I ride a 44 lb Giant Road E1. Big battery and big motor to haul my 220 lb carcass up so pretty steep grades and I really didn't wanna have to fix a flat on that bike. I picked the Gator hardshells cause I heard they were the most puncture resistant tires out there, short of an off road knobby tread tire. Weight isn't a prob using an e-bike. I knew the rear would wear faster than a lighter rider on a carbon frame, but I still got 2500 miles out of the rear considering the wattage being put down with 260 lbs. combined weight. No flats the whole time and the tread looked pretty clean with no gashes or cuts. I'd get this tire again. Get this tire if you just don't want flats and can put up with a slightly heavier tire. I had no prob mounting these, didn't even have to use a tire lever! It just depends on the rim you have, not the tire so much.
I try to change my tires at least once a year if not twice. I have been using these tires for a while. When they are new they are fantastic.
Good deal and I like how they hold up.
If you're looking for a tire that can put on miles and be reliable, this is the best choice, save your racing tires for an event and use this Gator Hardshell instead, you will not regret it.
I get about 3000 miles out of a set before they are ready to be replaced. Heavy and hard.
I have rode these tires for 3500 miles, multiple times, without one stop for a flat. The tire wear indicators are especially helpful to know when to change them out. They are my go to training tire!
Love that you hardly ever get flats. Wears well. Glad it folds for when you need to take an extra tire. Can tend to be a little slick in rainy weather (run at a little lower psi for this).
Hate how hard it is to remove and install if you do get a flat. I'm a small woman and I've had to resort to a tire bead jack for installation if I ever get a flat. But it doesn't happen often.
I hate flats! I found the Hardshell after trying many brands that claimed to be flat resistant but let me down. The are extremely flat resistant and they are all I use for training (they are a bit heavy for racing though). I rated them as a steal (5 stars) as you have to consider all the tubes and CO2 canisters you use fixing flats. I have even run a couple of my bikes with liners and that pretty much makes these tires indestructible. Friendly warning though, they are really tough to put on when new but well worth it.
My 4 th set. No the lightest or most confortable but Great tires.. But above all worry free from flats. Use it daily rought road , no problem. Never had a flat and ride daily over 40 miles. Would no use it for racing or if looking for a light tire. But if you want a quality dependable tire no better choice.
I put them on my road bike and use them for my training rides and for RAGBRAI.
Getting the tire on a carbon deep rimmed Aerlous wheel was very difficult. Fingers crossed I don't have to deal with it out on the road.
Solved my problem with my flats on commutes! After 2 flats in 8 years using Gatorskins (even ran on rear tire through to the cords), I had forgotten how important it was to have a tough tire for commuting! I got a new bike last year, flatted twice on the Schwalbe tires that came with the bike, so I changed to Conti GP -Season (great handling tire) but flatted 5 times in 8 weeks!! (lots of tough paths, sidewalks, etc.) - so I wanted Gatorskins, but decided to go to the new, even tougher Gator Hardshell tires - 12 weeks later no flats, no worries - perfect for my commute! A little difficult to install compared to other Conti tires, but well worth the effort. Highly recommended for commuting, tandem, and any application where durability is paramount.
Purchased a set of these tires for my road bike and I'm really happy with them. I now have just over 650 miles with no interruptions to my rides due to flats which is a great relief compared to the Continental 5000 set I previously had which had me roadside with 3 flats in a 3 week period. They are slightly heavier but in my opinion, this outweighs the inconvenience of not riding due to punctures. Get some and enjoy the ride!
The metal recycle trucks drive up and down my favorite routes. I used to have LOTS of flats. I was told that this tire would slow me down. Well, FLATS SLOW ME DOWN. Now, maybe get one or two flats a season. I can live with that.
Rides a little hard but are great at preventing flats. And they have lasted for almost 4k miles and counting
There is nothing to dislike about this tire. I use it on my touring bike (700x28) and have been using the 700x25 version for many years on my Roubaix (rear tire - the front tire is Conti 4000S). I've never had a puncture flat (I've had a couple of pinch flats) on my Roubaix in countless thousands of miles. I'm getting the same results with the 700x28 on my touring bike so far.
I went to the GatorSkin Hardshell in May of 2016. I teamed it up with the Forte puncture resistant tubes. I ride 200-250 miles a week. I have seen I can get about 3500 mile out of the tires before I have to change them out for new ones. The wear indicator is a great help. I do rotate the tires from from to back which allows me to get about another 500 miles out of the tire set. Since making this change I have had to replace the tires 3 times but I have not had a flat in over a year. I am still using the same tubes from May of 2016. This is a great tire and great combination for me. I do try and wait until the BOGO sale is on though.
Just let me say.......yes, the tires were great. The problem was I was hit from behind and left in a coma by the driver. I awoke in the hospital and finally got home the next day. My Ti bike is a mess!!!
Using on a tandem, and like the lower pressure that a 700 x 32 tire allows. Gatorskins provide a good ride with durability and flat protection.
I've been using these tires for about 4 years now. I switched to them because of the number of flats I was getting on other brands. I'm kind of heavy for a cyclist, at 215 lbs, so worn tires and flats used to be the norm for me. Not anymore. Great tire.
I had been wanting to try Continentals GatorHardshell tires in the 700c x 25mm width. I had been riding 23's the last few years. When I originally switched to the Hardshells I was concerned the ride might be on the harsh side. To my surprise they weren't. I rotate my tires about every 750 to 1000 miles to maximize mileage. I got 4,100 miles out of my last set. I probably could have gotten another 1,000 but they were showing signs of aging. In that time I never flatted once! I've got a couple rides in on the new 25's. I'm running them at 100 psi. front and rear. Initially I tried 95 psi. and they felt a little sluggish. Once you get them rolling they are definitely faster than the 23's and the ride is smoother and more comfortable. One particular road I'm frequently on is like a minefield with all the debris on the sides. These Conti Hardshells get me where I'm going and back riding not walking or stopping to fix a flat. Great tires!!! Thanks.
