Conti Gatorskin Hardshell - any good

small_bloke

Hi, anybody using Continental Gatorskin Hardshell?
Required for commuting on hybrid flat bar. Currently using Specialized Armadillos 700 x 23c which are quite heavy and feel quite slippery in the damp. I think the Spesh are 400g per tyre.

Conti Gator Hardshell 700 x 25c rigid = 330g
Conti Gator Hardshell 700 x 25c folding = 270g

Wiggle are selling rigid for about £25 at the moment.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/continental-gat ... road-tyre/

I know its not all about grams, but I really hate the feel of Spesh Armadillos - old wooden cart wheels come to mind.

I'm thinking of buying the folding Conti Gator Hardshell 700 x 25c (rather than wire bead) as it might be easier to get on the rim as well? (think cold hands). More money though at £31 per tyre.

Would appreciate your thoughts.

a_to_the_j

got those very same tires - excellent, easy to put on too, and give good grip (as good as any 25 would) - no punctures and i do road-gravel-towpath-glass littered cycle path etc.etc.
(TOUCH WOOD)

rrsodl

I have them in my single speed and I like them. Plenty of grip, roll very well and no punctures in over 1500 miles.

JamesB5446

I've just ordered some to stick on my road bike for winter. Hope they're as good as I've heard.

wazhalo31

Theyvarw thw beat tyres I have owned so far for commuting. Nice and grippy and feel really stable even in wet
conditions. Worth every penny.

Bordersroadie

Been using them for years with virtually no p*******s over thousands of miles. There may be gripper tyres (eg Conti 4-seasons or GP4000) but for a reliable p*******-free life I will not be changing my brand loyalty any time soon.

alidaf

I put some on my bike last week and they seem to be holding up. I've gone from 23mm on my slicks to 25mm on these and I feel the weight difference but am a little more reassured riding around the unlit sections of my commute, where I really can't see the road too far ahead, and the road surfaces around here are shockingly bad.

passout

Sorry but I don't like them. They last very well, roll OK and offer puncture protection but I find them too slippery when cornering in the wet. I changed back to Michelin (Krylions), much better. Look at the new Pro Race 4s - there's a new longer lasting version.

gbsahne001

4th puncture from new (June), about 3000 miles on the hybrid: 700 x 28, have now swapped it with a Conti Top Contact Winter tyre for the next few months and will then have to think about whether I put it back on or find an alternative to it/

oxoman

Use both without any problems, Gators on my road bike and Spesh on my hybrid. Spesh a bit softer and need glass and stuff picking out of rubber occasionally. Not had to do this on the gators yet.