I wrote that I was disappointed with these tire when I had a flat on my first ride. Since then I have installed Mr. Tuffy tire liners, and now I am happy with these tire. They handle well and feel secure, except riding through puddles at an angle, and they sip out I approach water straight on and they are ok. Overall these are food tires, and I fell confident riding them as they are configured
I was excited to install a pair of these Gatorskins 700cx32 on my Trek FX 7.7 after riding on the Michelin Protek 4 700cx 38 tires for several months. I wanted a little more responsiveness and performance. They felt really good for about 3 miles, until I got a flat from a goat head on my first ride over my regular training route.. I didn't have one flat over the last two years, and got one. Immediately with these. That was very upsetting, considering all of the great reviews posted here.
I got home and remounted the budget priced Michelins, as I hate to have to either repair a tire on the road, walk it home, or call my wife to get me! I may give them another try in the future, but I'm going to keep on the Proteks for now.
Michigan's road and trail surfaces are often in rough condition (ruts, ridges, & potholes) and strewn with debris damaging to bike tires. Since switching to Gatorskins two years ago, I have had no flats. They live up to their name!
I ride a Trek about 1,500 miles a year. I asked some of my riding friends about which tyre they recommended. For the most part they all said get the Continental GaterSkins 700c Road. I did so and haven't looked at the Bontrager tyre's since. Great tyre I will purchase again..
Use the 700c x 28mm for fitness riding on all sorts of paved surfaces. Easy to mount with the wire bead and pump to 100 psi. The casing and tread have held up better than some of the other Conti Ultra tires. Probably have 500 miles and am very happy. I am 6'3" 285lbs.
I have gone to 70X32 and dropped my pressure 10 PSI. The ride is a little softer and I don't notice any difference in rolling resistance. I try to check my tires every few weeks for cuts and dig out anything hidden in the cuts. I've been running gatorskins for about five years and have fewer flats than my friends with tubeless tires.
Ive used Gatorskins on my road bike for the past 3 years. Besides mounting them on the rims because they are a tough tire is worth it. I ride roads and paved trails that are seldom cleaned and they take pretty much everything. Only a direct hit of a nail or screw can get through these things and they last a long time. About 2k on my last one. Highly recommend for commuters that need security in a tire.
I DO A LOT OF BIKE TOURING AND LONG ENDURANCE RIDES AND GATORSKINS GIVE ME THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS. THEIR REALLY STRONG YET LIGHT ENOUGH FOR GROUP RIDES WITH MY FRIENDS. I'M A 300 MILE A WEEK RIDER SO RACING TIRES AREN'T AN OPTION BECAUSE OF THE LOW FLAT PROTECTION AND LOW SERVICE LIFE. I RAN GATORSKINS ALL LAST YEAR AND ALL THIS YEAR AND I ONLY GOT ONE FLAT WHICH IN ALL HONESTY I CAN'T BLAME ON THE TIRE. I WAS RIDING DOWN THE HIGHWAY ON THE SHOULDER AND RAN OVER SOME WICKED METAL RE-BAR THING THAT FELL OFF A SEMI. I SAW IT BUT DIDN'T BOTHER GOING AROUND IT. IT PUT A BIG SLICE IN THE TIRE BUT ONLY A PIN-HEAD METAL SPIKE GOT THROUGH. THEY'RE MY GO TO SKINNY TIRE FOR THE FOR SEEABLE FUTURE. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A GATORSKIN 35C IN THE FUTURE THOUGH FOR GRAVEL RIDES.
Ive ridden with these for over 11 years. Only had 2 sidewall failures. Typically, I get up to 1000 miles on the rear and up to 4000 miles on the front before I change them out. The foldable tires go on and off of the rims much easier than the wire beads. I use them on all of my bikes.
I live in live in goat head country and need protection against flats or I will flat with every ride. Gatorskins offer a decrease in flats without a large loss of feel of the bike.
I was getting flats on a weekly basis so I started shopping for tires. Since I got these about 6 weeks ago, I have ridden probably 600 miles without a flat. They handle well enough as far as I can tell, although I live in the desert so I can't comment on how well they handle in the rain.
