Continental Gator Hardshell Tire

I mainly commute and ride through a good amount of road junk, regardless of how hard I try to avoid it. And nothing ruins a ride to work more than a flat - which is why I love these tires so much. I've had the 32s on two of my bikes for over a year now and have had just one flat between them in that time. They're not light, but if avoiding flats if your first priority, I give these two thumbs up.

I got these in 28 mm size for my commuter bike. I bike thru all manner of road detritus.... glass, nails, staples, rocks etc. They have been outstanding from a puncture resistance standpoint...one flat in ~ 1500 miles. but the ride is bone jarring. I expected them to be like the gatorskins but they are much harder/firmer. I will either go to a 32 mm tire or back to a regular gatorskin next to get a little better ride quality.

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity..." You get it, some of us were having fun, while others were not. That's Koty (pictured right) The guy wearing a helmet, the guy with Continental Gator Hardshell Tires, the guy having fun. That's me, (pictured left) the guy not wearing a helmet, the guy with insufficient bike tires, the guy that's about to learn a tough life lesson.

You see, Koty and I decided we wanted to ride our bikes to the local MLS game utilizing a riverfront trail known by locals to be rank with goat heads. Koty thought ahead and brought a patch kit and a Lezyne Trigger Drive CO2 Cartridge System, and his Continental Gator Hardshell Tires. I brought a backpack full of beer. Koty brought some sandwiches and a water bottle. I brought a flask of Sailor Jerry's...YOU GET IT, I'm an idiot. Anyways, not 10 seconds after this picture was taken, I got my first flat tire causing me to fall to the ground and my friends to say "you should've brought a helmet" what's worse, I spilled a perfectly good beer. Again, I'm irresponsible, thankfully Koty offered me a patch from his patch kit an one of his two co2 tanks to refill my tire. Not long after that my rear tire went flat, after some negotiating Koty offered me a second patch and co2...The third flat was a bit more contentious as it was getting down to game time and we were out of co2 tanks. Fortunately a nice German lady rode by with a bike pump, I offered her a beer, she said "no thanks," pumped up my tire and moved on with her day. After arriving at the stadium I noticed I had a fourth leak in my tire, Koty had no leaks, EVER!

Look, I'm not gonna get much more responsible, but I tell you what, the next day I went out and bought new tubes and a pair of Continental Gator Hardshell Tires and it was the best decision I've ever made.

I'm going on a year strong with no problems, you could ride through a glass fight with these things, they're tough, they're durable and they're perfect for the irresponsible commuter. I will say they're a little slick, so if you're riding in the rain, just be mindful.

Hard ride (as the name might imply), but I love these tires. For how hard they are, the tires are extremely compliant during turns at speed. My last pair lasted over 2,000 miles.

I've only put about 200 miles on these tires, but so far they have held up and shown very little wear. Definitely hoping to get a couple thousand out of these. I use them for road biking, a bit heavy for my use, but durability is my priority and these shouldn't disappoint!

I have been using the Gator Hardshell and the Gatorskin (http://www.backcountry.com/continental-ultra-gatorskin-road-tire#wall-solicitations) on my bike for roughly 2 years now and it is the best combination for a single speed commuter set up. Easy to put on and they last. I have this on my fixed gear trek and so I skid regularly on it. They last for so long even under the abuse of skidding. Great gear allows you the confidence to not have to think about it while using it. I never worry that these are going to fail on me and that makes for great rides.

I commute through DC. I had about 1500 miles on this tire before flatting, even after hitting glass, rocks, you name it. One morning, I hit a roofing staple, it went through the tire, and the tube instantly blew, obviously. However, I threw in a spare tube and the tire continued to hold (going on about 250 miles).

These tires are about as bombproof as they come. I use them on my fixed gear for urban riding/commuting, and they last much longer than anything else. I do ride brakeless, and am fairly liberal with my skid-stops. These are the only tires that will last more than a few weeks without being eaten up by the pavement.

If you want a tire that will last for a very long time, and remain almost perfectly puncture resistant, this is it. Only real drawback is that they are pretty squirrelly in weather.

I've put around 300 miles on these tires so far and have yet to suffer a single flat. I ride in the desert southwest, too, where spiky plants and "goat head thorns" (google it) are as common on roadways as cigarette butts in the parking lot at the Kentucky Derby. My previous tires regularly suffered the wrath of spiky street gangs, and I usually had a flat every 50 miles or so.

Now equipped with Gators, I've romped more times than I would like to admit through loose gravel stretches laden with pointy glass shards, spiny goat heads, and chunks of broken rock--a gauntlet that my gators have guided gallantly with no flats to date.

Also, I think these tires ride just as fast as my previous, lighter tires, as my average speed hasn't dipped. So far, I love them.

They have terrible rolling resistance but you will never have a flat either unless you are really unlucky. They are great for the trainer as well, very good tread wear. I have a 25mm rear tire that has over 4000 outdoor miles and around 1000 indoor miles that i put on this spring...still going strong and i expect to get another thousand or so miles outside and 500 or more inside. Overall i would estimate their life to be around 5000-7000 miles, but i have some friends who have reportedly ridden them well over 10k (they were riding the 28mm, i ride 25mm).

This tire is simply a Continental Gator skin with more rubber and weight, in my opinion they ride too rough. I would rather be on the classic Gatorskin or better yet my favorite the Grand Prix 4 Season Tire!

Moved to AZ 5 years ago and was plagued by flats -- mostly from thorns, which are a known problem in the desert. Went through a number of different tires before trying these. I can't say I never got a flat again, but the frequency went way down. The sidewalls can get a little chewed up, but it seems to be superficial. They ride nice given all the belting for flat protection.

Original Post August 13, 2013: I ride pretty much year round and these have worn well. Cinders, gravel, potholes...they have been worth the money. Today I had my first flat with them, but it was most likely because of a cut in the sidewall during a very rainy ride. I had to ride on a rough shoulder to let a car pass on an uphill climb and I could hear the hissing as the tire lost air - oh crap. Nevertheless, I put a new tube in and did another 40 miles until I got home. I have to replace the rear tire, hence my visit here. The front is still in great shape. No reason I won't get another season out of that one.

Update April 18, 2015: The front tire is still going strong. One note of caution: when brand new, these are real buggers to get on the rim. After a bunch of miles it is easier to change.

Definitely an upgrade from the rubber that came with the bike. Even though they're a heavier thick tire, the tread gives it very low rolling resistance, and when it's dry out they're sticky as can be. Can't see myself getting a tire other than this from here on out.

This tire made it about 100 miles. Couldn't return as 30 days had passed. I brought it to a local bike shop that dealt in continental and was mystified and tried to deal with continental rep to get replacement (ultimately failed with no reason given). Side wall blew out. No brake wear near tire. No rim damage. No over pressurization (was on its original air from replacement). $60 mistake. Now 400 miles on my second set of Armadillos (first wore through the first layer of rubber without any flats)

I did not buy my Gatorskins here, but do want to put in a positive recommendation. Ride on some tough surfaces from road debris to rough road conditions. They have not let me down. Will only be using these from now on. Husband used them on cross country trip from San Diego, back to Florida. Did not have a flat with this tire!

This is a well made tire. A little pricey but worth every penny.