Thigh Master

I agree that the mileage was pretty good for a 23c on a tandem.

tandemnh

We run 28mm Conti Gators and so far so good. Our combined weight is under 285lb. Since we ride more for health the wider tires work great. We have been as fast as 45 mph and they felt safe and under control.

chichi

I Powdered and remounted our GrandPrix 4 season tires, they still have a significant hop in them. With the tires off the rims do run round.

Trsnrtr

Please leave the forum, now. You're making me feel bad!

cornucopia72

Yesterday, two miles short of a 90 mile loop in the Hill Country near Austin TX, the front Conti Gatorskin/duraskin 28x700 tire blew up. It happened a few strokes after a stop sign and besides the scare and the walk/hitch-hike back to the car nothing serious happened. About two inches worth of side wall separated from the wire bead. We are about 310 lb team. The tires were practically new and were inflated that morning to 110 psi. We went to Texas with the excuse of a weeding and managed to squeeze three days of ridding. The only question I have is how accurate the gauge in the Morph pump that I used that morning really is. I do remember that I had to sweat to get the tires up to 110 psi. If the gauge is relatively accurate I am getting rid of all the Continentals we have mounted and in stock.

Carbonfiberboy 

We're running a Conti 4000 25c with the Black Chili rubber in the rear and it's been perfect so far. Not even a flat. We inflate to 120, 310 lb. team.

cornucopia72

I checked the gauge on the Morph pump and it is within 5 psi of my floor pump. As I said before, the tire was almost new and never used tire levers to mount it or dismount it. I think that what happened to us was caused by a fabrication defect. I need to contact Continental or bike tires direct and try to get a refund.

2frmMI

We've been running Conti 700x28 wire bead Gatorskins at 110-120 lbs with our 330 lb team for most of the last 10 years or so, and I have been very satisfied. Get a lot of miles (though I haven't kept an accurate record like some here do), and as often as not run out of tread and replace without ever having a flat. They have always felt rock solid in turns, etc. *Corn72, your blowout does, indeed, sound like a rare defect, not a normal Conti thing. Any chance it was caused by some big piece of shrapnel on the road? Have known the occasional weird event like that.

coloroadie

We also had this happen about 18 months ago on a 28C gatorskin with less than 600 miles. Our front tire separated at the bead while sitting in the garage, just a couple hours after a sub-5hr century. No damage to sidewalls - separation took place below the rim lip. Since I'd pumped both that morning, I checked rear tire pressure and it was at 115 psi. We are a 285 lb team.

As others have reported, we've never even flatted a Gatorskin in 6+ years of use. I contacted Conti USA and sent pics and they sounded as though it was the first time they'd heard of it. Have since met another gent who had it happen on a 25C while descending, but he had a spectacular wreck, shredded tire and couldn't prove what caused what.

This was our only tire failure in 25 years on tandem - still riding 28C Gatorskins (Hardshells on touring wheels), checking sidewalls regularly, and keeping fingers crossed.

foamy

Hmmm, interesting. The widely varied accounts of people's experiences with Continentals. FWIW, I put over 4500 miles on a pair of 28mm Ultra Gator Skins mounted on a fully loaded single during a cross country tour. I kind'a like 'em. I have Conti's on the tandem as well.

cornucopia72

I will post detailed pics. Hopefully someone will have an explanation for the blow out.

lhbernhardt

Tire update: I've replaced the 23mm Vredestein Fortezza TriComp on the rear of the tandem with a 25mm Vittoria Rubino Pro. I don't notice any difference at all in performance; my stoker noticed no difference at all in comfort. The bumps were just as hard.

Next, I'll probably try replacing the front with another 25mm Rubino Pro and see if it affects handling. There could be a psychological factor to consider, since I'm used to seeing a 23mm tire in front of me. A 25mm might look like a balloon tire and color my perceptions.

Luis