Armadillo vs. Gatorskin? - Page 2

Todd Kuzma <tullio@TheRamp.net> wrote in message news:<3F858A92.8040706@TheRamp.net>...
>
> The Armadillo tires are pretty unique. I'm not aware of any other tires that offer the same
> level of flat protection. There are tires that are lighter or ride better, but they don't
> protect better.

bontrager makes a line of tires called the 'hard case'. like the armadillos, they are stiff as a
block of rubber, heavy as heck, and very confidence-inducing if flats are your problem. i happened
across bontrager's brochure on them somewhere, a week ago. they compared them to the armadillos
and said they were specifically superior to them in many specific ways. i have no comparison to
make, thoguh.

i do know that ive mounted many a 'hard-case' in teh past few months, and ive had an inordinate
amount of trouble getting the road-width versions to seat on the rim far too many times, including
times where despite all attempts the tire never seated. hard cases, if you will. perhaps they run
too tight? or maybe the shop got a bad production run.

anthony

ant wrote:
> bontrager makes a line of tires called the 'hard case'. like the armadillos, they are stiff as a
> block of rubber, heavy as heck, and very confidence-inducing if flats are your problem. i happened
> across bontrager's brochure on them somewhere, a week ago. they compared them to the armadillos
> and said they were specifically superior to them in many specific ways. i have no comparison to
> make, thoguh.

Hmmm. I can't find them on Bontrager's web site. I did find a "Select Kevlar" there though. It looks
good except for the wire bead. I hate wire bead tires. They're more expensive to ship and much
harder to carry as a spare.

My stash of Performance EX/K's finally ran out after many years. I was quite disappointed to find
them discontinued in favor of the clearly inferior Forte kevlars which have a much thinner belt and
a higher TPI. I seriously doubt they will avoid flats like the EX/K's did. I never had a cut or
significant puncture through an EX/K belt though I had a lot of nasty cuts in the outer rubber.

--Bill Davidson
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> ant wrote [abotu the existence of bontrager hard case tires.]

Bill Davidson <billdav@cox.nospam.net> wrote in message news:<UEpnb.89551$Ms2.26833@fed1read03>...
> Hmmm. I can't find them on Bontrager's web site. I did find a "Select Kevlar" there though. It
> looks good except for the wire bead. I hate wire bead tires. They're more expensive to ship and
> much harder to carry as a spare.

they do exist. unless im remembering the manufacturer wrong, but im pretty sure its bontrager. we
have them in a full range of road widths nad sizes, 700c 23-28 and 38, 27". all the ones ive seen
are wire bead. anyways, i wasnt really reccomending them. the ones ive mounted have all (mostly?)
been ridiculously stiff and difficult to seat.

russellseaton1@yahoo.com (Russell Seaton) wrote in message
news:<e90052be.0310090627.59bc0cb7@posting.google.com>... <snip>
> The side wall of the Gatorskin tire does not unravel like the Grand Prix 3000 side wall. Its only
> available in wire bead so those who think of weight first, second, and last, will have to look
> elsewhere.
<snip>

I have had good luck with the Grand Prix Four Seasons, which appears to be a lightweight Grand
Prix-style tire with a rain-friendly rubber compound and Duraskin sidewalls (similar to the
Gatorskin). Seems to be a good mix of suppleness, light weight, all weather flexibility, and
durability. Fred Roses

ant wrote: all the ones ive seen are wire
> bead. anyways, i wasnt really reccomending them. the ones ive mounted have all (mostly?) been
> ridiculously stiff and difficult to seat.

Interesting. Now that you mention it, every tire seating problem I've ever had was with wire beaded
tires. Now I have another reason to hate wire beads.

Is there *any* advantage to a wire bead?

--Bill Davidson
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Bill Davidson <billdav@cox.nospam.net> wrote:
: Is there *any* advantage to a wire bead?

just $$$
--
david reuteler reuteler@visi.com