I came here to mention these Bontrager tires because I figured they’d also be overlooked by most. My race tire is the GP 5K or the Specialized Turbo RapidAirs.
But, if you’re looking for something that’s similar to the Conti 4 Seasons then the Bontrager R3 Hardcase Lite TLR is a great tire. It’s what I use as a winter / training tire. It’s also a nice enough tire that I don’t feel like I need to swap it for any early season racing.
Big fan of the Vittoria Corsa N.EXT as reliable but “fast” road tires. I’ve been running a set of 700x34mm for my road set up on my gravel bike. Incredible dry and wet grip. Puncture resistance seems decent so far. The streets I ride on are strewn with debris ranging from glass, gravel, twigs, etc. Sure there are slashes on the tread but I’ve not experienced a puncture so far (knock on wood). With the higher 34mm volume and at the pressures I’m running, these are plenty supple for me.
I can’t compare them directly to a race tire mounted on the same wheelset and the same bike. I have GP5kTL on my true road bike and the N.EXT feel just a smidge slower, which might be due to the geometry and other stuff.
In general, from this list, I’m definitely in camp Conti GP5000TR. I run those right now in 30mm (mostly due to availability when I was buying them) on LB rims. I didn’t have any big issues w/ mounting or seating the tires; they were better than the 5000TL tires I had before (but even those were manageable).
I’ve been tempted to try Vittoria N.EXT, but it’s really hard to argue with the super low crr, excelleng grip, and general durability (in my experience, anyway) of the GP5000TR.
I also run the Strada Bianca 40mm tires on my all-road bike. Those are nice tires, but they’re not bullet-proof; I got a cut in the tread on the first ride out that I had to plug. They’re also not as fast as the 44mm RH tires they replaced, but I think in theory they should be more durable (hopefully that cut in the first ride was the exception).
Not on your list, but definitely avoid American Classic Timekeeper tires. Those are terrible. Dead feeling and I cut both tires within a week of each other, which after months of no flats felt too much to just be chance.
For road Continental 5000, BUT tyre pressure is the key to sensation. A few years ago it was 21mm at 110lbs, now 23mm at 70lbs. The first time I switched I though I must have a flat. Apparently, the reduced pressure has no impact on overall speed accept on indoor tracks, but it definitely positively impacts handling (braking, fast cornering) and comfort. They recommend Hooked, although I have used hook-less rims.
How wide rim do you have and how wide the tires are when mounted? I have 19 mm internal width rims and space for about 33 mm tire front and rear on my road bike, so I am between 32 mm and 34 mm for Vittoria Corsa N.EXT. They would see a lot of miles on both tarmac and hard dirt roads.
I have these 700x34 N.EXT mounted on 22mm internal width carbon hooked rims. Upon installation, they measured in at around 33.5mm. After a few hundred miles they plumped up slightly to 34.5mm.
I would err on the side of caution and get the 32mm version.
this ^^^
You still happy with N.Ext? I’m looking at either 26 front and 28 rear, or just buying the 28s in a two-pack. A lot of road debris out here, running a 28 Cinturato on the rear and it is grippy and indestructible, but slow.
I’m N.EXT curious as well. I’m pretty happy with my Pirelli P-Zero Race TLR (pretty quick, robust so far, seem to have above average if not stellar grip) and may well simply replace them with the same, but the reviews of the Vittorias are tempting me and the design profile fits my riding very well.
The other options are the GP5000 S (nightmare fitting aside, I miss the old GP5000 TL; they were the best all-round tyre I’ve ever used) though I’m hesitant after reports of greater fragility on the new model. The Power Road seems the most obvious equivalent to the old GP5K TL, and they’re now widely available at a (modest) discount, but I think they too are now discontinued unless I’m mistaken?
