Grip....
 

I recently tore a hole in the sidewall of a gatorskin, and when I threw on a tire off my road bike (michy axial carbon) simply to ride to the bike shop to bring the tire back, i noticed that the michy's were much easier to skid - upon closer inspection, the rubber in the gatorskins is really sticky compared to the michy carbon rubber. Although I know maximum deceleration would happen without skidding, I felt like I had more control (because of the ease of the skid) on the harder rubber-michelins. Anybody have any comments?

PS
I talked with the local conti rep when i took the tire back, and she said that the gatorskin used their stickiest rubber -

For the ultimate skid.....ohmygosh.....bang experience, I recommend the Conti world tour. High carbon content = no traction.

Edit, Or you could try knobbies.

Damn, maybe that's why I can't ever pull off a skid-stop, I'm running Gators too. And there was me thinking my Kung Fu was not strong.

Knobbies will last you about two days if you skid.

the michelins are a bit slick. a little sketchy in the rain. but I have 4200 miles on them without a flat (on the road bike), so I figure its worth it.

gatorskins are very sticky. i can stop reeal fast right now running one on the back comapared to my old standard -- armadillos.

once you get used to the stickiness you can stop better!