Customer Reviews:
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 Nearly bullet-proof, roll great, and stick like glue. Awesome tires., March 2, 2010
By N. Olsen
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I ride fixed in an urban environment and was infuriated with constantly having to deal with small pin-hole flats. I eventually had to start carrying around a flat-repair kit in my bag (patches, tube, levers, mini-pump), which definitely helped in terms of not getting stranded, but it was still a hassle having to take 10-15 minutes out in public fixing a flat or two a week, plus the weight of all the extra kit.
After doing some research on puncture-resistant tires and asking around town I finally decided on the Gatorskins and I have to say I love 'em. The day after I put them on I had to do some riding around town and after all the snow we've had recently the roads have been in less than stellar condition. In addition to the ubiquitous threat of broken glass, I also was dealing with tons of gravel, pot-holes, and left over road-salt, conditions where, with my old tires I'd have flatted out no question. The Gatorskins took these conditions like a champ and provided better rolling resistance than my old tires at the same time. I think the real moment that converted me to the Gatorskins was when I came to a stop at an intersection and a second later heard a good sized rock come shooting out from under my tire with a loud "Pyooo!" Just a day before that sound would no doubt have been a quiet, defeated hiss.
As I said before, the puncture resistance isn't the only benefit to these tires, they roll great and they stick like glue. If you're trying to pull out long skids these tires are definitely not for you, but if you're trying to get from going to stopped in a hurry then I can't recommend them more.
To sum it all up, great tires, they'll handle all the nastiness that torn-up city streets can throw at you, roll with little resistance, and stop on a dime. If you've got the money it'll be hard to find better.
EDIT: 1 Year Update. With one year and countless miles of daily riding behind me I never had a single puncture flat with these tires, and that's not for the road's lack of trying. A quick visual inspection shows a slew of pock-marks, gouges, pin-holes and long, deep scratches in the rubber, but not a single thing managed to get through. In fact, the reason I'm updating this is because I'm back to buy another tire, I rode the back one down to the kevlar.
46 of 46 people found the above review helpful.
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Pricey but worth it, July 18, 2008
By CD (Japan)
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I've been commuting for years and have thousands of miles on my bike. I've been through about every tire out there and have settled on the Gator Skin as my number one choice.
I ride on city streets with lots of debris. I've never yet flatted with the Gator Skins. Also, they are pretty light weight for having such good protection from flats. Finally, they grip very well in rainy conditions. OK, they are rather pricey but they are the only tires I buy now.
28 of 28 people found the above review helpful.
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Gatorskin=Awesome, February 5, 2010
By Larry Lara
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Pros:
1. Flat protection. Second only to the armadillo. Armadillos wear out way faster though.
2. Low rolling resistance lets you go fast
3. look good when new
4 Great all condition tire
5. good but expensive for skidding
Cons:
1. Look ugly when old
2. Although they are flat resistant, they still get a bunch of embedded debris that doesn't penetrate.
23 of 24 people found the above review helpful.
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Gatorskin=Awesome, February 5, 2010
By Larry Lara
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Pros:
1. Flat protection. Second only to the armadillo. Armadillos wear out way faster though.
2. Low rolling resistance lets you go fast
3. look good when new
4 Great all condition tire
5. good but expensive for skidding
Cons:
1. Look ugly when old
2. Although they are flat resistant, they still get a bunch of embedded debris that doesn't penetrate.
23 of 24 people found the above review helpful.
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 Great commuting tire until it failed., May 15, 2010
By G. Powell (Seattle, WA USA)
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I love and hate this tire. The love is because it's grippy even on wet roads. It has not allowed many flats. I had a few last season of commuting but I'm attributing it to crumby tubes. My current dislike is cheap Chinese tubes. The seams seem to fail after a mere 500 miles or so. The tread on this tire is very nice. I'm running 700x28 which keep my 220+lbs of commuting bike/gear/me from pinch flats on the railroad tracks and bridge joints.
The hate is that the sidewall failed without notice. As in with other tires, it's the tread that wears out and then you can see that's time for a new tire. Or the sidewall fibers start to break and you can see it's getting brittle. This tire exhibited none of those warning signs. From my photos you can see how much tread is left.
What happened on this tires last ride is that I had a car start to pull out into the street in front of me and I hit the brakes in a panic stop from 25mph+. (I had the right of way, but there is no point in being dead right.) The front wheel locked up or nearly so, the tire started to skid, the sidewall failed, the tube popped and I hit the curb and went over the handlebars, as I wasn't able to control the bike. Fortunately by that time I was doing less than 5mph and so sustained no injuries other than a mild scrape.
On other tires in a similar panic stop I've had the tread fail, as it in peeled off the tire but without a blowout. This tread is tough and held on. After the accident I spent some time looking at the tire and I think that the thick tough tread puts a lot of stress on the sidewalls of these tires. So that anyone who regularly commutes with a load should inspect those sidewalls and replace the tire if they show any signs of wear and not wait until some minor casing failure occurs.
So what next? Well I bought another set of these same tires. I could have switched brands but in general I like they way they ride. They are very responsive and I like the wet weather performance.
22 of 23 people found the above review helpful.
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Conti Ultra Gatorskins can't be beat, November 8, 2009
By Hagen Green (Seattle, WA USA)
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There are a few critical pieces of the bike: those that touch the rider and those that touch the road. A catastrophic failure of a bicycle tire can spell serious trouble, especially for those of us who blast down hills, ride close to traffic, or just enjoy riding aggressively. I pedal year-round to and from work just over 18 miles per day on hilly terrain and mixing with traffic on a fixed gear. My bicycle *is* my car. I absolutely depend and put my life into my bike. The tires are arguably one of the most critical pieces that keep you upright and away from spilling on the pavement. For nearly 8 years I've put my money on these tires and I've never been disappointed. I change these tires out about every year to year and a half (I'm about 140lbs) which is when I usually get my first flat. Yep, *first* flat. These tires are bulletproof, yet are a fine balance between weight and flat-free performance. They are slightly heavier than race tires (I haven't weighed them side-by-side, but rather going by perception while pedaling), yet the cornering performance is nearly on par with Conti's race tires (e.g., Grand Pri 4000 chilli's I also ride in the summer). I've come to trust these tires not only on dry pavement, but also in the rain. They are very predictable and instill a sense of trust as you get accustomed to wet riding. I've had several near-spill situations but, believe it or not, I've never gone down on these tires even after 8 years commuting. One time I was turning left out of a driveway and it was near freezing. I hit a patch of ice and my rear tire broke loose, but a moment later it grabbed again after the ice. Scary - yes, but the tire transitioned to grip very nicely and didn't throw me off. Since I'm on a fixie, I have a better sense for feeling the road. There was one time I told my buddy riding behind me that the road is slick, and I took it slowly and really felt the little grip available; he took a spill a moment later. (He wasn't riding a fixie, but I also don't know what tires he was riding. Whatever comes stock on a Cervelo P2 :p .)
I very highly recommend purchasing these tires to enjoy good grip in all-weather situations, predictability, puncture-resistance, and a long tire life.
20 of 22 people found the above review helpful.
