Reviews of Continental GatorSkin - 650 x 23 Wire Bead

Pros

These tires can take anything you dish out and just keep rolling.

Cons

None that I can see. For racing, you can probably find faster tires, but for grinding out miles on roads and rail trails, these get it done.

Pros

These are an excellent product for those who have to ride debris filled shoulders, and substandard city streets. Been using them for about ten years on my road bike with total satisfaction. Have tried other comparable products just to check them out, but have thus far always come back to the GatorSkin.

Cons

Not for racing.

Gatorskin is a good quality product at a reasonable price , Modern Bike provided excellent service

Pros

Replacement tire that comes shipped in a small box.

Cons

A little more difficult getting it to catch on the bead because it was folded.

Other Thoughts

At first the tire seemed too big for the rim because I was used to non-folded tires that get forced onto the rim. Once the tube starts to expand the tire, the sides come in and catch the bead.

Pros

Resistance to flats/punctures. I have yet to get a flat while using these Continental Gator skin tires. I think I'm on my third set.

Cons

A little slippery in the wet but I avoid riding in the rain and if I get caught out I just take it easy.

Tires can be hard to find in this size, since its not a common size. A good, long-lasting, durable tire.

Pros

Gator skins are long lasting, very resistant to puncture by sharp rocks and glass, and handle predictably.

Cons

Compared to other puncture resistant tires, the Gatorskin feels a bit numb.

Other Thoughts

The sidewalk of this new tire ruptured after fourteen miles. Just strings and strands and a four inch tear.

Pros

The GatorSkins replaced my 15+ year old Armadillos. Cornering and rolling resistance are much better but then much of the tread was separating from the Armadillos so maybe not a fair comparison. Anyway, I'm really happy with the Continentals. We'll see if they last 15 years with the cactus splines and the hot Tucson sun.

Modern Bike did a great job getting these tires to me in a few days with follow up Email shortly after they arrived.

Cons

Nothing yet. I have less than a 100 miles on them so can't say how durable they will be.

While I have little tech knowledge, I have been riding for many years and can tell you these tires are terrific.

Pros

The Gatorskin Tires were delivered very fast. They are a very durable tire and that is why I chose to stay with Gatorskin. The previous Continental Gatorskin tires lasted me for a very long time and were starting to show wear. Most people that I cycle with have Gatorskin tires.

Cons

These Gatorskin Tires are not exactly like the original Continental Gatorskins in that the tires are a little bit wider and the PSI goes to 100. My old Gatorskin tires PSI went to 120.

Other Thoughts

I would recommend doing business with ModernBike.com because you will probably get your product faster than if you ordered elsewhere.

Best all around bike tires-- period!

Pros

I have over 8,000 miles on my current set of GatorSkin tires. I credit this to two things, great tire construction and running lower tire pressure. The only flat was on the back caused by hitting a huge pothole. Most of my riding is on chip and seal and these hold up well. Whether these are faster than others I don't know and don't care, I just enjoy the ride and the durability. I really like the tread indicators.

Cons

None

This is all I ride on all my bikes.... most likely wouldn't go for anything else.

Pros

Long wearing, large diameter and grippy rubber compound for reliable commuting on busy roads

Cons

a bit heavy, but hey, it's a commuter.

Pros

I've had several sets of these tires and they perform very well. They are very durable as I've ridden as much as 8,000 miles on a set if you inspect them regularly. They are also relatively inexpensive.

Cons

None

Pros

For Clydesdales this is a great tire that holds up well on tough roads.

Cons

Little heavy

Other Thoughts

Hold up well and you get good mileage out of them

Pros

I only use Continental Tires

Cons

None

Other Thoughts

3000+ miles on my old gaterskins

Pros

My third set. When I get two flats and can't find the obvious cause, I replace the tire. Had one that went out of round after about 6 months. Got a replacement with no questions asked. I run them on my Zip carbon wheels and get an excellent ride. Recommend.

