Newbie question: grip of gatorskins on wet roads

ticklytigger

Apologies for this possibly silly question, but I'm new road cycling.

I've got a second hand bike with continental gatorskins tyres (see pic). I'm wondering on wet roads, what's the grip when doing turns?

I'd rather ask than find out by crashing ...

shipley

I used to use them on my winter bike. Great tyres to limit punctures but I hated their lack of ability to grip when climbing on a wet road and no longer use them. I use Donnelly Strada LGG now and love em.
£24.99 each at Wiggle - possibly cheaper elsewhere.
"Donnelly Strada LGG 60TPI SC"

super_davo

Gatorskins are positively lethal on wet roads. I genuinely can't think of another tyre that is worse.

If you're after a similar tyre that won't kill you and is "bang for buck" then Merlin have these that I would recommend:
https://www.merlincycles.com/vittoria-rubino-pro-control-g-isotech-folding-road-tyre-700c-87393.html
(assuming the bike can take 28s, £12 is a fantastic price for them)

joe_totale-2

Twice I've had the back go on me on a wet roundabout on Gatorskins, it's never happened with any other tyre. They went in the bin after the second time.

I'm currently commuting on Conti Ultrasports which you can get for £10 a pop and are far better. I also have had good experience with the Jack Brown Milemuncher tyres from Planet X which aren't much more expensive.

bobones

They're nicknamed Bananaskins around here.

crescent

Have to agree. Great longevity but I've certainly come a cropper before, due to their lack of grip.

ticklytigger

Good to know! Thanks!

adammarlow85

I’ve had gatorskins on my bike for a good few years and ridden in all weathers and never had a problem!

Charlie_Croker

 Gatorskins® don’t have the grippiest compound out there, that’s for sure. Add water into the equation and things are going to get worse, that goes for all bicycle tyres and it’s got nothing to do with ‘tread’ either.
The real problem though is not the water (rain), it’s all the other muck that’s been deposited on the roads. Petrol, diesel, oil to name a few, these products find their way onto the tarmac from the motor vehicles we share the roads with. Roundabouts are a magnet for this type of contamination, I doubt there’s a roundabout in the land that doesn’t get spillages from overfilled fuel tanks deposited on it. When it rains these products get lifted by the water and form a barrier between your tyres and the tarmac. Push anything hard enough and it’s going to lose traction. So slow down, take it easy, keep braking gentle.
Incidentally, heat can cause similar thing especially with diesel particulates, so be weary on hot summer afternoons too, it can be likened to riding on black ice. Even professional cyclists tyres lose grip from time to time, there’s only so much you can do. There are no magic tyres out there

fenix

They're not racing tyres but never had an issue with mine. I guess I don't push hard enough.

darrell1967

I’ve used Gatorskins on my commuters for a couple of years with no problems.
They don’t feel particularly quick but I’m happy with them.

darrell1967

super_davo said:

Gatorskins are positively lethal on wet roads. I genuinely can't think of another tyre that is worse.

If you're after a similar tyre that won't kill you and is "bang for buck" then Merlin have these that I would recommend:
https://www.merlincycles.com/vittoria-rubino-pro-control-g-isotech-folding-road-tyre-700c-87393.html
(assuming the bike can take 28s, £12 is a fantastic price for them)

What’s the puncture proof ness on these tyres? If they’re any good I’ll get a pair.

darrell1967

oxoman said:

What's a puncture. Never had one whilst running gaters for quite a few years. Only changed as tubeless wheels now. As a commute tyre bombproof and feel better than marathons.

How are you getting on with the tubeless tyres? I thinking of getting a set fitted in the easily summer.

orraloon

I think Oxoman has a set of Malcolm Borg OTP (cycleclinic) wheels, as do I. My set are my first venture into tubeless, been running them 2.5 years now with no issues. Zero punctures / flats. The tyres are IRC brand. I am very happy with them.

super_davo

darrell1967 said:

super_davo said:

Gatorskins are positively lethal on wet roads. I genuinely can't think of another tyre that is worse.

If you're after a similar tyre that won't kill you and is "bang for buck" then Merlin have these that I would recommend:
https://www.merlincycles.com/vittoria-rubino-pro-control-g-isotech-folding-road-tyre-700c-87393.html
(assuming the bike can take 28s, £12 is a fantastic price for them)

What’s the puncture proof ness on these tyres? If they’re any good I’ll get a pair.

Puncture resistance is up there.. they are Vittorias equivalent of Duranos or Pro4/Power Endurance.

According to Bicycle Rolling Resistance.com puncture resistance is a shade behind both but better than any summer high performance tyre. I'm currently running the slightly lighter non control version on my winter bike with no issues.

In my experience with similar tyres you get a long stint with no punctures, but they wear to a point where you get loads. At £12 when they reach that point - change them.

prawny

Haven’t used them for years. Decent tyres but I had wheelspin issues in the wet when I used to commute on them.

Durano plus are more puncture resistant and I’ve not had any grip issues with them, the better conti tyres (gp4/5000) are much better if you can afford them

super_davo

New versions of Rubinos (G+ and later) have fixed the wet grip issues but IME at the cost of a little speed. Still good all round tyres and ideal for a commuter or all season bike. And the most important bit is £12 a tyre - Duranos are about £20 a tyre unless you go for the rigid version, GP4S are £30 a tyre. GP5000s aren't really comparabie; more of a race tyre with decent puncture protection than an all round "bombproof" tyre.

royalmile

I used Gatorskins for a couple of winter seasons and found they offered very little in the way of grip on wet roads. Another vote for the Grand Prix 4 Seasons, great all-round tyres. The new GP5000s replaced the 4000s II and are really grippy but I find them a bit of a pain to fit compared to the 4000.

