Gatorskins

[Dave W]

Anyone used Continental Gatorskins and Continental four Seasons road bike tyres?

If so can you tell any difference?

[The utility cyclist]

Anyone used Continental Gatorskins and Continental four Seasons road bike tyres?

If so can you tell any difference?

Personally no, the 4seasons are a little lighter IIRC but I didn't find them to be any better grip/cornering wise or rolling speed, I used 25mm Gators on the front of my daily for years and they were plenty fine for pretty much everything including 45+mph descents down some alpine roads and tight chicanes around Chamonix. I did get a cut/puncture within 30 miles of first getting gators but it was a shark tooth-like piece of flint that went straight through so anything except a marathon would have succumbed IMO, aside from that i found the gators to be reliable and hardwearing.

The 4 seasons I used on an all season leisure race bike, I'm sure wear wise they would have been just as good as the gators but they didn't inspire me to think they were any better and so I sold them on. I now use a 28mm Giant rigid on the front of the daily and a pair of same model folders f/r on all season bike that I picked up from Rutland as an end of season sale and they are more pliable/racier than the 4seasons, maybe less puncture proof at the sidewalls than the gators but have not had one yet.
I know some swear by 4seasons but for me I didn't think they were all that for what they cost and the hype surrounding them, I also ride GP4000SIi tubs on my carbon bike, which are not bad for a mid range tub.

[tim-b]

Hi

Yes, I've used both (I haven't used the Hardshell Gatorskins) in the same size (28mm) and on the same bike. There's the obvious difference in price, and I didn't find that the Gatorskins gripped the surface as well in certain specific circumstances, e.g. some types of white line when damp and iron catseye holders, drain covers, etc

Puncture-wise I didn't notice a difference

I now use 28mm 4-seasons as my preference for commuting and 25mm GP-4000S on my lighter bike (they use the same Black Chilli tread compound)

Regards
tim-b

[pwa]

I've used both Gatorskins and 4 Seasons and I like both. Outwardly they are very similar. Light and (for a puncture resistant tyre) pretty fast. I don't get many punctures with either. And both last reasonably well, for light, fast tyres.

Gatorskins are cheaper and they are not quite as good. When climbing steep, wet tarmac the rear tyre will occasionally lose traction and slip a little. The 4 Seasons, on the other hand, keep traction much better in that situation. The other difference is that (at 90psi) the 4 Seasons tyres give a slightly smoother ride than Gatorskins, taking out some of the vibration from coarse road chippings.

So the 4 Seasons are a bit better. Too costly to waste on fast commuting, perhaps. For that I would stick to Gatorskins.

[martinn]

I have used both 25mm Gatorskins (hardshell) GP 4 seasons
The GP 4seasons in my experience had (much) better grip in the cold and the wet than the Gaterskins
experience of riding along a cycle path with a friend on the way to work (temperature around the freezing point and riding in line), round a corner, I had grip, he did not, I had GP4 seasons and he was riding gaterskins. I do find the gaterskins compared to the other two tyres slip more on paint lines or metalwork in the road.
Puncture resistance is not much difference
I no longer use Gaterskins
My other tyre of choice are GP4000IIs

Martin

[robc02]

As others have said, GP4 Seasons a bit better in terms of grip and comfort. I have used GP4S and Gatorskins in 28mm.

A long time ago I used Gatorskins in 23mm and found them quite prone to slipping in wintry conditions. I then tried 28mm and they were a lot better.

[flat tyre]

Yes I've used both. Had one or two instances when the Gatorskin lost grip, but haven't noticed the same happening with GP4s (not really a subjective analysis). Think the gatorskins are a bit cheaper though .

[hamster]

Run both in 23c. The Gators appear to have a slightly harder compound which grips somewhat less (not badly, just slightly less); but wore more slowly. The 4 Seasons also picked up sidewall damage more readily but ride is more supple

Both good tyres - Gators for durability, 4 Seasons were faster.

GP4000sII are brilliant, way faster, but at the expense of all robustness. Typically they last only around 1000 miles on the back before flints cut them irreparably.

[Dave W]

Picked up the Four Seasons today, managed to get folders for £31.99 each, still rather expensive I thought! They wanted to charge e £54.95 each!