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Description
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:
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%.
Specifications
Wheel Size: 700C/29" (ISO 622) | |
Threads Per Inch: 180 | |
Applications: Performance Road Riding, Training/Recreational, Commuting/Urban | |
RimSize: 622 mm | |
Made in: Germany | |
700c x 23mm | Weight: 330 grams |
Mfg PartNum: C1414023 | |
Tire Width: 23mm (0.9in) | |
Tire Type: Clincher-WireBead | |
ISO (ETRTO) Size: 23-622 mm | |
Rec Pressure: 110 PSI | |
Max Pressure: 120 PSI | |
700c x 25mm | Weight: 330 grams |
Mfg PartNum: C1414025 | |
Tire Type: Clincher-WireBead | |
Tire Width: 25mm (1.0in) | |
ISO (ETRTO) Size: 25-622 mm | |
Rec Pressure: 95 PSI | |
Max Pressure: 120 PSI | |
700c x 28mm | Weight: 410 grams |
Mfg PartNum: C1414028 | |
Tire Width: 28mm (1.1in) | |
Tire Type: Clincher-WireBead | |
ISO (ETRTO) Size: 28-622 mm | |
Rec Pressure: 95 PSI | |
Max Pressure: 116 PSI | |
700c x 32mm | Weight: 420 grams |
Mfg PartNum: C1414032 | |
Tire Type: Clincher-WireBead | |
Tire Width: 32mm (1.3in) | |
Reviews
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.
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.
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.
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.
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'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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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