I have an Ultra Gator Skin 700x23 on my rear and a Continental Sport 1000 on my front. Ride daily in DC and don't think I've had any flats on the rear since I got the tire last autumn. Yeah, none that I can remember. Thought the tire took a few days to break in but have been happy with it since. Sidewall on mine was closer to black than brown...maybe differs by production lots? City riding will make it black in no time. Paid around $34 at a lbs. I like the tire and think the Gator Skin is considerably lighter than the Armadillo - I know the GS is 280g at 700x23.