Specialized or Conti's?

Bluestoesonnose
Bluestoesonnose Posts: 372
edited May 2008 in Workshop
Time for new tyres, I've been using Specialized's Amardillo's and am happy with them, though I notice that the Conti Gators are a little cheaper, which is better, in the forum's opinion, I just want to get out and ride and not have to worry too much about the glass on the road which seems to cause 99% of my punctures...
This is why!

Comments

  • James_London
    James_London Posts: 530
    Of the two, Gatorskins every time. They're durable but feel a lot nicer to ride than Armadillos in my experience.
  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    Did you want performance or puncture resistance? - Sadly you can't have both. Armadillos are heavy and handle terribly in the wet. Gatorskins offer better performance, but nothing like the same degree of puncture resistance.
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • allen
    allen Posts: 214
    Did find the armadillos relatively puncture free ? I am thinking of going for the elite version. The idea being get out and ride rather than have the hassle of punctures. Some reviews rate them as a very good compromise. How was your exp ?
  • blorg
    blorg Posts: 1,169
    I used Armadillos for a long time and you can't beat the puncture resistance. Got around 20,000 km out of a rear (without a puncture) before it finally completely disintegrated, exposing the fabric under the rubber (still no puncture but it was clearly time to change.) This is crazy durable for a tyre.

    But they are slippy in the rain and I came off twice thanks to them; both low speed cornering. You would have stuff like the rear wheel skipping if you really put pressure on the pedals to accelerate.

    So I replaced with Continental Gatorskins; 1,000 km or so in and no punctures yet. Ride quality and cornering is much much better, almost as good as a "race" road tyre.

    For a commuter bike that is not ridden agressively the Armadillo is a good choice, it is "fit and forget." For anything else I think I would go with the Contis; I'd take a few punctures a year for the better ride quality.

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