At our shop, we stock
Continental Grand Prix 5000 and
Grand Prix 5000 S-TR as our clincher tire inventory,
but I don't think Continental tires are
the best option in every category.
The flagship Grand Prix 5000 series is certainly
the best buy in its price range,
or so I can confidently say from my own perspective,
but I don't believe Continental dominates even in the mid-tier to budget tire grades.
Continental's lineup is thin in this segment,
and since everyone just buys Grand Prix 5000 anyway,
I figured it was fine to leave it at that.
Continental has a tire called simply "Grand Prix" (not 5000),
but it will get a model change in the near future.
The tread pattern will change as well,
with the tube-type available only in 28C and 30C
at a planned retail price of ¥7,700 (tax included),
and the tubeless-ready Grand Prix TR available in 25, 28, 30, and 32C
at a planned retail price of ¥8,800 (tax included).
While I'm concerned about dropping the tube-type 25C,
it might work as a solid mid-tier tire for everyday use.
But the other day, I heard that Vittoria's Rubino
was getting a model change to the fifth generation Rubino V (Five),
and when I checked the claimed weight,
it was light for the price range,
so I decided to stock it.
The Rubino V comes in both tube-type and tubeless-ready,
with sizes from 26C to 34C in 2C increments,
26C is available only in all-black, while other sizes also come in
the tan-wall color option,
and all sizes except 26C support hookless rims (even tube-type)
First, the Rubino V tubeless-ready version,
which we have no plans to stock.
The retail price is ¥9,080 (pre-tax), ¥9,988 (tax included)—
they clearly wanted to come in just under ¥10,000.
As a tubeless tire in that price range,
the weight is pretty standard... or maybe slightly on the heavy side.
The tan-wall versions claim to be lighter,
but the difference doesn't scale consistently with larger sizes,
and sometimes the numbers go back and forth, which is odd.
Plus, how is it possible that the claimed weight for 30C and 32C
is the same in both black and tan? That doesn't make sense.
I don't trust Vittoria's tan-wall tubeless tires much because
they tend to hold air poorly and often develop small tears
along the boundary between the black tread rubber and the tan sidewall, causing air leaks.
The top-tier Corsa series has a flat tire profile when not mounted on a rim—
the so-called "open tubular" shape—
so the bead doesn't lift well when setting up tubeless,
and while it's a matter of preference, I don't really recommend it.
Next, the claimed weight of the Rubino V tube-type,
which carries a retail price of ¥7,920 (tax included).
Wait, this is way too light.
The 28C is only about the same as the actual measured weight of Grand Prix 5000's 25C.
The tan-wall 30C at 250g also seems suspicious.
The weight difference between black and tan doesn't show any pattern—
the numbers jump around.
For reference, the new Grand Prix tube-type claimed weights are
285g for 28C and 325g for 30C.
But thinking "if this were actually true,"
I decided to order the first shipment.
Since they wanted at least 10 units,
I ordered 10 total—all-black 26C and 28C combined.
If the actual weight was lighter than claimed or at worst the same,
that would be one thing, but if they came in noticeably heavier,
I was planning to price them as a bargain "big panda" loss-leader—
as if they were clearance items—
toss them in a discount bin, and call it a day.
The 26C with a claimed weight of 235g.
Huh? That's light...
The 28C with a claimed weight of 240g.
Out of the 10 units I ordered, only this one came in heavier than claimed.
I've weighed all of them, and the instruction sheet visible on the scale
and the rubber band holding it together have been removed for the measurement.
↑26C
↑28C
Happened to have the old Rubino in the shop, so I took a photo
of the traditional Rubino tread pattern.
The Rubino V tread pattern.
It's changed a bit, but it feels like a natural evolution.
It says the tire will be the stated width when mounted on a 19mm inner-width rim,
which basically means it's compatible with the new ETRTO standard.
But time moves faster than you'd expect,
and these days an 19mm inner width is more like "the narrow side of the wide category."
For example, the Nomunolab Wheel No. 8 has an 19mm inner width,
while Growtack's carbon tubeless rim has a 22mm inner width.
There's a hard-to-peel sticker saying "new product."
At our shop, we don't bother peeling it off.
Ken-chan Ramen instant noodles carried the label "newly released"
from launch to discontinuation,
so how long will they keep doing this?
A Japanese distributor attaches a recommendation sticker
to the global model box, paying for both the sticker production
and the labor to apply it—
the probably true reason is (→here).
Pirelli does the same with their tires,
and when I once asked a distributor about their intent,
they tacitly acknowledged "there is that aspect to it."
Since the actual measured weight turned out to be the same or even lighter
than the claimed weight,
my plan for a "government propaganda-style bogus claimed weight tire clearance sale"
was avoided.
I'll keep the handwritten weight label on them,
but as for pricing, I won't be running a first shipment trial sale or...
!?
Huh!?
↑Tire levers: 2 pieces per set (¥880 tax included)
↑Splits like this
You know, saying things like that just makes unnecessary enemies.
So then, the first shipment only
will be sold with a handwritten weight label and tire levers attached,
at an inaugural trial price that's big panda-style attractive.
Big panda customer lure: "The price is inspired by Rubino 'Five'..."
↑STOP IT!
