I am not a racer. I just love riding. I ride 180-200 a week and have been doing that for many years now. After trying many combinations I found the Gator hardshell tires combined with a puncture resistant tube helps keep flats to a minimum. I have only had about 4 flats in years since going to this comb. the tires last anywhere from 3000 to 3500 miles depending on the quality of the roads I ride.
Just a great tire, I have been using for years and at 79 yrs old still love to ride. Last year rode 5543 miles, but missed my goal of 6000 mi. Have used this tire for years and 90lbs in the rear and 80 upfront. Cannot remember my last flat
denny
Not the most supple tire out there, but if you have goathead (thorns) problems in your area this is your tire. I've been using these for a year now and no flats so far. They are long wearing too. They stand up well to chip sealed roads.
The road in the Bay Area have gotten more problematic. Ive went through two different sets of tires (Michelins and Vittoria) in the last couples months. The tires were destroyed by box cutters and broken glass. No tire would survive these. I do have a piece of mind with the Continental gator hardshell tires. They are also fast for the weight.
switch to the Conti after i kept flatting with the Schwalbe one. This tire provides excellent grip, rolls fast, and is cut resistant.. my new tire of choice
Have been running gator hardshell for years, however, the past tires were 23mm wide, wanted a wider tire, and this tire worked perfectly.
Changed to gator hard shells after a three week tour, the riders with tire had fewer flats than the rest of us using various brands.
This tire gets no flats! The ride quality is okay, though it can sometimes not grip well laterally (slides out a bit)
I gave these 5 stars not because I love them, because I don't, but because they are bomb-proof and you will grow old wearing them out. I have them on for two years now and do 30 mile runs 5 times a week around the outer Central Park loop in Manhattan and they still show very little wear. No cuts anywhere. The loop is well paved and with no debris so these are totally overkill. Yes overkill.
So, would I rather be riding on something more fun, well yes, but I am simply amazed with the durability of these tires. Might try the Pirelli's, will report back.
I've been using this tire on my endurance 7 day bike rides for the past 5 years. Not one flat ever.
I began using the Gator Hardshell after I flatted 3 times on one ride...I had to call for a ride home (embarrassing). Since I moved to the Hardshell, I have not had a flat on a ride. Last year I rode close to 800 hours...13K...no flats. I am not sure if they are a fast tire, but I am sure that the ride will move continually forward on the Gator Hardshell
Have yet to get a flat with these. Granted not riding thru NYC or anything, but... One time, found a huge staple in the tread, pulled it out but it had not punctured the protective layers. My every day, go to tires when don't want to worry about stopping to change a flat! Very satisfied.
I ride city streets, bike paths and the occasional paved rail trail. All the gatorskin products have been superior for me, virtually no puncture flats in several years. The hardshell continues that success and I have no reason to switch.
Kinda pricey but, tough as nails, even when you run over one. If you're still using tires with tubes, like me, can't say enough good about these, and I can't say anything bad about them either.
Road bikes in south Texas lots of stickers and thorns in the area. Tires have seemed to work very well in this heat and thorns.
I've been riding these tires for years now and get my value and confident performance from a set of these tires. I ride my race bike like a cross bike sometimes just because of these tires, I think it gives me extra assurance against punctures when thrashing thru places you would normally keep a Ridley Noah SL away from. My choice for my style of riding places these tires under me.
I used hardshell tires for the last five years. No complaints , very few flats, always got a season plus. Before replacing.
Great tires. Long wearing, puncture resistant , okay handling and an overall good value.
I used a different manufacturers tires last year and suffered over 20 flats. I'm not going to throw the brand under the bus but switched to these Conti gator hardshells at the beginning of the year and after almost 1000 miles have had zero flats. Also, the ride quality seems to be very good as well as traction. Because of this all 3 of my road bikes now use these tires and I couldn't be happier.
So far so good only been able to put a couple hundred miles on them, but they have a good ride,not to bad to put on rim. I went from a wire bead schwalbe to a folding bead Gator hoping the Gators are as puncture resistant as the schwalbes were. Time will tell
These are the most durable and puncture resistant road tires I've used thus far. Stout sidewalls that are not easily cut and excellent construction limit punctures tremendously.
