continental tyres

[okeydokey79]

looking at getting a new front tyre as the old 1 is looking a bit worn, but on reading reviews on the conti gatorskin tyres some ppl saying they are not very good in the wet?using halfords as i have some vouchers i can use and also get 10% off and they have 25% off web price at moment(which gets them same price as wiggle)but with the weather becoming a bit wetter im just wondering if ill be ok with the gatorskin tyre,just wondering if any1 uses these and how good they are??? thanks in advance , matt

halfords also do the ultra gatorskin which is £5 how much difference is there in the tyres?

 

[Andrew_Culture]

I've been wondering the same; my front tyre has a very neat cut in the surface, no idea how it happened but I worry about it being a weakness that blows at speed.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

some ppl do say they aren't good in the wet

some other ppl wont ride anything else

I'm one of the last lot (hardshells actually)

love 'em

but you're more likely to find a solution to the arab-iraeli conflict than reach a consensus view on tyres with cyclists.

 

[Rob3rt]

I am in the "they are shoot in the wet" camp. Wouldn't touch them again in the wet (I think they are ok in the dry, but tbh...... they aren't that great and I don't get what all the fuss is about, they are mediocre tyres). I'd rather run cheap ass Schwalbe Lugano tyres, I puncture about the same rate with either i.e. pretty much never and the Schwalbe are cheaper and IMO have better grip in the wet.

 

[Leaway2]

I am in the "they are s*** in the wet" camp. Wouldn't touch them again in the wet (I think they are ok in the dry, but tbh...... they aren't that great and I don't get what all the fuss is about, they are mediocre tyres). I'd rather run cheap ass Schwalbe Lugano tyres, I puncture about the same rate with either i.e. pretty much never and the Schwalbe are cheaper and IMO have better grip in the wet.

Rob, do you commute on these? if so what is the wear rate like? I do 300 miles a month, will they be good enough?

 

[martint235]

Rob, do you commute on these? if so what is the wear rate like? I do 300 miles a month, will they be good enough?

I've run them before on my commute which is 400 - 500 miles a month plus leisure riding leading to about 800 a month. No real problems with them and they don't puncture more than anything else. However I decided I hate getting punctures on the commute so I've now got Marathons (not the +) on the commuter. No punctures and I noticed on the FNRttC (or the bit of it I did last week) that the slowness I've noticed is down to the weight of the Carradice rather than the tyres.

 

[LosingFocus]

I guess it depends what tyres you are coming from. I moved from the generic tyres that came on my bike to Gators and they perform about 10 times better in the wet than the old ones did.

 

[LosingFocus]

No idea why it seems I'm whispering above ^

 

[Canrider]

I'd say that they're worth a shot if you're getting all those discounts on them. If you don't like you won't be as out of pocket. I've skidded and crashed on Gatorskins but it was my own damn fault (front brake on what turned out to be ice). I found the 'skins didn't seem to be picking up crumbs of glass as readily as lighter summer tyres, but as GC said above, no-one ever agrees on bike tyres. (Plug: Bontrager Race Lite Hardcases)

 

[Leaway2]

but you're more likely to find a solution to the arab-iraeli conflict than reach a consensus view on tyres with cyclists.

I'm on the Specialized 700 25 fitted on my Secteur 2010, they are looking a bit thin now and thought I would replace them before the bad weather.
I cant complain about them as they have lasted well, but as this is my first roadie, I have nothing to compare with, but I do like GregCollins
remark.

I

 

[Nearly there]

Some people like cillit bang others like flash its all personal preference,sorry whats the title of the thread again

 

[Nearly there]

I am in the "they are s*** in the wet" camp. Wouldn't touch them again in the wet (I think they are ok in the dry, but tbh...... they aren't that great and I don't get what all the fuss is about, they are mediocre tyres). I'd rather run cheap ass Schwalbe Lugano tyres, I puncture about the same rate with either i.e. pretty much never and the Schwalbe are cheaper and IMO have better grip in the wet.

My 25c luguanos lasted 7 months before I replaced them suffering only 1 snake bite flat and covered 2000 miles so at a tenner ish a pop good value imo but each to their own.

 

[Rob3rt]

Rob, do you commute on these? if so what is the wear rate like? I do 300 miles a month, will they be good enough?

I do 800 miles a month on the Schwalbe's and also ride them on the turbo trainer, I run the 23mm version!

 

[Leaway2]

sorry whats the title of the thread again

Yes sorry to the OP for the hi-jack

 

[GrumpyGregry]

One of the comics, I forget which, has had the temerity to rate Conti Gatorskins as best winter tyre....