ContinentalGator Hardshell Folding Bike Tire - Puncture Protection Replacement Road/Commuter Tire (23c, 25c, 28c, 32c)

I am a fittness rider, riding about 100 miles per week on city streets, past broken glass, metal trash and other tire threats. I don't like to have to field repair a tire or walk home. It's hard to beat Continental Gators. I have almost 4000 miles on this set of hardshells and have had one flat, a large piece of bottle glass that managed to pierce the rear tire. I have been very happy with the toughness of these tires. At 4000 miles, the tires riding surface is flat not round, but no chord is showing. The Schwalbe tires these replaced lasted about 2500 miles before the flats started.These may not be the easiest tires you ever mounted. A little soapy water on the rim will help. Fortunately, this isn't something you will do often.These are not racing tires. These are tough road tires that will get you home. A little secret, buy them "used" from Amazon. My "used" tires came with the original point of sale stickers still attached, they were brand new, never been mounted. Save a few more dollars on a great tire.Update: Finally had to replace this tire on the rear when the cord started to show through. 6100 miles with 2 flats, hard to beat this tire.

Does exactly like what I needed on the road. I was tired of the flat tires, and someone coming along to help me change the tube liners. When I had these tires installed by my bike shop, I also included rim tape on the rim and huffy tape between the tube liner and the tire. I have arthritis in both hands, and I cannot physically change tires myself. I need all of the protection I can get. This is more for personal confidence and security. It could be my imagination, but the tube liners seem to hold air better with these tires than the other ones that came with the bike. I don't have to pump up the air, before every ride. Definitely worth the price. I can't personally validate this, but people I know who have these say they will last double regular tires; they will last over 4,000 miles before they start to wear, and average 2 maybe 3 flats during those miles. They are very hard, not folding, so if you are touring, you have to find another way to pack these with you, or specifically get the folding ones…….Terry

This appears to be a durable long lasting tire which is what I was hoping for. I ordered 700X25 folding, but wish now that I would've purchased a 700X28 because it seems to be a lot narrower than the tire that it replaced (700X25 folding). The other issue was the description stated that these were the Kevlar beaded folding tires, but I was sent wire beaded tires. I mounted these rather than returning them because my old tire had a slash in it and I needed a new tire for the ride this weekend.Update: On my third ride with these tires I got a puncture. The bead on these tires are unbelievably tight. I was thinking that my tire irons were going to break while attempting to remove the bead. About the puncture, ... not the tires' fault, I ran over a metal staple.

I was getting about 2-3 flats per month on my 11-mile daily commute in downtown Seattle. After trying various other thorn-resistant tubes and whatnot without much change, I picked up one of these. Four weeks later, I had three more flats in the older tire, but nothing in the Gator. So I got a second. With two Gators, I've had two straight months of daily commute without any flats. I was also used to having to pump up my tires about once a week or so, but I haven't had to in over a month now. The tires were absolutely worth the money for me.No issues whatsoever with traction on the road, at least, not any different than previous tires I've had. And that includes plenty of rainy rides.I did need a set of tire levers to change it, though, but not anything special (this was for the 25mm tires).Update: I haven't had to inflate my tires in the last 1,200 miles. Then I got a new bike with Bontrager R-1 Hardcase tires -- one week and I already have a slow leak in the rear tire. I'll be ordering two more of these post-haste.

I've had this tire on my back wheel for about six weeks now and have gotten my first flat. The one inch nail went through the tire from off-center, just at the edege of the mr tuffy, and killed my tube.I'm also finding that this tire is really hard to get on. (It's more like a 690c than a 700c!)Some flats are just unavoidable, so I'm philosophical about it. But I expected better from this tire. I wouldn't buy another.Update Nov/11/2013 - second flat in two months. *sigh*Update Nov/14/2013 - the tube is poking through the sidewall of the tire. And now it's flat again. What sort of crappy tire is this, whose sidewall ruptures after two months of use and less than 300 miles???? Replacing with something not from Continental.

Rode over a 1000 miles on these after installing them, I have no doubt that they will last at least that much more. I have hit some occasional rocks, throwing them flying off the road when they pinch on the edge of these. First couple of times, I stopped to check the tire, as that's why I bought these had a sharp rock tear a hole in the previous tire and had to call a friend to come get me. Couldn't see a mark on them, and now I don't think twice when that happens. Though I do give them a quick check along with the air pressure before ever ride, and still carry two inner tubes, and now some boots (pieces of the old tire that got cut by a rock with the bead cut off) to make a temporary fix if needed to get me home. I haven't had a flat since I started running these though.