour to the sidewalls (darker than last year's limited edition model) that reflect light in a near-metallic way. It’s all rather nice.
While they certainly aren’t in any way transparent, hold them up to the light and they’re very much translucent, as you can see below.
Continental states the new Transparent version weighs the same as the standard GP5000.
Our sister magazine, Cycling Plus, has a test of the best road bike tyres in its March issue (on sale now) and the sample set of 5000 clinchers in 28mm width weighs in at 241g. On our scales, the Transparent weighs in at 247.7g – well within Continental’s tolerances.
It still uses Conti’s latest Black Chilli compound and, compared to the excellent 4000S II before it, that makes for a claimed 12 per cent reduction in rolling resistance, 20 per cent better puncture protection, and a 10g drop in weight. Continental also claims the 5000 improves comfort over the previous generation tyre too.
In terms of price, the Transparent is exactly the same as the standard edition, so that’s a recommended retail price of £59.99 per tyre. It’s available as a 700c tyre in 25mm and 28mm widths.
We asked Continental if they had plans for a tubeless version (it’s tube-only at the moment) and, while the company is currently holding its cards close to its chest, our source wouldn’t deny it’s not in their plans for the (near) future.
