Continental has launched the Grand Prix TR, a new mid-tier tubeless-ready tyre with technology trickled down from the highly rated (and more expensive) Grand Prix 5000 range.
The Black Chili compound is the common component, which Continental says offers a competitive blend of grip and rolling resistance.
Under this, a new four-ply construction has been developed, which the brand claims delivers strong puncture protection without adding excess weight.
With a price tag of £54.95 / $67.95 / €61.95, the Grand Prix TR is firmly in the ballpark of other mid-priced all-season tubeless tyres. As a result, this could be a compelling option for riders looking for a tyre that combines both performance and value.
Previous form
Continental has previous form here – for its top-of-the-range Grand Prix 5000 tyres, it has played with the number of plies depending on the purpose.
A two-ply construction is used in the raciest TT TR (chiefly for reduced rolling resistance and weight), three plies in the all-round S TR race tyre, and four in the all-season leaning AS TR (which is the brand’s flagship all-season option).
Given there are also four plies used in the Grand Prix TR’s casing, it’s reasonable to view the tyre as an all-season or ‘endurance’ type tyre, rather than simply a cheaper race tyre.
Continental asserts that the casing is “completely new”, with a lower 60 TPI (threads-per-inch) count. This is lower than the Grand Prix 5000 range (120 TPI).
The tread pattern also appears lightly modified compared to that seen on the top-tier tyres, which could be a nod to the Grand Prix TR’s endurance focus – perhaps for a relative gain in grip or tyre life – but this remains to be seen.
For its money, the brand says it's "inspired by" the Lazer Grip pattern seen on its premium tyres.
Stiff competition
The Grand Prix TR's price of £54.95 / $67.95 / €61.95 pitches it against some stiff competition in the mid-range tubeless market. The excellent Specialized S-Works Mondo (£50 / $70 / €80) and impressive Teravail Telegraph ‘Durable’ (£48 / $75) tyres are two such examples from our most recent all-season tyre testing.
The Grand Prix TR tyre is available in 700x25, 28, 30 and 32c variants, and with black or ‘transparent’ (tan) sidewalls. Claimed weights start from 310g for a 700x25c tyre, according to Continental.
The brand says all these tyres are compatible with hookless rims.
Clincher options
Fans of clincher setups are also catered for with a tube-type specific version of the Grand Prix TR – naturally, 'TR' will be dropped from the moniker (TR traditionally stands for ‘tubeless-ready’).
Continental says the Grand Prix clincher tyre will feature the same carcass, but with a three-ply design. This is likely intended to offset the presence of an inner tube.
The Grand Prix 5000 clincher remains at the head of Continental's tube-type tyre range.
These are available in 700x28 and 30c sizes, both in black and ‘transparent’ sidewalls, and will cost £40.95 / $53.95 / €45.95 apiece.
