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Germany

Continental

Its own rubber compounds, made in Germany

Continental makes its own rubber, which is a genuinely unusual position in bicycle tires.

Where it appears here

The Ultra Sport III road tire and a two-pack of MTB inner tubes.

What it is genuinely good at

Publishing a TPI figure. The Ultra Sport III states a 180 TPI casing — threads per inch, the measure of how supple a casing is and therefore how it rolls and grips. Very few tire listings publish it, and it is the number that describes what a good tire actually does.

Compound development. Making its own rubber means the tread compound is a Continental decision rather than a supplier’s, which is where its reputation comes from.

Where it is ordinary

Protection belts. The Ultra Sport III does not name one, where Schwalbe names V-Guard and Fincci publishes a 1 mm (0.04 in) thickness. For a commuter that omission matters.

What to know before buying

Continental publishes ETRTO sizes clearly on both tires and tubes. Check the two numbers on your own sidewall, and check your frame’s clearance if you are considering going wider — 25 mm (0.98 in) was the standard and 28 or 32 is now common.

Every Continental part we have reviewed

  • Continental Ultra Sport III folding road tire

    Continental Ultra Sport III folding, 700x25C

    The entry road tire here: a folding 700x25C with a 180 TPI casing and a silica-based tread compound, sold singly.

    ETRTO size
    25-622 (700x25C)
    Bead
    Folding
    Casing
    180 TPI
    Compound
    Silica-based tread
    Amazon reference
    DE B082VNGXDZ · US B082VNGXDZ · GB B08PP7KKXL · FR B08PP7KKXL · IT B08PP7KKXL · ES B08PP7KKXL
    EAN
    4019238026849
    • A published TPI figure, which is the honest measure of casing quality
    • A folding bead, so it packs flat as a spare and weighs less than wire
    • Sold as a single tire, so a pair means two

    Best for: A training or general road tire where a supple casing matters more than heavy puncture protection.

    ≈ $27
    Check price on Amazon
  • Two Continental MTB inner tubes for 29-inch wheels

    Continental MTB Tube 29", 47/62-622, Presta, 2-pack

    A pair of Continental MTB tubes for 29-inch wheels, covering 47 to 62 mm (1.85 to 2.44 in) tire widths on a Presta valve.

    ETRTO range
    47-622 to 62-622
    Wheel size
    29 inch
    Valve
    Presta
    Quantity
    2 tubes
    Amazon reference
    B00O7W44P4 (identical on 6 markets)
    EAN
    4251056611467
    • Two tubes, so one goes in the wheel and one in the saddle bag
    • Rank 241, and from a manufacturer that makes its own compounds
    • Presta only — check your rim drilling

    Best for: A 29-inch mountain bike, buying the spare at the same time as the replacement.

    ≈ $42
    Check price on Amazon
  • Continental Double Fighter III 27.5 inch city and gravel bike tire

    Continental Double Fighter III 27.5×2.00, wire bead

    A semi-slick 27.5 × 2.00 city and gravel tire on a wire bead, at 860 g (30.3 oz) and 26 to 65 PSI.

    ETRTO
    50-584 (27.5 inch / 650b)
    Bead
    Wire
    Weight
    860 g (30.3 oz)
    Pressure
    26–65 PSI
    Tubeless
    No — stated explicitly
    Tread
    Smooth center, exposed outer knobs
    Source of figures
    Continental's 2026/27 tire range
    TPI
    Not published
    Tread depth
    Not published
    Puncture belt
    Not named
    Amazon reference
    B01452PKFS
    EAN
    4019238709872
    • States outright that it is not tubeless, which almost nothing here does
    • Attributes its weight and pressure range to a dated catalog
    • 860 g (30.3 oz) — the wire bead costs over 100 g (3.5 oz) against aramid, and will not fold

    Best for: A 27.5-inch hybrid or hardtail used mostly on tarmac and park paths

    Check price on Amazon
  • Continental Grand Prix 5000 black road bike tire, two-pack

    Continental Grand Prix 5000,700×32, 2-pack

    Two Grand Prix 5000 tires in 700×32, with BlackChili compound and a liquid crystal polymer cut-protection breaker.

