25s are a little taller. You can verify this by the fact that bicycle computers have different circumferences for different width tires. Also, you can do a roll out test.

As for the OP I ride armadillo 25s front and rear. You cant ride a tire here (ABQ) without a kevlar belt so pretty much specialized and gator skins around here. I dont skid anymore so they are wearing well. I havent had a flat on them yet, but I also throw in slimed tubes to double on flat protection, which is the norm around here.

I second the Vittoria randonneurs, definitely bombproof if not more than gators and half the price. Gators are hugely over-rated and over-priced, it's just more of fashion statement or a cool thing to have gators, seriously there is no reason to kill your wallet for tires.

have you had gators adam

Yes.

I've been riding a gatorskin out back and a vittoria rubino up front. No flats yet (knock on wood) on either. The Vittoria seems much smoother. Both are 23c

totally late on this but i've been riding gator skins for the past 1.5 years and have yet to get a flat. no lie. knock on wood.

28c randonneur = 490 grams (link)
28c gatorskin = 320 grams (link)
28c armadillo = ? very heavy

difference of .375 lbs between the randonneur and gatorskins. that seems like a plus.

What? I don't see Gatorskins getting namechecked in MASH, or showing up on the menu's for the DVD.

If you're going to accept a 490g tire, you can start considering the Schwalbe Marathon and Continental Contact, both around 500g for a 28mm or 32mm tire. I've got both and like them much better than the gators. You can run them at 85psi and get a more comfortable ride, which of course, is not for everyone. Some people like a higher pressure, stiff tire. But then again, I don't hear of many people taking their ss off-road either, like I do. They're better for rain and commuting also, imho.

Uhhh, this is an old thread. Anyways, FWIW I run Ultra Gatorskins 23 front 25 back.

i have white vittoria rubino's on my geared bike, they are great so far. i had a gatorskin on a bike i got from a friend, on the front wheel. it was used but i still liked it so much, i bought a new pair from Nashbar. haven't installed them yet, though.

my friend has some, the local bike shore sells them for 45 but on sale for 35, they last hella mofo long

25's front and back. I guess I lucked out. Got em for $30 each on sale at Performance about 4 months ago. Good things they are. Heard a noise the other day and pulled a nasty chunk of glass out of front tire. I think it would have been flat time on lesser rubber.

Probikekit sells them for like 25 free shipping

Uh, that's in British pounds.

http://www.probikekit.com/display.php?code=Y1320

$20.48 usd to be exact

That's not the price in US dollars, and I wasn't addressing you. I was addressing Badbalance. Secondly, those tires are not the ones I was looking at. I was looking at these ones:

http://www.probikekit.com/display.php?code=Y1345

Thirdly, why would anyone buy folding tires? They're horrible.

they are? why?

Generally the difference in price is this;
-The foldable Kevlar bead is generally listed more expensive (up to about $60)
-The steel bead is sold cheaper (usually around or under $30)

I've ridden both quite a bit (the only tire I bother with anymore for riding in and around NYC, I put about 4500 miles on a set of steel beaded UGS on Manhattan streets and Central Park this summer with no issues at all, no tire has ever done that for me) and there is little difference between the two that I can feel. Weight weenies will say the Kevlar bead is lighter (it is) but fixed gear riders are rarely weight weenies... we are mostly riding steel frames after all.

It is $20.48 in US currency, shipped. It can actually be cheaper if the 5% coupon still works.

I can't tell a difference between folding and non-folding tyres. Now, they just have to stock them.

they are slightly taller

I just purchased two 28's and a 25 from biketiresdirect.com for $28.45 each. They were a running a free shipping special.

i've used both kevlar and wire beaded gatorskins front and rear in the 23c width for a few years now...They last a long time, they corner well, and they are pretty puncture resistent...
The sidewalls are dark dark brown with a lighter coloured diamond weave...
A lot of people talk about continental tires' sidewalls rotting out prematurely, but I've never experienced that with the gatorskins...The folding version is WAY easier to get on and off your rim and worth the extra money for that reason alone...

have one front and rear. they are awesome. been riding through crap, and skidding on them everyday. been good for a few months now

I use Conti Gatorskin Sprinter sew-ups front and rear and love them, can't speak to the clincher versions.