Continental Grand Prix Urban tyres grip in the wet?

[BikeGremlin]

A question I got in the comment section of the video "Slick, high-quality tyres are surprisingly FAST! ", where I discussed Continental Grand Prix Urban tyres (Amazon affiliate link):

How are they in the wet?

I just received a pair but I am hearing stories about bad wet grip.

How long have you been using them?

That's a good question worth answering here, where anyone (including me) can find it more easily in the future (YouTube "eats" comments).

 

[BikeGremlin]

Hearing stories about bad wet grip?

Short answer​

These are very good commuting and paved road riding tyres.

A longer answer with explanations why​

I've been riding these tyres on my commuter bike daily for over a year, in all kinds of weather (except in the snow and ice when I mount some studded winter tyres).

Compared to "road racing" tyres (like Continental Grand Prix 5000), Continental Grand Prix Urban tyres don't grip as well. I wouldn't call that a "bad grip" (both in the wet and in the dry). It's just a commuting slick tyre, so a bit more durability and puncture protection compared to road racing tyres, but at the cost of the supreme grip.

Compared to many (most?) other commuting tyres, on the other hand, the Grand Prix Urpan tyres are very fast and gripp pretty well, even (or especially) in the wet.

Likewise, compared to high end knobby tyres (like Continental Race King - Amazon affiliate link), the Urban's are super grippy in the wet.

Of course, being slick tyres, they don't grip very well on (wet) grass, in the mud, snow and similar (neither do the road racing GP 5000 tyres though).

P.S.
It is also fair to note that when it is wet and cold, on paved roads, Continental Grand Prix 4 Season (Amazon affiliate link) are even better than the "racy" Grand Prix 5000 and similar (which, in turn, are better when it's hot).

Hope this helps - looking forward to hearing about your experience with these.

Relja

 

[BikeGremlin]

Note that these tyres do not seem to be very durable:

https://bike.bikegremlin.com/22970/continental-grand-prix-urban-tyre-review/

 

[mms]

Of course, being slick tyres, they don't grip very well on (wet) grass, in the mud, snow and similar (neither do the road racing GP 5000 tyres though).

All Grand Prix named tyres from Continental are made for road races — including the Conti GP Urban. I don't see anything different there than a GP 5000 in 35-622.

 

[mms]

The Conti Contact Urban is a sibling but also quite different. It's about 200 grams heavier in 42-584 than the Grand Prix Urban in 35-622. But it's also more puncture resistant and longer lasting. It's a touring tyre but amongst them one of the fastest and most comfortable. I have it on the bike of my wife.