Continental

Previous to using this tire, I had one wheelset with the S-Works Pathfinder 42 and one with the Continental Terra Speed 40. The S-works Pathfinder was my standard but it is now unfortunately unavailable. It measured exactly 45mm on my DT Swiss GR1600 wheels, and this Continental Terra Competition 45 measures exactly the same. I was skeptical that a marginally heavier tire would out-perform the S-Works Pathfinder, but this tire has done that. It may be a few grams heavier than the S-Works, but its rolling resistance is lower enough to make a noticeable difference. I have a benchmark local ride that I do that has a mix of tarmac and loose gravel, with a lot of up-and-down elevation throughout. It's challenging because slick tires do well on the tarmac but struggle on the gravel, and gravel-focused tires do well on the loose portions but are slow on the tarmac. This tire beat everything I have used prior. Average speed went up by 1.2 mph versus the S-Works Pathfinder. I don't think I got that much fitter in one week. A+, recommended.

I didn't have any trouble mounting these tires. I did hang them off the workbench for a couple days to let them unfold. While I haven't had to usually use a Pedro's Tire Lever to finish getting the bead of some other tires over the last inches, I did with these, but it was hardly a struggle, just to ease it over.

I have an old Italian Ciocc frame, and I enjoy the feel of these tires. So far so good. Not enough miles to know if I won't get many flats...

Purchased these Continental Gatorskin 700c Road tires to replace similar ones. I don't race so I am not looking for the lightest tire to minimize weight.

However, my rides may take me 25 miles or more away from home/car so I am focused on tire durability and reliability along with reasonable ride comfort and handling. Having peace of mind that I've minimized the likelihood of getting a puncture is more important than the aspect of pure speed.

I've been running 28's without tubes on Giant SLR-1 hookless rims since October of 2024. The rims are 22.4mm inner width and 26mm outer. The ride is fast, supple, and smooth. The first set of tires went 3000 miles without a puncture. Knock on wood, that continues with my second set. At 170lbs, I run the front at 60psi and the back at 65psi. These pressures noticeably lessen road chatter and impacts without sacrificing any speed. They grip very well and I feel very secure while cornering. Admittedly I avoid riding in the wet, so I can't speak to grip in sketchy conditions. I've not had to mount a pair, with my LBS handling that since my hand strength is lousy. I've read pros and cons on mounting. They're definitely not the least expensive tire, but I feel it's a case of you get what you pay for. BTD often has them on a good sale! Continental seems to have these dialed in very well.