Bontrager Hardcase or Gatorskin?

aboylikedave

I know tyres are personal and complicated but.....

Anyone used both of these tyres and which is stiffer? I changed from a Bontrager Racelite Hardcase 28 to a Gator Hardshell 25 (different to Gatorskin) and was shocked to find that for my slow, ambling pleasure riding it actually felt harder to pedal!

I have learned that a) thin tyres don't necessarily mean less effort (save that for another thread) and b) stiffer tyres can take more effort to pedal.

The thing is I quite fancy changing to a Gator or Gatorskin as the bonty is fairly puncture proof but does get lots of glass embedded in it.........but I really don't want to lose any ride quality. SO I am now considering the Gatorskin which I believe is popular. If the gatroskin it's stiffer than the BOnty then I'll stick with the Bontrager in a 28. Is the Gatorskin a stiff tyre or similar to the Bontrager?



Thoughts?

cjcp

Not used either of the tyres in your title, but, in response to your last question, i didn't find the Gatorskins a stiff tyre; too soft and not deflation-resistant, if anything, so I stopped using them and switched to Duranos about two years ago.

Strith

I've tried both and I'm currently running the gatorskins on my commuter, albeit both in 25s. I found the bontys easier to ride pedal effort wise, but wouldn't say I saw a huge difference.

I noticed the bontys do seem to get shredded a lot more easily by the glass strewn streets of london, they looked a hell of a mess when I decided to change them. Saying that I've had very few punctures with them. I'm yet to have a puncture in eight months of daily commuting on the gatorskins either tho.

For a commuting tyre I think either are fine. I just try and look out for some cheap second hand, unused ones on LFGSS or BR classifieds.

BelgianBeerGeek

Not used Gatorskins, but have the Bonty's on at the minute. My commute is rural, so don't encounter glass very often, but I haven't found the tyres shred.

So far they have been really tough, hardwearing tyres. Easy to fit and only one puncture so far this year - on the first day I put them on, so I guess that was just bad luck.

edhornby

I use gatorskins and they are more than tough enough for manchester daily commuting... I have 23s and run them at 7.5 bar, not really had any issues with them 'feeling slow' although that seems a difficult thing to quantize... definitely good for punctures, not really had many/any although I don't ride through the middle of town so glass isn't an issue

going to swap to 25s when they are ready for replacement, to see if they are grippier in the wet (not that they are so bad at the moment...) or comfier

Can\'tPedalSlowly

I use Specialized Armadillo's (28mm) which have served me very well. Only one puncture but that was due to a rather brutal pothole so I doubt the tyres could have done much about it.

geoff93

I sell and have used both, Gatorskins anyday, nicer rolling, no punctures, lighter, better looking, grippier. Bontragers work, but aren't the best option.

jedster

I've used both and prefer (ultra) gatorskins. Both are reasonably puncture resistant but both cut up a bit. I find the gators a bit grippier.

TorchyTheBatteryBoy

Tried them both. Still got punctures with Gatorskin. Used Bontrager for five years now, I think I have had one puncture. Just noticed yesterday that the rubber on my rear tyre was worn right through. The Bontrager are bomb proof.

thegibdog

Racelite Hardcase:
Stiff
Durable
Very puncture resistant

Gatorskins
More supple
Not as durable
Slightly less puncture resistant IME
Much nicer ride

Currently have 23mm Racelite Hardcases on my Equilibrium after the 23mm Gatorskins I had on wore out. I will swap back to the Gatorskins when (if!) the Hardcases wear out though, probably in 25mm, as the Hardcases are a bit harsh for my liking.

fret

I've used both as well for 6 years now.
Gatorskins in 23,25 and now 28 on the CX bike. Punctures when new are always a problem, let them age a bit before fitting. You still get the odd puncture, but hardly any in my 20 mile daily commute.
Bontrager. 1 puncture after about 9 months use.

Neither is "better"

menthel

I went for durano plus tyres after reading conflicting things about the gatorskins (grip, side wall weakness etc). The duranos seem fast enough to me and are very durable. I have had one puncture from a flint the size of kilimajaro. After the puncture I spent some time going over the tyres and dug out some flipping massive bits of glass and flint that had not got through but would have shredded my old conti contacts. I personally think that the durano plus tyres are good commuting tyres and are worth considering for the cruddy streets of south west london.

jedster

I've now switched to durano plus too. I think they are the best all round commuting tyre I've found so far (i.e. best combination of grip and rolling resistance for a highly puncture restistant tyre - gets cut up significantly less than gators)