Gatorskins Dilemma...
 

Had some older Conti tires on one of my bikes for years - an UltraGatorskin and a Duraskin+K that replaced the other UltraGatorskin back when it wore-out. I didn't ride that bike all that much so those tires lasted forever. I can't recall them ever flatting, and perhaps more importantly - I always really liked the way they rode. Beginning of this year I started riding that bike a lot and pretty quickly finished-off those old tires.

Even though I had other tires on hand, decided that since I liked those old Contis so much, I wanted the same thing again. Was sorry to find that those particular tires were discontinued or changed?

So I ended up buying some wire-bead DuraSkin Gatorskins with PolyX and hoping for the best. To say the least, I am disappointed. Yes, the damn things are indeed seemingly puncture-proof - but they ride like ****. Harsh, handle poorly, and give no feedback about what is going on under me.

IIRC...once upon a time were some kinds of Gatorskins not popular here? Does anybody here have experience with the particular tires I got? Maybe I am a Luddite being over-critical because they were not exactly what I had before and wanted again? But more importantly - anybody here ever have and like those older Ultra Gatorskin tires? And now that they are history - what tire did you choose as replacement?

Thanx for any help...

you can get folding gatorskin hardshells i believe they are called. but i saw one of those critically fail a couple weeks ago...

I can't help you with your question, but inquiring minds (okay, mine) want to know: what bike are you running such tires on? I'm a little surprised to hear you running something other than an Italian racing tire, quite frankly.

Vittoria Randos are best tires, go with those. But anyways, gators are known for having ****ty sidewalls, now I've never had a problem with mine, a couple flats but those were tube issues, not tire related. But yeah like someone said above try out the gatorhardshells

I've had Randos, they travel sluggish unless you pump them up well past spec which eats the rubber faster.... Happy with Panaracer PTs can get them in gum wall or regular all black.

Your "dilemma" can be solved in two easy steps:

2. try different tires, making note of which ones you like best.
4. continue to buy those.

which tires is better 23mm or 25mm

Good grief... Anyway, kevlar bead RiBMos 28c for life.

Okay --- since you asked:

:p

The man speaks the troof.

Don't just stick with the big tire companies, try what the smaller guys offer!

Wow, this thread got slimmed down considerably.

Well, enough people piss on a fire it eventually goes out.

Lot can happen in a couple of days...glad this got cleaned-up, but can't help wondering what I missed after I left ;)

While suggestions to just try different tires do make sense at first glance - I have got to think that could get pretty expensive, or take a long time. Something I was trying to avoid

Thanx for reminding me...

I would not have anything else on my Cinelli but the reason for my question was that as much as I like them, I did not think Veloflex Masters are quite "right" for my bike that needs tires.


Sorry for asking a bicycling question in a bicycling forum - guess I should have known better...

I'm using Continental grandsport race tires(folding) and they're really nice. They provide a really soft ride with great traction and they also roll very fast. Less expensive than gators.

Have you considered that your responses to others and comments like this could impact the answers or comments you get in return?