Originally Posted by
prj71
If you ever had a chance to ride a gator skin back to back with a Continental GP5000 you would get it.
Originally Posted by
Seattle Forrest
That's like the difference between a jersey made of lycra or sandpaper.
Nah. I ride bikes with Gatorskins and Michelin Pro Race 4s which are very nice tires. Have Conti 3000 on another. I ride the Mich and Conti because I really don't have an issue with flats, they rarely happen to me. There is a slight difference I can feel in suppleness, and if there's a difference in grip, it's lost on me because I don't push that hard. I don't deny there's differences, but I really, really doubt it's meaningful to 99.9% of even enthusiastic riders. Certainly and not even close to worth the difference in flat protection for those that need it. Not anywhere close to the hyperbolic difference you describe.