I've put these tires on my road bike and I've had one flat in 2000 miles due to a broken bottle which would have cut any tire.
I'll continue using these as long as they are made.
GREAT road tire where there is a LOT of glass.... ordering another set for my wife
I use Gatorskins exclsuively on my road bikes. As a big rider (200 lbs), I want a tire that performs well and is hassle free. These handle well enough for my riding. I use them for my year round daily commuting because I do not want to have to fix a flat when it is dark, raining and 35 degrees. I run the 700x28s and get 1000s of miles on each set.
Great long lasting durable tire. Tried other less expensive tires and guess what you get........ A less expensive tire that you need to repair flats. Cost a little more but you save it by not replacing tubes
I commute through the chopped up and debris strewn streets in and out of Boston and ride year round. I have tried a variety of tires on my commuterwinter bike and eventually bought a set of the Conti Gatorskins. I now have 4300 miles on them. I have not had a single tire related flat since putting these on my bike. I ride through some pretty tough roads around the city and I am a pretty light and careful rider, but I am still amazed with these tires. The tires have a pretty good ride quality and are relatively lightweight. I agree that they are not the best cornering tires given their hard casing and stiff tread compound, but for routine riding the durability it more important than the sheer performance. (If you are riding for performance, you are likely not prioritizing flat-resistance or longevity). My only caution would be about the challenge in getting these tires (or any Conti tire) on the rim. They are very tight and hard to seat without catching the tube in the bead. Go slow and be careful. It's good that the tires are so flat resistant because changing a tire can be very labor intensive.
Great tire. I was averaging at least one flat per ride due to thorns on my local road. No flats since installing the Gatorskins.
Tires last 1000 miles and more with few punctures.
These tires are very durable. They last even being ridden a lot in town, with potholes and road construction. I recently moved from the 23cc to 25cc for even better durability for city riding.
I am tubular guy but have been converted to clinchers for training, lots of wet and salty roads in my area during the winter when i am out riding these have served me well, did not have a flat all last year and now they are on my trainer. I recommend using the 25mm for best results, great rim protection and seem to roll really well, add a latex tube for a great feeling almost like a tubular.
Gatorskins 700 x 23s are excellent trainingeveryday use tires. This is my third set, and I normally get 4-5k miles. I have never had a flat due to external puncture, although they will flat as the cords wear out on the side walls (usually after 4k miles). Only quibble is cost, which is pretty steep, but you get what you pay for with Gatorskins. Fortunately, BikeTiesDirect had a sale, and I decided to stock up. No regrets.
Really like them, but very hard to get on the rims. Good tire.
I have used these tires regularly adn find a great balance of smooth sailing and fewer (road tire malfunctions) &^%$.
I installed these tires on my bicycle in NY five years ago and have not had a flat in NY since. I'm a snowbird and just purchased a new bike in FL and got a flat with the new-bike non-Gatorskin tires within my first 200 miles. I've since installed Gatorskins on my FL bike and haven't had a flat since then here either. A bit pricey, but well worth it if you don't like fixing flats!
A friend recommended these and I have had them on my daily commuter, an aluminum cyclocross, for two years now. They take the abuse of potholes, glass, and other debris without complaint. I set them at 85psi for smooth daily use, and 110psi when I want to go for a long ride before work on the smooth paths by the river. Last fall I took a roofing nail right into the rear tire and made it the five miles home just fine. A new tube and piece of duct tape inside the tire and it still runs great. I just bought a second set of Gatorskins to put on a steel Fuji road frame that I built out as a single speed. These tires are tough and versatile, even with a lower pressure they soak up bumps yet feel fast and responsive. Filled up to near max pressure, these tires are very fast!
aggressive enthusiast riding.
I MUST GET AT LEAST 5K MILES A SET ON THESE. MIDDLE OF JANUARY EVERYONE IS FLATTING OUT AND I JUST KEEP CRUISING......
I am 58 years old and ride about 120 miles a week. As a born again roadie I forgot how easy it was to get a flat due to punctures. I was almost afraid to get on the saddle (having 5 flats in 3 months with quality name-brand tires). Then I gave the Gatorskins a chance. I'm extremely happy and confident with these tires. After approximately 400 miles, the treadwear still looks new (and I've ridden in areas of nails, screws, and broken glass). Thanks, Continental, for keeping me on the road !!!!!! Dan Wilson
i abuse these year round on my fixed commuter bike, lots of skids on pretty bad quality debris covered roads.
they dont skip a beat, and although you may get glass or stones in the rubber but ive yet to have anything work its way through the kevlar layer
the hard compound can feel slightly chalky at first but the feeling is consistent through wet and dry
they are aslo on the heavy side but this is a price i'm willing to pay for not getting flats
These tires a bit heavier than my summer Conti's, but they're great for winter roads with the added grit. I don't relish the idea of changing a flat in 20-degree weather, so I put these on in the fall and take 'em off in the spring. A great tire for winter rides.
This is a great, long-wearing training tire that also is resistant to puncture. I have been using these tires for several years now as my main training tire and have been very pleased with performance and longevity.
