Choosing Shimano TIAGRA components: Be mindful of compatibility

Let’s Review the History of Shimano’s TIAGRA Components

Before looking at compatibility, let’s first review the history of Shimano’s TIAGRA components.

Shimano released TIAGRA in 1999, with the 4400 series featuring a 9-speed drivetrain. The 4500 series, released in 2007, was a minor upgrade but still maintained the 9-speed setup. The first 10-speed TIAGRA model came with the 4600 series in 2011, which was surprisingly recent.

At the time of the 2011 release, Shimano’s highest-end road components were still 10-speed (even the DURA-ACE), and only the ULTEGRA series (6700 series) and 105 series (5700 series) were 10-speed, with both lines transitioning to 11-speed in later years (ULTEGRA 6800 series in 2013 and 105 5800 series in 2014).

The current 4700 series, released in 2015, was released while 105 had already transitioned to 11-speed. However, TIAGRA 4700 remained with a 10-speed drivetrain.

The TIAGRA 4700 series is a completely new 10-speed component, and Shimano officially states that the 4600 series and 4700 series are not compatible with each other.

TIAGRA Component Compatibility

When considering TIAGRA component compatibility, it’s important to note the lack of compatibility between current 10-speed and old 10-speed systems, as well as between the 4600 series and 4700 series. Shimano officially states that these two are not compatible.

The Uniqueness of the 4700 Series

As seen in Shimano’s compatibility list, the 4600 series of TIAGRA is officially compatible with the old ULTEGRA 6700 series and 105 5700 series, both of which are also 10-speed systems.

However, the front derailleur for the 4600 series is unique.

On the other hand, the 4700 series is quite unique in that it is not compatible with the 4600 series (even though both are 10-speed) and is also incompatible with older ULTEGRA 6700 and 105 5700 series components. Essentially, the 4700 series is a standalone component group that can only be used with 4700 series parts.

This applies to all drivetrain components except the sprocket, meaning you must use all 4700 series parts when building a drivetrain with TIAGRA 4700.

In this regard, the key point to remember when using TIAGRA components is that you need to use parts that are specifically from the 4700 series.

Sprockets, BB, and Brakes are Shared Across 10-Speed Models

While the 4700 series has limited compatibility, sprockets are an exception. There is no specific TIAGRA 4700 series sprocket, but the CS-4600, CS-5700, and CS-6700 sprockets can be used with both the TIAGRA 4600 series and TIAGRA 4700 series.

The CS-4600 is no longer available in the market, but both the CS-5700 and CS-6700 are still available for purchase.

For 10-speed sprockets, the CS-HG500-10 is the standard sprocket for road bikes, and it is still compatible with current 10-speed series like GRX and DEORE.

As for brakes, starting from the 4600 series, all of them are compatible with NEW SUPER SLR brakes, which makes compatibility with a wide range of brakes possible.

For BB (bottom brackets), the 4600 series is compatible not only with the 4700 series, but also with the 5700 series and 6700 series.

Why is the 4700 Series Special?

To understand this, let’s look at the history of Shimano’s 10-speed groupsets.

When we look at the current Shimano compatibility chart for 10-speed groups, we have four types of 10-speed groups:

• ULTEGRA 6700 series
• 105 5700 series
• TIAGRA 4700 series
• TIAGRA 4600 series

Here are their release years in chronological order:

For the higher-end groups ULTEGRA and 105, the 10-speed era lasted from their debut in 2004 until the introduction of the 11-speed models in 2013. However, for TIAGRA, it wasn’t until 2011 that it was upgraded to 10-speed. The TIAGRA 4600 series was released during the “later stage” of the 10-speed era, which is why it maintained compatibility with the 5700 series and 6700 series.

On the other hand, the TIAGRA 4700 series was released 1-2 years after the ULTEGRA and 105 11-speed groups, and five years after the release of the 5700 series 10-speed groups. As such, it could be considered a “10-speed groupset released during the 11-speed era.”

Given that Shimano made improvements to their 10-speed groups over the 5 years, it makes sense that they would have separated the 4700 series from the 6700 and 5700 series in terms of compatibility.

The Enduring Popularity of the 105 5700 Series in 10-Speed

Looking at it this way, it makes sense that the 105 5700 series, with its high compatibility and affordable price, remains popular in the used market.

For example, when we compare the STI levers: the current TIAGRA ST-4700 STI lever (released in 2015) is priced almost the same as the older 105 ST-5700 STI lever (from over 10 years ago).

Although it’s a higher-end groupset, Shimano’s components are often considered more about generation > grade, meaning that 4700 series would normally be priced higher. However, considering the ease of use and compatibility, this price difference is understandable.

Frequently Asked Questions About Shimano TIAGRA Components