This is an omnipresent and never-ending topic of discussion here on the Commuter sub of BF. That's not a bad thing either. Keeps us all on our toes.

One thing is for sure. There are about 6 brands that just about everyone will agree are superior in terms of flat resistance. Schwalbe Marathon Plus, Bontrager Hardcase, Vittoria Randonneurs, Continental Gatorskins, Specialized Armadillos and Michelin Pilots. There are others, I'm sure all w/different compounds/construction/tread to insure maximum miles/flat ratio.

That being said the only way to completely insure a flat-free commute is with....drum roll, please...Nu-Teck Airless. I used them for 3 years and wore the tread off them. While they were slower by 2-3mph they were totally worth it from my perspective. I became a much stronger cyclist and never had a single flat. The only reason I stopped using them was I tired of the 'grind' and got SMPs. Gave them to a racing friend of mine and he still uses them for training rides. He says they 'totally suck' and he hates them, but loves the fact that he's gone from a Cat 5 racer to a Cat 3 in the time he's used them and he never has to change a tube on a training ride.