The larger tires will protect the wheels but if you hit something big with low pressure, you can dent a rim. I've been training and racing on Equipes for the last 2 years with only one small issue (got a large stick stuck in the front wheel and bent a spoke,) so far they have been great.
__________________
I'm not one for fawning over bicycles, but I do believe that our bikes communicate with us, and what this bike is saying is, "You're an idiot." BikeSnobNYC