Continental Gatorskin - Road Bike Tire | Tough Urban & Touring Tire for Daily Riding - PolyX Breaker, Duraskin

I am at the end of my riding career (65 years-old) and believe me, I don't want to fix flats while cycling. I trust these tires to handle any reasonable road condition without blowing out and they have not disappointed me for over 20 years. I ride thousands of miles each year and these are the only tires I ride. Worth every penny.

I cycle 10,000 miles a year and I don't like fixing flats, especially if I'm near the end of a 200 mile ride. I have been riding Armadillo tires a lot recently but the Specialized web site started giving me grief so I thought I'd try these Gatorskins which have a similar flat-proof reputation. I have several hundred miles on them now and I've had no flats yet. They went on easily (thumbs only) but I have no idea how hard they are to remove because they haven't flatted yet. They're fairly slick but I've had no issues with grip even in the rain. I think I'm going to like these. Update: It's nearly the end of April and I've ridden 2000 miles on them - no flats so far! 3000 miles and my first flat but it was a roofing nail which would have flatted my truck tire so it doesn't count. Keep rolling! Final Update: 4500 miles - one flat from a roofing nail - starting to wear out on the rear wheel. I'd say I got my money's worth! Time to buy another one. Final Final Update: I hadn't planned on adding any more to this review but something happened last week that I want to tell you about. We were driving home along the I70 in Colorado when the Thule mount holding $12,000 worth of bicycles failed and my wife's $2,000 carbon bike got towed down the freeway at 80mph. The bike sustained considerable damage but the interesting thing is that the Gatorskin tires took a lot of the damage. Even though they were badly scraped and frayed, they still held air. If the pedals and rear derailleur hadn't been destroyed she could have ridden the bike. I think that's pretty amazing. And yes, I did replace them anyway :-)

8/31/2015: Received the tires, first impression was good, being a fold-able tire, it is a little more effort to install, tire lever is recommended (my fingers are not that strong) i needed something with better flat protection on the commuter, as the stock tires that came with the bike was cut up badly with just 3000 miles on them, without being worn out was gona go with Specialized Armadillo, but comparing the two, and the Gatorskin is $15 cheaper, and available on Amazon i order the 32c tires, to replace the 30c stockers, the commuter is the Secteur Disc, and i occasionally wander off road with it, hence the fat tires at 350g (for 32c) they a much lighter than the stock Espoir Sport tires (440g), i do feel the different as they are rotational mass, it also has a taller profile while identical in width, (the 32c Roubaix Pro tires i have on the Diverge has similar height, but wider), this translate to a better compliant ride, not sluggish, just very smooth (i have the pressure set at 90psi for paved road riding) as for rolling resistant, it is hard to tell, it does require less effort, but that could be just being lighter tires, the Roubaix Pro seems to roll faster, but that was on the Diverge Carbon, a much lighter and robust bike overall this tires meet all my expectations with a competitive price point, will update over time on flat protection and durability i have a 4000 miles/year commute on bike in Boston, so i'll be interested to see how the tire fair against road debris/sand/gravel/snow/heat UPDATE 9/20/2015: 400 miles in, the tires are broken in, still flush on rough road, it seems to roll an bit better. The best part: not a single scratch on the tires, and this is on the same road that cut up my old tires to bits. Happy camper

BOOM!! Sssssss.... I looked around me to see if anyone else had heard the noise, and that's when I saw another college student shaking his head at me, sadly. He said, "Dude, that's the worst." I looked down and saw that my old, swollen and lopsided bike tire had finally given up the ghost on my way home from school that chilly morning. I then had the privilege of walking the remaining mile and half in my clips, pushing my bike alongside me. I swore I would not stop researching until I found and purchased a tire that would never explode on me and leave me stranded. Much researching later, I found these bad boys, ordered them, and installed them in my living room. When I first had them on, I kind of intentionally rode through construction zones over dirt, pebbles, gravel, etc. for several weeks in a row. Guess what? They're still as good as new, and no explosions or leaks or holes. Looks like they're doing their job! When I first got them, back in the Fall of 2016, there was a little "spine" of very thin rubber in the center of the tires. (Maybe that's where they inject the rubber onto the tire skeleton during manufacturing... who knows). That flimsy rubber spine was still on the tires after a month of daily riding! You'd expect them to rip off after a ride or two, but they're still there. So, I'm thoroughly impressed, and convinced that I won't need new tires for a long time, especially once I stop riding over gravel every day. Just a note to you novices out there (I'm a novice, which is why I'm making this note): Make sure to re-align your brake pads over the correct braking surface on both rims when you install your new tires. I think my old tire exploded because my rear brake pushed only partially on the braking surface, and a little of it pushed against the sidewall of the tire itself, eventually wearing down the tire and causing my mishap. I would recommend these to a friend any day. The yellow-ish brown sidewalls aren't super pretty, but that's okay. In this case, I'm very willing to sacrifice cool looks for a very functional, seemingly flat-proof tire. Thanks for reading!

