GP 4000S Directional???

Guys i have been going to ask the question for a while.
How many of us did not know the GP 4000s are directional tyres?

On replacing my rear a few weeks back, I later checked the old tyre for an overall performance and condition. I replaced it as it was quite square on the top, lots of cuts but not any through the tyre.
Anyway on inspection on the side wall I notice an arrow and direction. i then checked the tyre i fitted and it also had this. Yeap the odds 50 - 50, I had it wrong. i fixed it.

Why i ask, is when on the Willunga hill to watch the TDU stage i noticed a lot of the guy from St Kilda Cycling club also had GP4000s tyres, I recont by a quick glance over the bikes, i would have to say more than half had them on the wrong way. I seen a guy grab his bike i asked him. He was shocked and said to his mate and they never knew.

So how else out there has them wrong or didn't know??

My front is still wrong, but its not worn and has done 5000+ kms so once it wears more I'll change it to a new one and the right direction?

Tags: continental, tyres

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by CLP on February 5, 2012 at 22:49

i found out about this about a year ago on another forum..   after checking i think over all my road bikes i had them about 50% correct..    <shrugs>   even since then i haven't really checked when i put them on, and i haven't really noticed any performance difference either way. Given the tread pattern, i suspect there wouldn't be much difference in either direction.   i probably won't be losing a lot of sleep over it! 

Permalink Reply by Rob (Chewbacca) on February 5, 2012 at 22:55

Yes, directional.....

Permalink Reply by Big Block on February 6, 2012 at 5:16
Permalink Reply by Patrick O'Kane on February 6, 2012 at 6:13

I wear my nicks inside out. don't tell me i have to start worrying about directional tyres now. Strewth, where will it end.

Permalink Reply by RD6 on February 6, 2012 at 7:27

I am fussy and yes my GP4000S are on the right direction

Permalink Reply by Tim B on February 6, 2012 at 9:00
You can see there is a slight difference in tread pattern with the leading edge being longer. Not sure what if any difference it would make though. I never new they were there though, but obviously fluked it, both my sets of wheels were mounted the right way!
Permalink Reply by Baron Von Thierry on February 6, 2012 at 9:35

If I was to suppose for an instance the arrow was for any more than 'placebo' effect, my suggestion would follow these lines....

As the casing is made from layers of material placed at an angle to the road surface, this is obviously to prevent the tyre from distorting from rotational forces under heavy acceleration and braking, such as can be encountered in crits and accelerating through red lights.

See here for an example of how this technology might be applied to this 6000HP top fuel dragster... clearly the tyre is not handling the torque... mabe he should have fitted GP4000's ;-)

Permalink Reply by Tim B on February 6, 2012 at 12:10
No, my Conti's still distort like that when I'm sprinting out of the seat! ;-)
Permalink Reply by Darren Bosanko on February 6, 2012 at 8:02

So you can expect a 5Watt advantage now? :)

Permalink Reply by Matt Brennan on February 6, 2012 at 9:42

just before they explode under you!

Permalink Reply by MARK FERGUSON (SPARTACUS) on February 6, 2012 at 8:23

Yes!

Permalink Reply by Gus K on February 6, 2012 at 11:12

A lot (most) tyres have a designed rotation, even my son's 14 inch tyre on his Kmart has a direction arrow. I noticed this only today when I finished fixing (yet another) flat. The real trick is to make sure you put it on correctly when the bike is tipped upside down!.

Also, if the front wheel is wrong can't you just turn it around and change the quick release skewer?

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