But the thin and flexible sidewalls are also why it has such a low rolling resistance(RR) and low weight. I have never in the 6 years I have been riding gatorskins had a sidewall failure, so for me the trade off between good RR and thin sidewalls has been good. The sometimes polarized views on Gatorskins are IMHO because people have different expectations towards it. Some people think it is a tough commuter tire, but strictly speaking it was designated as a racing training tire. And when it first came out it even bested many dedicated racing tires regarding RR and weight, while having great puncture resistance (compared to dedicated racing tires).

The Gatorskins are also excellent commuter tires for those who want really fast tires, but still want relatively good puncture protection, but they shouldn't be used to ride through broken glass.
Interestingly enough, Continental have now re-designated the new Gator Hardshells as a commuter tire, not racing training tire, and also redesigned it accordingly making it tougher all around, adding more rubber for better puncture protection and longer wear etc. It has become somewhat heavier and probably have higher RR due to the stronger sidewalls, but still seems to be a good choice for those that wants fast, easy rolling tires on their commuter bikes.

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Regards