frogman

I am using Gatorskin 28's (700C) on my road bike because I was getting too may flats. The flats have been reduced considerably. I have been eyeing the GP 4 season tires to maybe try.
They are supposed to offer good flat protection too, maybe not as good as the Gator's though. I am interested in the ride difference between them. The Gator's are a harsh ride and wondering if the GP 4 Season's might offer a nicer ride.

illdrag0n

Yeah the 4S are a bit softer. Somewhere in the middle of a gatorskin and Grand Prix

frogman

OK Thanks. I may give them a try.

diphthong

what were the tires getting too many flats before the gatorskins?

vespasianus

Yeah, this is the big question. I find the ride on gatorskins to be terrible but they are very reliable.

Drew Eckhardt 

GP4000SII. No appreciable difference in flat rate outside the rainy season. Better ride. 15W savings at 20 MPH versus the GP 4 Season.

The downside is limited sidewall protection. If you're damaging yours on road debris, these are not the tires for you; although I haven't had any problems in the 28,000 miles since I switched.

shelbyfv

I've been using these for several years with no complaints. Seem puncture resistant but ride better than Gators or the 4 Seasons, IMO. https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/.../rp-prod109859

colnago62

Where I live, winter road debris comes from the sand that is used on the road if there is a chance of ice or snow. When they sand, I put on the Gatorskins until the conditions improve in the spring. My Gatorskins are a few seasons old because I only use them when conditions require. I have found it to be a good compromise.

MinnMan

I have found the Conti 4 Seasons to be an excellent compromise. Like everybody says, Gatorskins are nearly bulletproof but ride like crap. 4 Seasons have much better flat protection than the GP4000 or GP5000s, but ride much better than the Gatorskins. So a good compromise

I have many thousands of miles on the 4 seasons and still ride them with one of my wheelsets. OTOH, I'm really in love with the ride that I get from the GP5000s and I'm willing to accept a somewhat greater frequency of flats in return. YMMV

Bah Humbug

Let me toss in a recommendation for the Michelin Power Protection+:

https://www.competitivecyclist.com/m...e-clincher?s=a

Bead-to-bead Kevlar, great flat protection, rides a million times better than Gatorskins, if not as nice as a fast tire.

diphthong

ditto.

NumbersGuy

I've tried the Michelin Power Protection + and was highly disappointed. I found the flat resistant to be very weak as any semi sharp object, regardless of size went right through the tread and caused a puncture. For the way they are marketed, they were barely more flat resistant than I've experienced with GP4000s. I'd highly recommend the GP 4 Seasons as I've found them much more flat resistant and longer wearing in my experience.

sean.hwy

How many sets of tires did you use to get 28k miles?

MinnMan

I've had the same experience

MinnMan

I had terrrible luck with sidewalls with the GP4000 IIs - two very bad blowouts, both with nearly new tires. That's what drove me to the 4 Seasons. The GP5000s reputedly have similar prolbems (the reason that both have such low rolling resistance is that both have thin sidewalls), but for no reason aparrt from random, no such bad luck with the 5000s. Then again, I probably have less than 5000 miles on the 5000s thus far.

Drew Eckhardt 

I think 8 tires which would be 4 pairs, noting the current ones have life left.

I discard the rear tire after it wears out, move the front tire aft, and install a new tire in front. Doing that I get 9000 miles from each tire - 4500 in front plus 4500 in back. The first one was good for 1037 front miles followed by 5257 rear. I lost one early due to cut cords which produced a blowout (in the tread, not the sidewall).

1037 mile front + 5257 mile rear GP4000SII at its end of life:

thenewjs

I though this was common knowledge.

I find Conti GP4000SII to be more reliable than the Gators.