Continental Bike Tires

Continental tire range, model by model

What each model is built for, the sizes it comes in, and the fit notes worth knowing before you buy.

• Continental Grand Prix 5000

  Road$70-95★ 4.7
  • BlackChili compound
  • Vectran Breaker puncture protection
  • LazerGrip cornering grip
  • Active Comfort Technology vibration damping

  Sizing: Benchmark all-round race tire. 25mm is the most popular all-round size; 28-32mm is the best fit for endurance and rough roads.

• Continental Grand Prix 4-Season

  Road$70-90★ 4.6
  • Vectran Breaker puncture protection
  • DuraSkin sidewall protection
  • All-season compound for cold/wet grip
  • Clincher, folding bead

  Sizing: Built for winter training, wet weather, and bad roads. 28mm is the popular all-season choice; 25mm if you want a faster feel year-round.

• Continental Gatorskin

  Road$55-75★ 4.7
  • PolyX Breaker puncture protection
  • DuraSkin sidewall protection
  • Clincher, folding bead
  • 700x25 (this listing); also sold in 23 / 28 / 32

  Sizing: Reference long-mileage training and commuting tire. Heavier and slower than the GP 5000 but very flat-resistant. 28mm balances comfort and rolling speed for daily riding.

• Continental Ultra Sport III

  Road$30-45★ 4.6
  • PureGrip compound
  • E25 e-bike rated
  • Clincher, folding bead
  • 700x23 / 25 / 28 / 32

  Sizing: Affordable training and entry-level race tire. Good first upgrade from stock OEM tires on a sub-$1500 road bike. 25-28mm is the sweet spot.

• Continental Competition Tubular

  Road Tubular$95-115★ 4.6
  • BlackChili compound
  • Vectran Breaker puncture protection
  • 180 TPI casing
  • Tubular construction

  Sizing: Pro-only tubular. Requires tubular-specific rims and gluing. Used at Paris-Roubaix and Flanders. Skip unless you already race on tubulars.

• Continental Terra Speed

  Gravel$70-90★ 3.9
  • BlackChili compound
  • ProTection sidewall casing
  • Tubeless ready (TR)
  • E25 e-bike rated

  Sizing: Fast-rolling gravel tire for hardpack and mixed road/gravel. 40mm is the most popular size. Step up to Terra Trail or Race King for looser surfaces.

• Continental Cross King

  Mountain Xc Trail$50-65★ 4.6
  • Tubeless ready (TR)
  • ShieldWall sidewall casing
  • PureGrip compound
  • E25 e-bike rated

  Sizing: Versatile XC and trail all-rounder. 29x2.2 is the classic XC race size; 27.5x2.3-2.6 fits most trail bikes. Pair with a more aggressive front tire for chunky terrain.

• Continental Trail King

  Mountain Enduro$95-115★ 3.8
  • BlackChili compound
  • ProTection Apex sidewall casing
  • Folding bead
  • Tubeless ready

  Sizing: Aggressive trail and enduro tire with strong wet-rock grip. Heavier and slower-rolling than the Cross King - pick it for technical descents and aggressive lines.

• Continental Contact Plus

  City Trekking$60-80★ 4.6
  • SafetyPlus Breaker (4-layer puncture protection)
  • E50 e-bike rated (up to 50 km/h)
  • Reflective sidewall option
  • Clincher, wire bead

  Sizing: Heavy-duty commuter and e-bike tire. The reflex sidewall version adds night visibility. 700x32 or 700x37 are the most common urban sizes.

• Continental Ride Tour

  City Trekking$30-55★ 4.6
  • Puncture ProTection Breaker
  • E-bike rated
  • Clincher, wire bead
  • 12" / 16" / 20" / 24" / 26" / 27" / 28" / 700C

  Sizing: Value city/trekking tire with broad size coverage including kids' wheel sizes. Good budget replacement on a hybrid or commuter; step up to Contact Plus if you ride a heavy e-bike.

Every bike tire carries two size numbers on the sidewall: the modern ETRTO (ISO 5775) format like 28-622 - width in millimetres, then bead-seat diameter - and an older Imperial label like 700×28c, 26×2.10, or 20×4.0. The first number stays the same regardless of width (700c = 622 mm, 26" MTB = 559 mm, 27.5" = 584 mm, 29"/700c = 622 mm). Width affects everything: a 700×25c rolls fast on smooth roads, 700×32-35c is the modern endurance and gravel default, 2.1-2.4" suits trail MTB, and fat-bike tires run 4.0-4.8" wide for sand and snow. Kids bikes follow wheel diameter - 12", 14", 16", 18", 20", and 24" - and replacement tires must match exactly. Always check your rim's max width and your frame/fork clearance (typically printed on the chainstay or fork) before going wider.

• Tread pattern: slick or file tread for road and smooth pavement, semi-slick with side knobs for gravel and light trail, full knobby for MTB and loose terrain, and 4.0"+ paddle-style lugs for fat-bike snow and sand.
• Puncture protection: look for a Kevlar or Vectran belt under the tread, sidewall reinforcement (Continental's 'Plus' / 'Hardshell', Schwalbe's GreenGuard / SmartGuard) - adds 50-150 g per tire but dramatically reduces flats for commuters and tour riders.
• TPI (threads per inch) of the casing: 60 TPI is durable and value-priced; 120-320 TPI rolls faster and conforms better but cuts more easily - match TPI to terrain.
• Folding (Kevlar) bead vs wire bead: folding tires save 50-100 g per tire and pack down for spares; wire-bead tires are cheaper and slightly more durable for everyday city use.
• Tubeless-ready (TLR / TR / TLE) vs tubed: tubeless seals small punctures with sealant, runs lower pressures for grip and comfort, and is now standard on gravel and MTB - but requires tubeless-compatible rims, valves, and sealant top-ups every 2-4 months.
• Intended terrain and weight rating: heavier riders and ebike riders should look for an ebike-rated tire (e.g. ECE-R75, the European spec for S-pedelecs up to 45 km/h) or a reinforced casing; touring riders prioritise sidewall protection over weight.