Review on Black Chili Folding Tire by Continental Grand Prix by Dmitriy Kingsley

Skip the last paragraph for a quick review. Tire ratings can be difficult because you don't know key information about the tester: how much they weigh, what PSI they run on tires, how they service tires, what type of roads are in their area, whether the roads are clean or dirty with glass and metal, where they live, what their skill level is, etc. So take this as the experience of one person who has driven and raced these tires and has been very happy with them. (FWIW I weigh 150 lbs, run 90 psi, the roads in my area range from slick to potholed, but I also ride them on singletrack and fire roads and my cornering skills are better than many, worse than others) really liked these tires, I've been driving them for over a year. I have a mediocre Cat 3 and according to Strava I ride an average of 10 hours a week and climb/descend about 10,000 feet a week, so I'm often cornering both wet and dry. On the Ksyrium rim, the tire's profile is round and flat, so I get a nice smooth corner entry and exit, which makes me feel confident. They're fairly durable, both in terms of flat and cut protection and how quickly the center wears out. However, when driving, especially in mud, they wear out faster than some tires. If your primary goal is a durable training and driving tire, you should probably go for something stiffer like the Gatorskin or Armadillo. The few flat tires I've had were situations where anyone would pierce. Quick comparison with other tires I've used: Contential GP 4000: Slightly grippier than the Grand Prix, but I've ditched them. Side walls. I think the profile is also a little tighter than the Grand Prix in the sense that it corners faster/harder which pisses me off a bit, but some like it. Just not stiff enough for my local roads where a Grand Prix can go pretty wrong. It also tends to be more expensive. Vittoria Rubino Pros: Wear out much faster than Grand Prix. The first time was always painful. Michelin Krylion: Was a big fan of these tires but they were a little less forgiving than Grand Prix. I'm not sure if this is a connectivity or TPI issue or just my imagination. I've also ridden Panaracer Race Type A/Type D, Michelin Pro3, Gatorskins, Conti 4 Seasons and a few others that have been around long enough that I can't give much feedback. These tires strike me as a good balance of low rolling resistance, grip, smooth profile/slim feel, reasonably durable and good value for money. I got them for $37 a tire for a while and they were great. If you want a pure race tire, buy something else that you only ride on race days. If you want something that is very, very durable and runs straight most of the time, you can choose something else. If you climb a lot, descend a lot, turn a lot, do fast group rides and want something that will stand up to the rigors of training and be reliable on race day, this is probably something you should check out. I've just spent a few hours looking at tire reviews and decided to buy another set for myself as they are about to wear out.