Road Bike Tire Test: Continental Grand Prix TR 28
Contents and Test Summary
- Introduction
- Manufacturer Specifications
- Size, Weight, Thickness
- Rolling Resistance: 13.7 Watts
- Puncture Resistance: 52 Points
- Static Wet Grip: 86 Points
- Conclusion: 4.8 / 5 Highly Recommended
- Comments
- Continental Grand Prix TR 28
(100% is best)
The first tubeless road bike tires emerged about 10 years ago, and at that time, no one could have anticipated that they would eventually replace both tube-type and tubular tires as the most popular high-end road bike tires. Continental took a bit longer to introduce a tubeless road bike tire, but their Grand Prix 5000 TL (read our review), introduced in 2018, can be seen as a turning point in the history of tubeless road bike tires.
We also notice that the latest tubeless road bike tires are increasingly more expensive, which is why we are excited about the new Continental Grand Prix TR, which aims to make tubeless road bike tires more mainstream with its more affordable price. Of course, we are all familiar with the classic tube-type Continental Grand Prix, which has been available for some time as not only a budget-friendly alternative to Continental's Grand Prix 4000/5000, but also a tire renowned for its durability.
The new tubeless-ready Grand Prix TR builds upon the classic Grand Prix, and we see a tire that is somewhat heavier, sturdier, and thicker than Conti's high-end road bike tires. To keep costs low, the Grand Prix TR features a simpler 4-layer casing (4 layers under the tread, 3-layer sidewalls) with no extra anti-puncture strip under the tread.
Like the classic Continental Grand Prix, the Grand Prix TR features Continental's high-end BlackChili compound, which is also the most interesting aspect of this tire, as the compound is the most critical component of any tire. Whereas the classic Grand Prix was "made in Germany," the new Grand Prix TR comes from a different factory, marking the first time the BlackChili compound appears on a tire manufactured outside of Germany.
Examining the specifications, we observe that the Grand Prix TR is significantly heavier than the Grand Prix 5000 S TR, with a specified weight of 340 grams compared to 280 grams for the 28 mm size. We tested the 28 mm version of the new Grand Prix TR and will compare it with Conti's Grand Prix 5000 S TR (read our review), Grand Prix 5000 All Season TR (read our review), Aero 111 (read our review), and a large selection of tubeless-ready tires from other brands.
Manufacturer Specifications
| Manufacturer Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Brand | Continental |
| Model | Grand Prix TR |
| Year | 2025 |
| Tire Type | Tubeless |
| Supplied By | Bought in store |
| New or Used | New |
| Mileage | 0 km |
| Price Range | Med |
| Buy At | |
| Manufacturer part number | 0150731 |
| EAN | 4019238098068 |
| TPI | - |
| Compound | Black Chili |
| Bead | Folding |
| ETRTO | 28-622 |
| Size Inch | 28" |
| Specified Width (mm) | 28 |
| Specified Weight | 340 grams |
| Max Air Pressure (psi) | 95 |
| Made In | Pro Data |
| Available Sizes |
25-622 (700x25c) 28-622 (700x28c) 30-622 (700x30c) 32-622 (700x32c) |
Continental Grand Prix TR 28 Test Results
Size, Weight, and Thickness Measurements
| Size, Weight and Thickness Measurements | |
|---|---|
| Specified Weight | 340 grams |
| Measured Weight | 337 grams |
| System Adjusted Weight (tire + valve + rim seal) |
357 grams |
| Measured Width | 29 mm (un-round) |
| Measured Height | 26 mm (un-round) |
| Total Tire Thickness Center | 3.3 mm |
| Total Tire Thickness Sidewall | Pro Data |
| Unmounted Casing Width | 74 mm |
| Unmounted Tread Width | Pro Data |
| Tread Cover (Tread / Casing Ratio) | Pro Data |
| All size measurements are taken at an air pressure of 100 psi / 6.9 bars on a 17.8 mm inner width rim. | |
Rolling Resistance Test Results
| Rolling Resistance Test Results | |
|---|---|
| Inner Tube | None (20 ml sealant) |
| Measured Width | 29 mm (un-round) |
| Rolling Resistance Real tire width in mm: 22-24 = 132 psi/9.1 bar 25-27 = 120 psi/8.3 bar 28-29 = 108 psi/7.4 barUltra High Air Pressure (108 psi / 7.4 bar) |
Pro Data |
| Rolling Resistance Real tire width in mm: 22-24 = 110 psi/7.6bar 25-27 = 100 psi/6.9 bar 28-29 = 90 psi/6.2 barExtra High Air Pressure (90 psi / 6.2 bar) |
Pro Data |
| Rolling Resistance Real tire width in mm: 22-24 = 88 psi/6.1 bar 25-27 = 80 psi/5.5 bar 28-29 = 72 psi/5.0 barHigh Air Pressure (72 psi /5.0 bar) |
13.7 Watts CRR: 0.00411 |
| Rolling Resistance Real tire width in mm: 22-24 = 66 psi/4.6 bar 25-27 = 60 psi/4.1 bar 28-29 = 54 psi/3.7 barMedium Air Pressure (54 psi / 3.7 bar) |
Pro Data |
| The Road Bike section is a multi tire size section, air pressures have been adjusted to the measured casing width. All numbers are for a single tire at a speed of 29 km/h / 18 mph and a load of 42.5 kg / 94 lbs. Use the formula: RR (Watts) = CRR * speed (m/s) * load (N) to calculate rolling resistance at a given speed and load. |
|
Puncture Resistance Test Results
| Puncture Resistance Test Results (higher is better) | |
|---|---|
| Total Puncture Score Tread | 52 Points |
| Total Puncture Score Sidewall | Pro Data |
| Tread Puncture Force Sharp Needle | Pro Data |
| Tread Puncture Force Blunt Needle | Pro Data |
| Tread Total Tire Thickness | 3.3 mm |
| Sidewall Puncture Force Sharp Needle | Pro Data |
| Sidewall Puncture Force Blunt Needle | Pro Data |
| Sidewall Total Tire Thickness | Pro Data |
Static Grip Test Results
| Static Grip Test Results | |
|---|---|
| Wet Grip Average | 86 Points |
| Wet Grip Center | Pro Data |
| Wet Grip Edge | Pro Data |
| Grip in points = coefficient of friction * 100 Road bike grip test rim width = 19.0 mm |
|
Conclusion
- Continental Grand Prix TR 28
(100% is best)
The Grand Prix TR may not be the highest-performing tire, but it leaves an excellent impression, and the tire aligns well with its intended target audience. The strongest point of the Grand Prix TR is evident in our wet grip tests, where its performance is simply outstanding, achieving the highest score for both center and edge grip among all 25-30 mm road bike tires we have tested so far. It performs almost too well in this regard, even surpassing Conti's Grand Prix 5000 All Season in these tests, making it an excellent choice as an all-season tire.
We are also impressed by the tread thickness, which at 3.3 mm is significantly thicker than most other tubeless road bike tires. The lifespan of the Grand Prix TR will be excellent, meaning that not only do you pay less for this tire, but you can also use it for a longer time.
It is worth noting that the rolling resistance is on the higher side (higher than the 5000 All Season (read our review), and as mentioned earlier, the weight is also on the heavier side. If this is less important to you, then you have an excellent purchase in the Grand Prix TR, and we rate it higher than many other tires that come with a higher price tag.
RATING:
4.8
/ 5
TEST VERDICT:
Highly Recommended