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These are directional tires, July 21, 2010
By aiyo
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I think everyone has pretty much covered all the good things about these tires, so I just want to point out these are marked as "directional tires", not that it may actually make much of the differences since these are not even treated tires, but why not make things right from the beginning when you have the chance, the direction of sign is marked on the red sided lable, not very noticeable.
Also these tires will be very difficult to install when brand new, they are very tight and will hug the rims like nothing else, so make sure you got some good tire levers like the Kool Stop Tire Bead Jack or very strong/thin tire levers.
13 of 13 people found the above review helpful.
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Amazing German Technology, June 22, 2010
By bikeymikey (Tampa, Florida USA)
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Average around 100 miles a week on my cro-moly frame racing bike which weighs in at 18 pounds fully prepped and loaded. Last set of tires were Michelin Krylion 700x23's folding model. Can't tell you how many punctures I got with them, it was just constant. And they looked like they were 28mm in width after fully inflated. Went back to a pair of Kevlar-belted Schwinn radials I had sitting around the garage from years ago (these had tan-colored sidewalls and were stiff wire construction) but blew the casings due to dry rot pretty quickly. Read some reviews online and purchased a pair of Continental Gatorskins 700x25mm folding model, which are hand-made in Germany. I installed these carefully on my Araya rims which normally handle 20mm racing widths. Though they make the bike a lot faster, the 20mm's give a very harsh ride due to the necessity to maintain 120+ psi pressure and a narrower contact surface. So over the years I have gravitated toward 23 or 25mm widths. Once installed correctly (take your time and do it the right way) the Gatorskins pump up hard as a rock at only 85 to 90psi. These are "directional" tires and need to be installed with the tires facing a specific direction relative to the surface pattern. Ride quality is not to be believed. After a week or so of sticky "break-in" the bike rides like a Mercedes, like there are shock absorbers on both front and rear wheels. It's just so comfortable to ride. Quick and fast on turns, and acceleration is amazingly swift. You're totally attached to the pavement with no skipping or bouncing on fast curving ascents or descents. After three months and around 1200 miles, not even one scratch on the rubber coating on these tires. And the sidewalls are as undamaged and clean as they were when UPS delivered them. Note this reviewer weighs 158 lbs. so I don't as a rule stress tires as much as a heavier rider might.
12 of 12 people found the above review helpful.
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Ultra Gatorskins Can't Be Beat, January 18, 2010
By B. Sims (Pasadena, CA)
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The Continental Ultra Gatorskins cannot be beat. I have gone through two set of these tires and am about to buy my third set. I have thousands of miles on these tires and have NEVER had a flat! I ride all kinds of roads. Just two days ago I was riding with a buddy who got a huge screw in his tire and a second flat from a metal wire all in one 150 mile ride. We rode the same roads and I had no problems at all. I cannot recommend this tire more highly. I am going to give the 25s a try this time after using 23 for the past three years.
11 of 11 people found the above review helpful.
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Happy Gator, November 13, 2009
By Timothy X. Toohey
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I am your typical 48 year old grey haired rider who has more ability to buy very expensive equipment than ability to win bicycle races. I've always bought expensive 700 x 23 tires. I also kept getting flats, some speculate because of my weight and the high tire pressure. So I went to the Gator Skin 700 x 25 and I haven't looked back. The ride is incredibly smooth with no appreciable resistance to rolling. Finally, the right tire for me.
8 of 8 people found the above review helpful.
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 Good tire, but sidewalls wear, Watch for bulging tire and replace!, June 30, 2010
By G. Powell (Seattle, WA USA)
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Length:: 1:11 Mins
I just finished replacing my rear tire, (with of course another GatorSkin) but the one I replaced had a bulge in it. Upon closer inspection it looked like a bit of fraying of tire cord around the bead. When I deflated the tire and took it off the rim, I could clearly see that this tire was toast. My previous replacement tire (front) had a catastrophic failure of the sidewall causing me to lose control of the bike and crash (fortunately I was able to slow down and escaped serious injury). This time I noticed the bulge and did the inspection and replacement.
Stats: Gear + bike + me = 210 to 220lbs. Daily commuter over paved trails and roads approx 28 miles round trip. This set of tires lasted about 2.5K for the front and 3K for the back. There is plenty of tread left, so don't judge the life of your tires just by tread. Any weird bulging, loose threads around the bead and I highly recommend that you replace the tire.
Pros:
Very good in the rain & wet.
few flats mostly due to tubes which failed on the seam. (I hate the current crop of Chinese tubes, go for India or Germany made Continentals they seem to last much longer)
Lower profile than say the Schwalbe Marathons for the same size tire. You may be able to run a 700x28 Gatorskin vs a 700x25 Marathon.
Con:
Sidewall failures. I think in part it may be due to the extra tough tread which puts a lot of stress on the sidewall. Or it could just be me, and that I'm a heavier than average rider and put a lot of stress on my equipment. I have broken near everything else (frame, crank arms, pedals, rims etc.) over my lifetime of riding
I'm on my second set, and we'll see how these fare before I decide to buy more of them.
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Update: After 2,800 miles (approx) commuting, the rear tire sidewall has failed. For the last couple of days the rear wheel felt like it was out of round, so I trued it up. Then this morning "whap..whap..whap!" I stopped to look and there was a small finger sized hole in the sidewall where it attaches to the wire bead. With the new replaced tire, no longer the wobble ride feel.
I'm a daily commuter with a lot of stop and go riding. So your mileage may vary, but I don't think they make the sidewalls out of strong enough material.
So I bought a replacement tire, not a Continental. I won't mention the brand until after I see how it wears.
8 of 9 people found the above review helpful.
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Good tire, but sidewalls wear, Watch for bulging tire and replace!, June 30, 2010
By G. Powell (Seattle, WA USA)
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Length:: 1:11 Mins
I just finished replacing my rear tire, (with of course another GatorSkin) but the one I replaced had a bulge in it. Upon closer inspection it looked like a bit of fraying of tire cord around the bead. When I deflated the tire and took it off the rim, I could clearly see that this tire was toast. My previous replacement tire (front) had a catastrophic failure of the sidewall causing me to lose control of the bike and crash (fortunately I was able to slow down and escaped serious injury). This time I noticed the bulge and did the inspection and replacement.
Stats: Gear + bike + me = 210 to 220lbs. Daily commuter over paved trails and roads approx 28 miles round trip. This set of tires lasted about 2.5K for the front and 3K for the back. There is plenty of tread left, so don't judge the life of your tires just by tread. Any weird bulging, loose threads around the bead and I highly recommend that you replace the tire.
Pros:
Very good in the rain & wet.
few flats mostly due to tubes which failed on the seam. (I hate the current crop of Chinese tubes, go for India or Germany made Continentals they seem to last much longer)
Lower profile than say the Schwalbe Marathons for the same size tire. You may be able to run a 700x28 Gatorskin vs a 700x25 Marathon.
Con:
Sidewall failures. I think in part it may be due to the extra tough tread which puts a lot of stress on the sidewall. Or it could just be me, and that I'm a heavier than average rider and put a lot of stress on my equipment. I have broken near everything else (frame, crank arms, pedals, rims etc.) over my lifetime of riding
I'm on my second set, and we'll see how these fare before I decide to buy more of them.
