Continental Gator Hardshell 700c Road Tire (Wire Bead)

Have used Conti tires for years and years. Needed the toughest, longest lasting tire for one of my bikes that is constantly exposed to rough pavement, cracks, broken glass, etc. Some of these tires can be challenging to install on the rim. If you can, suggest letting it sit in the sun to warm up for a few minutes and you'll find it to be more flexible and easier to fit.

I'm a geezer, our group is called 'cycle relics' 78 YO. I ride about 50-60 miles per week so I'm not exactly abusing the tires. On one tire after 1200-1500 miles the tread starting separating. I lost some dime size chunks from the center if the tread. I could pick off pieces from about any place on the center of the tread so I replaced it with another of the same tire. The replacement tire is performing well as is the second tire of the first pair. Overall I like the tires, no flats, they hold air and seem to be wearing well.

I did not run that 'bad' tire flat or do anything unusual. I run about 115 lbs and keep them inflated.

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.

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.

A great all round training or touring tire. I've got 28's on my touring bike & no flats in 18 months...

Cut in tire never got to the tube

The Continental Gator Hardshell 700c Road Tire (Wire Bead) 700 x 25 is tough and I am 6'3" #275 and am careful when riding, looking for hazards. No flats and they are great with probably 1000 miles on them. I live in wet Eugene Oregon and never had any traction issues.

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.

Great overall tire in 28 mm size. Very durable. I run it with tubes and latex. Have not had a failure yet. At least three or 4000 miles. Works well and all conditions, including rain.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

If you don't like fixing flats, this tire is for you - and me!

Tires had good support and little road friction.

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.

Not the lightest tire out there which is why I took a star off (picky, yes).

Now, for the good part I've ridden these tires for 3 winters, probably 9K miles, over gravel rough roads, dirt, mud, snow, dirty post-snow roads, etc. Unlike my summer tires which I take care of, I ignore these all winter and clean them once in the spring when I put them away for the summer - in other words, they get totally abused and no love. I run them at 70 psi (I'm 180 pounds) and have had 1 flat in three years. These are great tires, they're sticky in the rain but roll just fine when it's dry. I'm a bit surprised that people in the other reviews run them at such high pressure, for I find that they actually perform a lot better at lower pressures (like in their rating range). I'll definitely replace these with another set of Hardshells.