A 1" gash across the tire in 2 weeks is bad luck, but you're going to have to expect more flats with Michelin Pro Races and a greater likely hood of a cut destroyng the tire, than you you will have with Armadillos or Gatorskins. ProRace, are just that racing tires, and much lighter than Armadillos. There's a tradeoff in most things in cylcing. Here the tradeoff is speed vs durability.