===========
Update: After 2,800 miles (approx) commuting, the rear tire sidewall has failed. For the last couple of days the rear wheel felt like it was out of round, so I trued it up. Then this morning "whap..whap..whap!" I stopped to look and there was a small finger sized hole in the sidewall where it attaches to the wire bead. With the new replaced tire, no longer the wobble ride feel.
I'm a daily commuter with a lot of stop and go riding. So your mileage may vary, but I don't think they make the sidewalls out of strong enough material.
So I bought a replacement tire, not a Continental. I won't mention the brand until after I see how it wears.
8 of 9 people found the above review helpful.
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Great Tire, March 23, 2009
By Richard E. Welch (Shawnee, Ok. USA)
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Continental just simply makes great tires! These are light, roll easily, and I have had one on the rear now for a year and in 2500 miles it's not worn out yet. Even if there are lighter tires out there, I wouldn't trade these for a few grams.
7 of 7 people found the above review helpful.
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Best Value on the Net, May 12, 2007
By Norman L. Johnson (Rockwood, Michigan)
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After searching the Web I came back to Amazon where I found my item at the best price, in stock. As always the delivery was great and the experience the same.
Continental Ultra Gatorskin tires are really great for training and all around riding. They're the best I found for simi smooth roads in Michigan.
6 of 9 people found the above review helpful.
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2500 miles no flats!, March 19, 2009
By Global Investor (Bay Area, CA)
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After getting about 10 flats in 3000 miles on the stock tires that came with my new bike, I switched to these. No flats in 2500 miles and they roll great. I'm hooked for life.
5 of 5 people found the above review helpful.
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 Frequent flats, March 24, 2011
By Eli
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I bought these on recommendation from a local shop - no more flats they claimed. Expensive, but worth it right? Well in the first 15 days of riding I've had three flats. After the first I returned the tire to the shop for a new one, then that tire got a flat too. Sheesh.
The first flat (day two of riding) was a weird sidewall blowout, maybe a defect in the manufacture of the tire. The second and third were from pieces of gravel slicing the tread all the way through to the tube. Just regular gravel from a bike path. So now I have a useless $50 tire with two holes in it, and another that I don't trust. Very disappointing.
I should note that I've been riding my bike everywhere my life takes me for the last ten years, and am very experienced in installing and caring for tires.
In the past I've had success with Bontrager race lite tires, which are cheaper to boot.
5 of 8 people found the above review helpful.
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Low rolling resistance, responsive handling, comfortable, easy to mount, June 3, 2011
By Barry Spencer (San Francisco CA USA)
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These tires are faster and give me more sure and responsive handling than the original Kenda brand tires that came with my bike. My bike is now more peppy, nimble, and fun. And the ride is more comfortable, with less road shock and vibration. I tried them out at 100 psi, which was the maximum pressure I found comfortable with the previous tires, but because the Gatorskins were so comfortable, I increased the pressure to 110 psi, then later to 120 psi, and they are still comfortable. I weigh 74 kg / 163 lb., use 25mm width tires, and ride in the city.
So far I've ridden them only a few weeks, not long enough to report on how well they wear and resist puncture. I haven't ridden them on wet pavement.
The Gatorskins with Kevlar beads are somewhat shapeless, so before mounting them on my rims I had to use my hands to form them into the shape of a tire. Nevertheless they were easy to mount, and when I started filling the tires the sidewall height came out even all around.
I had difficulty finding the very slightly raised directional arrow on one sidewall that indicates which way the tread pattern should point. I gather it doesn't really matter which way the tread pattern goes, as the tread pattern is there merely to allay consumer trepidation about what are essentially bald tires. But I wanted to mount them the "right way" anyway.
I've noticed that at 120 psi the rear Gatorskin tends to skid when I "panic" brake. I can manage to stay upright during a skid, so that's not a safety concern for me. I worry more about the skidding prematurely wearing out the tire tread.
4 of 4 people found the above review helpful.
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good tyres, January 29, 2009
By anonymous
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I've used these tyres for many years and have been very happy with them. They last a long time, they are not prone to flats, and they handle wet pavement as well as a skinny tyre can be expected. Given that I have 650 rims on my bike, it is difficult to find good tyres for them, and I was very relieved when I came across these.
4 of 4 people found the above review helpful.
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Flats Begone, January 8, 2011
By Gift Recipient
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I cycle approx 100 to 150 miles per week. On average I was having 1 to 2 flats every time I rode. I installed this tire and have ridden over 1000 miles without a flat. The only problem the super fast flat change out skills I had prior to buying the tire have gotten rusty. Great tire...
4 of 6 people found the above review helpful.
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Excellent everyday tire, March 24, 2011
By Unix Guy (Blackwood Terrace, NJ USA)
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I got 2500 miles out of one of these tires, which is more than I got out of previous tires that were supposedly "flat resistant." Finally had a major blowout on the rear, when a 1 inch sidewall cut finally did it in. The front tire was purchased at the same time and is still going strong. I don't race. I do ride regularly, 100 miles or more each week. Plenty of places on the roads where I live to kill a tire so I'm very happy with this tire.
3 of 3 people found the above review helpful.
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A bit slow rolling but no flats in 1000+ miles, August 15, 2010
By Yeastman (Spokane, WA)
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I've commuted, done all day fast group rides and even raced on these gatorskins. While they're not the fastest rolling tire by any means, and perhaps not the stickiest for bombing around a corner in a technical criterium, they do what they're built to do, and that's prevent flats. In over 1000 miles, they haven't flatted on me yet, and at 180lbs i'm no toothpick Andy Schleck clone. I've nailed one pothole square-on at 18+mph (paceline leaders, point next time!), and ridden over my share of glass and gravel. So far, not even a slow leak.
Speed wise they are not the fastest, however they aren't terrible. They do feel a bit 'squishy' to me; many times i've thought I had flatted but it wasnt the case, simply due to the soft feel of the tires. Given this, they arent ideal race tires - however I have raced road races and criteriums with them and never once thought my tires left me at a disadvantage.
At 1000+ miles i've rotated the tires once and both front & rear are developing flat spots. The wear seems to be good considering the chipseal I often ride on & my weight.
Overall I recommend. If you can afford a 2nd set of tires/wheels for raceday, by all means, do that. But for those of us with one bike & one set of wheels to 'do it all', they're about the best compromise there is between speed and flat resistance.
3 of 3 people found the above review helpful.
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Could be an easy 5, May 28, 2010
By F. Tells
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Great tires. Rode for about 800 miles. Got a couple of flats which is nowhere near the amount of flats I was getting with my stock tires. So there is no doubt that the puncture protection system works...BUT like all other tires the weak spot is the sidewalls. I destroyed both tires on two consecutive riding days at the end of my 800 mile run. Can you freaking believe it! Ran over a large piece of gravel on Wednesday, rested on Thursday then rode my bike again on Friday and hit another large piece of gravel. Both incidences cut through the side wall and destroyed the tires. Would have happened with ANY tire though. When a tire manufacturer comes out with a tire with 'tough-as-nails' sidewalls I will gladly give it five stars. Bottom line - Puncture resistance system on this tire works and works well, good rolling resistance and there was considerably more shock absorption in these tires compared to my stock ones. Would never have imagined a tire could make that much of a difference.
3 of 3 people found the above review helpful.
