Continental tire has 7,080 miles and counting

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This Continental Grand Prix 4000 S has 7,080 miles, and counting.

On March 20, 2017, I installed two new Continental Grand Prix 4000 S II 700c Road tires on my Ritchey, and they’re still going strong.

There’s only a tiny spot with sidewall fraying. That’s a sure sign that this tire’s days are numbered. I’ll only tempt fate so much to save a buck.

The tire has some flattening from wear, but I don’t think it’s all that bad. I’ve seen worse.

I’ve only had one flat. An increase in flats is another sign a tire is worn out.

I ride three other bikes, but those miles were omitted in my calculation.

My last tire with a record for miles was a Continental Gatorskin 700×28. It lasted 5,400 miles before I chucked it.

The Continental Grand Prix only cost $35, way less than the $52 I paid for the Gatorskin, back in 2014. So what gives? Why would a cheaper tire last longer?

I attribute most of it to how I’m riding these days — flat roads with little debris. In 2014 I rode a lot of dirt, mostly in the Santa Cruz Mountains, so the tires were stressed way more than they are now.

To be sure, the Continental Grand Prix 4000 S is a well made tire, one of the best. It’s still being sold, for $34-$40.