Road Bike Tire Test: Continental Gator Hardshell 25
Contents and Test Summary
- Introduction
- Manufacturer Specifications
- Size, Weight, Thickness
- Rolling Resistance: 23.1 Watts
- Puncture Resistance: 100 Points
- Static Wet Grip: 66 Points
- Conclusion: 4.0 / 5 Recommended
- Comments
- Continental Gator Hardshell 25
(100% is best)
The Continental Gator Hardshell is a tire that is not the main target of our website as we mostly focus on low rolling resistance tires. We did get a lot of requests to test the Gator Hardshell as people are curious about how it compares to the still very popular Continental Gatorskin and Continental Grand Prix range. Continental marks the Gator Hardshell as their most puncture resistant and longest lasting road bike tire which makes it a perfect training tire.
When looking at the specifications of both the Gatorskin (read review) and Gator Hardshell, we can quickly conclude that the Gator Hardshell is pretty much a beefed up Gatorskin. For the same 25-622 size, the Gator Hardshell is 30 grams heavier which has been put to use to offer more protection and more durability.
Continental doesn't specify the compound they use on this tire, but we're quite certain the compound is the same as used on the Gatorskin.
The Gator Hardshell is available in the 23-622, 25-622, 28-622, 32-622, and 32-630 sizes. All 622 sizes are available in both a folding and rigid bead version. We've tested the folding 25-622 version of the Gator Hardshell as we think saving 75 grams per tire is money well spent.
Manufacturer Specifications
| Manufacturer Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Brand | Continental |
| Model | Gator Hardshell |
| Year | 2019 |
| Tire Type | Tubetype (clincher) |
| Supplied By | Bought in store |
| New or Used | New |
| Mileage | 0 km |
| Price Range | High |
| Buy At | |
| Manufacturer part number | 0100313 |
| EAN | 4019238466409 |
| TPI | 3/180 |
| Compound | |
| Bead | Folding |
| ETRTO | 25-622 |
| Size Inch | 28" |
| Specified Width (mm) | 25 |
| Specified Weight | 270 grams |
| Max Air Pressure (psi) | 120 |
| Made In | Pro Data |
| Available Sizes |
23-622 (700x23c) 25-622 (700x25c) 28-622 (700x28c) 32-622 (700x32c) |
Continental Gator Hardshell 25 Test Results
Size, Weight, and Thickness Measurements
| Size, Weight and Thickness Measurements | |
|---|---|
| Specified Weight | 270 grams |
| Measured Weight | 273 grams |
| System Adjusted Weight (tire + inner tube (100 gr) |
373 grams |
| Measured Width | 26 mm (un-round) |
| Measured Height | 23 mm (un-round) |
| Total Tire Thickness Center | 3.7 mm |
| Total Tire Thickness Sidewall | Pro Data |
| Unmounted Casing Width | 65 mm |
| Unmounted Tread Width | Pro Data |
| Tread Cover (Tread / Casing Ratio) | Pro Data |
| All size measurements are taken at an air pressure of 100 psi / 6.9 bars on a 17.8 mm inner width rim. | |
Weight. The specified weight of the folding 25-622 Gator Hardshell is 270 grams, our sample comes in quite close to the specified weight at 273 grams.
Size. Just like the Gatorskin, and many other 25-622 rated tires, the Gator Hardshell has a width of 26 mm and a height of 23 mm.
Tire Thickness. Here we can see an obvious difference between the Gator Hardshell and Gatorskin. Tread thickness of the Gator Hardshell is 3.7 mm while the Gatorskin has a tread thickness of 3.2 mm. The sidewalls also are made thicker and have a thickness of 1.0 mm while the Gatorskin has a sidewall thickness of just 0.7 mm.
The tire thickness measurements tell us the extra 30 grams of weight can be traced back to a thicker tread and sidewalls. The Gator Hardshell definitely will be more durable than the Gatorskin.
