Tired Of Flats? Meet The Updated Gatorskin Hardshell
The Continental Gator Hardshell 700c Road Tire has long been a favorite of riders looking for the ultimate in reliability that preserves ride quality, and now Continental has added even more flat protection.
Puncture protection and mileage are the strengths of Hardshell-ProTection. A wider PolyX Breaker, the specialist against punctures under the tread center and shoulders provides for great reliability. A triple-ply carcass covers the entire tire and makes it a real bastion against urban detritus.
The outer sidewalls of the tire are reinforced with DuraSkin fabric providing even more reliability due to the casing being so well protected. Hardshell tires are the puncture-resistant flagship amongst racing tires – produced exclusively in Germany
*Note: Continental has added wear indicators to all Gator Hardshell tires. These small divots in the tread surface are intentional and are not a sign of a factory defect. Once the rubber wears to the point where the divots are no longer discernible, you'll know it's time to replace.
Features:
Densely woven polyamide mesh keeps glass, rocks, and metal shards at bay
Extra tread rubber for more mileage between tire changes
Full bead-to-bead Duraskin protection for no mysterious sidewall slashes
Hardshell protection (3-ply, each 60 TPI)
Reinforced with DuraSkin (polyamide mesh sidewalls)
PolyX Breaker protection
All-season compound
Tire bead: steel
700c wirebead clincher tire
Available in 23-32mm width options
Weight: 310g (23mm)
B-Stock - This product has one or more B-Stock units available. These units can be purchased at a discount (see option select). B-Stock units were returned from other customers and may have missing or damaged packaging materials. These units are otherwise as new. The full manufacturer warranty applies. Click Here for more information.
The product weight specified is an approximate weight based on the manufacturer's specifications (if available) or our measurement of one or two examples. For most products, the weight will typically vary by 5% to 10%.
Ordered by Most Relevant First
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1 stars
Very Flat Resistant, but Terrible Grip in the Wet
I was on a ride with several other riders on a road that had been closed for some time. There were goat heads galore, and all but one of us got at least 2 flats.
The one person that did not flat had Hardshells, so I figured I'd give them a try on my commute bike.
I only used them for a week or so. The grip was terrible in anything but bone dry conditions, a few close calls were enough for me.
I guess that's the trade off with the hard rubber. Pity.
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Reviewed 4/4/2022
by Anonymous
Cycling Enthusiast
Wenatchee, WA
Value Rating
Overall Rating
Long lasting and provides enhanced puncture protection
Pros- Long lasting, easily get 4000 plus miles on the tire. I've used the Gator Hardshell for past 7 years as they have provided me with best puncture protection especially since I ride in a rural area with goatheads along trails and roads.
Cons - More difficult to mount tire onto rim. Seems to work best to lay it in sun and let it warm up and soften some. Make sure you have tire levers and / or tire bead jack and that will save your fingers or thumbs.
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Reviewed 9/10/2018
by BLT
Cycling Enthusiast
Los Angeles, CA
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5 of 5 customers found this review helpful.
Unbeatable tire
About as puncture-proof as a Schwalbe Marathon at about 2/3 the weight. IMO the Conti Hardshell is the standard for flat resistance and durability. I recently replaced a Hardshell on my rear wheel. I weigh 205 and the tire lasted over 4000 miles until the wear dimples were gone. That's a rear wheel. Amazing. Flats were few and far between. The Hardshell sidewalls are far more durable than the GP 4000 with only a slight weight penalty.
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Reviewed 8/16/2013
by Stacia (BikeTiresDirect.com Staff)
Cycling Enthusiast
Portland, OR
Value Rating
Overall Rating
34 of 34 customers found this review helpful.
Dare I say... no flats?
These are durable, tougher-than-tough tires! I commute pretty carelessly over some really sketchy surfaces strewn with broken glass, gravel, bits of metal, the whole nine yards... and I have yet to get a flat with these tires after many months. That said, I hate these tires in the rain! They feel slippery and I don't have much confidence through the corners when the roads are wet. I plan to take them off and replace them with something grippier when it starts raining in the fall... but you can bet the Gator Hardshells will be back on my bike come spring.
Summer 2014 edit: I never got around to taking these tires off last winter. I got used to taking the corners a bit more carefully and the tires didn't give me too much trouble even in heavy rain. Still going strong now! I recommend these tires all the time to anyone who's sick of flats. Awesome.
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Reviewed 1/8/2017
by TDip
Cycling Enthusiast
Northern Nevada
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4 of 4 customers found this review helpful.
Best flat protection I've found
A great all round training or touring tire. I've got 28's on my touring bike & no flats in 18 months...
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Reviewed 10/22/2021
by blaircerny
Cycling Enthusiast
San Francisco, CA
Value Rating
Overall Rating
Tough, fast, affordable
Best City-riding tire I've used yet. I've pulled small bits of glass and other detritus out of my tire which have been unable to go all the way through to the tube, and when used on one of my brakeless track bikes in the City, its skidding lifespan is far, FAR outside any others (including the Vittoria Randonneur). I've also ridden this tire outside the City and it has avoided pinch flats in potholes as well as errant thorns and otherwise. And on top of all this, the rolling resistance is super low, which means you're going faster than a lot of other puncture-resistant offerings. Honestly for the price this is a no-brainer for commute bikes, courier bikes, errand bikes, and fun bikes. I wouldn't put it on anything that's going off-road (though I have foolishly ridden it off-road hahaha), but otherwise it's what I recommend to ANYONE who will listen.
