dnpaha

Currently running on Conti Ultra Gator Skins (23's) but thinking of changing to either Michelin Krylion or Schwalbe Durano. I had no problems with the Contis except for getting a severe flat spot on rear tire after 3,000km. Don't want to have to replace tires every season. Does anyone have experience and/or recomonedations on these? I ride aprox. 3,000-4,000km per season (with some broken pavement and some gravel roads).

dnpaha

BTYW - Should have specified I am looking at the "Schwalbe Durano PLUS"

mustang1

I used to ride krylions when i was training and they were my favourite tire: supple, comfortable, good flat resistance (for the reasonably clean roads I trained on), good grip wet and dry.

Then I stopped training and started commuting into the city which has dirty roads. Started getting flats then moved to gatorskins. Ride is harsher, grip is lower in dry, quite a bit lower in wet, but highly puncture resistant and that sealed (pun intended) the deal for me.

Velo Dog

I think your expectations are unrealistic. If you're getting 3000km/1900 miles on a set of tires, you're doing way better than most people. Even on my fat 35 or 37mm touring tires (I weigh 240; I don't use 23s), I don't get more than that.
What kind of "flat spot" did you get? If it's a circumferential flat spot all the way around the tire, that's just normal wear and you have no complaints. If it's a single flat SPOT in the tread, so you feel a bump when it comes around, that's generally caused by locking the brakes and skidding: Operator error, not the Contis' fault. Throw in the gravel roads on tires not suited to that, and I'd say you're getting at least 25 percent better service than I'd expect.
As for a recommendation, my goals probably aren't the same as yours, but for the last three or four years I've used just two tires: Panaracer Pasela TGs in 35 or 37 on my Atlantis (they come in smaller sizes), and Rivendell's Ruffy Tuffys on the Rambouillet. Both are tough, durable, responsive and pretty flat-resistant.

DataJunkie

I have a couple of the new Taiwan Krylions. My tires have a fair amount of gashes in them and as a result I am not thrilled with them.

Gatorskins ride like crap but offer fairly decent puncture protection.
However, my next tire may be a vredestein tricomp.

acaurora

I've been using GatorSkins ever since I got my bike couple months ago. Logged just a bit over 1K miles, and haven't really had any problems with them. However since moving to Roseville I think I may change because goatheads aren't a problem here (so people say), and because of the changing weather/climbing I would prefer to have more grip when cornering. . .

kbtommy

I switched to Specialized Armadillos a few months ago and they're great. Responsive, not too heavy, durable. Dunno if weight is a factor or not, they make a regular tire and a "race" version. But they take a beating on the Boston streets and handle nicely.

acaurora

Really? I have always heard that Armadillos have a very harsh ride...?

I think I may give the Krylions a shot as people seem to say that they have good grip and still decent puncture resistance.

DataJunkie

I ran armadillos on my fixed gear. Harsh ride is an understatement.
That bike now runs gatorskins.

wanders

My gatorskins look like this



and show no signs of being any where near worn through. I would guess I have close to 3000 miles on them.

What was the problem again?

LarryMelman

My bike came with Continental UltraSport's which has no flat protection at all, and I finally got fed up with fixing flats every week or two for over a year now. I had narrowed my choices to GatorSkins, Krylion's and Lithion's, but my LBS recommended Serfas Seca RS over the Krylion's which he also had. I looked at the review sites and all the reviews of the Serfas were extremely positive, so I am giving them a try.

gettingold

I've got the GatorSkins on mine and have had no prolbems yet after 1,900 miles. All tires involve tradeoffs to a certain extent, whether its performance or durability. These have been great for me.

brian416

My front gatorskin has nearly 4000 miles on it and it isn't nearly halfway worn, the rear lasted ~3000 until the case got cut pretty bad so I replaced it just to be safe. IMO, they ride like crap, but are the longest lasting tire I've ever used

crispy010

Rear Conti GP 4000s lasted about 4000 miles. Rider weight is approx 150 lbs, no gravel roads but a lot of chip seal. Front tire that was put on at the same time shows no wear at all, will probably be retired due to dry rot before it wears out.

Armadillos have perhaps the worst ride of any tire I have ridden on. Harsh, slow, ZERO grip when wet, and not any more flat proof than most other tires (IME). Words cannot express how terrible these tires are.

lesdunham

I get 2,500 miles (rear tire) and 3,500 out of my $17 IRC Redstorms from Pricepoint. I know they have almost zero bling factor compared to gators and conti, but they work for me on Michigan roads. 3,000 miles a year, all year round.

One flat in 6 years due to a tube seam that gave out when extremely warm on TOSRV. Oh and one had a buldge right near the end of its useful life. Probably victim of a MI pothole/seam.

prxmid

Conti GP 4000's are head and shoulder above any tire I've ridden. Can't attest to longevity but no flats yet and rolling resistance is MUCH better than my Michelin's

Shimagnolo

Ahhh...that new 300mm x 700c size?

Machka 

Back in the days when I was actually out there riding ... I was going through about 6 tires a season. If you're riding, it's just part of riding.

dnpaha

Thanks for the feeback. I take it nobdy has experienced the Schwalbe Durano (= no feedback). I found a good deal on Conti GP 4 Season and may just grab those. My understanding is they are good for puncture protection but roll better than the Ultra Gator Skins.

idcruiserman

I got a set of 4000S's a few weeks ago. 3 flats so far . They ride better than my Gatorskins, but not that much.

I had Armadillos for a short while. Rode horribly and still got a flat now and then.

Velo Dog

It's all in the mind of the user, of course, but I hated the ride of my Armadillos so much I gave them away after less than 75 miles. It was like riding on wooden tires.

azncarbos

just think of going up hill with those..... LoL

DataJunkie

fify

grolby

Lithions are a great inexpensive, nice-riding training tire that's perfectly acceptable for racing as well.

I've been riding a Bontrager Race X Lite front tire for a while now; I got a deal on it, otherwise would not have purchased it because they're expensive tires (~$60), but it's a great tire, nice, sticky racing slick. Only one or two flats in the time I've had it, but that might be a matter of riding style and weight as much as anything else. At 123 lbs, I'm pretty easy on tires. They tend to last me a while.

I'm about to receive a pair of Panaracer Extreme Evo3s from my old LBS. I don't know that I'll end up testing them out before spring, but I'm excited to see Panaracer get into the racing slick clincher market. They make fantastic tires at good prices, but have historically tended toward more city and touring designs. It'll be interesting to see what they can do with a true lightweight road tire with no tread. If these tires are as good as I expect, they might turn out to be one the great deals; the price is very reasonable.

knobster

No need to replace your tires so quickly. Too many people replace their tires much quicker than needed.

Here's what Mr. Sheldon Browns says about the subject. https://www.sheldonbrown.com/tires.html

Tire Wear-When should you replace your tires?