I’ll add to the discussion a brief summary my experience of Goodyear Eagle F1 tubeless (fit nicely, hold air well, seem very durable, quick ish but slower than the Pirellis, bit iffy in the wet) and the (tubed) Challenge Stradas (nice ride quality, quicker than I expected, come up small, very sketchy in the wet).
if I take BRR’s review of the GP 5000 TL and its 47 puncture resistance as a minimum, then filter out anything lower than 2.8mm tread thickness, filter out anything with a score lower than 4.0, and finally drop everything over 15W resistance (at my usual tire pressure) at I’m left with:
you can’t buy the first, and the last one is my current indestructible tire at ~20W resistance.
This list makes me want to try the Corsa N.EXT. Will end up puncturing it for sure, the question is how well will it seal (Orange Seal).
They seem to have just come out with a GP 5000 Allroad TR. I’ll be happy if this is a thicker version of the S TR. The older 5000 TL was thicker as well as slightly wider and taller in profile.
The BRR puncture score dropped from 47 on the TL, to 36 on the S TR. I’m hoping to see the 5k Allroad TR push up to a 47+ and sub 15W at RR High pressure (on par with Corsa N.EXT). I’ve never been a fan of Conti road feel, but I’ve bought plenty of 4K tube tires and 4 of the 5000 TLs.
Mixed bag for me with the TL, I had to patch one at 313 miles but have done the same at similar 300-600 miles with S-Works, Pro One, Tangente, and P Zero Race.
However one TL as a rear tire, going with 32c I was able to see it hit 2000 miles without a patch. And ok results with the 5000 and a tube (the 5k has 49 puncture score), but after a flat at 1200 miles I saw 3 wires that sealed (orange seal in the butyl tube).
Maybe I should just buy the N.EXT in 32c, drop down to 65psi, and try that as a rear tire. Cheaper than the other fast and ~50 puncture score tires. The GP5000 25c with butyl tube is around 12W at 80psi, and there is only a 1.5W penalty with the N.EXT in 32c at lower pressure. Hmm.
Yeah I heard that the All Season was finally tubeless! I’m really eager to see this tested, but I love that this is back as that was a really nice, grippy tire to use through the winter.
I’ve generally found the GP 5000 TR ok, though I did get a flat on one of the first rides which shook my confidence; I went through several TL tires with never an issue. But so far with dynaplug have had no problems quickly fixing punctures. [knock on wood]
I’ve had amazing luck with the 5000 TL. The first I got 4,000 miles out of a rear tire. I still can’t believe it. With subsequent batches, I got like 2,500 miles out of the rear. Did they put less rubber on later batches?
Zero flats over 15k miles!
If you haven’t tried SILCA’s sealant yet i recommend giving it a go. I give it 14 thumbs up. Won’t use anything else at this point.
I’m finishing off the last of the Orange Seal. Tried Silca last summer and it ate thru the printing on factory tape (Roval).
Move out here and ride with me on our post apocalyptic roads. Then get back to me.
I used to live about an hour from you in the east bay. I can’t see us ever moving back. Can’t afford $1M for a 50 year house. 
I’m still happy with the N.EXT, especially for the price. But of course right after I posted that I got my first puncture on them. To be honest, I could somewhat see it coming given the number of gashes on the tread already. Took a while for the Orange Seal Endurance sealant to plug it up but may have been due to riding out in the rain.
BRR’s review on all of the N.EXT sizes seem to corroborate with my experiences. I don’t know if there’s really anything comparable in terms of having a combo of decent RR, puncture resistance, and overall grip.
Thankfully the Sacramento metro area is not the Bay Area. Yeah I bought my first house on the Peninsula, crazy expensive even back in ‘91. So happy to have left.
Just an update on the 5000 S TRs in 32 during recent Maui trip. Over two weeks I covered 706 miles including two 106 mile rides around the East Maui Loop which has some very rough, beat up asphalt and some gravel sections. It’s N=1 but I had no punctures that I was aware of, but was running Orange Seal so possibly if there was something small I might not have noticed. The West Maui loop, where I did the bulk of the rest of the riding has lots of small bits of lava rock, some other debris and a bit of glass in spots. @Nate_Pearson noted he punctured here some years back on his ride, but the 5000 S TRs held up fine. I will continue to ride them now that I’m back in Ohio, but the roads here are much easier on tires so don’t expect issues.