Rolling Resistance Test Results
| Rolling Resistance Test Results | |
|---|---|
| Inner Tube | Conti Race28 (100gr butyl) |
| Measured Width | 26 mm (un-round) |
| Rolling Resistance Real tire width in mm: 22-24 = 132 psi/9.1 bar 25-27 = 120 psi/8.3 bar 28-29 = 108 psi/7.4 barUltra High Air Pressure (120 psi / 8.3 bar) |
Pro Data |
| Rolling Resistance Real tire width in mm: 22-24 = 110 psi/7.6bar 25-27 = 100 psi/6.9 bar 28-29 = 90 psi/6.2 barExtra High Air Pressure (100 psi / 6.9 bar) |
Pro Data |
| Rolling Resistance Real tire width in mm: 22-24 = 88 psi/6.1 bar 25-27 = 80 psi/5.5 bar 28-29 = 72 psi/5.0 barHigh Air Pressure (80 psi / 5.5 bar) |
23.1 Watts CRR: 0.00692 |
| Rolling Resistance Real tire width in mm: 22-24 = 66 psi/4.6 bar 25-27 = 60 psi/4.1 bar 28-29 = 54 psi/3.7 barMedium Air Pressure (60 psi / 4.1 bar) |
Pro Data |
| The Road Bike section is a multi tire size section, air pressures have been adjusted to the measured casing width. All numbers are for a single tire at a speed of 29 km/h / 18 mph and a load of 42.5 kg / 94 lbs. Use the formula: RR (Watts) = CRR * speed (m/s) * load (N) to calculate rolling resistance at a given speed and load. |
|
As expected, the Gator Hardshell doesn't excel in the rolling resistance tests. What does surprise us is that it's still very close in performance to the Gatorskin (read review). At the higher air pressures, it comes within 0.2 - 0.3 watts. At lower air pressures, the disadvantage grows to 1.1 - 1.2 watts which still will be hard to notice in real-life.
When compared to the fastest rolling tires, you'll be losing quite a lot of power with the Gator Hardshells. When we compare the Hardshell to the brand new Grand Prix 5000 (read review), rolling resistance is close to double of the Grand Prix 5000. For a set of tires, 20+ watts of power is lost in the tires (at 18 mph / 29 km/h, 85 kg total weight.) when compared to the fast Grand Prix 5000.
Puncture Resistance Test Results
| Puncture Resistance Test Results (higher is better) | |
|---|---|
| Total Puncture Score Tread | 100 Points |
| Total Puncture Score Sidewall | Pro Data |
| Tread Puncture Force Sharp Needle | 20 Points |
| Tread Puncture Force Blunt Needle | Pro Data |
| Tread Total Tire Thickness | 3.7 mm |
| Sidewall Puncture Force Sharp Needle | Pro Data |
| Sidewall Puncture Force Blunt Needle | Pro Data |
| Sidewall Total Tire Thickness | Pro Data |
The puncture resistance tests are the natural habitat of the Gator Hardshell. When compared to the Gatorskin that already has a very good puncture resistance, puncture resistance of both the tread and sidewall has been increased by 10-15% to 20 points in the tread puncture test and 8 points in the sidewall puncture test.
When we compare the Gator Hardshell to all other road bike tires that have been tested by us, it now takes the title as the most puncture resistant road bike tire. The Gator Hardshell replaces the Pirelli Cinturato Velo TLR (read review) that also scored 20 points in the tread test but only scored 7 points in the sidewall test.
It's also good to mention that the Gator Hardshell has twice the rolling resistance of the Grand Prix 5000, but it also has twice the puncture resistance of the Grand Prix 5000.
Static Grip Test Results
NOTE: Grip test data is only available on tires tested after November 2018. You can find more information about our grip test here: Introducing Grip Testing
| Static Grip Test Results | |
|---|---|
| Wet Grip Average | 66 Points |
| Wet Grip Center | Pro Data |
| Wet Grip Edge | Pro Data |
| Grip in points = coefficient of friction * 100 Road bike grip test rim width = 19.0 mm |
|
Conclusion
- Continental Gator Hardshell 25
(100% is best)
The Continental Gator Hardshell is basically a beefed up Continental Gatorskin. Puncture resistance has been increased by 10-15% while rolling resistance has gone up by just 2-5%. Tread thickness has been increased from 3.2 mm to 3.7 mm and the sidewalls have gone from 0.70 mm to 1.00 mm. With the increased tire thickness, the Gator Hardshell definitely is going to last longer than the Gatorskin.
We rate the Gator Hardshell 4 out of 5 as it takes the most puncture resistant road bike tire crown and we think it's a better buy than the Gatorskin if you're looking for a training tire.
RATING:
4.0
/ 5
TEST VERDICT:
Recommended