[Closed] Anyone else find Conti Gatorskins sketchy...

I use a Conti GP 4 seasons for commuting. Fantastic tyre. Are you after 700c? or 26".

Gatorskins have always been horrid, heavy, sketchy in the wet but reasonably bombproof commuting tyres. GP4 Seasons, on the other hand, are nice and grippy and almost as reliable.

yes. i have 25s on the fixed bike and they come off for winter. less grippy than the ultras on the roady or the 35c winter tyres.

I've never found ant conti's particularly confidence inspiring in anything but the driest of conditions.

I personally think they are pretty good in the wet on my commuter, but I use 700x28c for extra safety and comfort. Much more predictable than other brands I have used. Super durable too. I run mine at 90psi generally.

nope, the 25s (or 28s?) ive had on the commuter for ages

I'm running 700c x 25mm. I've read specialized armadillos are ok, any experiences?

I have conti sport contacts (28's) and they are well grippy enough until the ice hits.

I have 28c and think they are fine in all conditions..

your slide might have been due to whiteline, metal stud, diesel etc... especially as rear wheel does not follow the same path as the front when cornering

i had armadillos on previous bike and though they were gash in the wet

I've just finally killed off a pair of 700x23 gatorskins that have been in dailly use on my commute/ winter bike. Never felt they were a problem in the wet or grime, and lasted about 19 months.

Armadillos are awful. If puncture proofness is paramount fair enough but they really kill the ride of a bike.

I run the GP4000 in black chilli compound, 25s, all year round. Brilliant tyres; fast, grippy in the wet and dry and wear well too. I don't really 'get' Gatorskins, then again my local roads aren't littered with sharp flinty things. Funny isn't it, you put grippy tyres on mountain bikes for winter but it's the other way round on the road when it's deemed more important to avoid flats than actually have some grip under your tyres.

Mind you, I'm quite stupid, so I've probably overlooked an obvious explanation.

I've never had trouble with the 18c gatorskins in the wet - I found them quite tacky in fact - but I understand that a few months ago they adjusted the compound (which to me, was perfect) so now they're way more plasticky. I haven't tried the new ones yet but your experience suggests this doesn't bode well.

No it's not just you they have always been shit in the wet. I would try vittoria open pave a very good winter/wet condition tyre.

I fitted a pair of Ultra Gatorskins to my SS commuter a couple of months ago and to be honest I find them more than good enough for general SS'ing through the street of Larndan.

Only had one slight moment when the back slid a bit, but I put that down to awsum sik power when cornering trying ot avoid a taxi on Hyde Park Corner innit 😀

Open Pave tyres are very nice but very short lived. Mine only come out for special occaissions such as Tour of Flanders and Paris Roubaix.

I swapped to them from some panaracer pasellas which had been awesome in the wet.. only to find that the gatorskins were a little bit shit.

Just been looking at some maxxis detonators, they look decent enough - a bit of tread on the outsides with a slick centre line. Has anyone used these?

I used to run those conti gatorskins on a commuter... never had an issue in the wet, maybe you hit a bit of diesel.. they certainly don't grip well on it, but then what tyres do? Oh, and i remember one morning riding over 2 broken pint glasses which i failed to see... just had to stop to remove huge shards of glass from the tyre body, and continued on, no punctures at all!! great stuff!

ds3000 - Member
Just been looking at some maxxis detonators, they look decent enough - a bit of tread on the outsides with a slick centre line. Has anyone used these?

I'm running some pink Maxxis Detonators on my winter bike at the moment - seem pretty good so far. Used Gatorskins for years (summer and winter) without issue. I have GP4000s on my summer bike now.

No it's not just you they have always been shit in the wet. I would try vittoria open pave a very good winter/wet condition tyre.

Open pave's are my favourite road tyre ever, but, they're stupid money now. I have been impressed with gatorskins. they're a lot more grippy than comparable conti's of 10 years ago.

gatorskins are 'squeaky' in the wet, four seasons/gp's/gp4000's are much better and have a better quality ride.

Been using gatorskins for years, never had a problem. JBit sluggish but then they are not ment to be race tyres. Pro 3s for that.

What pressure you running? I drop mine to 90 (from 100) when it's damp. Makes all the difference.

Could well have been some slippy stuff on the road. And to be honest I think I had about 110psi in the rear, I'll take it down a bit and see how that feels.

Michelin Krylion. Legendary.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=20460

I should say, my gatorskins are actually 23c, not 18c as originally stated. No real grip issues but I don't push them in the wet like I might a mountain bike seeing as crash consequences on a road bike are so much more catastrophic.

I drop mine to 90 (from 100) when it's damp

gatorskins @ 100 sketchy as **** in the wet tougher than average.
CST czars @ 100 fine in the wet and pretty tough and so far better wearing and puncture proof than the gators, cheap too.
Mich Krylions light, fasty, grippy but too shredable for everyday commute.

I really like 'em for commuting, bit heavy but worth the extra weight for just one puncture in 18 months 🙂

If by "sketchy" you mean "****", then yes.

Specialized Roubaix Pro Armadillo are my winter tyre of choice. Can't afford any at the moment so i've got Rubinos instead though 😥