Continental Aero 111

[TobinHatesYou]

It's all gone a bit quiet here since the Aerocoach testing......

Parcours showed similar results back in August. I maintain that this is a great option for any windy mass-start race day where the field gets blown apart as soon as it turns onto a crosswind sector. Also in TT terms, the importance of stability even on relatively calm days with occasional gusts can’t be understated. You may end up with 4W more of rolling resistance, but if wind makes you squirm and ease off pedals, that’s also going to kill your average.

[JWTS]

It's all gone a bit quiet here since the Aerocoach testing......

Parcours showed similar results back in August. I maintain that this is a great option for any windy mass-start race day where the field gets blown apart as soon as it turns onto a crosswind sector. Also in TT terms, the importance of stability even on relatively calm days with occasional gusts can’t be understated. You may end up with 4W more of rolling resistance, but if wind makes you squirm and ease off pedals, that’s also going to kill your average.

The aero difference between the 111 and the TT in Xavier's testing is much less out to 15 degrees than what Parcours show, though he doesn't go past 15. It does suggest that the differences are wheel dependent, but on that specific wheel the tires are basically equal out to 15 degrees.

My highest recorded 20 minute power and my lowest recorded CxA where with a Blackwell 100 with a 20mm Veloflex in super heavy crosswinds in a 12.5 mile TT. I can only describe it as terrifying... But, it didn't impact my drag numbers or my power output (or the result). Granted, the wind contributed to the low drag, and of course I may have gone even faster with as more stable front wheel... But I personally have never had a front wheel affect my power output in a TT, and I've done some windy ones. Ultimately, testing it in real world conditions is the only way to be sure. I'm curious about the tire and definitely plan to test one out.

What I do know however is that it's difficult to overcome a Crr penalty in most instances, since the deficit is there all of the time. And when I look back specifically at race files that had crosswind selections, the speeds where those selections happen are generally low enough that the TT is still a faster option.

The TT is about 3-3.5 W slower at 48 kph at >10 degrees on Parcour's wheel. That's a pretty thin margin in some pretty unusual stances. The differences are much less in the Aerocoach data.

Funny thing is I do see a potential use case for the 111, but I see it differently than you. A windy mountain race seems like a good potential option. You can use a shallower wheel and still get solid aero performance, good handling, and the Crr penalty is reduced a bit since you're either climbing (less weight on the front wheel) or descending (where the grip and stability can't help). The question for me will be "how much more aero will it be on my front wheel".

[apr46]

I bought a 111 and hope to install and ride it for the first time over the weekend. I am also thinking the benefits are best when paired with a shallower (~50mm) and probably narrowish rim, matching rim to tire profile.

I am going to try and measure this, but I have doubts that I will be able to do a good enough job testing it outdoors via the zero elevation this time of year given how windy it is. On the otherside, I should be able to provide plenty of qualatative feedback regarding crosswind stability.

[BigBoyND]

The TT is about 3-3.5 W slower at 48 kph at >10 degrees on Parcour's wheel. That's a pretty thin margin in some pretty unusual stances. The differences are much less in the Aerocoach data.

Funny thing is I do see a potential use case for the 111, but I see it differently than you. A windy mountain race seems like a good potential option. You can use a shallower wheel and still get solid aero performance, good handling, and the Crr penalty is reduced a bit since you're either climbing (less weight on the front wheel) or descending (where the grip and stability can't help). The question for me will be "how much more aero will it be on my front wheel".

My position is similar to yours. If speed is the motivator, the 111 is rarely the best choice. You need some very niche circumstances to benefit from it over a TT TR.

If you live in Lanza and want stability, then it's a good S TR alternative.

I got the 111 to try it out next spring, but will likely stick with TT TR once races start.

[spartan]

picked up a 29mm from lbs on a 25% off black friday sale.

initial thoughts
on installation the rubber compound feels different than 5000 tt str. seems brr article might be correct about conti is using a new grippier compound.
weight 272 gm vs tt 247gm.

mounted the tire on my crw with internal width 25mm. the tire width increases from 29mm to 30.7mm at 80psi.
comparting to 5000 tt str 28mm the width is 31.9mm
winter is here so can not ride them until spring

[BigBoyND]

The comparable tire is more like STR, not TTTR. But I wonder if they just used the ASTR compound or it's something completely new.

