Originally Posted by
nashcommguy
For flat resistance specifically there are only 3 brand/makes of tires that I would recommend after over 20 years of cycle commuting. Schwalbe Marathon Plus, Specialized Armadillos and Continental Gatorskins. ....
The art of stress-free commuting is eliminating as many potential equipment failures as possible
I second this advice.
If you want to buy a bike, get one from a reputable bike shop so they can set it up right. The best shops will tweak your wheels for extra reliability.
To eliminate the most common causes of flats you should fit a high-grade commuter tyre BUT you also need to check inside the wheel. It is all to common for manufacturers to skimp or cheat where you can't see.
Make sure the spokes are not poking into the inner tube. Check that the rim tape is good or replace with a decent brand such as Velox. Check that the valve hole has no sharp edges (swipe with fine emery cloth).
Some of the highly protected tyres are
hard to fit and will stay undisturbed for years. It pays to fit a good, branded inner tube (Schwalbe, Continental, Michelin) and to fit it correctly.
I use the plain Schwalbe Marathon rather than the better Plus version and reckon on at most 1 flat/year. These days it is usual to replace the inner rather than repair the hole by the roadside. You can repair the hole at your leisure later.