Folks may remember I had two apparently defective Conti Top Contact II's fail on tour this summer. Replaced 'em with Conti Gatorskins.

I just lost my new back Gatorskin this morning on the 10-mile commute in; turns out a fragment of glass had lodged under the rubber of center tread and probably over time punched a hole through the reinforced lining practically big enough to see daylight through.

I must have a rough commute, I ruined a Schwalbe Marathon Plus Tour commuting on my Mt Bike just this past April, but that was with a shard of steel. I have killed a Gatorskin before on that same commute, but that was with an 1 1/2" nail through center tread and out the sidewall.

Not counting a probably-defective Top Contact this summer, this latest Gatorskin is the first premium tire I can recall failing on account of glass.

Anyways, just ordered a set of Marathon Plus, 700x32. Schwalbe says The most puncture resistant pneumatic tire there is.

Guess I'll find out.

Mike