Continental Gatorskin (700c & 27-inch)

Comments:

Got this to replace discontinued 700x28c Bontrager Race Lite Hard Case tires. I ride fairly fast on almost entirely dry, smooth and clean asphalt with tons of big hills, 5k to 6k miles per year. Got about 10k miles per set of Hard Case tires (no longer available) over a 10 year stretch. I hope these last as long. If they do, I'll up their rating to 5 stars. The Gatorskins seem to have less rolling resistance, but also less compliance to surface texture. Despite feeling like the stiffness of these reduces contact with the ground when rough, the tracking and cornering are rock solid. This could be because there are no wobbles built into the tires, as there were on the Bontragers. I hope they last as long. May try reducing the pressure down from the 95 psi listed in the documentation if the harshness ends up bothering me more than I like the easier ride up hills. Time will tell. Oh, and the stiffness seems to make them very quiet compared to the Bontrager Hard Case.

Comments:

I've been using these tires for about 7 years. They are the best I've found for resisting flats. In 7 years I've had one flat. Unbelievable. I don't really understand the complaints about them being heavy. I guess if you're racing they would be heavy, but I wouldn't be using these tires for racing if I were serious about racing. There are much better tires for that purpose. However, I use these primarily for commuting and training for the occasional triathlon. For those purposes, they are great. In that kind of riding, I really doubt you're going to notice extra 10 grams or whatever they weigh when you're carrying your lunch, change or clothes, and all the other stuff I carry when I commute. They last a LONG time, it's easy to get 5000+ miles from these tires. The only negative thing I will say is that you need to be cautious in wet conditions when crossing railroad tracks, manhole covers, expansion joints, or any other smooth metal surface. They don't provide the best grip in those conditions.

Comments:

18 months, 5000+ miles, and just one puncture from a piece of broken bottle. I must say that I am very satisfied. My rear tire is showing a lot of wear at this point and I am definatly going to replace it with another one of these great tires.

Comments:

Last year I had these installed on my Tarmac 3. Since then, I have not gotten a single flat, as opposed to 1 - 2 a week on "service course" tires or 1 - 2 a month on regular road bike tires. They are a bit heavier than most "normal" road bike tires, but negligibly so. Buying another set for my new tri bike.