Excelente

Do not buy this if you live in rainy area (like PNW). It does not perform well in the rain, however, it is a strong, durable and nothing is gonna puncture and flatten your tire. It’s great for city biking, I have no issue for about 9 months now.

Switched from 23 to 28mm. Very happy with the gators.

I cycle for fun/cardio in South Florida between Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties, often next to the water along A1A or US1, and I usually put between 500-1000 miles on tires per year. I run 700x23C Gatorskins on a 2006 aluminum frame Specialized and a vintage 1988 Cannondale. We do not have many potholes down here (compared to NY or CT), but we do have all kinds of metal shavings, nails, screws, crash debris, etc on the roads and also in bike lanes. I started off with one of these on the used Specialized bike I purchased. Then moved that tire over to the Cannondale and purchased two Michelin Pro3's for the Specialized to see what riding a matching set would be like (in short, a big mistake). One Michelin ended up splitting at the sidewall within a year or two, and the other one ended up getting flat spots and ultimately wore through the outer layer within the same amount of time (Were they very grippy and did they have a nice ride? Yes. Expensive? Yes. Durable? No). Back to the Conti's.. By comparison to the Michelins, these are beefy over-engineered tires (like old Mercedes Benz automobiles from the 1970s and 1980s) that last, and last, and last. I don't race as an amateur, nor as a professional, so an extra gram here or there doesn't make much of a difference to me, neither does extra rubber or layers. I do like to go on "epic" rides ranging in distance from 40-100 miles (Fort Lauderdale to Miami Beach and back, or Deerfield Beach to Palm Beach and back) without having to replace or patch inner tubes. I have been riding the Continental Gatorskin tire in one shape or another since 2009 or 2010, and have yet to have a nail go through one, or get a deflated tube from something going through one. The Gatorskin I put on the Cannondale is still going strong and still has lots of meat on it. As soon as the other tire goes it will be replaced by another Gatorskin. If you're a casual rider, or use your bicycle as a means of transportation to and from work, definitely give these a try.

Great product...!

a pesar de que son un poco mas caras, al final resultan ser la mejor opción, tienen un dibujo semislick que te sirve muy bien para andar en el asfalto, ganas en velocidad y facilidad de pedaleo, pero no pierdes agarre, una excelente opción, mas rápidas que las llantas híbridas que tenia, no me arrepiento de la compra

Forse non sono il massimo della scorrevolezza ma io mi ero stufato di bucare sulle strade disastrate delle mie parti. Questi copertoncini sono decisamente più robusti e per i miei scopi da dilettante vanno più che bene. Sono cari, diciamo che si trovano prodotti decisamente più abbordabili. Non ho idea della durata in chilometri. Per il momento non ho più bucato.

I recently made the switch to the Continental Gatorskin Road Bike Tyres (700c x 25c) to replace the stock tyres on my trusty GIANT TCR road bike, and I couldn't be happier with the results. These tyres have truly transformed my cycling experience, and I'm thrilled to share my five-star review. Durability: These tyres are built like tanks! The Gatorskin's puncture-resistant technology has saved me from countless flats. I used to dread riding on rough roads, but now I can confidently tackle any terrain without worrying about inconvenient punctures. Smooth Ride: The 700c x 25c size strikes the perfect balance between speed and comfort. The Gatorskin tyres offer a noticeably smoother and more comfortable ride than my previous tyres. Even on longer rides, I no longer experience the discomfort and fatigue I used to. Grip and Control: These tyres provide outstanding grip on both wet and dry surfaces. Cornering feels precise and stable, giving me the confidence to push my limits without fear of losing control. Longevity: I've put these tyres through some rigorous testing, and they have shown minimal signs of wear. It's clear that Continental's reputation for quality and longevity holds true with the Gatorskin. Reduced Rolling Resistance: I've also noticed a substantial improvement in my speed and efficiency. The reduced rolling resistance of the Gatorskin tyres helps me maintain higher speeds with less effort. Easy Installation: Mounting these tyres on my GIANT TCR was a breeze. The instructions were clear, and they fit perfectly without any issues. Sleek Appearance: Beyond performance, these tyres look fantastic on my bike. The sleek black design adds a touch of elegance, making my GIANT TCR even more eye-catching. In summary, the Continental Gatorskin Road Bike Tyres have exceeded my expectations in every way. They have transformed my GIANT TCR into a true road warrior, providing durability, comfort, grip, and speed. If you're looking to upgrade your road bike's tyres, do yourself a favor and invest in the Gatorskin. You won't regret it!

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