I've been using Specialized Nimbus tires for about 1000 miles and 1 year. I just got my first two puncture flats (back tire only), almost back to back. Is this just coinsidence or have these tires come to the end of their useful lives?

Im at 9000 km on mine with about 4 months to go till their 1 year anniversary, lots of wear left in them too. Had 1 flat in the first week putting them on, none since.

I'd say you got unlucky

I have no specific experience with those tires, but I finally had to replace my stock Kendas that my $300 Giant came with. I estimate they had about 3800 miles on them, and they were < $10 crap tires (Kenda Kraps?) I don't think any tire should be ready for replacement at 1000 miles; it's probably just coincidence.

I eventually replaced mine when I got a cut in the sidewall which caused a flat. I had a series of flats cause by narrow rim tape. I switched to lighter tires with less rolling resistance, with a Mr Tuffy liners and have not suffered flats. When you get a flat make sure you remove the cause.

I've got a pair of Nimbuses on a 10-year-old hybrid (that probably hasn't seen more than 1,000 miles). (Nine of those years were spent in a basement, basically.) But the sidewalls have just fallen apart; they're a blowout waiting to happen. I'll replace them with bottom-of-the-line Panracers, probably.

Had my first 700x38 Nimbus Armadillo flat (in 1300 miles) Sunday. It was a heavy galvanized roofing staple that had been bent in a way that left one sharp point going straight up. It hit one of the grooves in the tire. My last three flats have all been on the Old Redwood Highway somewhere between Petaluma and Healdsburg. Pity that route is the flattest, straightest route when I have to get certain places.

Thanks for the responses.

26x1.5" Nimbus Army's since Sept. Four flats in the past two months. Very respectable chunks of glass and one large screw. I'm pretty tough on these tires and don't particularly go to lengths to avoid debri. I'd buy them again.

What kind of Kenda tires are those? Are they road tires? I have several models of Kenda road tires and they typically only last me ~1500 miles before the kevlar belt gets worn too thin and things get through the inner tube quite easily.