While there are many protection-oriented tires on the market, we feel the Continental Gatorskin continues to offer the best combination of protection, value, ride quality and weight. Balancing those requirements is not a simple task, but Conti delivers. The Gatorskin is a good everyday training tire for road cyclists, as well as an excellent commuter tire for road or fast hybrid-style bikes.

The overarching protection of the tire is provided by DuraSkin technology. DuraSkin is a polymide mesh fiber that wraps the casing from bead to bead, and is designed to protect your it from sidewall abrasion and puncture. While still offering protection in the center of the tire, the primary reason it wraps the entire casing is to provide a consistent feel and offer a more supple cornering edge. Protection, and performance. The principal flat protection on the center of the tire comes from Conti's PolyXBreaker, a cross-hatched polyester fiber that the company has used in performance car tires for many years. The woven material is very dense, yet flexible, making it ideal in preventing pinches and punctures, but also matching the suppleness of the casing and DuraSkin layers. PolyXBreaker will not negatively affect rolling resistance or cornering feel.

The rubber itself is Conti's durable carbon-black compound, which offers excellent wet and dry grip, as well as delivering extended tread wear. Gatorskin is often referred to as the Kilometer King for its incredible long life. If you seek a solidly performing, high mileage, protection oriented tire, the Gatorskin is the king.