Cons

None

Pros

I haven't put a lot of miles on this tire yet and neither am I a weight weanie, but it seems like a solid tire. Sidewalls seem firm, and I've had no pinch flats in 200+ miles. Only thing holding back from 5 stars is I'd like to see how it wears over time. As soon as my other tire wears, will probably buy the same tire.

Cons

None yet.

Other Thoughts

Continued big kudos to Modern Bike for the quick order fulfillment and shipping.

Pros

I ride mostly on chip sealed roads, which are rougher than blacktop. The Gatorskins are holding up very well.

Cons

None

Other Thoughts

Ride more, eat pie, smell the roses. If you can't tell by smell only the difference between hog and cow manure, you are not riding enough.

I put two of these on my Trek hybrid a month ago, and have about 400 miles on them. The front tire blew with a BANG as I returned home, the sidewall next to the rim blew completely out.
I don't believe I have hit any road debris, and it appears Continental has no warranty.
I will replace this tire and hope that the stellar reviews are true for the new ones, not the crappy one.

Pros

Continental Gatorskins are my tire of choice for biking here north of Phoenix. There are lots of thorns and plenty of heat, and I find these hold up well to both. I've been using them for years, and probably put about 3000 miles on the rear one before it starts to develop worn out areas.

Cons

Price can be a problem, but I often find them in the low $30's--

Other Thoughts

I don't own a car, so having a reliable bicycle is a must--and reliable tires are the biggest factor--that's why I go with Gatorskins.

Pros

Puncture resistant

Cons

Little heavier than regular tires

Other Thoughts

Well worth the cost. If flats are an issue where you ride, these tires are great.

Pros

Long tread life and puncture protection

Cons

Hard to install the first time.

Other Thoughts

My go to tire. Stable at speed and very bullet proof.

Much more puncture resistant than the Continental 4000 or Michelin Pro 3 I used previously. I went through an entire winter without a puncture.

Pros

I have settled on Continentals as my go to tire. My prior choice was Armadillo's, but they about killed me to get mounted. These wear decently, provide a decent ride and are reasonably tough. Although they are not the cheapest tire, I find the cost to be reasonable.

Cons

The only complaint if you're only into speed, is they are by far and away not the lightest tire available.

Pros

Great tire - no flats in over a year and I ride 60-80 miles a week

Cons

No color variety

Pros

These tires last forever...and I dont know how many miles I have on them, but I don't get flats either!

Cons

None

Pros

durability

Other Thoughts

I've used Continental's terrific tubulars for quite a few years and when I got a set of clincher wheels a few years ago, I naturally bought their GatorSkin clinchers. They've been highly durable and reliable without a single flat.

Pros

I ride a lot of dirt roads, including epic tours such as the D2R2, and get zero flats with Gatorskins. In fact, flats were what drove me to try Gatorskins in the first place.

Cons

Handling isn't as good as with other tires

Other Thoughts

Because I got a deal, I tried out a set of Schwalbe Marathons. I find they're about as tough as the Gatorskins, but they corner on pavement markedly better. They're what I run now.

Pros

Great durable tire. I could write more but I have tried many tires in about 6-8 years of riding Fixie/SS and this the clear standout.

Cons

I have yet to find one and have purchased many of these.

Other Thoughts

If you are buying a tire, ESPECIALLY fixed gear, this is by far the best option. You can get away with cheaper options I suppose but I have only had one thing pierce these (3 Inch Nail) and have got many many years and 100s of miles out of each tire.

Pros

Light, fit well, tough construction, high pressure

Cons

No tread, have "chipped" the top layer in several places road riding in Miami.

Other Thoughts

I would buy tires with tread for Miami next time as it often rains and these get really slippery.

Pros

I have been using this tire for nearly two years, putting on about 3,000 miles. The tire has held up well and eliminated my problem of getting a flat tire every 4 - 6 weeks. Good grip on wet pavement.

