General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Gatorskins Wire Bead or Folding? Rss Feed  
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2012-07-24 1:35 PM

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Highlands Ranch, Colorado
Subject: Gatorskins Wire Bead or Folding?

Do most of you use the wire bead or folding Gatorskins?

Are the Conti Gatorskins with wire bead harder to mount and change a flat?  



2012-07-24 4:10 PM
in reply to: #4328172

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Champion
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Evergreen, Colorado
Subject: RE: Gatorskins Wire Bead or Folding?
rick4657 - 2012-07-24 1:35 PM

Do most of you use the wire bead or folding Gatorskins?

Are the Conti Gatorskins with wire bead harder to mount and change a flat?  

I didn't know there were two kinds. :D

I assume I am using the folding Gatorskins (since they come folded up in their package!).

They are a little bit harder to put on than even my Conti 4000S's that I use for races.  But even the 23 went on my bike with fairly minimal arm wrestling.  I've owned some tires that I had to cry uncle and have the LBS put on for me!

The folding ones work great for me.  I ride some of the nastiest roads in the country in terms of quality...horribly rough chipseal...and the folding Gatorskins are troopers.  I even routinely pass through glass (I swear Texans consider tossing beer bottles on the side of the road to be a state pasttime).  I rarely flat.  And lately it seems like my flats were on my older more worn out tires.  I put some new ones on a few weeks ago and they've been doing well.

Off to go knock on some wood...

2012-07-24 5:08 PM
in reply to: #4328172

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Elite
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Roswell, GA
Subject: RE: Gatorskins Wire Bead or Folding?

I've used both and I don't recall one being easier/harder than the other to get on the rim.  I prefer the beaded because it stays round and I find that helps me when I'm trying to get the first bead and tube on the rim.

 

btw, My wife and I run these as the training tires and they are the best I've tried by a long shot.

2012-07-24 8:28 PM
in reply to: #4328172

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Pro
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Subject: RE: Gatorskins Wire Bead or Folding?
I've used both. Foldable were MUCH easier - BUT they were on different rims. The guy at the bike shop promised me that the folded ones would be easier to change flats on
2012-07-24 11:55 PM
in reply to: #4328875

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Subject: RE: Gatorskins Wire Bead or Folding?
I use folded.

The first time I threw them on was the hardest, and the couple times I've removed it and put it back on were MUCH easier!
2012-07-25 10:19 AM
in reply to: #4328172

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Highlands Ranch, Colorado
Subject: RE: Gatorskins Wire Bead or Folding?
Thanks everyone.  The price at my LBS for the folding vs the WB is only $4 difference so I will probably go with the folding.


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