Just to follow up...

About four months ago I replaced the Hemispheres with Michelin Protek Cross Max 700x40 tires. They're heavier but excellent for all around leisure/errand rides. I use a sealant filled rear tube but it's probably overkill -- the 5mm puncture shield and tough tread are probably more than enough. Not a sign of trouble even on goat head grass burrs, gravel, broken glass -- all unavoidable on some of my routes. I avoid obvious roofing nails and drywall screws (way too many of those things around), but otherwise don't worry about road hazards.

Tough tires. Not as fast rolling as the Hemispheres and the Michelins feel a bit squirmy on hard cornering (probably due to the sharp edged raised tread), but otherwise not a big transition from the Specialized tires in overall riding experience.

Also, the Michelin bead fits snugly enough to roll the bike on flat tires if necessary. A couple of plastic levers help get the tires off without extraordinary effort, and someone with strong hands could probably manage to get the tires on the rims without levers.