ContinentalGatorskin 700c Road Tire (Folding)(Return to Product Page)

Mounted a 27 x 1 1/4 on an old, but in good condition steel wheel. Inflated it to about 90 or so. I guess the capacity is 85 or so? Blammo as I rode like my first or second ride. The ex;plosion hurt my ears! I'll put the review at 3 stars because the Gatorskin enjoys such a good reputation and the other tire is working fine. I don't run a tire liner with it like I do all the rest of my tires. No flats yet. Also not reviewed higher because the tire is so big! It's kind of balloon like despite being labeled the size I ordered.

I live in New Mexico - so tumbleweeds / thorns / goat heads are everywhere I ride. The Continental Gatorskins have made significant difference. With regular tires I was constantly getting leaks, hoping the sealant would plug it up and get me home. The thicker, tougher Gatorskin tires have made a difference - I have over 700 miles since purchasing (so far), no punctures or leaks.

I am very happy with the price and speed of service from Bike Tires Direct... I've made several purchases from them and every one has been great.

Gatorskins are my go-to tire for training rides. After 50 years of biking I've been through a lot of tires and have learned that cheap is not better. Gatorskins wear well, give very good flat protection, are good in all weather conditions. They handle very well and give the rider one less thing to worry about. Comparing the folding Gatorskin to the wire bead model doesn't leave much to say. The weight difference is no issue and road performance is the same for both. Mounting the folding vs. the wire bead is another non-issue. So, the only thing I see in difference is the ability to fold one Gatorskin smaller than you can fold the other which means if you ever need a spare TIRE for a long ride the folding has an advantage.

I would recommend either Gatorskin to any rider from the Casual Cyclist to the Racer. It's intended use and best application is every ride except where your level of competition demands ultra-lightweight gear.

My favorite commuter tire is no longer readily available and I needed a replacement. So far so good with these Gators'. My concerns are durability for commuting at a reasonable price and these seemed like a nice option that did not require me to go with a heavier wire bead. People complain that they ride harsh. At over 100psi they were harsh. I am running 32's at about 90-95 psi and they are great! I weigh about 170lbs. and no pinch flat issues or any other flats so far. Price was good and let's see how long they last.

This tire has become my go-to tire for most of my yearly riding. I might have some GP 4000 II ready for race day, but the Gatorskin's are on for everything else! They do not puncture easily and honestly I cannot remember the last time I had a flat with one on these tires. I have 25's on my road bike and have 28's and 32's for my cross/gravel bike for added comfort and coverage.

I use the tire on a Easy Racer Goldrush. It rides great with lots of grip even on wet streets, but also lasts a long time, about 6000 miles. I am very happy that it nearly never gets a flat and areas I ride can have all kinds of road hazards like glass, thorns etc.

I received the tires in only a few days with free shipping. Bike tires direct is a good company, I did receive 1 tire that was defective, sent a picture as requested and a new replacement was received 2 days later! Can't ask for better then that.

I would categorize these tires as training tires. They don't roll as nicely as a race tire, but they provide better than average protection from flats. I've been using this model tire for over 10 years and they have a pretty good track record for resisting flats. If you are reading this and think like I do and want pretty good protection, I recommend buying these tires. I do keep a built up carbon fiber wheel set with Pirelli tires for going fast and I put Continental Gaterskins on the aluminum wheelset for my training and long distance rides

I have ridden Gator Skins for years and I so appreciate their puncture resistance and still having good performance.

Perfect for the sport riding I do. Never a worry with Conti tires.

I purchased these on sale in the 32mm size. I use them on a Space Horse with gravel rims that have an ID of 21mm.

I have used Gatorskins for years and there isn't really anything I can add to the already glowing reviews. They are very flat resistant, the ride is not too hard of a ride, and while not the fastest tires they don't feel like I have bricks for wheels.

Why, though, have I never thought to use them with latex tubes??? The ride is simply extraordinary! Yes I know that ride quality is not measurable, but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist. These tires are fantastic with latex tubes.

I have a 2nd set of wheels for the Space Horse with Schwalbe 40mm gravel tires set up tubeless. The Gatorskins with latex compare favorably to the ride quality of those.

Smooth ride

I ride 7500-8000 miles per year and very rarely get flats. For my road bike, this is the tire I've been using for about 12 years now, and I'm not about to switch. I just watch for sale prices at Bike Tires Direct and get them for a nice price, and put them in the closet until I'm ready for a new one. For me, the rear tire will last about 2200-2500 miles or so, and the front will last much longer. My current front tire has 6000+ miles on it!

This is all I run now on my main use bike. I have tried several different brands and these are noticeably more durable than the others. I usually swap them at 2,500 and sell them for a couple bucks since they still have life in them. Might have to keep them longer with prices rising. I run Vittorias on my "race bike" (I don't really race) and they seem to roll better but for everyday riding I'll stick with the Gators. Have used 23, 25, and 28mm versions. All good for the money.

I live in an area with lots of sharp lava rock, and an unusual amt of road debris. These tires are not flat-PROOF, but are certainly a necessity here! Also, they wear really well (180# rider / smooth road surfaces, other than the debris) and last near 3000mi. They wear better than the Conti 4-Seasons, and WAY better than the Conti GP4000/5000!! I'd tried numerous 4-seasons, which are pretty good flat protection, but they don't wear quite as well as at Gatorskins. Will leave the wt differences up to the techies....

I have tried many types of tires over the years looking for softest ride or lightest and fastest. I always come back to Gatorskins because the lightness or supple ride is always negligible in the other tires and I absolutely HATE changing flat tires during a ride. Especially when it is a hot or cold day to ride. Also with the cost of tires (along with everything else) continually going up, the fact that Gatorskins last almost twice as long as other tires makes them a no brainer for me. Bike Tires Direct consistently has the best customer service and most reasonable prices.

First and foremost, Bike Tires Direct seems to be the only remaining outfit that has the real McCoys from brands you like - I have had about 1/2 dozen complete failures of name brands that had to be some kind of Chinese counterfeits over the past year. I have been on these Conti's this season without incident - even did The Iron Horse & Mountains to Desert races with very good times.

I have been running Gatorskins on my road bike for over two DECADES in the 23 or 25 wire bead variety. Never had a problem with wear, flats, or other defects. I could easily run them down to cord showing with no issues. I would run 4K miles on the front and then rotate to the back and run 4K more before the tire was worn out. BTW, I only weigh 150 lbs.

For the first time I tried 28mm with folding bead. I had two tires bought separately fail with tread separation in 1.5-3K miles, long before the tread was worn out. This could have been catastrophic if I hadn't inspected the tires.

Great tire, great price, prompt shipping and delivery, backed by great customer service (if needed). What else there is to say?

I was excited to install a pair of these Gatorskins 700cx32 on my Trek FX 7.7 after riding on the Michelin Protek 4 700cx 38 tires for several months. I wanted a little more responsiveness and performance. They felt really good for about 3 miles, until I got a flat from a goat head on my first ride over my regular training route.. I didn't have one flat over the last two years, and got one. Immediately with these. That was very upsetting, considering all of the great reviews posted here.

I got home and remounted the budget priced Michelins, as I hate to have to either repair a tire on the road, walk it home, or call my wife to get me! I may give them another try in the future, but I'm going to keep on the Proteks for now.

Great Product, been riding appr. 3000 Miles a year, for 6 years and never had a flat. Thank you Gatorskins !