DeVlaeminck

I was out off Rubinos years ago by a set that were positively lethal on wet or greasy roads - the only set of tyres I've removed from a bike well before they were worn just because they didn't feel safe - they would slide unpredictably even at quite slow speeds.

I dare say they've changed the design but once bitten...these days I err on the side of a grippier tyre all year and if I have to change a couple of tubes for punctures that's a price worth paying.

spatt77

darrell1967 said:

super_davo said:

Gatorskins are positively lethal on wet roads. I genuinely can't think of another tyre that is worse.

If you're after a similar tyre that won't kill you and is "bang for buck" then Merlin have these that I would recommend:
https://www.merlincycles.com/vittoria-rubino-pro-control-g-isotech-folding-road-tyre-700c-87393.html
(assuming the bike can take 28s, £12 is a fantastic price for them)

What’s the puncture proof ness on these tyres? If they’re any good I’ll get a pair.

I run the rubinos on my winter bike, no punctures, grip level is very good just not as great a ride as the corsa`s but that`s to be expected!

molteni_man

Broke my hip through a combination of diesel and a roundabout. And no wasn’t pushing it at all. Tyres were carefully checked for pressure before setting out and it was about 8c so not overly cold. There was a damp surface. Diesel played the biggest part! The front just went rapidly.
I was riding Gatorskins that day. I don’t think any tyre would have stopped this.
Gatorskins were great re puncture protection, but never overly impressed me with their grip in the wet. I no longer use them as lost confidence in grip levels and use winter tyres with perceived better grip. The Vittorias mentioned above are good!
Just watch those roundabouts and diesel spills!

step83

super_davo said:

New versions of Rubinos (G+ and later) have fixed the wet grip issues but IME at the cost of a little speed. Still good all round tyres and ideal for a commuter or all season bike. And the most important bit is £12 a tyre - Duranos are about £20 a tyre unless you go for the rigid version, GP4S are £30 a tyre. GP5000s aren't really comparabie; more of a race tyre with decent puncture protection than an all round "bombproof" tyre.

The new G+ compund is very good I ran it over winter on my gravel bike (as a slick road) zero problems even dancing off to some byways was fine.

I hate the gato's pigs to fit and usually get people complain about them when its wet and cold. Used to get people on Rubinos or if they had to have conti's the GP4 seasons worked well enough.
If you really hate your self put marathons on your race bike.

molteni_man

oxoman said:

Molteni I feel your pain, did it myself earlier this year. I was using my new wheels and IRC tyres and hit diesel, guy in car saw me go and put his car between me and traffic. Luckily only pride and superficial damage. Diesel doesn't respect any tyre.

oxoman said:

Molteni I feel your pain, did it myself earlier this year. I was using my new wheels and IRC tyres and hit diesel, guy in car saw me go and put his car between me and traffic. Luckily only pride and superficial damage. Diesel doesn't respect any tyre.

Hi Oxoman,
Thank you for your message re the diesel. You are absolutely right re diesel not respecting any tyre. My wife and her friend both hit the deck earlier this near Old Winchester Hill in Hampshire. Both careful riders, but hit a patch and straight over. Luckily, no major damage, but really shook both of them up. Horrible for a cyclist.

bobmcstuff

Not only do Gatorskins have no grip they also completely kill the feel of any bike, leaving it dead and lifeless. Someone on here said once they'd rather wrap garden hose round their wheels, I agree.

4Seasons are much better in terms of grip and road feel, but they are more expensive. They're my go to winter tyre, but for commuting I would look for something cheap and cheerful.

andyrac

Grip and gatorskins shouldn't be in the same sentence. Puncture proof is no good if there is zero grip on wet roads. It beggars belief they continually get recommended as a 'winter' tyre.
Where I ride, which is rural/semi rural roads; in autumn/winter, tyres with some type of tread/ small knobs is needed, as 'slicks' are no good.

N0bodyOfTheGoat

molteni_man said:

My wife and her friend both hit the deck earlier this near Old Winchester Hill in Hampshire. Both careful riders, but hit a patch and straight over. Luckily, no major damage, but really shook both of them up. Horrible for a cyclist.

Unless it was a diiferent diesel spill, are you maybe thinking about the spill near the base of Beacon Hill Lane just before lockdown started? Whichever day it was (a Sunday?), loads of riders had scarey slides and falls!

cruff

Skaterskins

Don't go near any paint or road grids on them in the wet. Never had a tyre slip out on me outside of lack of talent in races - had Gators do it on me three times in one winter a few years back, binned them after the third time (never actually went down because it was the rear that went and I managed to save it - but would probably have gone under the lorry that was in the lane next to me if I had)

Switched to Specialized Armadillos for the next two winters and they were fine - no slips and no punctures (other than a nail which would have punctured a car tyre)

rick_chasey

If you're looking for a different tyre, I've had a great experience with the 4 seasons range on my commuter. Rode them in various widths for around a decade.

Holds up to more or less anything London could throw at it save for my brake pads rubbing on them (my fault) and a massive piece of metal which gashed a 2 inch hole in it.

YMMV obviously, depending on where you live and the kind of grit you get on the roads - i have heard in places where there is a lot of flint conti tyres can cut up like ribbons.

if in doubt, you can always ask the local cycling club.

Charlie_Croker

andyrac said:

...Where I ride, which is rural/semi rural roads; in autumn/winter, tyres with some type of tread/ small knobs is needed, as 'slicks' are no good.

I wonder are these roads you speak of, tarmacked? If not I perhaps understand your comment regarding slicks. However if they have a tarmac surface why do you say ‘slicks are no good’ on a bicycle?