Just punctured (yet again) on Continental Gator Skin tyres. Clearly, punctures are a feature of cycling around this time of year but does anyone have any good alternatives since I can't help thinking I should be having fewer!

I've been using Panaracer Paselas on my winter bikes since last year and had my first puncture on them a couple of weeks ago, so very happy with them, and they also ride fairly well and are reasonably cheap. Link here for Wiggle, but I'm sure they can be found cheaper elsewhere http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Panaracer_Pasela_TG_Tyre/5110000290/#more

Ed

I have been using Gator Skins for about a year. Punctured a few times early on then nothing for a while.

Within the last 6 rides I have had about 5 punctures. I have just built my winter bike and have swapped the tyres for Specialized Armadillo Elite as these were recommended. I cant tell you what they are like yet tho as havent ridden it.

Everyone seems to want to ride much too light tyres in winter in my opinion. When the bike is covered in muck and it's cold and raining, you are on a large club ride needing to get to the cafe/home then obviously you do not want to puncture. So for the last 5 winters I ride with Bontranger Race light Hard Case triple puncture protection tyres. I run fat 25c but 23c will do. 'Race light' is a misnomer because they are a bit heavy but not too draggy and some do 'race' with them. They are not expensive either and I recon if you remember to check the tread for flints after each ride then I would say you should expect to ride two winters on them before you pucture maybe once, and that has been my experience over the last five years. Julia also rides them to work in Stratford through glass and all sorts en route cutting them to shreads with no puctures. They do give a 'hard' ride but grip ok. So exchange a bit of performance for some piece of mind.