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Worst Tires Ever, July 6, 2009
By The Jack of Musical Trades (Texas)
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I bought two of these for front and back in addition to tire liners (yes, needed desperate flat protection).
First on all, Tire liners did _nothing_. period.
The first tire had a large 1.5" gash in the side of the tire. (QA problem?) But, both are worthless and did less than nothing to protect against flats. I might as well have been riding on tubes!
(These flats were _not_ pinch flats, but from unavoidable glass and such). Before each ride I inspect my tread & I keep my bike @ 90-100 PSI (these are rated for 120).
Furthermore I was unable to get any English support, only German.
Wish I could recommend to everyone some other tire product.
3 of 9 people found the above review helpful.
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Heavy but tough, August 22, 2011
By Joe
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I like a nice lite tire. Anything over 200 grams just slows me down too much. This tire is way heavy! Do not buy this if you are trying to set new records or destroy your friends in a long ride. I have not changed a flat in 300 miles with it, and I have hit some things purposefully to test it. BUY IT: if you are sick of changing flats. FORGET IT: if Levi Leipheimer is your hero.
2 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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 Fast and Light, but Frequent Flats, July 22, 2011
By akas (Dayton, OH)
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While these tires are quite light, they lack durability and puncture protection and should be avoided for long distance events. From reading the other reviews, I expected these tires to last longer than the 2500 miles I got out of each. In that time, I experienced 7 flats and sidewall damage due to a branch on the road. From my experience from other tires, I've found the performance of these tires to be less than desired.
Considering the main selling points for this tire are the supposed puncture resistance and durability, I found that I had ended up wasting $100 for less than a season of use. I've used Specialized Armadillos in the past and I've gotten 11,000 mi (still going for over 2 years) in the front and 4,500 mi in the rear.
The best thing going for these tires is their weight and road "stickiness." Therefore, these tires are probably best suited for low to medium distance racing/training rides and should be avoided for randonneurs and touring.
2 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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Love them, until we started getting flats, July 13, 2011
By Andrew
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I have 700x 23 on the front and 700x25 on the back for my touring bicycles.
Put ~1000 miles on them and this last trip on the second to last day we started getting flats, to be specific 4 within 6 miles!
Upon further inspection it appears the sidewall failed on two of the tires.
We will be using a different tire on our next trip.
Hope this helps!
2 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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Pretty Darn Good, June 9, 2011
By International Man of Leisure (Chicago, IL USA)
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I commute daily, year-round, in Chicago, about 18 miles a day. Unfortunately, my ride takes me through a part of town where the primary form of entertainment seems to be breaking glass on the streets. Puncture-resistant tires aren't an option, they are a requirement.
I have the kevlar-beaded version of these tires on my road bike and they make the perfect training wheels, so these were a no-brainer option for the commuter / mountain bike. Before we continue, keep in mind that Continentals are notoriously difficult to mount on a rim. The fit is extremely tight, so make sure to throw a pair of plastic bike levers in your flat kit. Unlike me. My first day on the tires was less than stellar. About 5 miles from home, I got a flat and discovered a piece of glass had worked its way through the casing. Already, there were lots of cuts and embedded glass in the tire. Because I forgot to put tire levers in my flat kit, it took me a little while and some creative vocabulary to replace the tube.
However, over the next three months, I've only gotten one other flat. That's pretty impressive for my commute, as I average 1 a month with any other brand of belted tire. Additionally, these tires are fast. Really fast. The accelerate nicely and stick turns exceptionally well (a traditional Continental trait).
So, will these end all flats? No. But they'll keep flats to a manageable level. In the meantime, they perform almost as well as racing tires and inspire confidence in less-than-perfect situations (gravel, rain, etc.).
2 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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What is a flat tire?, January 13, 2011
By John A. Lucier (San Diego)
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I hate to be yet another chiming in no flatter but what do ya say? I built my all ti hybrid hardtail (with rockshox judy XL double crown! the enigma! morati W bars & seatpost, ti chainrings)nearly 4 years ago and thousands of miles later I'm just now figuring I better replace the back tire- not a single flat even tho when I see a pile of broken beer bottle I veer over and bunny hop into it. (LOL) I always hated flats and though I also run the slime tire liner, I use the extra thin tubes and fully love these Contis. I run them at 107lbs using Shimano XTR rims (the ones with the spoke tighteners in the hub, they only made them a short time) and amazingly enough these are VERY supple and comfortable at that pressure- (compared to Tom Slick and Performance City Slick I have tried before- the Gatorskins are faster yet give more on bumps even at a higher pressure, if you can believe)
If there is a negative I did have an unbelievably hard time getting them on this particular rim, I know the proper technique of fitting them in the opposite valley, but even with gloves on and getting them soapy wet I BARELY got them on with about 15 minutes of grunting. (I won't use levers, they should be unnecessary with most installs)This may be irrelevant to any rim but the Shimano XTR so I don't reflect this in the rating, we know all rims size a little different. It has kept me from rotating the SOBs tho.
As far as I am concerned this is the only tire I would ever buy again, I could spend less but would sacrifice longetivity and flat prevention so it would save NADA.
2 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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Good flat protection, durable tire., January 8, 2011
By ES
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This is the 2nd set I bought. The first set lasted 4 years before finally wearing out. I expect this set to last just as long. Gatorskins offer good protection against puncture flats. Keep them inflated and they'll last a long time, even after getting nicks and cuts in them.
2 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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Great tire for area with goatheads!, December 13, 2010
By DaveG
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Have around 1000 miles on these tires...no rotation yet...and not a single flat. Will look to purchase more of these great tires.
2 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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GREAT TIRES, November 3, 2010
By Jason P. Scofi
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These are great tires! They are nearly bullet proof! i use them for training, however i have used them for a full century. Def. not the lightest tires out there, but a great tire that wont get flats!
2 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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Got 'em, Now I'm Good., September 21, 2010
By crookneck (Chicago, IL United States)
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I've been on these tires for five months of daily commuting and I LOVE them. 700X23 is what I ride on tough Chicago streets. I've had ZERO flats so far. Unlike the Specialized Mondos I previously had. Flats every 1.5-3 weeks of daily riding with those awful tires. What a joke they were.
The tread and traction has proven well with the Gatorskins. I sport the feather-weight Kevlar bead and will stay loyal to Continental's excellent product.
Don't mess around, do it.
2 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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Bulletproof Tires, September 3, 2010
By Weedwax
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Bought one of these for the back wheel of my fixed gear bike about a year ago and haven't had a flat since. Highly recommend this product. Just make sure to keep them inflated at the proper psi.
2 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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A great tire., June 24, 2010
By MadMatt
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Don't let the "I got a flat so this tire sucks" crowd worry you. Punctures are just a matter of whats on the road that you roll over. Itcould happen the first day you put it on, or not for 1000 miles. These tires are very robust. Great durability and one of the few quality non-racing tires to come with what is essentially a slick tread. I couldn't recommend these more highly.
2 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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Good tires, April 27, 2010
By John Brady (New Hampster)
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I weigh 200#, have 700/25 tires that I ride at 100 psi. For a heavy tire, they ride well. 3200 miles and my rear is starting to show substantial wear, the front only moderate. I'll replace with same tire, probably around 4000 miles. I'm impressed!
