I am so tired of constantly flatting here on the Michigan glass everywhere/sharp debris everywhere, not to mention chip stone, roads. I was reading some of the other threads concerning puncture resistant tires. I have been using Specialize's All Condition Pro (Flak Jacket version). Will stepping up to the Armadillo's make that much of a difference? Anything better? I'm hesistant to try the Conti Ultra Gatorskins as the other threads indicate terrible sidewalls on the Conti's.

I am so tired of constantly flatting here on the Michigan glass everywhere/sharp debris everywhere, not to mention chip stone, roads. I was reading some of the other threads concerning puncture resistant tires. I have been using Specialize's All Condition Pro (Flak Jacket version). Will stepping up to the Armadillo's make that much of a difference? Anything better? I'm hesistant to try the Conti Ultra Gatorskins as the other threads indicate terrible sidewalls on the Conti's.

I put on many miles in the Kalamazoo area (Oshtemo, Mattawan, Schoolcraft, Lawton, Gobles, Vicksburg and points south and west) and only have a couple flats a year. Now that I've said that I hope it doesn't change. However, my last flat was Saturday on W avenue. I think I ran over some debris. Anyway, I am using Conti 4000's on one bike and a Michelin Pro's on another. Actually I think I have a Michelin on the front and Conti on the back on one bike and Michelins on the other. On the tandem we have Conti Gatorskins but when I was using Panaracer Pasela's (without the kevlar belt) flats weren't a problem. I might go back to Panaracers sometime because I liked the ride better. I honestly think the best way to avoid flats is to use a good quality rim strip, like the cloth ones whose name escapes me right now, and to keep your tires inflated to their maximum rated pressure. Keeping them pumped up will avoid pinch flats.

On the tandem we had bad luck in the past with Conti tires blowing out the sidewalls but the last ones are good so far. Because of that we carry an extra foldable tire with us.

And watch where you ride!

by the way, what bike do you ride?

I put on many miles in the Kalamazoo area (Oshtemo, Mattawan, Schoolcraft, Lawton, Gobles, Vicksburg and points south and west) and only have a couple flats a year. Now that I've said that I hope it doesn't change. However, my last flat was Saturday on W avenue. I think I ran over some debris. Anyway, I am using Conti 4000's on one bike and a Michelin Pro's on another. Actually I think I have a Michelin on the front and Conti on the back on one bike and Michelins on the other. On the tandem we have Conti Gatorskins but when I was using Panaracer Pasela's (without the kevlar belt) flats weren't a problem. I might go back to Panaracers sometime because I liked the ride better. I honestly think the best way to avoid flats is to use a good quality rim strip, like the cloth ones whose name escapes me right now, and to keep your tires inflated to their maximum rated pressure. Keeping them pumped up will avoid pinch flats.

On the tandem we had bad luck in the past with Conti tires blowing out the sidewalls but the last ones are good so far. Because of that we carry an extra foldable tire with us.

And watch where you ride!

by the way, what bike do you ride?

I ride a KHS Flite 300.

I can't believe you only get a couple of flats a year! Lucky you. I also ride a Lawton loop and around the Kal Haven trail areas as well as Battle Creek and Hastings loops (I ride out of Kzoo). It seems like I am flatting at least once every week, maybe two. I do ride to the right of the line a little so maybe that's the problem. The Armadillo video from a previous thread was pretty impressive. I got back from Breakaway today with a Spec. All Condition Pro Armad. I guess I'll see how it goes.

Oh, and trust me, I do watch where I ride (though it may not seem like it due to all my flats). I miss so much glass and debris and when I do get a flat for the life of me I can't figure out how. Usually it's some stupid little thin sliver of metal shaving (when I can find the culprit) and I ask myself "Where the h@ll did this come from?" All my flats so far are from punctures. I've found medical tape to be the best cheap rim strip. It stays put and nothing gets through.

Hard as it may be for you to believe, we in Michigan have it made when it comes to glass. The $0.10 bottle deposit keeps our roads much cleaner than those in many states. I also ride in MI and get maybe one flat every 1500-2000 miles, riding 220 gm 23 mm Continentals. It does come down to where you ride on the road and what routes you take, plus it never hurts to sweep your tires with your fingers when you ride through some junk. I've ridden many times in your neck of the woods and never had a problem. What tire pressure are you riding? Any chance some of your flats are "repeaters" caused by not removing the source of the puncture?

I check the tires very well after each flat to ensure against any repeats. I usually air up my tires every ride and I inflate them between 115 and 120 psi. I do ride quite a bit, usually 30-50 miles a day so maybe it's just good ole' Murphy.

I ride a KHS Flite 300.

I can't believe you only get a couple of flats a year! Lucky you. I also ride a Lawton loop and around the Kal Haven trail areas as well as Battle Creek and Hastings loops (I ride out of Kzoo). It seems like I am flatting at least once every week, maybe two. I do ride to the right of the line a little so maybe that's the problem. The Armadillo video from a previous thread was pretty impressive. I got back from Breakaway today with a Spec. All Condition Pro Armad. I guess I'll see how it goes.

Oh, and trust me, I do watch where I ride (though it may not seem like it due to all my flats). I miss so much glass and debris and when I do get a flat for the life of me I can't figure out how. Usually it's some stupid little thin sliver of metal shaving (when I can find the culprit) and I ask myself "Where the h@ll did this come from?" All my flats so far are from punctures. I've found medical tape to be the best cheap rim strip. It stays put and nothing gets through.

If you're flatting once or twice a week something is definitely wrong. Either something is exposed inside the rim that the strip is not covering or there is burr inside the rim rubbing against the tube....or your pressure is too low and you're getting pinch flats. Or maybe, as Kerry says, the cause of the flat is still inside the tire. By the way, I looked up the name of the tape I used and it's Velox, it's been around for years and it's all I use.

If you're flatting once or twice a week something is definitely wrong. Either something is exposed inside the rim that the strip is not covering or there is burr inside the rim rubbing against the tube....or your pressure is too low and you're getting pinch flats. Or maybe, as Kerry says, the cause of the flat is still inside the tire. By the way, I looked up the name of the tape I used and it's Velox, it's been around for years and it's all I use.

Unfortunately all the holes are never in the same spot (when I change a flat on the road I make sure that the tire does not move around on the rim, or very little anyway). Given the huge discrepancy between the hole locations, and that I continue my ride and subsequent rides without a problem, I am fairly certain in ruling out an embedded object. Not to mention I check for them. I even carry a little Leatherman with pliers so I can get those pesky objects when I do come across them. All the holes are also on or close to the tire side of the innertube. I only weigh 215 and I thought 120 ish PSI would cover that weight range. I'll try upping to 125. Honestly though I think all my flats are just dumb luck. They're really not that big of a deal. I still get my rides in. I'm just hoping that maybe the tire change will help, we'll see. I run Spec. Nimbus EX's (Flak Jacket version) on my mtn bike and those have held up just fine which is why I tried the equivalent for the road.
EDIT: I'm also on 25's not 23's.