Gator Hardshell vs Ikon review

In this entry we are going to compare and review Continental Gator Hardshell vs Maxxis Ikon tyres. Both manufactured by different brands, Continental and Maxxis respectively, these tyres have been designed to be used for different purposes. Whilst Continental Gator Hardshell is better for Race Tires activities, Maxxis Ikon is a great choice if your needs are more aligned to mountain activities.

Gator Hardshell

Ikon

Ideal when it comes to extremely long service life, for the next tour or the commute.Made for for rough surfaces and rugged tarmac.

Go Hardshell or go home

A versatile XC tread

Ideal when it comes to extremely long service life, for the next tour or the commute.Made for for rough surfaces and rugged tarmac.

The Maxxis Ikon is a versatile XC tire designed to perform in a broad range of conditions. With its predictable handling, the Ikon is also a favorite among our slopestyle athletes.

Features

Hardshell
More is what you get
Puncture protection and mileage are the strengths of Hardshell-ProTection. A wider PolyX Breaker®, the specialist against punctures under the tread centre and shoulders provides for great reliability. The threeply – each layer with 60 TPI – carcass covers the entyre tire and makes it a real bastion against urban detritus. The outer sidewalls of the tire are reinforced with DuraSkin® fabric providing even more reliablility due to the casing being so well protected. Hardshell tires are the puncture-resistant flagship amongst racing tires – produced exclusively in Germany.

Features

Select specs are Tubeless Ready (TR), confirm in table below
Dual compound, 3C MaxxSpeed, or 3C MaxxTerra options
60 TPI or 120 TPI casing options
EXO sidewall protection

Usage

XC (Cross Country)

Technologies

Tubeless Ready Tubeless tires provide the rider with many benefits: the ability to run lower air pressures, which improves traction; lower rolling resistance when compared to a tube-type tire; and less chance of flatting because there is no tube. Liquid sealants should only be used in the following types of tires: tubeless road, tubular, and tubeless ready. The use of liquid sealants in any other Maxxis tire will void the warranty.
3C MaxxSpeed Used primarily in cross country and enduro tires, the two compounds in the outer layer are specially formulated to reduce rolling resistance and optimize treadwear and traction.
3C MaxxTerra An intermediate compound configuration used in select mountain tires. 3C MaxxTerra is softer and offers more traction than 3C MaxxSpeed, yet provides better treadwear and less rolling resistance than MaxxGrip.
EXO An extremely cut-resistant and abrasion-resistant material added to the sidewalls of select mountain tires. This densely woven fabric is also lightweight and highly flexible, ensuring that the performance of the tire remains unaffected. Choose EXO Protection for exceptionally rocky, treacherous trails where the chance of sidewall cuts and abrasions is high.

Specifications

"27"

Article: 0100315
ETRTO: 32 - 630 Dimension: 27 X 1 1/4 Technology: Hardshell Color/Sidewall/Bead: black/black skin TPI: 3/180 g: 455 PSI: 102

"28"

Article: 0100640
ETRTO: 32 - 622 Dimension: 700 X 32C Technology: Hardshell Color/Sidewall/Bead: black/black skin foldable TPI: 3/180 g: 370 PSI: 102

Article: 0100435
ETRTO: 32 - 622 Dimension: 700 X 32C Technology: Hardshell Color/Sidewall/Bead: black/black skin TPI: 3/180 g: 445 PSI: 102

Article: 0100314
ETRTO: 28 - 622 Dimension: 700 X 28C Technology: Hardshell Color/Sidewall/Bead: black/black skin TPI: 3/180 g: 400 PSI: 116

Article: 0100639
ETRTO: 28 - 622 Dimension: 700 X 28C Technology: Hardshell Color/Sidewall/Bead: black/black skin foldable TPI: 3/180 g: 330 PSI: 116

Article: 0100312
ETRTO: 25 - 622 Dimension: 700 X 25C Technology: Hardshell Color/Sidewall/Bead: black/black skin TPI: 3/180 g: 340 PSI: 120