Cons

None

Other Thoughts

I ride a lot on rough roads, gravel roads and sand filled shoulders. This tire has held up nicely.

Pros

I have two road bikes, a race bike and a commuter style bike.
I only ride Gatorskins now. I have not had a flat yet. I've been using these style tires for 6 years now. I ride around 3000 miles a year.
It's great to have the confidence while riding over broken glass and other sharp objects that I won't be flat.

Cons

They might be a bit heavier but nothing noticeable.

Other Thoughts

If they made them for fat bikes I'd buy those too.

Pros

Great tread life!!!

Cons

crappy sidewalls, easily damaged.

Pros

great tire, high mileage (6000)no flats

Cons

sidewall color poor , could be black

Pros

I've owned several sets of tires for my road bike. I often change them yearly just because they get so chewed up by the roads here in the northeast. I've tried several flat resistant tires over the years and found these to be the best. They also last a full two years, something I've never gotten from any other set of tires.

These pros FAR outweigh the cons.

Cons

- Ride slightly hard
- Just a little harder to mount

Other Thoughts

There are my new tires of choice. I see no reason to try any other tire at this point.

Pros

Durable low tolling resistance

Cons

If any it would be loss of traction in rain, but take some air out and it is better

Pros

Wears very well. Excellent traction, predictable turn-in. I ride ~20 miles almost daily as training for motorcycle racing. These tires have been a great bang for the buck. I will buy them again.

Cons

None

Pros

Long wearing, reinforced sidewalls, puncture resistance, good handling

Cons

A bit heavier than the higher performance tires, but it's not meant to be a race tire. For club rides, training, commuting, it's a good fit for its intended purpose.

Other Thoughts

No tire is immune to all the road hazards. I've had flats with GatorSkins, just fewer of them. I've also lost a sidewall to a sharp rock that fell out of a road cut through a mountainous region. I've also ridden some steep technical descents with wicked cracks and potholes with no problems. Not too bad in ten or so years of riding this particular model.

Pros

Tough, beyond all others. Yes, you pay a little more- but for the thousands of miles the price is well worth it.
Again, you get what you pay for.

Cons

None

Pros

Extremely durable. Excellent traction.

Cons

None so far.

Pros

The Kevlar is extremely effective against punctures.
With maintenance (see below), these are extremely long-lived tires and a great investment.

Cons

The soft road surface picks up small pieces of glass and sometimes larger debris.
The tires only last ~3 months under normal use. Unless you remove tiny glass bits, they are a poor investment.

Other Thoughts

Extremely resistant to punctures from large sharp objects. This has only happened once, and the object came in through the side - can't really fault the tire for that. I have had puncture-induced flats, but they're from tiny pieces of glass that get stuck in the soft road surface and slowly burrow around the Kevlar belts. After about 3 months, I started getting these flats every week or so. Then I started going over the tires once every ~3 months with a dental pick to remove glass shards from the fissures in the tire, and doing so has largely fixed the issue. If you are not willing to do that kind of maintenance, these tires will only handle about 3 months of light commuting.

Pros

puncture proof
Great on the corners
lightweight for better accereration

Cons

on an emergency stop (skids) , the tire will scrape down to the cords.

Pros

No flats so far! Not a lot of mileage!

Cons

none

Pros

best mileage and flat protection for the money.

Cons

check for clearance if you buy the 700 X 28's or larger as they may not clear your forks!

Other Thoughts

on many road bikes the largest size that will fit is the 700 X 25.

Gatorskins are bulletproof. Bumps, gravel, random debris ... nothing has threatened a ride as long as I'm on Gatorskins. Love 'em. Have them on all my bikes.

Pros

Low rolling resistance. Puncture resistant. Easy to mount. Pretty :)

Cons

Expensive.

Pros

Light, lean, puncture resistant, made in Germany.

Cons

Not inexpensive, but well worth it.