2 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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Great Tire, March 28, 2010
By J. Evans
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Have over 12,000 miles on two sets of these tires and have only had one flat. Wouldn't buy anything else.
2 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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Great for Tandems, March 13, 2010
By BrentC (Sacramento, CA)
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After getting flat after flat on the tandem using 'normal' tires for 500 miles, I got these Gatorskins, and haven't had a single flat in the last 3500 miles. The substantial extra weight of a tandem beats up on tires, but these have been excellent. I run them at about 100-110 psi, and they roll nicely even with the weight of two people. Highly recommended.
2 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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Best Tire, January 16, 2010
By JapaRider (Somers, NY USA)
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These are the best tires period. They grip the road without giant treads and they *don't flat*! I, like most of these other reviewers have been riding on them for years with 1000's of miles on them and have never gotten a flat.
2 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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4000+ miles, NO FLATS, November 16, 2009
By Tracy Basso (Davis, CA USA)
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I have ridden on these tires this entire season, which includes two road races, and a good portion of last season. That is over 7000 miles, most of which was done on my primary bike which has these tires. They have performed flawlessly.
Second set being ordered up. Thank you, Continental.
2 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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Good tire, September 16, 2009
By Bill B. Peters (Whitney TX)
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I have had these on my wife's bicycles for several years. I have never had to fix a flat tire since using them. Before the GatorSkins, at least a flat tire every two-three weeks. She rides on country roads with lots of debris.
2 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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Reliable, July 17, 2009
By Mutaz K. Murad (Los Angeles, CA)
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These tires seem to be doing the job, No one likes changing the bicycle tube on the side of the road, i got my bike for Christmas and my first ride within two miles i had two flats, the front and back wheel!!!
Checked with the local bicycle store and they recommended the continental GatorSkin tires, I changed the two tires and got New tubes "Avenir Thorn Resistant Tube 700x18-25c", so far i have put 100 miles with no problems,although i have been riding when it is 110 F outside, they seem to be holding just fine, I am very optimistic about these tires and would recommend them.
2 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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I am completely satisfied with my Continental Ultra Gatorskins, October 28, 2008
By D. Lee (San Jose, CA)
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I've been on my 700/23c Continental Ultra Gatorskins for 2,500 miles without a single flat, front or rear. I have the folding ones. I don't know anything about "rolling resistance" and all that stuff. But I do commute 4,500 miles a year on fairly tough roads and I don't want to waste time fixing flats. My commute takes me twice a day through the Santa Cruz mountains and the tires grip quite nicely. I've also had them up to 62 mph in Lake Tahoe. These tires have been very durable for me and I highly recommend them. I'm just now replacing them due to slight sidewall damage which may or may not be a problem. I just don't want to take any chances. Without the sidewall issue, I suspect they'd have about 500 miles left in them.
2 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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don't buy these tires..., September 12, 2009
By M. L. Goretti
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They are so good that I'm afraid they'll raise the price more if demand goes up.
2 of 4 people found the above review helpful.
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Whippy but lousy flat protection., April 26, 2010
By G. Seise (South Jersey)
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I purchased/received a pair of these tires (700x28c) on March 4th to replace the rear Bontrager Race Lite Hardcase 700x32c tire that came standard with my bike. I did some research online and Gatorskin seemed like a pretty good choice for puncture resistant tires. Unfortunately, these did little good for the amount and type of riding that I do (around 50+ miles/week). I mostly do road riding, with occasional grass and gravel when roads get congested with traffic, and the worst section in terms of tire hazards is the bridge I go over, where there's several shards of broken glass to go over.
Anyway, within the first two weeks a shard of the aforementioned glass punctured straight through the center part of the FRONT tire, where it should've been the most resilient. Luckily thanks to Amazon's return policy I had absolutely no trouble returning the tire. I gave these the benefit of the doubt and kept the other tire on the rear, until about another 5 weeks later when it developed a flat as well. The damage on this one was a lot more severe; there were several spots with holes filled with granules or pieces of glass imbedded through the center part of the tire. Compare this to the Bontrager tires above, where it took 11 MONTHS for the rear tire to develop its first flat (with the front one still going strong) and you can see why I'm unhappy about this purchase.
Well, the positives about this tire? They're fairly whippy, most likely due to lower weight, and I was able to ride a gear higher than normal without any more perceived effort. Would I recommend these tires to anyone? No way, especially not for training. Since these seem very short lived I could only see these being used strictly for performance reasons. Longevity wise, you won't be finding it here.
2 of 5 people found the above review helpful.
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poor quality, February 19, 2010
By Osvaldo (San Diego, CA)
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After less than 500 miles, bead wore through housing and started eating tubes like candy. Such poor quality is surprising from Continental.
I also noticed that the tire design is similar but different from another Gatorskin bought in store. Could this be counterfeit stuff? Just speculation at this point.
I still think Gatorskin are good tires, but I'll stay away from Amazon for now.
2 of 5 people found the above review helpful.
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Lousy, July 5, 2009
By Denver Guy (Denver, CO)
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They should call this the "Onion Skin," because that's about the amount of protection they offer. I got a thorn flat within 2 weeks of installation.
What a joke!!!
2 of 11 people found the above review helpful.
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Fast and Light, but Frequent Flats, July 22, 2011
By Alexander A. Kaszynski (Dayton, OH)
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While these tires are quite light, they lack durability and puncture protection and should be avoided for long distance events. From reading the other reviews, I expected these tires to last longer than the 2500 miles I got out of each. In that time, I experienced 7 flats and sidewall damage due to a branch on the road. From my experience from other tires, I've found the performance of these tires to be less than desired.
Considering the main selling points for this tire are the supposed puncture resistance and durability, I found that I had ended up wasting $100 for less than a season of use. I've used Specialized Armadillos in the past and I've gotten 11,000 mi (still going for over 2 years) in the front and 4,500 mi in the rear.
The best thing going for these tires is their weight and road "stickiness." Therefore, these tires are probably best suited for low to medium distance racing/training rides and should be avoided for randonneurs and touring.
2 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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Bought for my girlfriend, August 30, 2011
By Magnus Gille
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These are awesome. I used them in the past for winter training and they roll great, are really puncture safe. I replaced my set when you could see the cord inside and can't remember any flats at all during their lifetime. Simply amazing tires. A little more expensive but very high quality.
1 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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As Advertised, August 29, 2011
By Kenneth Grossman
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All good. product as advertised, seller, delivery as expected. I have no idea how the tires will hold up. I purchased them because of flat problems... time will tell.
1 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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great tires, August 28, 2011
By jimrides
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I have been riding on this type of tire for over 2 years now. I have this size of tire, 700X28 on a Trek road tandem, also use 700X25 on my Specialized Tarmac Carbon road bike, and my wife rides on 700X25 on her carbon road bike, a Trek Madone. This is the second set of these tires we have used on our bikes and have found them to be a great tire, less flats, and a good ride on hard surfaces.
1 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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Did I get the Ultra Gatorskins?, August 26, 2011
By Roland Valdez
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Received the tires in good condition. However, I noticed they did not say Ultra Gatorskins on them. They look like my old ones but I hope they match the specs. Took it out for a 26 mile ride with no problems. =)
1 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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Great tire, August 21, 2011
By Chuck G (SC, USA)
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I've been riding these for several years now. Great tire. Much less likely to flat, good life, and seem to roll well. I just wore out one and am ordering another.
