Daytrip

I've heard it opined around here that Continental GP4000S tires are as good, if not better, than Gatorskins for avoiding flats in the winter. I use the 4000s and they tend not to flat, but I haven't used them in the winter. Last thing I want to do is have to fix a flat when it's 20 degrees and my hands aren't functioning. So I'm thinking about switching to Gatorskins for the winter.

Or, should I just spend my money on another set of 4000s?

Spring Water

4000's are good, but I doubt they are more puncture resistant...

danvuquoc

Thats what I figured too, however for whatever anecdotal evidence is worth on BF (A lot probably) I've had 5 punctures on the Gatorskins and none on the GP4000S in roughly the same amount of mileage.

echappist

I have 4700 miles on my gatorskins, and i use them for the majority of my training. I only switch to GP 4000 for racing, and they get promptly switched off when i don't have races.

kleinboogie

I've got slices and punctures on both sets. What I found was that the damage was fatal (immediate air loss) on the Gatorskins whereas the GP4Ks seemed to be more durable (slices didn't go through under layers and punctures were not fatal). I'm not riding the Gatorskins anymore because the ones I had were trash and I'm buying only GP4Ks now. GL

JoeB14

I put GP4000S on one bike at the beginning of this year, left year old Gatorskins on the other bike. Similar mileage for each-maybe a bit more on the Gators-and the results were two flats on the GP's, zero on the Gators.

Daytrip

I can see we're coming to a typical BF consensus.

johnny99

I use both. The Gatorskins are much much more puncture resistant. On one of my bikes, I've gone over 15,000 miles with no flats on several sets of Gatorskins. With the GP4000s, I'll always get a couple of flats before the tire dies. The GP4000s do give more grip in the corners. The Gatorskins last longer.

Lately, I'm trying a compromise of a Gatorskin on the rear and GP4000s on the front.

judkins1970

How is this working i was going to give this a try the next tire change??? Thanks

revchuck 

I'm running 700x25 Gatorskins, and I've had more flats than most other people with the same tires...or at least it seems that way. Most of the flats were caused by tire wire from truck tire blowouts, which works its way through the belt on Gatorskins (and apparently all other tires as well) about 50-100 miles after I run it over. I've stopped riding on the road where I'd pick up the wire strands, and the flats have stopped. Just to show that nothing is flat-proof...

I've got one more Gatorskin in the package, and when that one's worn out, I'm going to give the GP4000s a try. Internet rumor holds that they resist flats as well as Gatorskins, and ride better.

125psi

Too funny. I've had the opposite experience. Flats with 4000s and none with Gators

Terex

Gatorskin Hardshells are more puncture resistant than old Gatorskins and, to me, have a much more supple ride. The old Gatorskins were a beast to change. I don't know about the new ones (I had them installed at the shop as part of a post-crash inspection).

The 4000s's are lovely, supple race tires but slice like a tomato on Ginzu Road.

Jancouver

+1

danvuquoc

Honestly, we're not going to come to a consensus here, likely the suppleness of the GP4000 resists cuts a little bit better, and the tough layers on the Gatorskin resist punctures better. You'll eventually get a flat on either tire no matter what experience you've had or anyone on the forums has. Best advice I can give is after every ride is to spend 2 minutes to look over each tire for glass or rocks or thorns that are working their way through the tire and get them out before they puncture the tube.

Kimmo 

Why not try to gather some stats?

Carbon Unit

I don't have any experience with Gatorskins but I have used Continental 4 Seasons which I think are similar to Gatorskins. The 4 Season tires have much better side wall protection than GP4000s and are better on wet roads, but they do not have that same feel as the GP4000s and that is why I no longer use them. The 4 seasons seemed sluggish compared to the GP4000s and felt less complaint.

Garfield Cat

Your primary issue is your hands during winter and having to change tires out in the cold. There are other remedies.

slowandsteady

Never had a flat on the GP4000 tires. I have also literally ridden through large patches of glass, metal, and debris and had no issue.

Nachoman

I've ridden both tyres. Zero flats on the Gatorskins, but I gave up riding them because I felt the ride was too harsh. Over the past year, I've ridden only GP4000s and had a couple flats.

MPress

Just switched from Gatorskins to GP4000s tires. The GP's definately ride and grip better IMO. Not enough time on the GP's to comment on their puncture resistance... but I did get a couple flats with my Gatorskins.

Daytrip

OK. Let's have 'em.

Bacciagalupe

Another option, by the way, are the Grand Prix 4 Seasons. My understanding is they are in between the GP4000's and Gatorskins in terms of both performance and durability.

wfrogge

GP 4 seasons are the best of both worlds.

shuffles

I have had fewer flats on GP4000s by far, and Gatorskins totally suck in the winter: ride is harsh, they never had much grip even in the summer, and in the wet they're just plain awful.

The GP4000 have a puncture resistant belt too, and I've not had anything go through them. Much much better tire.

Daytrip

I've got over 3,200 miles on a set of 4000s with no flats, so they're working fine for me. But I haven't tried them in winter conditions. Guess I'll get the chance before long.