Originally Posted by
FLvector
I strongly agree with the bolded statement above, but no clue on where you're getting your stats (%) from. From my own experience and those that I ride with in groups, I'd guestimate that >80% of flats occur on the rear tire. And its rarely on a new tire, rather one that's nearing the end of life.
Rear tires flat more often because they have significantly more weight over them, not because they are more worn. Now is it rarely on a new tire because the newer tire is less likely to flat, or because more riders have a more worn tire in the rear? Chicken or the egg? Is a worn tire in the front in the same danger since fronts rarely flat in the first place as is your experience? Like I said, there is an increase in chance of a flat as a tire wears, but how much isn't quantified and as long as you are within the safe limits of tire wear for that particular tire, the increased risk is overblown