qcpmsame 

I worded my first post about the new tyres I deleted it and will try again a week later. the Continental Gatorskins came in this week and they get mounted after the men's World Road championship race this morning. To answer the 2 questions from the first thread:

Mapei, I will post up reports after a few rides.

Terex, I do know that the gatorskins are completely different form my old Pro3 Michelins and GP4000S Continentals, this was on purpose as my riding and goals have changed with my new health problems. I am no longer looking towards race training since that would be foolish with the risks I run in doing that. I am gearing my set up and riding to Long Slow Distance rides at around 16-18 mph steady pace. A few metric and American Centuries will be my special rides along with the riding daily. And as I understand it Continental changed the nomenclature on their tyres and these are the new compound you recommended in your reply. I could well be wrong but rides on a friends bike with this exact tyre tell me I will like its performance and durability. If not I imagine they are still selling the others and I'll order some of them. JMHO, YMMV, LOL, HTFU, ABCDEF, ETC.

Into the great unknown, or something like that, as I embark upon the great tyre experiment.

Bill

Dudelsack 

Tires.

10 Wheels

More tires.

jdon

I like tyres. Bonus points for using "nomenclature" as well.

Dan Burkhart 

My spell checker doesn't like tyres. But then, it doesn't like labour, colour, or centre either.

Barrettscv 

I like to evaluate tires (or tyres) and have owned a wide range. I used Gatorskins for about 10,000 miles from 2007 to 2010. I found that they were sufficiently flat resistant during the first 2000 miles and then the rear would start to have flats at the rate of one every 500 miles. At 3000 miles, I would replace the rear. The fronts lasted 3500 without any flats. I also found them to lose traction in the rain.

I'm now using the Grand Prix with the Black Chili compound. In most ways, this is the same tire as the Gatorskin, but with a softer racing compound. It's been a very good performer, with no flats after 2000 miles. Very little wear so far.

doctor j

Similar experience. I just replaced my rear Gatorskin with a Maxxis Refuse. Once the Gatorskin got to a certain point, it seemed to be flat prone

Bikey Mikey

I have Gators which I got with the new bike--well, I changed the OEMs for the Gators. 5000 miles on them thus far and only 2 flats, both pinch and not puncture(Continental rep I met at the LBS said they should be fine for 6000 miles--I asked). I've run over rocks, glass, other things, many I didn't see as it is dark for the most part when I ride. Not sure if these are the old formula or new, but I wanted tires that would let me ride and not worry about flats and repairs.

stapfam

Every one settles out to a tyre that suits them----Or their pocket and I have settled out on Michelins and PR series most of the time but Lithions for the winter use.

Despite all the Bumph about the 3's being better than the 2's and 4's being better than the 3's--- I can't tell the difference. All I know is that as the new series was announced- I got a deal on the old ones. The Lithions by the way are cheap tyres and I take care in the wet as they do not grip as well as the PR's but winter riding and tyres get cut about more and I would rather scrap a cheap tyre than the new expensive one I bought last month.

But There are tyres I have had on bikes that I most definitely did not like. The OM's that came on the Pinnie never did feel right and after two punctures on one ride- I scrapped them. Did not even keep them as spares for others to use. Replaced with PR 3's and transformed the cornering of the bike.

mapeiboy

gcpmsame , I can not wait to read your report . What I like about GP4000s tire is it has wear indicators so you know when to replace it . By the way , I got those tires from probikekit.com .

RonH

I gotta put my 2 cents in here.
tyres?? Thats how the Brits spell tires. You live in Florida so whats up with the spelling?

I have ridden on GP3000, GP4000, and GP4000S. All great tires. My only problem is they don't have any sidewall protection. My last 4 flats with GP4000 were sidewall cuts. I just love riding on the streets and bike path in the Atlanta burbs.

qcpmsame 

Ron, warn me when the spelling gets checked please! My daughter lives in Hotlanta, down visiting this weekend. She commutes and pleasure rides there on a C&V Schwinn World Traveler. She was amazed at the routes I ride today, and she grew up on them too. I guess the city got the girl this time. she said she is looking at riding the Silver Comet Trail soon. She needs to find riders up there to guide her to the urban riding stuff.

