Commuting - Conti T&C BOOM!

I just recently (yesterday) reached 428 mi. on my Burley. Last night as I was drifting to sleep in front of the TV i heard a loud noise, I immediatly thought someone was trying to break into the house thru a window, asked my wife (who was sitting up in bed) if she heard anything and she said she didnt. Well today as I was putting a mudflap on the front of my bike I noticed that the rear tire was flat. Removed rim and tire, checked tube and found a large ragged hole towards the inside of the tube, found out that the sidewall of the Continental Town + Country tires was torn about 1/2 in. long right where it touches the rim. This seems like a odd failure for a tire with only 428 mi. and no cracks. Should I just order some Schwalbe's or should I try and get a warranty replacement for the Conti's?

you probably sliced the sidewall on some road debris on a recent ride.
tube poked out slightly.
after a while....kablammo!
happens sometimes.

Maybe so, but you can see the threads on either side of the hole and it all rides right along the rim (near the bead).

How long have you had them? The local bike shop that supplies bikes to Reno PD said that they quit using TC's because the sidewalls tend to rot out in about a year. They now recommend (and supply to RPD) Serfas Drifters.

I got the bike at Christmas, the tires look new except for one little spot that rides on the edge of the rim that has the hole. It is threadbare in a little line for about 6 in. right there just outboard of the bead. The crazy part is that this is the first flat I've had with them and it looks terminal for the tires!

check your brake pads. Sometimes they just barely touch the tire when applied and quickly wear the tire down....I learned the hard way.

I've actually had that happen on my old mountain bike w/Vbrakes but this bike has a drum on the rear, thanks for the reply, today I went to the LBS and picked up some Schwalbe Marathons and I think they're going to be a big improvement!

Also make sure you are running recommended pressures.

How long have you had them? The local bike shop that supplies bikes to Reno PD said that they quit using TC's because the sidewalls tend to rot out in about a year. They now recommend (and supply to RPD) Serfas Drifters.

My Drifters have just over 1000 miles on them. They still look great.

Thats was what my LBS was thinking, that maybe the gauge on the pump I am using is not very accurate. I was putting 65psi in the Conti's which is max. recommended, after looking at my guage I think it may be off about 5psi either way but I wouldnt think that I should get a failure from that, but who knows. I put 80psi in the new Schwalbe, they ride so nice! Thanks for the reply!