Continental Gator Hardshell Road Bicycle Folding Tire Pair

I live in Dc, the bike lanes are rough, gravel, and glass here and there. These tires have held me down! I have put 1000 miles on them so far, and not one flat. On my other “puncher proof” tires, I literally had a flat the very 1st time I road them. A ride in my neighborhood! Lol. I had two flats that week!If not in the lane, then in the street. That has a whole other issue with pot holes! That’s why I went with the 28c’s. A bit added protection.Cons,-These slick tires can get away from you while cornering when conditions are a little messy. This is why I recommend the 4 season versions.- much sliding during breaking at high speeds. Again, that back wheel will get away from you!

These are great tires, as are most Continental tires. I've owned several types, including various from the Ultra, Grand Prix and Contact series, and usually use the Grand Prix 5000 for good pavement (city roads, and bike paths)--but, for the longer rides (50 - 100+ kms), I like/need a more durable tire, as the roads in the hinterlands can be quite dodgy, with pot holes, gravel, puddles, and so forth. I wanted a tire that was easy to put on and take off, and as with the 5000s, these can be put on essentially without levers, at least if the temperature (and tire) is relatively warm. So, if you did get a flat, they are easy to deal with, while far from civilization. The likelihood of getting flat is fairly small, though, as these are really thick, both on top, and on the sides. They were given a fairly low rolling resistance rating, but honestly, they ride just about as smoothly as the 5000s, if you are an actual mortal, riding your bike, rather than a superhuman pro racer. The problem with rolling resistance reviews is that they look at the extremes, ignoring the fact that most folks are much more modest in their riding habits--even the weekend hotshots. To that end, these tires are VERY comfortable--the most comfortable I have ridden, with perhaps Schwalbe Marathon Pluses even more comfortable (but at the cost of being much heavier, and even more resistant). I use 28s if my bike will take them, 25s if not (I have four bikes, 2 Ridleys, a Storck, and a Pinarello Opera)--two bikes have Grand Prix 5000s, and two have Gatorskin Hardshells. Both are perfect for their specific purposes. If you want comfortable, durable, puncture resistant, and fairly smooth riding tire, the Hardshell is worth the money--I won't ride on anything else these days for the long rides (other than the Schwalbe Marathons, which I use on rain/snow days). Eventually, I will fit out all the bikes with the Hardshells--they ride just about as good as the 5000s, and last three times as long.

Right now is the worst time of year for “goat head” thorns in my neighborhood. I was getting multiple flats a week. After researching many tires. I decided on the Continental Hardshell tires in size 700x28. Installation was a breeze. I hit 50mph on my first ride. There was definitely no sacrifice in performance. I’m very satisfied with these tires and so far, no flats.

I bought these at the recommendation from a bike store because they were supposedly the new version of the kevlar layered Continental tires I had on my bike for the previous three years without a single puncture-induced flat. My previous tires had finally worn down and were starting to crack due to weathering so I bought these thinking I'd get the same Continental quality I'd grown to love. Turns out, I would have been just as well off riding on the tubes alone for the protection I got. No joke, I had a flat tire after each of my first three rides with these new tires. First the back, then the front, and then both! I literally just had to find one thorn and poof, done. I don't live in the country, I live in the city and mostly bike on the street and paths yet somehow these tires let anything through. The only way I've been able to make these work is by buying (at REI) special puncture-reducing strips of metal (basically) that I had to jam between the tire and the tube on both wheels. It has stopped any further issues, though I don't care for the weird creaking noise it makes every time the strip compresses against the ground....basically, these tires, for the price, should have come with significantly more protection than they actually appear to offer and if I could do it over again, I'd get a second opinion.

For whatever reason, I get flats a lot. All the time. I want the most durable tire I can buy, and it seems the Hardshell is that tire. People claim that the rubber compound is too hard and it doesn't give adequate road traction. I have not found that to be a problem. People also claim that these aren't as compliant as other tires, and the ride is too rough. Again, I don't find that to be a problem. I just want to get out and ride without worrying about the next flat tire. I put about 2500 miles on my last pair. In that time, I had just one flat from a hunk of metal I hit at 35 mph. I'm pretty sure any tire would have been doomed.

Look the reason why I bout these tires are because I found a bike in the trash and it had these tires on then and I road that bike in the city over glass and other thing and I never got a flat, I had it for three years and I know that the tire was at lest 5 years before me. The tire was so bald and there were many cracks and holes on the outside do to wear and tear and weather conditions, but when I took the tire off and checked the inside, it was completely smooth, then I took a sharp knife just to see what it would take and it couldn't even go through the weekeist parts with the holes already in there, I never got a flat on that old tire, I even threw it away in prospect park for about a year and I aways wondered what kind of tire it was so I went back and it was still there, this is a true story so I took that tire back home and road it for another year.... WOW crazy. Then I finally got the name and it was hardshell, see I kept buying the regular gator skin and wondering why they weren't lasting like that old tire, so it took me going back to were I chucked it to know what tire it was, I threw it away after buying two of them, trust me these are the ultimate tire.