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Reviewed 9/15/2022
by JTB
Cycling Enthusiast
Saint Paul
Value Rating
Overall Rating
Great Tire
I've been using this tire for a couple months now, and they've been such a relief. I was getting paranoid with the number of flats I was getting with my Michelin Pro4s. Those didn't last long. These Hardshells feel like they're built for the real world.
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Reviewed 12/7/2020
by Anonymous
Cycling Enthusiast
Silicon Valley
Value Rating
Overall Rating
3 of 3 customers found this review helpful.
Excellent Commute Tire
After two flats in two consecutive rides on a 12 mile urban commute, decided to give the Gators a try. So far, so good; zero further flats. Will buy again and recommend if you're experiencing trouble with punctures.
It's true that it is a stiff tire:
1). Contrary to other reviews, I did not experience any difficulty mounting the tires. They went on totally by hand, the only tool used was a pump to inflate.
2). Inflated to 90 PSI, the ride is harsher than the Vittoria Zaffiros used before. The ride has mellowed somewhat with mileage, could be due to a variety of factors.
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Reviewed 10/1/2020
by iHeart Bobby
Cycling Enthusiast
Los Angeles
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5 of 5 customers found this review helpful.
You need to finesse these onto your rims
I've been using these for years and swear by them. The roads I ride are littered with junk that'll puncture most tires, except these. I've never had an issue changing out a flat on a ride, since the tires are warm enough to re-seat.
For those who complain that they're too hard to install properly, here are a few tricks I've picked up over the years.
1. heat the tires to make them more pliable before attempting - lay them in the sun for 20 minutes, or a warm oven. Seriously!
2. don't let the bead get seated until you fit both sides of the tire over the rim. you'll need that little bit of extra room.
3. all else fails, try a little baby powder OR dish soap to get them seated. soapy water is what mechanics use on car tires for the same issue.
4. don't try to muscle them onto the rim - you'll damage the bead. try the steps above first.
5 still having problems? take them to a bike mechanic & have them show you how to do it right.
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Great tire
I have used this tire on multiple bikes. I always feel confident on long rides that they will perform well without issue.
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Reviewed 4/12/2019
by Anonymous
Cycling Enthusiast
Orange City, Florida
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3 of 3 customers found this review helpful.
great tires made so well
I ride 40-50 miles everyday. These tires last, resist all the crap in the road and give me the confidence I want so I can go ride.
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Very good road tire. Long wearing
Resist flats in some of the worst road conditions
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1 of 1 customers found this review helpful.
Gator Hardshell, a great road tire
The Gator Hardshell is my tire of choice for my road bike. I ride 60-90 miles a week around the Vancouver/Portland area, and I've found the Hardshell to be a very durable tire. I haven't had a flat due to puncture in a very long time, even though I frequently ride by "homeless" camps and the piles of trash that litter the road or bike path. These tires are dependable, wear well and resist punctures. What more does a bike rider need?
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Reviewed 5/31/2021
by Dave Lieder
Cycling Enthusiast
Fresno, Ca
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2 of 2 customers found this review helpful.
Toughest tire on the market
With out a doubt the best tire for the rider who wants the best protection from rock, glass, thorns and wire from car tires. I tried many brands, the gator skin hard shell may be difficult to get on but it's worth the time it takes to mount them.
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Reviewed 7/7/2017
by Rick
Daily Commuter
San Francisco
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2 of 2 customers found this review helpful.
Tough but nimble.
These tires work for me, daily to work and back, on the streets of San Francisco. They have a good feel and aren't as fragile as other road tires I've used. Punctures are almost a thing of the past.
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Reviewed 4/6/2017
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2 of 2 customers found this review helpful.
Bullet proof
If you don't like fixing flats, this tire is for you - and me!
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Reviewed 3/9/2017
by Anonymous
Keizer, Oregon
1 of 1 customers found this review helpful.
The new tires allowed a fast ride
Tires had good support and little road friction.
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Reviewed 11/30/2020
by Anonymous
Cycling Enthusiast
Northern California
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Overall Rating
2 of 2 customers found this review helpful.
Great tire!
I use Continental Gator Hardshell on our tandom and will use nothing else. Tha're a great tire and hold up very well with over 300 pounds riding on them. We are running custom Zipp carbon wheels and the tires mount up with no problems what-so-ever.
If you want a great heavy duty tire and are more concerned with durability, safety than weight, the Hardshell is the tire for you!
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Reviewed 3/2/2022
by Hi Rise courier
Portland Oregon
These are very durable tires
I am a veteran Bike courier in downtown Portland and I absolutely love these Gator Hardshells, i have been exclusively using these tires for over a year now, and have only gotten 3 flats.
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Reviewed 12/30/2016
by PCH Rider
Cycling Enthusiast
Malibu California
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2 of 2 customers found this review helpful.
Everyday great tire that will bring you home and feel good.
I switched over to Continental Gators about 7 years ago getting ready for a century ride. Fan for life. Great rolling, smooth and have taken about everything the road can dish out. Now have them on 3 road bikes and only 1 flat in more than 2800 miles. The only flat was a direct hit on a 6 jagged rock at dusk on a canyon road - cracked the sidewall but stayed on the rim. I use the wire bead for most rides, carry the folding version when I am on an extended ride.
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