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Submitted by
Sarah SwabDate Reviewed: June 17, 2012
Strengths: smooth ride without flatsWeaknesses: noneBottom Line: I have ridden this set just under 3,000 miles and the tires are still going strong. I am beginning to see some wear, but they are not worn out yet. I have yet to flat on these tires.
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Submitted by
Tommy B.
a Road RacerDate Reviewed: June 12, 2012
Strengths: This is the most flat resistant tire I have found yet. Quite frankly, I have stopped looking.Weaknesses: These tires have been measured to have a few watts more rolling resistance then the very best racing tires.Bottom Line: I have put more than 24,000 miles on Gatorskins since 2008, riding on crappy suburban/country roads in Northern Illinois and Wisconsin where cracks, heaves, pot holes and craters are daily obstacles. During that time I have experienced only 1 flat on Gatorskins, caused by rolling over a broken beer bottle during a moment of inattention. Tire wear varies from 3,000 to 5,000 miles depending on conditions, and they look good on my fancy carbon fiber road bikes.
My weekly riding includes two 45 to 60 mile club hammer-fests at race pace, without a no-drop policy, with routes that roll through mosquito infested marshes and forest preserves, so I place a premium on not flatting. I have tried other tires like the Vittoria Rubino and Bontrager R3, and thought those tires were perceptibly faster. However, I experienced multiple flats with each of those tires before tread wear indicators demanded a tire change, and one particularly nasty pothole destroyed the sidewall on the Bontrager R3. By comparison, I have worn several sets of Gatorskins down to bare threads without flatting. I have supreme confidence in this tire.
Normal tire pressure for my weight (226 lbs down to a current 194 lbs) has been 120 - 115 psi. The 25mm tire seams to roll a little better than the 23mm, and delivers a noticeably smoother ride.
Automobile tires now routinely wear out and get replaced without flatting, why shouldn't your bicycle tires? Gatorskins are probably the only bicycle tires with good all-around performance that will give similar service.
While I keep a set of Bontrager R3s around for occasional time trial racing, ALL of my other riding is done on Gatorskins.
Price Paid:
$54.00
Purchased At: Village CycleSport
Similar Products Used: Vittoria Rubino Pro, Bontrager R3, Continental Grand Prix.
Bike Setup: 2012 Trek Madone 6 Series Spartacus, Ultegra 6700, Bontrager Aeolus 5.0 ACC wheels (black), Gatorskins.
2010 Cervelo R3, Ultegra 6700 compact, Bontrager Aeolus 5.0 ACC wheels (red), Gatorskins.
Time i-Click carbon pedals, Diadora ProRacer 2 carbon shoes, Ironman T-2 Elite gloves.
Fulcrum Racing 7 wheels with Gatorskins for winter riding.
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Submitted by
sconnerDate Reviewed: June 5, 2012
Strengths: Light
Good GripWeaknesses: High Price
3 punctures in 150 milesBottom Line: The stock tire on my new Giant Defy left me with three flats in the first 200 miles of riding, so I spent $65 on the GatorSkin 700X23 I rode for 300 miles with no flats, then after the first one 2 more in just 150 miles. When I removed the tire the sidewall seamed awful weak.
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Submitted by
bruce carras
a Recreational RiderDate Reviewed: October 7, 2011
Strengths: bullet proof for crappy roadsWeaknesses: a little slow compared to other tiresBottom Line: love em tuff as hell !
Favorite Ride: canton ave
Price Paid:
$40.00
Purchased At: LBS
Similar Products Used: mich pro 3
Bike Setup: 2006 spec carbon comp ksym elites
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Submitted by
Michael Paul
a Road RacerDate Reviewed: June 14, 2011
Strengths: -Puncture resistance
-Much faster than Specialized Armadillo
-Much smoother than Specialized Armadillo
-Wear better than Armadillo
-Much cheaper than ArmadilloWeaknesses: -Can't think of anyBottom Line: I've been using Specialized Armadillo tires for about six years now, and although they are durable, they have some problems---I've noticed with the dual radius, the flat part of the tire meets the road, so you get a lot more tread area to pick up debris, which has never gone all the way through, but has stuck in the thick tread and invisible, worked its way through the casing. Also, I've had at least two Armadillo tires with tread separation, and so, I had to get rid of them.
Now I thought I'd try the Contin Gatorshell in Janauary. First of all, I could get them about $16 cheaper per tire, if I looked hard enough. They were lighter, rode a lot nicer, and the flat protection, so far, has been at least as good. I have one set of tires with Gatorskin and one with the Hardshell, so I'm not sure which is which. I have a highway here that I've avoided because of debris, but I haven't had a flat on it (I had a few with the Armadillo tires) but it could be because they have construction there and have cleaned up the shoulder a bit. I don't know, but since January, I've had no more flats than I did with the Specialized Armadillo, maybe even less, and they wear better, are lighter, feel smoother and more lively, and instead of $60 freakin' per tire, I'm under 50.
Favorite Ride: Anywhere but Evansville Indiana
Price Paid:
$45.00
Purchased At: Can't remember
Similar Products Used: -Specialized Armadillo Elite
Bike Setup: -Kestrel Talon SL, carbon post and handlebars too.
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