I have had an awful streak of flats. After going about 575 miles and then 450 miles on my rear tire between flats (Conti 4-Season), I had flats after addional 17, 16, 31, and 17 miles. So ,counting the second flat which started the streak, that is 5 flats. Also, all the flats are close, though not exactly, in the same spot.

For example, my last tube had three of the flats. After patching the first time, the next flat in it had the puncture just a hair outside the area covered by the first patch. And then the third puncture was just a hair outside the area covered by the second patch - so the total distance from the first hole to the last is a bit over an inch. Yet I am very careful to line the tire up the same spot each time, so I thought that difference would mean it isn't something left in the tire (the holes are not where the rim contacts the tire so that isn't the problem). Yet what are the odds of getting flats in such a narrow area 5 times and in such short distances?

I have examine the tire carefully each time, looking for anything causing a problem (flexing it every which way). Today I even had the shop give it a going over.

There is a hole in the tire from the first flat from glass, but it is pretty small and while the cut goes through, you can't see it on the inside unless you flex the tire just right. I've had far bigger cuts without having problems and the shop people felt it should be fine as well.

Don't know if it matters, but the last 3 flats have been very slow leaks. For example, today I noted the tire was a little soft (I had to squeeze it to tell). I rode to my destination a mile away. The bike then sat for about 5 hours and felt the same afterwards. THen I rode a few miles to the shop. Pressure on their pump showed it had dropped down to 85 lbs.

We pumped the tube way up trying to find the leak and couldn't - not even when I tried to pull it (to stretch) in the area where I suspected the leak was. I only found the leak when I repeated this at home and put it in water. Even then, I only got a bubble every few seconds. The prior flat was just as hard to find.

I can't think of what else to check. I hate to trash the tire when it still looks fine since it is a $50+ tire!

Bob