Winter road tyres - get rid of my Gators!
Discussion
I want to change my tyres on my winter bike. I ran Gatorskins last year and found them treacherous in the wet. No grip, no feel and no warning when I lost the front twice (once on either side) which wrecked my confidence not only on the pedal bike but on my motorbike too.
One accident it was fairly wet on the ground, the other, just damp and were common roads I rode on. Not a nice feeling hearing that sliding noise of the front wheel and not being able to do anything about until you smash into the deck!
What can you recommend as an alternative?
One accident it was fairly wet on the ground, the other, just damp and were common roads I rode on. Not a nice feeling hearing that sliding noise of the front wheel and not being able to do anything about until you smash into the deck!
What can you recommend as an alternative?
I'm running four seasons and they have been quite good. Not the same puncture protection as the Gatorskins and in my opinion, not as agile either. Much more compliant though. Quite useful if you run an ali bike, as eliminating the road buzz can only be a good thing and tyres help with that.
I never had any grip issues in the wet. Only reason I changed from the the Gatorskins is because I managed to rip a large hole in the side of the front tyre.
I never had any grip issues in the wet. Only reason I changed from the the Gatorskins is because I managed to rip a large hole in the side of the front tyre.
Got caught in the rain on Saturday, just got the one bike and it has GP4000S on, was happy to find they held on at 30mph when I flew downhill into a rainstorm. Also road through muddy country roads, puddles and lots of fallen leaves, obviously I was being very careful but no sign of slip or its friend slide.
Id did wish I'd had the race guards fitted though, bike and I ended up wearing most of the road mess, cue extended post ride clean :-( Time to get the turbo out of storage, b
d thing!
Id did wish I'd had the race guards fitted though, bike and I ended up wearing most of the road mess, cue extended post ride clean :-( Time to get the turbo out of storage, b
d thing!il sole said:
Personally I love my gator skins...been excellent so far this winter in all the rain and debris...I run them at 85psi on 23mm, grip is fine - but then I am overly cautious in the wet!
I concur with this. I've been running Gatorskins and have ridden them in some pretty horrendous conditions and road surfaces over the past couple of weeks and they have been superb! I too am cautious in this kind of weather, and you need to be. I think the OP needs to be a bit more forgiving of the conditions this time of year and slow down. Either he's doing something very wrong to have the front end slide on him twice, or he's just the unluckiest cyclist in the UK. Either way, it aint the tyres.
4 Seasons are better than gators IME, neither have great feel. If you want to get your confidence back drop the pressures and/or look at open paves which will be grippier but more expensive. Pro 4 endurance are on sale at wiggle at the mo, worth a go for £24. All time favourite for grip in the wet was the Ultremo DD but I am not sure if Schwalbe have fixed the side wall issues?
richardxjr said:
Well happy with the Michelin Lithion 2's, and they're still £12.49 in 25c flavour (and 3 colours) at Planet X.
5* on Bikeradar.
Tempted by a set of these, esp @ that price, any other users here? Will be replacing some Vittoria Zaffrinos (spelling!) that came with the bike for a pretty grimey rural commute 5* on Bikeradar.
Used Gatorskins in the past, not really a fan, they lasted like cockroaches , but they inspired no confidence in the wet on greasy roundabouts, even riding carefully and holding back.
I've got a set of 23mm 4seasons (need to repair or replace one after hitting a big rock and ripping open the sidewall). Also have 23mm Gators (technically for my gf) and 25mm Gators,
I want some more 4 seasons. The difference in moving from those to Gators is huge, but you quickly get used to it. I love these tyres :-)
If anyone sees 25mm 4seasons at a decent price please let me know!
New bike time means tyres will be shuffled, with attack / force (cheap ebay impulse bid) going on the shiny carbon bike, 25mm Gators on the CX when it arrives and 23 Gators still put to one side for the gfs bike.
I want some more 4 seasons. The difference in moving from those to Gators is huge, but you quickly get used to it. I love these tyres :-)
If anyone sees 25mm 4seasons at a decent price please let me know!
New bike time means tyres will be shuffled, with attack / force (cheap ebay impulse bid) going on the shiny carbon bike, 25mm Gators on the CX when it arrives and 23 Gators still put to one side for the gfs bike.
Last winter I used a set of Continental 4 Seasons, this winter I'm using the same again. Used to use Gatorskins and didn't like them, not very good wet grip. I have to use 23mm dus to running mud guards and a complete lack of clearance between the tyre and fork. The 23mm are fine but I would run 25mm if I had the clearance.
I tried Gatorskins this year on my commuter.
First 1500 miles were fine, then puncture after puncture after puncture.
Threw them in the bin last week - trashed after less than 3,000 miles.
Back to Schwalbe Marathon Supremes. Ok, so they only lasted 4,000 miles last year, but at least I could rely on my bike having air in the tyres when I got it out of the garage every morning!
First 1500 miles were fine, then puncture after puncture after puncture.
Threw them in the bin last week - trashed after less than 3,000 miles.
Back to Schwalbe Marathon Supremes. Ok, so they only lasted 4,000 miles last year, but at least I could rely on my bike having air in the tyres when I got it out of the garage every morning!
Jimbo. said:
Whilst they're not the best winter rubber, what pressures and widths are you running? If it's 23mm at 100+psi, there's your problem.
Fat 'n' soft. A set of 25mm or 27mm Open Paves at 85-90psi and you're laughing.
I wouldn't run any tubular that low in the city or on bad roads. Conti recommends about 10 bar (145 psi) for the Gatorskin Sprinter tubulars. Typical (generally speaking) tubular pressures are 8.5 bar in the front and 9.5 in the rear for an average rider.Fat 'n' soft. A set of 25mm or 27mm Open Paves at 85-90psi and you're laughing.
Edited by scherzkeks on Friday 15th November 10:00
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