Review of the Continental GP 5000 AS TR Tubeless Winter Tires

With the GP 5000 AS TR, Continental promises a tire capable of handling winter conditions without sacrificing performance. Tested over 2,500 km in cold, wet, and often slippery conditions, this 700×28 tubeless road tire mounted on 25-mm-wide hookless rims reveals a paradoxical profile: heavy on the scale, yet surprisingly fast and reassuring on the road.

By Guillaume Judas – Photos: ©3bikes.fr Within the Continental lineup, the GP 5000 AS TR is positioned as the tubeless winter successor to the famous GP 5000. While it retains the family’s flagship technologies—such as the Black Chili compound, Vectran reinforcement, and Lazer Grip micro-sipes—it significantly improves traction and puncture resistance in challenging conditions. And as is often the case with Continental, durability is a given—a point we were able to verify during our two-month test, conducted largely on wet roads marred by the numerous roadworks that traditionally mark the end of fall and the beginning of winter in the Paris region.

The brand designed this tire as an all-around solution for year-round riding on varied terrain, whereas the GP 5000 S TR remains clearly focused on pure performance, and the GP 5000 TT TR is even more specialized, intended primarily for time trials. It thus joins a now very comprehensive lineup, offering a wide choice between tubeless tires and tube-type versions. The GP 5000 AS TR emerges as the tubeless counterpart to the famous and ever-impressive GP 5000 4 Saisons. Connoisseurs will appreciate it. But thanks to a significant improvement in performance, it could also win over many cyclists to tubeless tires, which are often considered difficult to install or maintain. And we were among the first to find it so.

Compared to the competition, the GP 5000 AS TR occupies a very specific niche. So-called all-season tyres already exist. They are sometimes very durable but often suffer from high weight and rolling resistance that lags far behind that of summer tyres. Continental sought to avoid sacrificing performance here, aiming for an ambitious compromise: to come close to the handling of racing tires while offering a level of durability and safety comparable to the best options in the endurance category.

=> Buy the Continental GP 5000 AS TR for €59.99 instead of €99.95

GP 5000 DNA adapted for winter

The Continental Grand Prix 5000 AS TR is a tubeless-ready tire that can be used either tubeless with sealant or with an inner tube, and is clearly designed for road use. It features a 2×220 TPI casing—shared by the S TR and AS TR versions—designed to balance durability and flexibility. Its Black Chili compound—an exclusive blend of polymers and carbon particles—delivers low rolling resistance, excellent durability, and high grip levels, both in dry and wet conditions.

Puncture protection is provided by a Vectran reinforcement, known for its high cut resistance without compromising the tire’s flexibility. The Lazer Grip structure, laser-cut into the sidewalls, improves cornering grip by enhancing lateral traction. Finally, the Active Comfort technology integrated into the casing helps filter out vibrations and shocks, significantly improving comfort on long rides.

The Continental GP 5000 AS TR is available in four widths—25, 28, 32, and 35 mm—and in two finishes: black sidewalls or cream-colored sidewalls.

In its 700×28 version with cream-colored sidewalls, the GP 5000 AS TR has a verified weight of 343 grams. The version with black sidewalls is slightly lighter. Once mounted tubeless with sealant, the total weight comes in around 390 grams per wheel. This relatively high figure is largely due to the reinforced casing and a thicker tread, designed for durability and resistance to harsh conditions. However, the tubeless setup lets you run lower pressures and reap all the benefits of the tech, delivering more comfort, less risk of punctures and better rolling efficiency.

Endurance and Sportiness

Compared to modern tubeless road tyres, the GP 5000 AS TR occupies a particularly appealing middle ground. It is more durable and offers greater peace of mind than competition-oriented models like the Specialized S-Works Turbo TLR or the Vittoria Corsa Pro Speed, yet it still delivers far better performance than the beefiest endurance tyres—which are primarily designed for winter training—such as the Vittoria RideArmor TLR, Hutchinson Challenger, Pirelli Cinturato Velo TLR or Specialized S-Works Mondo.

The GP 5000 AS TR stands out by combining low rolling resistance with high protection—a combination many competitors fail to offer simultaneously. It draws inspiration from the original GP 5000—the benchmark for performance and versatility—while thickening the casing and optimising the rubber compound for cold temperatures. This tire is designed for riders who want to ride hard and long, without sacrificing a certain level of safety. => Buy the Continental GP 5000 AS TR for €59.99 instead of €99.95

On the scale and on the road: a successful paradox

In practice, a 700×28 GP 5000 AS TR mounted on Zipp 353 hookless wheels with an internal width of 25 mm measures 31 mm wide. This is noticeably wider than a modern racing tyre, but it further enhances the feeling of stability in corners, even on slippery roads. This actual width contributes to a relatively high overall weight. Compared to a GP 5000 S TR—the summer version of this tubeless tire—the difference is nearly 70 grams per tire, or about 140 grams per wheel. Yet, from the very first pedal strokes, this extra weight seems to disappear. The tires stay responsive during accelerations, without any noticeable loss of energy.

On hookless rims, the inflation pressure is limited to 5 bars, which, depending on the tires, can be tricky to manage when frequently riding out of the saddle, accelerating in high gears, or sprinting for town signs. However, the Continental GP 5000 AS TR features sidewalls that deform relatively little under these conditions, which explains why it retains a sporty feel, even at pressures closer to 4 bars.

That said, these sidewalls do not compromise comfort, as the GP 5000 AS TR also performs very well in this regard, even on very rough road surfaces. This is particularly appreciated when covering long distances over extended periods.

In terms of pure performance, and over 2,500 km ridden in real winter conditions—often wet and sometimes very greasy—rolling resistance proved surprisingly low. The tire maintains high performance, avoiding the sometimes clunky and sticky “winter tire” effect. Acceleration remains responsive, speed is maintained naturally, and you retain the feeling of riding a performance-oriented model despite its all-season design. Only on very steep inclines, when approached at low speeds, does the extra weight of the tire set become slightly noticeable, but this is minimal. Grip is one of the major strengths of this GP 5000 AS TR. Whether you’re cornering on cold tarmac, wet asphalt, or sections covered in dirt and leaves, the tire offers very reassuring grip. You immediately feel confident on the bars, which lets you ride smoothly and quickly without constantly holding back. This is likely one of the most tangible benefits of the low-temperature-optimized compound and the carefully engineered sidewall profile. Finally, puncture resistance and wear resistance prove to be excellent over time. No incidents were reported throughout the entire test period, despite challenging conditions, and the tire retains a very satisfactory appearance and performance after 2,500 km. The front tire shows hardly any signs of wear from the mileage. On the rear tire, there are two minor cuts that have had no impact whatsoever. As for the wear indicators, they show that the tires are still far from the end of their service life, which we can reasonably estimate at at least 7,000 km based on our experience. The reinforcements and the thickness of the tread are thus fully justified, confirming that this model is truly built for real-world endurance.

=> Buy the Continental GP 5000 AS TR for €59.99 instead of €99.95

Winter Without Compromise

The Continental GP 5000 AS TR is heavy on the scale but light on the road. This contrast reflects a well-thought-out design: the priority given to durability and safety doesn’t prevent very high performance, while exceptional grip on cold and wet roads further enhances overall performance.

This model is designed for riders who want to maintain a steady pace in winter while ensuring a safety margin and peace of mind on slippery or dirty roads. It’s proof that winter is no excuse to ride any slower—or for any shorter time. Its official price is high, but it follows the same trend as all current high-end tubeless tires.

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