1 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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Excellent, Durable, High Performance Tires, August 21, 2011
By Gary E.
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These tires are amongst the best day-to-day performers of the dozens of high-end road tires I have used, simply excellent. I seldom take the time to write Amazon reviews, but I've been buying Gatorskins through Amazon for the past couple of years and have been looking at those same invalid, unrepresentative customer photos of these tires someone posted years ago. (Those photos and the associated critical comments were undoubtedly due to user abuse of the tires after many more miles than anyone should expect from such a product.) I have probably put on over 15,000 miles on Continental Gatorskins over the past few years, using them for serious recreational riding, training, and light touring. They handle turns extremely well, have great traction in even wet conditions, and are light enough for serious training. Like I say, I have used the best from other brands (Michelin, Vittoria, Vredestein, etc.). These continentals are as good as the best of the others for everyday riding, and more economical than most.
1 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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Great Tires, August 11, 2011
By Dale Anderson
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These are great tires. The pictures above supplied by G. Powell indicate abuse, not normal wear. I've been a happy consumer of Continental tires for 20+ years
1 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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So far so good, August 10, 2011
By Rock Island Line
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I bought the tires just before a 500 mile group ride. Not a single flat. Maybe just luck, but I was getting frequent flats with my old, stock tires.
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Excellent tires!, August 8, 2011
By Patrick Philipp Behm Lopez (Miami, Florida United States)
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I used to have flat tires one out of every three times I went out riding. As soon as I got these I have only had one flat tire and it was due to a large metallic wire that pierced the tire. I highly recommend these. Be sure to inflate to 100 psi at least to avoid flats.
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Continental Gatorskin Folding Tire, July 27, 2011
By road runner 82
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I have to start off by saying BEFORE these tires I had tons of experience with pinch flats and junk getting through the tires. While these tires are a bit pricey you definitely get what you pay for...amazing! Yesterday I went on a 60 mile ride on some pretty bumpy stuff. All I did was pump up the tires to 110 psi and enjoyed the ride! As I was riding I was shocked that none of these bumps caused a pinch flat or bent rim. I have Continentals on both my bikes and while the bikes themselves aren't top end I consider it the one thing you should spend your money on
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Excellent Tire, July 22, 2011
By Drew
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The stock Kenda rear tire on my bike was worn through at 1,000 miles. I replaced it with this Gatorskin and it's been smooth sailing.
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Great road tires, June 19, 2011
By Dorothy D
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I've used Continental Gatorskins for years and have never disappointed. They're very dependable for recreational riding and commuting. I rarely get flats and, when I do, it usually means that it's time to replace them.
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Great tires, April 17, 2011
By Avery
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These tires are amazing strong. I haven't biked with many different types of tires so I can't really comment on their rolling resistance but they have always given me good grip even on wet roads. By far the best investment I've put into my bike.
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just plain great, March 14, 2011
By Jason K. Iijima
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I've used Continental's Gatorskins for a few years now and have absolutely zero complaints. they last long, the keep your tube puncture free and they're not too expensive (if you know where to look!). I'm a daily bike commuter and weekend rider and these tires have never let me down.
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Expensive, but what else is out there?, February 16, 2011
By Rom (Seattle)
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It's hard to find a better tire for the price, but these aren't the Gatorskins of years ago.... Continental's manufacturing quality has cheapened over the years on these tires. The sidewalls look painted on and the PSI specs are barely legible in the thin relief. After 2k-3k miles the tread wears down significantly and punctures will show up on a regular basis (25c, 57cm frame, 180lbs).
I'm on my 4th set and I keep buying the tire because of excellent rain performance. If you feel skittish going downhill in the rain, these tires can help.
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AWESOME!!!, February 14, 2011
By Adam (DC)
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I have had the Gatorskins for a year or so and love them. I live in DC and bike to work 25 miles each day. This morning on my ride, a piece of jagged glass got stuck in the tires and was making a clicking noise each time the glass came in contact with the pavement. Essentially, each revolution was pushing the glass further towards the tube and due to the conditions, I had to ride a mile or so like this. Any normal tire would have punctured, but I picked out the piece of glass and continued on my way. Theses tires are a must for commuters who have to deal with city roads filled with all sorts of debris.
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Great Tire. Worth every penny, February 4, 2011
By Blackcloud_9 (Temecula CA USA)
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Started riding my bike to work to improve my health and save on car costs. Received a bike from my father-in-law. It's an old all-steel bike. It's not the greatest thing on two-wheels but couldn't beat the price (free). Started getting a lot of flats. I'm a lot bigger than my father-in-law. I'm what is known in bike vernacular as a "Clyde" (Clydesdale). After three flats in 8 days I had had enough. Did a lot of research and decided on these Ultra Gatorskin 700x28c's Bought these tires a little over 16 months ago. Put over 2,000 miles on them. Have not had one flat since. They ride smooth and hold up well. I also installed puncture resistant tubes, so that probably helped the flat issue. Will definitely shop Continental when it comes time to replace them
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Best tires I've ever used, February 1, 2011
By sototallycarl
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I use the x25's on my fixie. My first pair lasted 2.5 years before buying this second pair for my freshen up build. $40/each is nothing if you can beat the hell out of a tire for 2+ years and still be going strong.
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Reliable, fast, and good grip, January 27, 2011
By ak
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I got the folding 700x23 gatorskin in the front and they are much improvement over specialized all-terrain 700x25. compare to specialized, they never get flats!! I still have specialized in the back and they get flat almost once every week!
The ride is bit harsh on gator, but I like the direct feedback from the tire when I'm cornering. grip is great!!
all the pebbles just shoots out under the tire when the tires go over them.
No flats since I put it!
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GREAT ROAD TIRE, September 18, 2010
By John
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No complaints on this one. At 110psi it's solid as a rock and grips the road great. I've had one as my front tire for about 4 months and I've never had an issue. Just put one on the back. Mine's a fixed gear so I skid a bit, and it's holding up really well. I recommend this tire without any reservations.
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would buy again, August 31, 2010
By testertips (california)
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not a heavy rider, but road ride about 2-3 times a week... been about 3 months and have yet to get a flat (knock on wood)
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Gator Skins, July 5, 2010
By Jim
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Fantastic tire that you immediately notice a difference in rolling resistance between the stock 26" mountain bike tires and these.
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Great ride and never flat, April 30, 2010
By ConsumerMan
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These look great on my bike, never flat, and have a smooth ride. Usually run them at about 90-100psi on my 25c size.
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Love these tires., April 24, 2010
By Anonymous Coward (SoCal)
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Got the 27x1-1/4 size for my vintage 1983 road bike, and after 700 miles on them, I have to say, great tires.
Knock on wood, but I've not had a single flat. I do road and class I trails, and they seem to be wearing very slowly, in spite of the fact that I am a borderline clyde (just south of 200 lbs, currently).
Search on the bike forums, you'll find these tires are well-respected and popular, apparently with good reason.
