I bought a pair of Vittoria Randonneurs (700 x 28) last fall from an LBS. I probably have about 1,000 miles on them. The rear tread is gone. I have had no flats. I like the way they ride. However, there is a "hair line" crack around both sides of both tires where the tread rubber joins the sidewalls. The LBS swears that the tires were newly stocked when I bought them. I don't know if the cause of the crack was "dry rot" because of age or some other factor. I have no plans to buy more Vittoria tires.