Yeah, I used the Specialized Nimbus tires for awhile, and while they are pretty tough, they were also VERY slow, and very rough riding.

I recently switched to the Michelin TransCity as has been mentioned above, and I actually paid $20 per tire, not the $30-$40 someone else had quoted. Very reasonable. Have been happy with the performance so far. 1 flat, and I ride on some very nasty industrial roads (lots of small, nasty debrie), and I have had 1 flat since I've had them. Even that was a micro puncture from a steel belt from a truck tire, which if you hit them right, are VERY hard to protect against. It's kind of like a hypodermic needle if you hit it right.

Other than that, I have been very happy. They are really, really fast for 700x32's, work fantastic in the rain (best wet weather tire I have as yet used), grip like slicks in the dry (massive lean angles round corners to impress the ladies), and have reflective sidewalls which work. And they are half the money of the Schwalbe. I can't justify $45 per tire on my commuter, sorry.