Great tires. I could not be more pleased with them. They mount easily. I was even able to get the one on the rim without tire levers. I used them on the first one I mounted, then decided to try without levers, and it worked. Since I don't have a lot of practice working with flats, except on other people's bikes.
Be careful when you mount them... the rotational direction is specified on the sidewall, but it's hard to see unless you're outside. I'm not convinced that they are really directional, but just the same...
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Never had a flat with Gators, April 9, 2010
By cycln fool (Austin, TX)
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I'm a big rider, 6'8" and 255# so I am very hard on tires. Once I started using Gators I have not had a single flat since. I have even pulled sharp pieces of glass and stuff out of the tire after riding but they didn't penetrate through to the tube.
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Well worth it, January 23, 2010
By Arturo Donate (Tallahassee, FL)
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After 1000 miles, m tires are still going strong and look like new. They have excellent dry traction, handle wonderfully on my fitness/commuter bike (700x25), and even offer good traction on wet roads (much better than any other tire I've previously owned).
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Solved my tire problems!!, October 16, 2009
By R. Gleeson
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Great upgrade to my bike. I had 5 flat for the first 400 miles on my road bike, upgraded the tires to the Gatorskins and have not had a flat since (300 miles) on the same roads.
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tires, July 9, 2009
By Ronald W. Peragine
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tires are great, did a century 2 weeks ago and doing another one this weekend.
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Nice smooth tires, June 17, 2009
By flat proof biker (Brooklyn, NY usa)
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I've riden these tires for about 60 miles so far. They are good tires and they grip the road very good, I've had no issues with them so far no cuts nor tears on them. I will buy Continental from now on.
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Unimpressed, August 14, 2010
By Rick M. Horas
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I have had 2 flats in 3 months of use and there is a 1/8 inch hole in the sidewall. (I commute to work.)
Can a tire really stop flats?
Disappointed. I'm going back to my $12 Performance Tires.
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Not the protection I expected, August 2, 2010
By JCG (Seattle/Korea)
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I have 700c 25s front and rear on Aksium rims. I ride them at 110psi and I have the kevlar bead version.
I've had these tires a month now and I've had three flats. One was an unknown object that left a very small hole and two were staples. Yeah, staples, like the kind to bind paper together, I'd think it would take more than that to puncture these tires and yet they were poking right through the rubber. The first time last week was a cluster of about four of them that left a gaping hole in the tire, I'm a bit concerned about that actually. The second time was yesterday and it was only one staple this time but I noticed a few hard cuts in the rubber of the tire as I was inspecting for other debris.
I'm riding in South Korea on country roads that are all paved surfaces. I used to ride 20 miles a day on Specialized Armadillos in Seattle and had no problems, ever. I'll be going back to them soon at this rate. I hate the idea that I blew $100 bucks for nothing but after a few times on the side of the road I can't help but be skeptical. Did someone in Germany forget to put the Kevlar on my tires?
1 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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Great Tires!, February 1, 2010
By Barbara A. Santino
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My son is an avid cyclist and wanted these for a present. He's been riding on them for several weeks now and really likes them.
1 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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Extremely Nice Tires, September 21, 2011
By Thistle #1717 (KY)
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I bought these Gatorskins at my local bike shop and I am a bit embarrassed to say I have never been so excited over a pair of bicycle tires. My old Specialized bike had a set of Specialized tires (20C) which probably could have gone another couple hundred miles. But I had the itch for some new tires, wanted some new assurance where the rubber meets the road. I also wanted a bit wider tire than the 20C Specialized, a tire with a bit more cushion. Stopped at my local bike shop to chit chat about tires, asked a ton of questions and the Gatorskins rose to the top and I decided on 23C size. I paid a tad more at my LBS than the prices found here on Amazon but the bike shop helped me with my decision and that has an intrinsic value. Also, they were kind enough to mount the tires which that service also has a value. My first ride on the new tires was on a patchy wet pavement, took me a while to build confidence in the new tires and come up to speed. I am a bit cautious on wet pavement, I am sure most riders use various degrees of caution under similar conditions. These Gatorskins are awesome, very reassuring, sidewalls seem a bit thicker and stiffer than the original tires and definitely ride better than the old 20C's. I highly recommend Gatorskins.
1 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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gatorskin, September 20, 2011
By rob
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absolutely the best tire I have ever used. I have a year of about 30 miles/day on them. they look as though brand new
1 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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Kevlar may stop bullets, but not Goatheads! (700x25), September 11, 2011
By Jaun Carlos
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I live in an area with a huge number of goatheads (tribulus terrestris), so obviously I get flats almost every 3rd ride. I hate flats. I hate them so much. They take up my time, and half of my riding gear is devoted to dealing with them (I don't leave the house without at least 2 spare tubes). A lot of people recommended these tires to me, saying they would stop the goatheads; that they would stop all flats. I was skeptical, but decided to bite the bullet and shell out serious money for these tires (you have to remember, these are almost as expensive as car tires).
They Were Wrong:
The first few trips with the new tires went swimmingly. No flats at all, and the tires actually feel decent through corners. But yesterday, on a 40 mile ride, the old enemy (goatheads) reared its ugly head and FLATTENED my rear tire. The goathead punctured at the point between the sidewall and the tread, leaving me on the side of the road in the desert sun changing yet another flat.
But Maybe Not?
Later in the ride, I hit another goathead. This time it attacked the front tire, right in the center of the tread. Much to my relief, this one DIDN'T puncture! I pulled it right out (I figured it was going flat anyway, otherwise you should leave goatheads in if you aren't losing air) and no air came out.
Conclusion:
It looks like these can stop tread punctures, but not sidewall punctures; a problem for people who turn their bicycles around corners (aka, all bicyclists). That being said, I noticed that a lot of older reviews say these tires are great, and get no flats even after thousands of miles. Perhaps older versions of this tire were better quality? Or maybe these people live in areas that don't have goatheads? Either way, when you consider the price tag, these tires are disappointing.
Extra Notes:
-These tires are somewhat more difficult to get on the rim than cheaper tires. You might consider getting a tire bead jack (I was able to get them on and off with my hands and tire levers)
-They have a nice, almost gumwall look to them?
-I take corners hard and fast (these tires are good in corners), so sidewall protection is essential for me. These might be just fine for a more leisurely rider. Maybe.
1 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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Gatorskin tire hug, September 4, 2011
By Chief (North Carolina)
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These gator skin tires seem to be holding up good so far. ran over a few rocks in the road that would have been bad news with other tires. Only put a couple hundred miles on them at this point, but they hug a curve good.
1 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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Love these tires., April 24, 2010
By Anonymous Coward (SoCal)
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Update:
After 3000+ miles on Gatorskins, and only two flats-- one was a goat-head thorn, the other a piece of metal that cut the tire-- I believe these are very, very good tires. I ride with a guy who was riding on another (major, popular) brand and he was having flat after flat. In all the times I've ridden with him, probably ten flats, at least. He switched to these tires, and no more flats.
So far I have one Gatorskin with about 2000 miles on it, and I would guess it could do another 2000 miles, give or take, before it needs to be replaced (assuming no cuts, etc.). Considering what I paid, that works out to about one cent per mile in tire costs.
Everyone that I know who rides on these tires likes them. I do a group ride weekly and there are a lot of riders using them. These are fairly serious riders, probably averaging 3000+ miles per year.
