Continental believes a comfortable tyre is a fast tyre – which is why the GP5000 now comes in a 32c width and is constructed with Active Comfort Technology to help smooth the sharpest shocks from the roughest roads.

I had also used Conti Gator Skins on my Old Touring bike from 2004 until it was replaced in January 2016.

Similarly to the AS TR, the GP5000 TT TR features a BlackChili compound and other Continental tyre technologies to make the tyre durable and grippy in all conditions. When I read that it was going to be just like the 4000s ll's but lighter, faster, more puncture resistant and grippier, I didn't believe it.

For all the performance, they offer pretty decent puncture resistance, and about average durability. Choose the GP5000AS for maximum protection in all-weather conditions, complimenting Conti's already established GP4Season as a tubeless alternative. It offers more grip, puncture resistance, and better durability than the hugely popular Grand Prix 5000 S TR.Nevertheless, where the GP 4 Season tyre leans more towards a sturdy build, the AS TR would appear to favour speed and grip over sheer resilience. Vectran is spun from the melted liquid polymer Vectra and processed further to a multi-strand thread.

The tread puncture resistance is only slightly higher than the 5000 S TR ( read our review), and you still have to rely on tubeless sealant to seal small punctures. Ilya Kuznetsov Perfect tyres, easy to mount, much higher speed and puncture resistance comparing to my previous maxxis dolomites. The Continental Grand Prix 5000 AS TR tyre launched in early 2023, promising improved wet-weather grip and overall longevity versus the brand’s GP5000 S TR tyre.

Whether that is a function of the new elastomer layer or the supple casing, it's a welcome improvement over the somewhat harsh-riding 4000. With the 28mm tyre weighing in at 235g, this is a lightweight race tyre designed with speed in mind (the 25mm version is 35g lighter than the equivalently sized Continental’s Grand Prix 5000 S TR).