Can't really comment about ride quality (I don't have much experience with a variety of expensive tires) but I bought a bike with Michelin Dynamic tires (what I now consider a "training tire") and was getting a lot of flats on my back wheel (like every 50 miles) (BTW I'm around 210 lbs, which I think is relevant, a lighter rider might do fine with the training tires on back). I got a tougher tire for the back (probably overkill for my roads) a 700 x 25 Marathon Plus, heavy but I don't notice it anymore. I still have a Michelin Dynamic tire on front (at least I don't have a boat anchor front and back), I think I probably average several hundred miles without flatting the Michelin Dynamic on the front. This combination works okay and I get the use of the tires I have on hand. This might work for others who are mainly having problems with rear flats - tougher tire on back, lighter tire on front.