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    Replace tire?


    This is my back GP5000 STR. I got a bad cut, and I've patched it since then and has been holding (300km so far). The tire only has 4000km. For what is worth, I have it setup as tubeless. Should I replace it?

    This is the second big glass cut in 1.5 months, and it has a lot of smaller ones. There is a lot of glass where I ride. Any alternatives to GP5000 STR, that are more resistant but still fast? I love how these tires feel, but I can't be changing tires every 3/4 months.

    by juanrc_UY

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    9 Comments

    2. ThresholdCycling on

      Yep, I’d replace it. When that breaks open it’ll likely be too much for the sealant to be effective.

      GP5000s are great tires; good puncture resistance and a fast roller. Definitely not cheap though. I’m personally partial to Pirelli P Zeros…been riding those for a few years. Not as good as your Continentals, but a bit easier on the wallet.

      Your real challenge is finding the holy grail of low resistance and high puncture protection. The Specialized S-Works Turbo RapidAir 2BR might be an option for you. GP5000 might be slightly better in rolling resistance, but the puncture protection should be a little better (for slightly less $$). I’ve never personally tried these tires, just what I’ve read.

      The Schwalbe Pro One TLE Adddix Race is another option. Good puncture resistance, though I understand the tire isn’t as supple as the Continental. This would be around the same price as the GPs.

      The Vittoria Corsa Pro TLR G2.0 is supposed to be a really supple/grippy tire with the best puncture resistance Vittoria offers. It’s also more expensive than the GPs (although a few places have them on sale).

      As you can tell, a lot of this comes down to what you are willing to trade. Speed and suppleness comes at the cost of weight and speed (and with that protection). If you really want to nerd out, hit [this site](https://www.bicyclerollingresistance.com/road-bike-reviews).

      Are you wed to race tires? If you really want to stop the punctures you could also look at the Hutchinson Challenger. It’s NOT a race tire, but it will help keep your tires from getting cut up from all the glass. This tire falls in the all-purpose category and is much easier on the wallet (but you’ll take a hit on speed).

      It’ll be a few weeks before I add tires to my store, but I do have access to several of the above mentioned brands/models if any are of interest to you. I try not to shill my business too much here, so message me if you want to discuss further.

    3. HOTAS105 on

      Eh, I’ve ridden several scars like that for another 1-2k km without issues but I also rarely ever have flats.if you want the peace of mind just replace it. 4k km is ok mileage unless you’re strapped for cash

    4. Heziris on

      tl;dr: The cut itself doen’t necessary look fatal, but you said you have a lot of glass where you ride, so the next one may not be as small. Probably replace it with something more resistant.

      I say it’s not fatal, because I have ridden thousands of km in a similar state, with some duct tape on the inside for structural integrity (clinchers). You said you have patched it, I’d wager it will hold. I have only switched to tubeless recently, so I cannot comment on that personally, but I have seen it be able to seal impressive leaks.

    6. Roubaix62454 on

      If I were riding in an area with a lot of glass like you’ve described, my take would be slightly different. You say you can’t change tires every 3-4 months. Why not? I’d be looking at tire condition and the mileage I’ve gotten out of them at that point. Tires are consumables. There’s no set rules of how long they should last. You get what you get. If you like your GP5Ks, stick with them and change when needed.

      The first set of tubeless GP 5Ks I had on my Domane looked better than yours at 2000+ miles. I ride crappy country roads, but don’t have to deal with much debris on them.

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