[...]
Got the 27x1-1/4 size for my vintage 1983 road bike, and after 700 miles on them, I have to say, great tires.
Knock on wood, but I've not had a single flat. I do road and class I trails, and they seem to be wearing very slowly, in spite of the fact that I am a borderline clyde (just south of 200 lbs, currently).
Search on the bike forums, you'll find these tires are well-respected and popular, apparently with good reason.
Great tires. I could not be more pleased with them. They mount easily. I was even able to get the one on the rim without tire levers. I used them on the first one I mounted, then decided to try without levers, and it worked. Since I don't have a lot of practice working with flats, except on other people's bikes.
Be careful when you mount them... the rotational direction is specified on the sidewall, but it's hard to see unless you're outside. I'm not convinced that they are really directional, but just the same...
1 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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Just installed - Very happy, September 2, 2011
By AZ Goat (Seattle, WA)
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I just installed these on my '86 Schwinn (27 x 1.25 tire size) touring bike and they are great so far. Have about 50 miles on them and they seem much faster than my older tires. I'm in an urban environent and they handle very nice and are holding up to my weight (220 lbs) using 100lb of pressure over rough terrain.
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awesome, September 2, 2011
By lyxwq
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This product was amazing. Its only been a month and i didn't suffer from any pops or damage to the tube as of yet.
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Best Tandem Tire, May 27, 2011
By ohiolobo
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I have used this tire, both the folding and the wire bead for many years on my tandem with only one flat tire caused by sidewall damage from road debris. I never use any other tire.
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BAD, BAD, BAD. sidewall blowout........., May 4, 2011
By normanshouse (upstate NY)
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Was riding with continental 4000S tires which are great tries except for the fact the rubber is soft and all the crap on the road ends up in the tires; flatted twice in one ride. Since switching to gatorskin tires, no flats and the tires seem to remain debris free. I ride 100 to 200 miles a week and simply don't have time to be changing flats every ride.
This is an update on my review. I have put about 600 miles on these tires and have found that I am having just as many flats as I had with other less expensive tires. Just today 20 miles from home the sidewall of my front tire blew out and flatted. There was no evidence of anything puncturing the tire, it looks like it just blew out from the inside. This left me stranded as my replacement tube also blew out when I inflated it because the sidewall was compromised. I run these tires as all my tires at 100psi so there was no overinflating, no foreign object puncture, it just blew out !! I would not recommend these tires for anyone unless you like to be left stranded 20 miles from home. Review downgraded to one star.
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I'm the toughest, April 3, 2011
By notorious (CT)
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Theses tires really are tough while not being slow. I mistakenly bought the non-ultra last time and I got a flat in two weeks. I work on a construction site and was riding my road bike around a little bit so....Anyway the armadillo tires I love also but they aren't as fast. These tires have totally upgraded my city bike riding experience; I must ride over 50 glass piles a day and I never had one flat with these tires. And another thing- I can handle pot holes and curb jumping on these tires without a hitch- a huge asset for me.
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Ready to use, December 8, 2010
By Gregory Fish
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This tire is a foldable tire and is in my backpack with a small tool kit. I like the idea of a spare for the long rides.
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Simple solution to flat problem !, August 20, 2010
By Sylvain Ethier (Montreal, CA)
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Recently I bought a new road bike which cames with kenda generic tires. Since I use my bike for going at work I need something reliable on surface that contains glasses and sharp things (which are often difficult to avoid because of traffic and car proximity). It was certainly not the case with the kenda tire... At least 6 flats in 1 month. So I was looking for a anti-flat solution when I read some positive reviews on the Gatorskin tire. In about 2 months I had zero flat and I use the same road ... Also I just put gatorskin on me rear tire and a normal sport continental on front wheel. That works fine for me. The grip is really good on wet surfaces. Nothing wrong with this tire for what I'm doing with. And for [...] bucks... I really feel that is a fair price for the quality.
Highly recommanded !
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Excellent Bike Tire, July 16, 2010
By Specialized4jeff
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Excellent bicycle tire. I've done some very high mileage rides, without any puncturing. Even better than GP4000s!!!
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terrific tires, good price, June 18, 2010
By Roy Gordon (Berkeley, CA USA)
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Terrific tires, light weight, very few flats (I ride a lot), last a long time, no problems mounting them by hand. What else to say?
(Note: I always stretch tires when I first get them; one set of these only for a few minutes!)
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Very Pleased, May 25, 2010
By M. Baldoni (Daytona Beach, Florida USA)
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I have previously owned the continental GranPrix3000 but they no longer make these, so I took a shot at these Gatorskin tires. These are replacing a horrible set of lightweight tires because I was getting flats every ride. Putting them on for the first time was a hard since they are very snug at the bead. On the first tire, the lever shot out and hit the ceiling and on the second I got a pinch flat from the lever. After being inflated they seem to have loosened and are not so tight. 200 miles so far and no flats. The look and feel of these tires is great. Nothing but high quality and ride is much smoother.
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Great training wheel that is ready to race as well, May 20, 2010
By T. Wobig (Chesapeake, VA)
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Great all-around tire that is durable yet light enough to race. I already have 300+ miles on my new tires and I still haven't even fully worn off the center molding seam in the tread. Completed a century ride on some rougher rural roads here in Virginia and these tires just shrugged them off, even a couple run-ins with glass hasn't resulted in anything close to a flat. I decided to go a little wider with a 25mm wheel instead of the more standard 23mm I've been using to race. I can't notice any difference in weight but certainly notice the improvement in ride. The slightly wider wheels can be aired down just a little to take the road buzz edge off and the improvement in endurance with the Ultra-Gator Skins over the Michelin tires I've been riding lately. As a cash strapped Master Cat 4 racer I like the fact that I can use one wheel that is durable enough to train on full time yet light enough to not impact my race performance.
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Just buy these tires and get riding already, May 10, 2010
By Scabby (North Jersey)
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I rode these tires years ago with great success. Then when they eventually wore out, my local bike shop did not carry Continentals. So I switched to a fancy-schmancy high price/high pressure tire and they could not take the abuse the Gatorskins could. I switched back (a couple hundred dollars later!)and have had no problems since.
I ride in Newark NJ and the surrounding environs many miles every week. Lots of glass and other road hazzards to shred your ride. The Gatorskins keep you on your bike and not in your patch kit. Buy them!
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no flats yet, November 19, 2008
By Peter (San Francisco Bay area)
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almost a year and over 2000 mi on these tires without a single flat, though I do use Mr. Tuffy liners too. A bit skittery in high speed turns but plenty of grip otherwise. Though they ride somewhat rougher than the full race tires they are extremely tough and cut resistant and long wearing as the tread still looks new. The narrowness of the tire is perfect for older frames with little chain stay clearance.
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Continental Ultra Gatorskin, September 2, 2008
By William W. Ross (Elgin, IL USA)
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So far so good I've logged 75 paved bike path miles on these tires with out problems and the aide of Mr Tuffy tire liners.
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bicycle tires, October 20, 2010
By Arnold Giovanelli
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due to surgery I have not been able to use these tires yet,but I have purchased tires from this merchant before and they have good prices and fast shipment.I now have them in favorite places.
0 of 9 people found the above review helpful.
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