I do a lot of correspondence with people in Britain and it is second nature, used this spelling for a long time as well as the "tire", American, spelling all depends on what I am doing and it is far from the only UK spelling I use. Think what you will. The 'Gators rode nice this afternoon on the first outing with my wife and daughter, I'll know more tomorrow and better still after a month. I do like the 25 width on the rough rock aggregate roads I ride on and the cornering was good at speed. I was running 100 psi in both front and rear down from the 110-115 I have been running in the 23 width Luganos, Pro3 and GP4000S I have previously used.

I'm TYRED, I need a nap, later y'all cyber NEIGHBOURS.

Bill

Dudelsack 

Faeder ure thu thei aert on heofunum si thin nama gehalgod....

No thanks, I'll stick with American dialect (100 points if you can guess the dialect and 50 bonus points if you know where the quote is taken from).

Hermes

Old english, Lords Prayer. Too easy.

Dudelsack 

Curses on google. After I posted it, I put it in google. Took 4 seconds.

John_V 

Gatorskins with over 4,500 miles of flat free riding. Since I didn't know the streets where I did the charity ride this past Saturday, I checked the tires very carefully on Friday. I found no sign of any problems and they rode like a dream.

Mort Canard

Bill,
How are the Gatorskins working for you so far? I just mounted a set of slightly used Gatorskins on my Team Fuji that I got from some parts swapping. They seemed to work well on the trial run I did this afternoon but I am not sure that they aren't just a bit noisier than the old Panaracer tires that I had on before. The Panaracers seemed to me to get a few too many flats. (Of course any flats is too many)

Mobile 155

I have tried a lot of tires and have a few I come back to. I started with OEM Vittoras and after about 1200 miles decided they were a bit more flat prone than I like. Switched to a set of Armadillos and while pretty flat proof they rolled like I was on a brick wheel. Switched to GatorSkins Found they rolled much better and werre almost as good at flat protection. Goatheads will still get through both tires. I have tried Hutchingson Adam Pros on tubeless rims. I had pretty good luck with Serface Secas in 25s. Rolled well but the side wall failed at about 1700 miles. For winter riding I keep going back to Gatorskins. I have switched to Vittora Pro Slicks in 25s for all around training and group rides. I have found you can get Gatorskins at most LBS and Performance stores. Vittora and Serface may have to be ordered but I try to keep a set of Vittora in stock. I have never had much luck with Michelins but that is just me.

Retro Grouch 

Does it have upside down question marks?

Dudelsack 

¿Que pasa, amigo?

shelbyfv

Is it a "tyre" if you order it from PBK or Ribble? I've been happy with Gatorskins but the GP4000s seems to ride nicer. I prefer 25s over 23s.

Bikey Mikey

I just want to ride and not have to do a tube repair/change in the middle, especially since I ride in the dark. I've only been on gatorskins(first ones were beaded(6300 miles) and the second set are foldable(riding now--800 miles so far). For the first set, I believe I had 3 flats in 6300 miles of riding and only one of those was a puncture--other two were pinch. I have had one flat on the new ones, well slow leak, and I believe that wasn't a puncture, but a mini pinch. Gators may be slower than others, but at least I'm still riding while speedy is changing a flat. JustMyHumbleOpinion

WingSuit

IMHO, gatorskins are like those car tires that are guaranteed to last for 60,000 miles. you sacrifice in handling to get that really hard rubber compound. in my bikes and my car, I 'll go with a grippier (if that is a word) tire and replace them more often.

Bikey Mikey

Yes, but with car tires/tyres you don't get flats more often with the shorter duration rubber compared to the longer duration. But one should go with the tire they like.

qcpmsame 

After almost 3 months on the 'Skins and, close to 1000 miles, I find them good overall with a reasonably quiet ride, good grip in all our weather conditions and slightly harder feeling than the 700X23 Schwalbe Lugano I took off. I have not flatted on them, I am sure that is coming down the road(no pun intended,) when it does I'll just patch it or throw in a tube and continue riding. I have no complaints about the Gatorskins and their performance, so far.

Bill