Just so you know, the price isn't written on "the usual place" either
Continental Grand Prix 5000 and
Grand Prix 5000 S-TR as our clincher tire inventory,
but I don't think Continental tires are
the best option in every category.
The flagship Grand Prix 5000 series is certainly
the best buy in its price range,
or so I can confidently say from my own perspective,
but I don't believe Continental dominates even in the mid-tier to budget tire grades.
Continental's lineup is thin in this segment,
and since everyone just buys Grand Prix 5000 anyway,
I figured it was fine to leave it at that.
Continental has a tire called simply "Grand Prix" (not 5000),
but it will get a model change in the near future.
The tread pattern will change as well,
with the tube-type available only in 28C and 30C
at a planned retail price of ¥7,700 (tax included),
and the tubeless-ready Grand Prix TR available in 25, 28, 30, and 32C
at a planned retail price of ¥8,800 (tax included).
While I'm concerned about dropping the tube-type 25C,
it might work as a solid mid-tier tire for everyday use.
But the other day, I heard that Vittoria's Rubino
was getting a model change to the fifth generation Rubino V (Five),
and when I checked the claimed weight,
it was light for the price range,
so I decided to stock it.
The Rubino V comes in both tube-type and tubeless-ready,
with sizes from 26C to 34C in 2C increments,
26C is available only in all-black, while other sizes also come in
the tan-wall color option,
and all sizes except 26C support hookless rims (even tube-type)
First, the Rubino V tubeless-ready version,
which we have no plans to stock.
The retail price is ¥9,080 (pre-tax), ¥9,988 (tax included)—
they clearly wanted to come in just under ¥10,000.
As a tubeless tire in that price range,
the weight is pretty standard... or maybe slightly on the heavy side.
The tan-wall versions claim to be lighter,
but the difference doesn't scale consistently with larger sizes,
and sometimes the numbers go back and forth, which is odd.
Plus, how is it possible that the claimed weight for 30C and 32C
is the same in both black and tan? That doesn't make sense.
I don't trust Vittoria's tan-wall tubeless tires much because
they tend to hold air poorly and often develop small tears
along the boundary between the black tread rubber and the tan sidewall, causing air leaks.
The top-tier Corsa series has a flat tire profile when not mounted on a rim—
the so-called "open tubular" shape—
so the bead doesn't lift well when setting up tubeless,
and while it's a matter of preference, I don't really recommend it.
Next, the claimed weight of the Rubino V tube-type,
which carries a retail price of ¥7,920 (tax included).
Wait, this is way too light.
The 28C is only about the same as the actual measured weight of Grand Prix 5000's 25C.
The tan-wall 30C at 250g also seems suspicious.
The weight difference between black and tan doesn't show any pattern—
the numbers jump around.
For reference, the new Grand Prix tube-type claimed weights are
285g for 28C and 325g for 30C.
But thinking "if this were actually true,"
I decided to order the first shipment.
Since they wanted at least 10 units,
I ordered 10 total—all-black 26C and 28C combined.
If the actual weight was lighter than claimed or at worst the same,
that would be one thing, but if they came in noticeably heavier,
I was planning to price them as a bargain "big panda" loss-leader—
as if they were clearance items—
toss them in a discount bin, and call it a day.
The 26C with a claimed weight of 235g.
Huh? That's light...
The 28C with a claimed weight of 240g.
Out of the 10 units I ordered, only this one came in heavier than claimed.
I've weighed all of them, and the instruction sheet visible on the scale
and the rubber band holding it together have been removed for the measurement.
↑26C
↑28C
Happened to have the old Rubino in the shop, so I took a photo
of the traditional Rubino tread pattern.
The Rubino V tread pattern.
It's changed a bit, but it feels like a natural evolution.
It says the tire will be the stated width when mounted on a 19mm inner-width rim,
which basically means it's compatible with the new ETRTO standard.
But time moves faster than you'd expect,
and these days an 19mm inner width is more like "the narrow side of the wide category."
For example, the Nomunolab Wheel No. 8 has an 19mm inner width,
while Growtack's carbon tubeless rim has a 22mm inner width.
There's a hard-to-peel sticker saying "new product."
At our shop, we don't bother peeling it off.
Ken-chan Ramen instant noodles carried the label "newly released"
from launch to discontinuation,
so how long will they keep doing this?
A Japanese distributor attaches a recommendation sticker
to the global model box, paying for both the sticker production
and the labor to apply it—
the probably true reason is (→here).
Pirelli does the same with their tires,
and when I once asked a distributor about their intent,
they tacitly acknowledged "there is that aspect to it."
Since the actual measured weight turned out to be the same or even lighter
than the claimed weight,
my plan for a "government propaganda-style bogus claimed weight tire clearance sale"
was avoided.
I'll keep the handwritten weight label on them,
but as for pricing, I won't be running a first shipment trial sale or...
!?
Huh!?
↑Tire levers: 2 pieces per set (¥880 tax included)
↑Splits like this
You know, saying things like that just makes unnecessary enemies.
So then, the first shipment only
will be sold with a handwritten weight label and tire levers attached,
at an inaugural trial price that's big panda-style attractive.
Big panda customer lure: "The price is inspired by Rubino 'Five'..."
↑STOP IT!
Just so you know, the price isn't written on "the usual place" either