gator sidewalls are actually very strong, but when something sharp goes through eventually its gonna break through its like taking a butter knife to card board (rock to tire) or a butcher knife to cardboard (glass, nail, etc, to cardboard) i would go with the gator, you have 17 skid patches so you'll even wear out the tire, or u could try out some soma everywears they have a thicker tread. but an extremely weak side wall, mine have already started to crack after a few months of constant riding though.