[spartan]

read

https://www.bicyclerollingresistance.co ... l-aero-111

The Continental Aero 111 definitely comes with a different compound than the good old Grand Prix 5000 S TR. When we forget about the aerodynamic differences and only look at our test results, we clearly see a slightly higher (3 to 8%, depending on the air pressure) rolling resistance but a massive increase in wet grip. The Aero 111 is now the best gripping road bike tire in our wet grip test, and it even outperforms the Grand Prix 5000 All Season (read our review) in this test.

The comparable tire is more like STR, not TTTR. But I wonder if they just used the ASTR compound or it's something completely new.

[TobinHatesYou]

picked up a 29mm from lbs on a 25% off black friday sale.

initial thoughts
on installation the rubber compound feels different than 5000 tt str. seems brr article might be correct about conti is using a new grippier compound.
weight 272 gm vs tt 247gm.

mounted the tire on my crw with internal width 25mm. the tire width increases from 29mm to 30.7mm at 80psi.
comparting to 5000 tt str 28mm the width is 31.9mm
winter is here so can not ride them until spring

Expect your Aero 111 to stretch to 31.3mm or so after a couple rides.

[BigBoyND]

read

https://www.bicyclerollingresistance.co ... l-aero-111

The Continental Aero 111 definitely comes with a different compound than the good old Grand Prix 5000 S TR. When we forget about the aerodynamic differences and only look at our test results, we clearly see a slightly higher (3 to 8%, depending on the air pressure) rolling resistance but a massive increase in wet grip. The Aero 111 is now the best gripping road bike tire in our wet grip test, and it even outperforms the Grand Prix 5000 All Season (read our review) in this test.

The comparable tire is more like STR, not TTTR. But I wonder if they just used the ASTR compound or it's something completely new.

I'm basing my comments on the same source. By weight and tread thickness the 111 is comparable to the S TR.

111 grip score: 81 and 84 (26mm, 29mm)

AS TR grip score: 77, 81, 82 (25mm, 28mm, 35mm)

These can easily be the same compound.

Btw, there is no such thing as a TT STR.

[dgdracing]

I was also hoping to get the 111 during Black Friday for <119,95 Euro (Germany). Since I need the tire earliest in March I am not willing to pay the OVP.

[pk0r]

I am quite sure they are not the same compound as the ASTR.

I have 7K km on these now (on two different sets of wheels) and - due to the currently winterly conditions - half of that in rain (but have also seen conditions with gusts up to Bft8).
Last winter I did 10k km on the ASTR and they ride differently, apart from the more wodden feeling of the ASTR, likely due to different casing.

Wet weather grip on the Aero111 is good, but unlike others (or BRR) I wouldn't rate the S TR bad there either - Tour and other tests also rate these quite differently in dynamic cornering testing (on a motored bike), so I would not only trust one static test number here. Real life shows differently sometimes.

For the record also have done >30K km on the STR and 10K km on the TT TR and all of these tires are different - yet all on a very high level.

[Nickldn]

For the record also have done >30K km on the STR and 10K km on the TT TR and all of these tires are different - yet all on a very high level.

Did you find grip tails off in damp conditions as temperatures drop?

I find the S TR grippy in warm months, but a lot more likely to lose grip in cold weather even in dryish roads.

[spartan]

if anyone needs a winter aluminum front disc wheel cheap you get a expensive tire for free. lol

[pk0r]

Did you find grip tails off in damp conditions as temperatures drop?

I find the S TR grippy in warm months, but a lot more likely to lose grip in cold weather even in dryish roads.

I have ridden it 2-3x under 0C so far and the last 1,000km have all been between 2-7C and 100% damp or really wet rides - grip to me is still really good in these conditions and this whilst definitely not having been taking it easy.

I am even more impressed to not having punctured a single time yet as the conditions have been quite questionable in between with lots of debris, mud, small stones.
Great bad weather tire so far (though really pricey for that).

[Nickldn]

Did you find grip tails off in damp conditions as temperatures drop?

I find the S TR grippy in warm months, but a lot more likely to lose grip in cold weather even in dryish roads.

I have ridden it 2-3x under 0C so far and the last 1,000km have all been between 2-7C and 100% damp or really wet rides - grip to me is still really good in these conditions and this whilst definitely not having been taking it easy.

I am even more impressed to not having punctured a single time yet as the conditions have been quite questionable in between with lots of debris, mud, small stones.
Great bad weather tire so far (though really pricey for that).

Thanks, must be some of the roads in Surrey....I'll carry on using the GP5000S TRs for the limited winter riding I do, not worth the effort of switching to AS TRs.