Okay, so I’ve been meaning to upgrade the tires on my road bike for a while now. I finally got around to it and decided to go with the Continental Grand Sport Race 700×25. Here’s how it went down.
Getting Started
First off, I ordered the tires. I got two of them, one for the front and one for the back, obviously. They arrived in a few days, no biggie. I already had some tire levers, and a pump with a gauge, so I was good to go on tools.
Out with the Old
Taking off the old tires was kind of a pain, not gonna lie. My old tires were super worn, pretty bald, and they were really stuck on the rim. I used the tire levers to pry them off, and it took some elbow grease, let me tell you. Finally got them off, though. I also took out the old inner tubes, since I was putting in new ones with the new tires.
In with the New
Putting on the new Continental tires was surprisingly easier. They felt way more supple than the old ones. I started by partially inflating the new inner tubes, just enough to give them some shape. Then, I put one side of the tire bead onto the rim – that part was easy. Next, I carefully inserted the slightly inflated tube, and then worked on getting the other side of the tire bead onto the rim. This last part required the tire levers again, but it was much smoother than taking the old tires off. Once both beads were on, I carefully inspected the rims and tires to make sure the tube wasn’t pinched between the rim and tire anywhere.
Pump It Up
Once I was sure everything was seated correctly, I started pumping. The recommended pressure was printed on the tire sidewall, so I just followed that. I made sure not to overinflate. And I always double-checked the pressure with my pump’s gauge.
Test Ride
After getting both tires on and inflated, I took the bike out for a spin. Man, what a difference! These Continental Grand Sport Race tires felt so much smoother and faster than my old ones. I felt like I was gliding. Even the handling felt sharper. Definitely a noticeable improvement. These new tires made a huge difference in how my bike rides. It actually made me excited to go out and ride more often.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I’m really happy with these tires. It was a bit of work getting the old ones off, but putting on the Continentals was relatively straightforward. And the ride quality is just so much better now. If you’re thinking about upgrading your tires, I’d say these are worth considering.
- Recommend: Yes
- Would buy again: Definitely
- Happy with purchase: 100%
Hope this helps anyone who was on the fence about these. It’s a pretty decent upgrade that will not break the bank!