    Size
    700×32
    Contents
    2 tires
    Price per tire
    $66.76
    Compound
    BlackChili — synthetic and natural rubber
    Cut protection
    Vectran Breaker, liquid crystal polymer
    Shoulders
    LazerGrip micro profile
    Comfort
    Active Comfort Technology vibration damping
    E-bike rating
    None
    Weight / TPI / ETRTO
    None published
    Clincher or tubeless
    Not stated
    Amazon reference
    B088NP2YV6
    EAN
    4019238054910
    • The only puncture belt on this page named as a material rather than a trade name
    • 32 mm (1.26 in) — the width the shelf intro calls the modern comfortable fit
    • $66.76 a tire, two and a half times anything else here

    Best for: A road bike with real 32 mm (1.26 in) clearance, ridden far on poor tarmac

    Check price on Amazon
  • Continental Race 28 bicycle inner tubes with 42 mm Presta valves

    Continental Race 28, 700×20-25, Presta 42 mm (1.65 in), 2-pack

    Two Continental Race 28 road tubes for 700×20-25 and 27-inch 630 mm rims, with a 42 mm (1.65 in) Presta valve and about 100 g (3.5 oz) each.

    ETRTO
    20-622 to 25-630
    Inch sizes
    700×20C to 700×25C, and 27 × 1 1/4 on 630 mm (24.8 in) rims
    Valve
    Presta (Sclaverand), 42 mm (1.65 in)
    Weight
    About 100 g (3.5 oz) each, per Continental’s catalog
    Contents
    2 tubes
    Material
    Butyl, seamless, mold-cured
    Variants named
    Light and Supersonic — thinner, need reinflating more often
    Article
    0181781
    Wall thickness
    Not published
    Pressure range
    Deferred to the tire sidewall
    Amazon reference
    B09X8K1WVN
    EAN
    0303941060394
    • Publishes the ETRTO range, which is what the shelf says decides the purchase
    • Warns that a deep rim needs a longer valve than its own 42 mm (1.65 in)
    • A narrow band, 20–25 mm (0.79 to 0.98 in): no use on a gravel or MTB tire

    Best for: A road bike on 20–25 mm (0.79 to 0.98 in) tires, or a 27-inch bike on 630 mm (24.8 in) rims

    Check price on Amazon
  • Continental Ride Tour 26 inch trekking bicycle tire

    Continental Ride Tour 26×1.75, wire bead, 780 g (27.5 oz)

    A trekking tire in 26 × 1.75 with the ExtraPuncture Belt, reinforced sidewalls, an extra tread layer and an E25 e-bike rating.

    ISO / ETRTO
    47-559
    Size
    26 × 1.75
    Bead
    Wire, clincher, with a tube
    Weight
    About 780 g (27.5 oz) per Continental
    Pressure
    29–58 PSI
    Puncture protection
    ExtraPuncture Belt under the tread, plus reinforced sidewalls
    Tread
    Extra rubber layer for mileage
    E-bike rating
    E25 — to 25 km/h (about 15.5 mph)
    Use
    Tarmac, gravel paths, city streets
    TPI
    Not published
    Tread depth
    Not published
    Amazon reference
    B01IWKZ554
    EAN
    4019238693553
    • Publishes the ISO pair, the weight, the pressure range and the belt by name
    • Protection both under the tread and in the sidewall, described separately
    • 780 g (27.5 oz) — belt, sidewalls and extra tread all cost weight

    Best for: A 26-inch trekking or hub-motor e-bike ridden daily on mixed surfaces

    Check price on Amazon
  • Continental Ultra Sport III black road bike tire, two-pack

    Continental Ultra Sport III 700×25, 2-pack

    Two Continental Ultra Sport III tires in 700×25, with a silica PureGrip compound and an E25 e-bike rating.

    Size
    700×25
    Contents
    2 tires
    Price per tire
    $25.97 — the single listing is about $27
    Compound
    PureGrip, activated silica
    E-bike rating
    E25 — assisted to 25 km/h
    Puncture protection
    Stated, not named
    Bead type
    Not stated on this listing
    ETRTO
    Not published
    Weight
    Not published
    TPI
    Not published
    Amazon reference
    B08BB2GLVL
    EAN
    0765376723266
    • Cheaper per tire than the single listing of the same tire
    • E25 rated, which is a statement about the carcass rather than a badge
    • Does not state the bead type, the one thing this shelf’s tag calls decisive

    Best for: Replacing both tires on a road or city bike, or on an e-bike assisted to 25 km/h

    Check price on Amazon

Prices quoted in these summaries are dated readings. The live price is shown next to each product.