No, what happened is that they changed the compound. In the dry, it's still a pretty good tire.

But if there's even so much as damp in the forecast, all bets are off. All the little sharp bits of gravel embed themselves in the tire, then work their way through the belt. Glass that I can usually ride right through penetrates the tire easily in the wet. I've never worried about metal bits until I got those tires.

Most interesting was a squirrel's rib bone. Again, in the wet, after dark, didn't see the squirrel/road pizza until too late. I mean, who else in the entire history of cycling has ever flatted on a squirrel's rib bone?

My record in the rain is first flat after 0.7 miles, second flat at 3.25, arrived at work 4.58. Found the rear tire flat again at lunch break.

But as I said, in the dry, they're pretty good. I can recall only one flat in the dry.

If you want 'em, I'll pull them out of the dumpster and send them to you. I'll even include one new in box. Can't wait to get rid of the effin' thing. Wouldn't wish 'em on anybody, except maybe someone who calls me a liar.

Meanwhile, you'll have to pry my stash of the original non-II version from my cold dead fingers. Those run through anything, wet or dry. My record with a rear on those is one flat in 6,300 miles. I still have three left.