Gatorkins aging, your experience?
 

My Gatorskins are getting long in the tooth, but there's still lots of life left in them. Unfortunately, I'm getting lots more flats. Flats from glass that a few months ago the Gatorskins would have shrugged off and not even paid attention to.

Is your experience with Gatorskins similar? As they age and get worn they are more prone to flats? Does the flat protection diminish faster than the tread? If you looked at the tire you would think there's lots of life left in them, but the number and type of flats I've been getting say otherwise.

Also, if you do swap them out while there's still life left in them, do you toss them? Would hate to toss these in the garbage with this much tread left. They won't work for me, but they are still good tires...

Thoughts? Comments? I'd love to hear some other Gatorskin users chime in with their experiences.

I rode Gatorskins. The ride was awful. The 4000s tires are much nicer and just about as much flat protection. If you are getting flats, go get some new tires. Flats suck.

My Gatorskin flatted on the very first ride :thumb:

You could be experiencing flats from embedded glass that took a long time to work through the tire. Check all the little pits and cuts to see if anything is in there

I run my Gatorskin until the cords show. I used the 15% deflection inflation pressure, so I have no problem with the ride. As for punctures, the first one I wore out had a puncture about once per 6 weeks thru the first season, then none the second season until it wore down to the cords.

I actually check my tires weekly for embedded glass, and even fill small cuts with crazy glue. I can say for certain that it is not embedded glass causing the flats, but new glass.


15% deflection inflation pressure? Please explain.

I've used gatorskins before and use them until the threads are showing. I suspect it's just a random string of bad luck rather than anything inherent in the tires. Generally, you are more likely to get flats as the rubber gets thinner. Your back tire is probably squared off and the rubber in the center is getting thin.

If you notice you're riding through glass you should be wiping your tires while riding (using gloves helps) and if it is unavoidable and the flats continue you might look into Mr Tuffys. They add some weight and might make the ride a little harsher but should minimize your flats.

http://www.adventurecycling.org/reso...SIRX_Heine.pdf

http://www.dorkypantsr.us/bike-tire-...alculator.html

Funny story this spring; I was returning from my first 70+ mile ride of the season, when I came around a fast corner with a lot of traffic and found the bike lane *covered* in crushed glass for about 40'! Imagine a gravel MUP, but with crushed glass instead of gravel. There was too much traffic to swing out of the lane, and I was not about to try hard braking on a loose surface, so I just plowed thru it. Once clear, I stopped to check the tires, and that was when I noticed the cords were just beginning to show on the rear tire. I swapped in the new tire when I got home.

Interesting articles, thanks for sharing. That adventure cyclist article seems to be a bit on the high end though, at least by my numbers.

I'm noticing the same thing in bike lanes here in the city. I guess now that the summer is ending, they are not going to continue to clean the streets. I also once broke on concrete and my front tire skipped along the concrete as I braked. It was the weirdest thing; the ground wasn't wet and my tires were in good condition.

Thankfully, the glass was completely cleaned up the next time I rode thru there. Due to the huge amount, I suspect it was something that fell off of a truck.

"If you notice you're riding through glass you should be wiping your tires while riding (using gloves helps)"

Is it worth the bother? Here's someone who says no:

http://sheldonbrown.com/brandt/wiping.html

There's a counterpoint, too.

Long ago I used tire savers, as did many other cyclists; the savers were wire devices that attached to the brake and extended out over to tire to pick up debris and theoretically cut down on flats. I see NOS savers are available on eBay.

ive yet to actually wear out a gatorskin. i voluntarily retire them after the back gets pretty squared off. anyone else have the side duraskinlayer start to come unraveled? thats happening to my current rear tire.

Put Ultra Gatorskins on my old road bike Christmas week of last year. The tires were moved to my Colnago when I bought it in January. The miles shown below are flat free and on the Gatorskins. I'll replace them at around 5,000 miles or one year, whichever comes first.

I have had a pair of Gatorskins for over 4600 miles before the side walls looked worn out,discolored, and the tread was gone.

This was my experience as well.

In my case, it wasn't the amount of tread wear that concerned me. It was the condition of the sidewalls (fraying, small tears, etc). A friend saw them in the yard and wanted them since the tread still looked pretty good, but I wouldn't let him have them. I am saving them in case I ever get some rollers.

And no, not increase in flats as they wore. My last few flats were slow leaks from the 1/2" long strong, thin bits of wire from auto tires.

I've never understood the point of those silly fragile threads on the outside of the Gatorskin sidewalls.
The GP4000's don't need them, and the Gatorskin is supposed to be a more durable tire, so WTH?
(I have Gatorskins on one bike and GP4000's on another.)

so what is fraying? the actual threading on my tire has started to come unraveled. not the criss cross brown sidewall protection layer. thats fine