Article: 0100313
ETRTO: 25 - 622 Dimension: 700 X 25C Technology: Hardshell Color/Sidewall/Bead: black/black skin foldable TPI: 3/180 g: 270 PSI: 120

Article: 0100310
ETRTO: 23 - 622 Dimension: 700 X 23C Technology: Hardshell Color/Sidewall/Bead: black/black skin TPI: 3/180 g: 340 PSI: 120

Article: 0100311
ETRTO: 23 - 622 Dimension: 700 X 23C Technology: Hardshell Color/Sidewall/Bead: black/black skin foldable TPI: 3/180 g: 265 PSI: 120

Specifications

26

Part #: TB72385300
Size: 26X2.20 ETRTO: 57-559 TPI: 60 Bead: FOLDABLE Weight (g): 572 Compound: SINGLE Max PSI: 65 Tech: Color: BLACK Application: MOUNTAIN

Part #: TB72390100
Size: 26X2.20 ETRTO: 57-559 TPI: 120 Bead: FOLDABLE Weight (g): 623 Compound: 3C MAXXSPEED Max PSI: 60 Tech: 3C/EXO/TR Color: BLACK Application: MOUNTAIN

Part #: TB73499100
Size: 26X2.35 ETRTO: 60-559 TPI: 120 Bead: FOLDABLE Weight (g): 675 Compound: 3C MAXXSPEED Max PSI: 60 Tech: 3C/EXO/TR Color: BLACK Application: MOUNTAIN

27.5

Part #: TB00332800
Size: 27.5X2.20 ETRTO: 56-584 TPI: 60 Bead: FOLDABLE Weight (g): 701 Compound: DUAL Max PSI: 60 Tech: EXO/TR/TANWALL Color: TANWALL Application: MOUNTAIN

Part #: TB85919000
Size: 27.5X2.20 ETRTO: 56-584 TPI: 120 Bead: FOLDABLE Weight (g): 646 Compound: 3C MAXXSPEED Max PSI: 60 Tech: 3C/EXO/TR Color: BLACK Application: MOUNTAIN

Part #: TB85956000
Size: 27.5X2.35 ETRTO: 60-584 TPI: 120 Bead: FOLDABLE Weight (g): 700 Compound: 3C MAXXSPEED Max PSI: 60 Tech: 3C/EXO/TR Color: BLACK Application: MOUNTAIN

29

Part #: TB96646100
Size: 29X2.00 ETRTO: 50-622 TPI: 120 Bead: FOLDABLE Weight (g): 618 Compound: 3C MAXXSPEED Max PSI: 60 Tech: 3C/EXO/TR Color: BLACK Application: MOUNTAIN

Part #: TB00333000
Size: 29X2.20 ETRTO: 57-622 TPI: 60 Bead: FOLDABLE Weight (g): 710 Compound: 3C MAXXSPEED Max PSI: 60 Tech: 3C/EXO/TR/TANWALL Color: TANWALL Application: MOUNTAIN

Part #: TB00332900
Size: 29X2.20 ETRTO: 57-622 TPI: 60 Bead: FOLDABLE Weight (g): 737 Compound: DUAL Max PSI: 60 Tech: EXO/TR/TANWALL Color: TANWALL Application: MOUNTAIN

Part #: TB96740100
Size: 29X2.20 ETRTO: 57-622 TPI: 120 Bead: FOLDABLE Weight (g): 697 Compound: 3C MAXXSPEED Max PSI: 60 Tech: 3C/EXO/TR Color: BLACK Application: MOUNTAIN

Part #: TB96731100
Size: 29X2.35 ETRTO: 60-622 TPI: 120 Bead: FOLDABLE Weight (g): 755 Compound: 3C MAXXSPEED Max PSI: 60 Tech: 3C/EXO/TR Color: BLACK Application: MOUNTAIN

Part #: TB00038300
Size: 29X2.60 ETRTO: 66-622 TPI: 120 Bead: FOLDABLE Weight (g): 805 Compound: 3C MAXXSPEED Max PSI: 40 Tech: 3C/EXO/TR Color: BLACK Application: MOUNTAIN