Continental includes the bead-to-bead DuraSkin mesh protective layer for additional sidewall protection, which offers the tyre’s characteristic red-brown shade, as also seen in the more performance-oriented Grand Prix 4 Season tyre. The measured weight is 255 grams, which is higher than the specified weight of 240 grams. With a measured width of 26 mm and measured height of 23 mm on a 17C rim, sizing is very close to its rated size of 25C. It’s available in four widths for 700c wheels (23, 25, 28 and 32mm), and is built on a 3-ply, 180 TPI carcass. 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 Continental recommends the tested 700 x 28c Gatorskin is inflated to 95psi, with a maximum of 116psi. That’s much higher than we’ve become used to, although expectations are often influenced by tubeless specifications – remember, the Gatorskins can only be run with inner tubes.

Another ring of smaller, similar triangles sits inside them, and jointly they create more mobile sections of tread. These are intended to increase cornering grip – enabling the tyre to deform better – and I found they provided lots of it. The Continental GatorSkin is a famously durable training, touring or commuting road tire featuring a combination of three flat protection technologies. 60 TPI per layer in the casing preserves ride feel while remaining tough. I've been riding Continental Gatorskins for the past eight or more years. I run them on both my road bikes and my wife's road bike. We live in Las Vegas where there is a lot of broken glass and other debris in bike lanes on sides of streets and on our trails. I was stopping to fix a flat every few months, which got old. Also, was not impressed quality of some of the more supple tires. The new tires that came on my Giant Defy barely made it past 1,000 miles before the cord was showing and I ended up fixing six flats in six rides. A friend recommended Gator skins and I've been riding them ever since. Have only had one puncture in over 5,000 miles or riding (a small, sharp piece of wire), and blew out the side of another after going over a sharp lip on edge of a bridge and crimping the sidewall. Furthermore, I can count on getting 4,000 miles out of a Gatorskin before they wear out.Our commitment to quality goes beyond the ordinary. We've carefully crafted the Continental Gatorskin Bicycle Tyres to optimize your performance. It's time to push your limits, break barriers, and experience cycling like never before. Transitioning to the Perfect Ride The Road Bike section is a multi tire size section, air pressures have been adjusted to the measured casing width. This is the Continental Gatorskin Road Tire. The name says it all. Gatorskins have long been the winter/training tire of choice among cyclists everywhere. The all around quality and performance of these tires is so good that they are now a year round go-to tire for many riders who pour the miles onto them. Puncture-defence: With our PolyX Breaker®, we bring our car expertise to the bicycle tyre segment: Polyester has been used successfully for years in car tyres and been tried and tested many times. The extremely resistant polyester fibre is woven tightly crosswise. In this way, a very high fabric density is reached which not only makes the Breaker more resistant to foreign objects but is also especially resistant to punctures. The rolling resistance is also not negatively affected by the PolyX Breaker®. The Continental GatorSkin has two special features, which are Polyx Breaker® and a Duraskin® Sidewall Protection. Polyx refers to a highly resistant, crosswise woven polyester fibre that, originally, has only been used for car tyres. This high density fabric makes the breaker more resistant without affecting the fastness of the tyre. The Duraskin external mesh, then, adds another layer of lightweight but durable protection. It effectively shields the tyre from harsh weather conditions and rough roads, which might otherwise cause cuts and abrasions. Cheap Road Tyres

The Gatorskin’s minimal tread is designed to balance grip with rolling efficiency. Robin Wilmott / Our MediaExperience superior traction and control with our specially designed tread pattern. Wet or dry, these tyres keep you firmly planted on the road, boosting your confidence in every turn. Tyres with DuraSkin® sidewall protection have to be able to roll with the punches. They are used under the harshest conditions. On messenger bikes, the tyres skid along curbs; on touring bikes, they cross continents without wearing out. In racing cycling, they have to endure tough tests such as the Paris-Roubaix. The high-quality polyamide fabric protects the tyre casing against the worst conditions. These tyres stand out thanks to their brown sidewalls. Continental has changed the name of the Ultra Gatorskin to Gatorskin. No changes have been made to the tires other than the label Wear hasn’t been a factor in the time I’ve spent with the Gatorskin tyre, but the handy tread wear indicator depressions in its surface will leave you in no doubt as to when it’s time to swap to a new set. Taking all of that into account it’s pretty clear why Continental GatorSkin DuraSkin 700x25c Road Tyre scored such a great price score of 8.5/10 and why it features as one of the top recommended products in the Cycling category.

Puncture Force Blunt Needle: The Blunt needle has a flat tip and won't split the casing wires. To puncture the tire, the blunt needle has to cut the casing wires. The Gator Hardshell is a very durable, puncture resistant and comfortable tyre, at relatively high pressure it is yielding and comfortable for long rides. When it comes to a high speed training session or 50+ mile chain gangs this would not be my first choice but in terms of a winter training tyre, club runs and for committed commuters this is an excellent tyre. Hardshell: Puncture protection and mileage are the strengths of Hardshell protection. A wider PolyX Although the Gatorskin is often billed as a hardy winter tyre, I’ve found it surprising how much speed, grip and road feel it provides. When it comes to the world of cycling, your tyres are the unsung heroes of the road. They provide the connection between you and the asphalt, impacting your speed, control, and overall riding experience. Quality That Sets Us Apart Uncompromising DurabilityWeight: 275g (650c | 23mm), 320g (26" | 1-1/8"), 305g (700c | 23mm), 315g (700c | 25mm), 360g (700c | 28mm), 420g (700c | 32mm), 430g (27" | 1-1/4") Note: Continental has added wear indicators to all Continental Gatorskin 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.

Firm braking always feels composed, with ample grip and sufficient sidewall rigidity offering a consistent platform. Continental is one of the market leaders when it comes to durable tyres. Its additional protective features have made it the most popular road tyre brand in the UK. This tyre, in particular, has great grip, guarantees high mileage and works well all year round. Its highly resistant rubber tread is made in Germany from natural materials. In addition, it is available in various sizes and is comparatively lightweight. Polyx Breaker and DuraskinPuncture Force Sharp Needle: Pre-2021, this score was known as 'Puncture Resistance'. On some tires with weakly bonded casing wires, the sharp needle can split the casing wires resulting in a lower score. Fitted to a rim that was 20mm wide internally, the 28mm tyres measured 29.5mm wide and 26.5mm tall. This creates a shallow, nicely rounded inflated profile. As expected, rolling resistance is very high. At 120 psi, rolling resistance is 19.3 watts. At lower air pressures, rolling resistance rises even more. At 80 psi, rolling resistance is 22.0 watts, which means rolling resistance is 8.3 watts higher when compared to a GP4000S II at 80 psi (13.7 watts). PolyX Breaker Technology: With its PolyX Breaker, Continental bring PKW know-how to the bike tyre arena – Polyester has been used successfully for years in car tyres and been tried and tested many times. The extremely resistant polyester fibre is woven tightly to make a very high fabric density, which not only makes the breaker more resistant to foreign objects but also resistant to punctures. The rolling resistance is not affected either by the PolyX Breaker.