in celebration of contis ultra gator skins

[c2c]

just got back from a lovely 20 mile ride to bradford on avon and back, using the avon and kennet canal path. defo chose the wrong bike in that i took my road bike and not my trek full susser mtb. i had forgotten how stony, flinty, gravelly, and thorny it could be and was amazed that i didnt p******e. saw plenty of people walking p*******d bikes along the path but not me. the contis did me proud. i wouldnt chance em again on such a ride though.

ps. the pub at the end of the path in boa did a superb tuna mayo sarnie. oh and stella..only one tho.....

 

[swee'pea99]

Mine keep going pssssss on the mean streets of London. Mind you, when I see the shards of glass and flint that do the damage, I don't think there's many tyres could stand up to them.

 

[John the Monkey]

Just don't ride them in the wet - least sure footed tyre I've ridden so far when the roads aren't bone dry...

 

[HeartAttack]

Just don't ride them in the wet - least sure footed tyre I've ridden so far when the roads aren't bone dry...

Thats odd, I find them quite good in the wet, in fact they are my choice for wet races, I know they aren't as grippy as many but wet races = those annoying flats and since using these I've not flatted in the wet.

Also a great winter/commute/hack tyre

 

[Aperitif]

...and I find they collect tyre trash like flint and glass... which is why, last Sunday evening. I put Schwalbe M+ on my commuter (700 x 25). So far (280km) so good.
I use to think that Conti U/G were good - and they are when new but they seem to cut up so easily. Always used at top pressure - but they are 'faster' than the M+, and possibly a little more predictable too ie: they stayed on line, unlike the M+ which seem to drift into a rut or channel in the roads.

 

[swee'pea99]

In a related vein, how many miles do you reckon on getting out of them? I'm on my first ones and after no more than 1200 or so miles, they're looking pretty ragged...match head size holes in the rubber, eg. Is that reasonable? Feels a bit quick to me.

 

[Aperitif]

http://www.cyclechat.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=12454 Hope this helps swee'pea

 

[c2c]

i put the gator skins on because the conti ultra sport 23mm that my bike came with were flatting every other day almost. these tyres in 25mm have proven as i say very reliable. they are fairly new and i keep them at about 110psi. i find them very good in the wet, and very good also for rutted flinty nasty canal paths. not their intended home at all......

 

[HJ]

I have found they stand up surprisingly well to the sort of abuse I throw at them, just so long as you keep them well pumped up...

 

[Tynan]

I gave mine away after 200 miles, they cut up, flatted and twice frightened me in thw wet, not just skipped but skated the rear on a corner, from the variations in rating I can only imagine quality control issues or they're not at all good for different riding styles

 

[beanzontoast]

...and I find they collect tyre trash like flint and glass... which is why, last Sunday evening. I put Schwalbe M+ on my commuter (700 x 25). So far (280km) so good.
I use to think that Conti U/G were good - and they are when new but they seem to cut up so easily. Always used at top pressure - but they are 'faster' than the M+, and possibly a little more predictable too ie: they stayed on line, unlike the M+ which seem to drift into a rut or channel in the roads.

Your experience and subsequent move to M+ mirrors mine. The Conti's seemed quicker to me too, but I'll gladly sacrifice a bit of speed for feeling a bit more protected puncture-wise. The only bit I haven't experienced regarding the M+ is the last bit about drifting. I do find the road contact feels somehow different with the M+ and maybe have altered my riding style a little to compensate.

 

[snapper_37]

I've just fitted 2 of these.......

 

[Paulus]

I have found they stand up surprisingly well to the sort of abuse I throw at them, just so long as you keep them well pumped up...

+1. I have run these tyres for years now and I found that if they go a bit soft, that is when they start to pick up rubbish and get small cuts and splits.

 

[c2c]

+1. I have run these tyres for years now and I found that if they go a bit soft, that is when they start to pick up rubbish and get small cuts and splits.

good advice cheers, i tend to get a bit lazy when i know they need pumping up. they had about 90lb in em when i did that canal path ride, i was utterly amazed that they didnt flat, and trust me im not normally lucky. ask my card school at work....lol

 

[Maz]

I've had Schwalbe Durano Plus on my commuter for the past few months. Touch wood, no p* so far.