The roads where I live aren't always smooth and the Gatorskin's have proven themselves. My only complaint is that they are hard to get onto a rim, especially when new. I always have to use a Tire Bead Jack.
I just road 330 miles on the GAP and C&O trails with every kind of surface from paved to crushed limestone to dirt and coarse gravel. For this trip I used 32mm tires and they were great.
Have used Gatorskins on my hybrid and road bike with only a few flats in several years. I�ve got almost 6,000 miles only last (rear) tire
I find the wire bead 700x23 or 28 a little tough to change but that�s because I don�t need to do it very often
I HATE getting flats, so I went to 28 c Gatorskins and added an aftermarket puncture strip, extra thick tubes and sealant. I've pulled construction staples and mean-ass goatheads out of the tires and the tubes were fine. These tires laugh a such things. Overkill probably but nothing will slow you down more than a flat. I know they are a bit slower so I keep them at 110 psi, dropping to 95 psi if it's over 100 F outside. I ride a titanium bike so that smooths out the ride.
Have used Gatorskins on my hybrid and road bike with only a few flats in several years. I�ve got almost 6,000 miles only last (rear) tire
I find the wire bead 700x23 or 28 a little tough to change but that�s because I don�t need to do it very often
I've heard so much about these Gatorskin tires. I purchased a pair back in March of 2020. I currently have about 2000 miles on them and they are still looking great. Not much wear. I believe they are bullet proof. I Live in Southern Ca and the streets have so much glass and rocks. I have not had a flat at all. I would recommend these to all.
The Continental Gatorskins are not only light but are extremely durable. I have been logging 1500 miles per road tire and could probably get more miles if I waited to have a flat before replacing them. Also, they seem to retain air more readily then other road tires I've tried. Gatorskins are now my tired of choice for ride comfort, and confidence.
As older stubborn cyclist I am reluctant to move to tubeless from tubes, and really why when I run Gatorskins. For me I haven't had any punctures in 2800km with them and I travel on all kinds of surfaces. Not the fastest nor the most comfortable tire, but for me there is no better training tire.
Replaced worn out Conti Ultra Sport III. Rolling resistance higher than Ultra Sport. Noticed a 1 mph drop in average speed over 10 mile daily course that I ride, but I expected this. Otherwise happy with the tire so far. Seems durable and holds pressure well. Good lateral grip going around corners and cul-de-sacs.
This is the most difficult tire to mount - compared to my experience with other Continental tires previously. it took all of my patience and 30+ minutes per tire to get them on. Extremely stiff and tight tire bead.
Expensive, but time will tell if the durability enhances value. I ride 2000+ miles a year, so I won't know for a while about cost/longevity trade off. I expect it to be good.
I've tried many different types of tires from the modest priced ones to the very costly ones and none have measured up to the Gatorskins. I've completed 10 Ride the Rockies, and the only year I had flats (note the plural)was when I did not ride on Gatorskins. They are a bit heavier, but for the vast majority of riders this small additional weight will make little to no difference over 80, 90, or 100 miles. These are my go to tires and I fear not the broken glass, metal fibers, thornes, sharp rocks and all the other debris that come with riding. I ride urban, suburban and rural roads and trails and these work well on all surfaces. My current set have well over 4,000 miles and are still going strong.
I had been recommended these tires by a riding buddy for some time now. I have always been partial to Michelin tires. Well not any more. These tires hold the road better and have a much more durable sidewall than any other tire I have ridden. I have already put over 600 miles on these and they are doing great. I won't be buying anything else. I will be sending a pair to my dad when he runs his current tires down.
The 700x32s actually were 700x30 mounted up. Otherwise, these are a durable, high mileage tire. I've had about 10 of various sizes. At 200 lbs, on mostly chip-seal I often see 3-4K miles on the rear.
Performance-wise you give up nothing detectable vs 700x212325 and gain some rough road capability.
Recently, I rode Continental Gatorskins (700 x 32 with folding bead) on a fully loaded touring bike from San Diego to Boston. About 300 miles of the trip were on crushed limestone bike paths, with a few miles of coarse gravel. The Gatorskins turned out to be an excellent choice. They performed superbly. I started out with a pair of new Gatorskins on the bike, and one new spare. Then I rotated the three tires so that each one had approximately equal wear. During the entire 3,500 mile trip, I had only one flat, which was due to a typical piece of wire from a disintegrated truck tire, picked up on an interstate, in a rain storm. At the end of the trip, all three tires were in good condition, with many miles left in them. The Gatorskins are reasonably light, with good puncture resistance and resistance to cuts. They provide a comfortable ride and good traction. In addition to this tour, I have used the Gatorskins for urban commuting, for years. These tires deliver amazing performance at a reasonable price.
Continental Gatorskins are your best bang for the buck. They aren't the cheapest but you definitely get loooong life and very good road hazard protection. They are built with a tougher interior to prevent that intrusive thorn or glass bit that may stall the ride. Yet still give an excellent road control and comfort. Two thumbs for these babies!!!
I have ridden this on a touring bike I use for commuting and a pure road bike I also use for commuting in Washington state (all seasons) and in Guam (only get one season) for the last two years. At 120 miles a week I have never gotten a flat. At 200 pounds and growing, thanks Corona, I'm not exactly a light weight. On one of my first rides on this tire I hit a bottle that exploded cutting my leg with glass. This tire couldn't have cared less. Without these I wouldn't commute here in Guam with all the drivers forcing me off the road where I have run over all manner of things including pieces of brake rotor, wheel weights, broken glass, and even dead animals. Weight isn't my greatest concern. Getting to work on time is. Buy these tires if this is your goal.
I buy all tires for the family so my experiences are more than what I alone acquired. One of my sons moved to an inner city area with lots of glass and started getting flats regularly. Gatorskins solved the problem. One flat in two years. Another son moved to an area with lots of sharp rocks and thorns. He was also plagued with flats. Again, Gatorskins solved the problem. They are impossible to mount with cheap tire irons but that is their only downside. Maybe foldables are easier - I've only used wire bead. At one point I looked around because I thought another efficient tire with similar ratings would be less expensive. Couldn't find anything better than the Continental Gatorskin. This is the longest lasting most flat resistant tire available unless you buy a heavy cumbersome touring tire with a lot of tread. Personally I ride over glass and rocks and only had one flat, even though the tread is squared off. They ride smooth and I've never had a problem on wet surfaces.
Stiff tyre to put on the rim. I found starting at the valve and working around the tyre seemed easier. No snakebite flats because I inflate the tube a little.
I ride mostly road in Calif upper desert, about 75-100 mi per week. Lots of sticker weeds and small sharp rocks like shards of glass. Very resistant to those hazards. Just two days ago I pulled a sticker weed from the sidewall on the front Gatorskin. It was in a ways but no flat when I pulled it out.
I like the little divots to indicate when to replace them. I had a blow out once on the rear Gator. Took it to the shop and it was swapped out for a new one. Conti guarantees their tyre. The tyre was defective.
This site has excellent prices for this tyre. It may weigh a little bit, but I feel more confident on my rides which are sometimes out on lonely deserted paved roads. Very hot, arid climate doesn't seem to affect the rubber.
