Rashiki

I've been reading a lot about the toughness of tires. I know that Armadillos and GatorSkins are two of the best and that the Armadillos ride a little rougher/slower than the GatorSkins, so I've been looking at the GatorSkins. But I read a lot about punctures occuring from glass and debris and the GatorSkins successfully stopping such punctures to the tire (at least when not coming from the sidewall area), but how do they hold up against stickers/thorns/burs? Anyone live in a dry area with these little attackers and using GatorSkins? These thorns are like little needles jabbing right into your tire and tube. Just wondered how well GatorSkins' DuraSkin really holds up against these little fellas before I get some.

Edit: I just read a little more on the GatorSkins at the Continental website. I guess the DuraSkin is really only to help protect the sidewall of the tire? So what makes the GatorSkins so effective at puncture resistance in the tread area, then? Kevlar isn't mentioned on their site, at least.

lilHinault

I'm using Gatorskins and no punctures yet, although I haven't put on boocoo miles yet. Try searching the forums, there are a lot of discussions of thorn-resistant tires.

Robbykills

I know this doesn't really answer your question, but I haven't had a single flat in like 8 or 9 months of riding with Armadillos on some ****ty roads. They are a little clunky though and some have a problem with the bead coming out. I think next time I buy a set of tires I'm going for some gatorskins, just because I'm paranoid to buy another set of armadillos and have the bead come out like it did on one I bought for my road bike.

s2sxiii

i don't know why you'd want to put stickers on your tires -- they'd just get worn off by the friction...

andygates

Like LilHinault (petit-bernard, hein?) I'm on Gators and haven't put in tons of miles, but I live out in the boonies and my regular ride is half-rural, with half of that barely-metalled farm roads. They're holding up just fine so far and they're a nice ride. Damn sticky when it comes to skidding, though

delay

I am just curious, do the gators ride well? Most of my flats typically involve unavoidable potholes ect. Would they really help with something like that?