Continental Gatorskins
Discussion
Broken glass I think, I didn't see it at all, I'm usually quite good at spotting debris. One moment I was happily pootling along, the next there was a big bang, the sound of broken glass being flung along the ground, a passing woman let out a scream and I had an instantly flat back tyre.
I have never understood why gator skins are so highly rated as myself and those I ride with have all found them to be terrible. I can only think its to do with geographical location and the sort of small stones and debris you get. Mine were torn to shreds in no time at all by the thin slivers of flint you tend to get on the lanes in essex. I have been using a mixture of michelin Axial selects (before they stopped making them) in winter and Axial carbons for spring / summer with out anywhere near as many punctures or cuts.
I'm wondering if Continental have changed their manufacturing process. I bought them based on the quantity of positive reviews, but a lot of the more recent reviews seem to focus on poor puncture performance and sidewall failure.
Personally I've used them for around 500ish miles, suffered a small puncture in the front from a thorn and then the damage above to the rear tyre. Wet grip wasn't exactly confidence inspiring. Maybe I was just unlucky.
Personally I've used them for around 500ish miles, suffered a small puncture in the front from a thorn and then the damage above to the rear tyre. Wet grip wasn't exactly confidence inspiring. Maybe I was just unlucky.
I wonder if the design changed when they released the four season version of the GP3000/4000 which funny enough is twice the price of the gatorskins. I know riders who have moved onto these after suffering with gatorskins and run them through winter without problems.
My problem was the weekend winter training rides around country lanes - I was puncturing almost without fail every sunday. Could it be the people who use them without problems are commuters who ride on well used urban roads and are encountering a different type of debris; ie they stand up better to broken glass but not too well to pieces of flint.
Edit - just noticed on wiggle they sell a gatorskin, ultra gatorskin and a gator hardshell ???
My problem was the weekend winter training rides around country lanes - I was puncturing almost without fail every sunday. Could it be the people who use them without problems are commuters who ride on well used urban roads and are encountering a different type of debris; ie they stand up better to broken glass but not too well to pieces of flint.
Edit - just noticed on wiggle they sell a gatorskin, ultra gatorskin and a gator hardshell ???
Edited by ShredderXLE on Thursday 3rd March 10:49
Well I got mine about 5 years ago as they were the best tire in the 26" size for commuting at that time (they were the Ultra Gatorskins). They may have changed since then & on 700c sizes there's so much to choose from, I used the bonti hardcases as they were cheaper and equally robust for commuting in a 700c size.
If you're prepared to sacrifice weight for puncture protection, then you can't do better than these: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/halo-twin-rail-courier-roa...
Must be the Berlin version though.
Must be the Berlin version though.
DrMekon said:
There not called Hamsterskins for nothing.
GP 4 seasons if you are feeling flush. I'm running Marathon racers, myself. Currently just shy of 9000km, with only one p*ncture. However, they are 700x30, so most road bikes don't have the clearance for them.
Hamsterskins indeed, never had more than 40 miles out of a pair, I use Vredstein Fortezza'sGP 4 seasons if you are feeling flush. I'm running Marathon racers, myself. Currently just shy of 9000km, with only one p*ncture. However, they are 700x30, so most road bikes don't have the clearance for them.
Seems I didn't learn from my earlier mistake, I ordered a second Gatorskin. The one on the front still has quite a few miles left in it so I thought I'd write my earlier experience off as bad luck and stick another one on to get me to work again whilst I researched what to buy next.
Fitted it carefully, I'm pretty sure the inner tube wasn't kinked or pinched, I've fitted loads of tyres in the past and not had any issues. It wasn't overinflated either. I put around 20 miles on it without any issues, left it over the weekend and then got up earlier this morning intent on taking the long route into work whilst the weather is so nice, only to find this...
Fitted it carefully, I'm pretty sure the inner tube wasn't kinked or pinched, I've fitted loads of tyres in the past and not had any issues. It wasn't overinflated either. I put around 20 miles on it without any issues, left it over the weekend and then got up earlier this morning intent on taking the long route into work whilst the weather is so nice, only to find this...
Edited by Accelebrate on Thursday 10th March 15:53
I think they're just the normal ones. Still, they were £25ish a tyre when I originally bought them, so not entirely bargain basement stuff.
The second photo makes it look like it blew out under the wire bead, it didn't, I'm pretty sure it blew out through the sidewall. I assume this was a manufacturing defect.
The second photo makes it look like it blew out under the wire bead, it didn't, I'm pretty sure it blew out through the sidewall. I assume this was a manufacturing defect.
anonymous said:
[redacted]
The hardshells are a fairly new product. Normal gatorskins have been around for years and are supposed to be decently puncture resistant, though that's more about thorns and glass than whatever caused that slash.Got my first puncture in a couple of years at the weekend on an Ultremo R.1 28, which seem to have very short life (only a couple of thousand km on them, and they're starting to look very used).
There are two strategies that work for most people:
1. Buy top quality tyres (e.g. GP4000S) and change them before they get totally shagged.
2. Buy super puncture resistant tyres (e.g. Marathons, Armadillos) and enjoy long life but put up with crap ride quality and rolling resistance.
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