Continental Sprinter Gatorskin review

Table of Contents

If you’re looking for puncture protection that comes in a tubular package, the Continental Sprinter Gatorskin is your best bet.

It offers the same DuraSkin layer wrapped all around the tire as does the Continental Grand Prix 4-Season. Where it differs is both the breaker and the compound.

The Sprinter Gatorskin has a 3-layered 180 TPI all-weather casing and the SafetySystem breaker is made from kevlar reinforced nylon.

The tire is available in a black 22 or 25 mm width.

Our rating:

 4/5

Reasons to buy

The most puncture resistant tubular tire on the market

Reasons to avoid

It’s a somewhat stiff tubular tire meant for off-season riding

Continental Sprinter Gatorskin ride quality

Continental made several clincher tires with the DuraSkin casing technology and the Continental Sprinter Gatorskin is the only tubular option.

It’s probably the most hard-wearing tubular on the market, with the 3-ply 60 TPI casing, and dual protective layers.

Instead of the Vectran breaker like in the Continental Grand Prix 4-Season, or PolyX breaker as in the Continental Gator Hardshell, the Sprinter comes with a SafetySystem breaker.

It’s one of the strongest one in Continental’s lineup, reserved for touring tires and this one, which says something about it’s durability.

As with all other tires that offer this technology, the tire is stiffer and less supple. Meant for off-season riding in bad conditions.

Continental Sprinter Gatorskin weight

The Continental Sprinter Gatorskin is one of the heaviest tubular tires. A 25mm width tire weighs 275 grams compared to the Challenge Strada Pro 240 grams and the Vittoria Corsa Speed 205 grams.

It underlines its nature as a winter/training tire with a strong focus on durability and puncture protection.

Continental Sprinter Gatorskin puncture protection

The Continental Sprinter Gatorskin has the following puncture protection:

SafetySystem Breaker

The SafetySystem Breaker is made up of Kevlar-reinforced, high-strength nylon fabric. Puncture and cut-resistant but nevertheless light and flexible, the tire adjusts quickly to the surface below. Without raising the weight or rolling resistance noticeably, it protects the carcass against foreign objects and contributes to a longer lifespan of the tire. Tires with the SafetySystem Breaker also provide good comfort properties.

DuraSkin

Tires with DuraSkin® sidewall protection are used under the harshest conditions. The high-quality polyamide fabric protects the tire casing against the worst conditions. These tires stand out thanks to their brown sidewalls.

Continental Grand Prix 4-Season buying options

Diameter	Size	ETRTO	Weight (gr)	Tread color	Sidewall color	Puncture protection	Tire bead	TPI	Max Psi	Buy at Amazon
700C	700Cx25	25-622	275	Black	Black	DuraSkin / SafetySystem Breaker	tubular	3/180	170	link
700C	700Cx22	22-622	265	Black	Black	DuraSkin / SafetySystem Breaker	tubular	3/180	170	link

Johan van Seijen is the founder of restoration.bike. His passion for cycling in general, and restoring older bikes turned into a website to share his knowledge with a broader audience. Starting out on his father’s road bike and riding classics as the Amstel Gold Race and Liege Bastogne Liege he has shifted his attention to trail, XC, and gravel riding since. No matter how much he loves writing about everything related to cycling, nothing beats actually using his ever-expanding bicycle collection.