The Contintal tires in general are notoriously difficult to mount. I also find any folding tire is extremely hard to mount when it is brand new. Back to the OP, I think Specialized Armadillo Skins are Great Tires. I rock the Spec. Infinity (s) at a 700x32 with Flackjack Technology. I haven't gotten a puncture or even a slow leak yet. The tread pattern is probably the best I have ridden for dealing with rain and slightly loose soil around town. Other than that, I love my Bontrager Race Lite Hardcase but for over 40 dollar a tire, you should love them.

If it's one thing that drives me crazy it's pebbles in my tires! (I'm serious) :D

Add close fitting fenders and my calm gets damaged.

I've the opposite feeling for the race lite hardcases. Harsh riding, heavy, terrible wet traction, and iffy flat protection. I had a large pebble punch through one, the tread separate from the casing of two tires (LBS replaced these thankfully,) and they got chewed apart on a limestone trail in under 500 miles.

They're way, way over priced IMO. They're alright for road use if it's dry though, but it's not hard (and cheaper) to do better.

Vittoria Randonneur Hypers are tough, ride nicely, and aren't too expensive. The reflective sidewalls really work. I'm super pleased with mine.

My recommendation is for Pyramid metal tire levers in your case. Plastic lever are **** for the most part. The Pyramids come in 3s(www.bikepartsusa.com ), they're cheap and the burrs along the edges can be smoothed out w/a file or sandpaper. To mount the SMPs or any other highly flat-resistant tire for that matter it's best to invest in a Kool-Stop Tire Jack. http://www.bikepartsplace.com/discou...ver-tire-jack/ There're other places online where they can be purchased cheaper, but I posted this website so you could see what one looked like. I carried mine w/my tool-kit until the bead seated. Now it's in my toolbox. And they are amazing. :thumb:

Usually, if one can't finish the re-mount w/fingers it'd because the tire has a very stiff bead. That's the case w/most flat resistant tires.

Carry a set of disposable gloves with your spare tube. Won't help you get the tire on any better but at least takes the dirty and maybe some of the cold wet part out of the equation.

Can't help with a tire suggestion as I'm a gaterskin guy, am very happy with puncture resistance, and get them on easily using my hands. (700X28 wire bead - I have noticed some rims are tighter using the same tire, so maybe that is why your experience is different)

If you flat frequently and can't find the cause change your rim tape to the Velox tape if that's not what you are using.

I have personally used a lot of different commuting / city / touring tires over the last few years. Kenda Kwest, Continental Contact, Specialized Infinity, Bontrager Sattelite Plus, and a bootload of Schwalbe:

I've owned and used just about every Schwalbe Marathon they make, except the new "expedition" tires like the extreme. Have also used the Big Apple and Kojak. Out of them all, the Supreme was my favourite of the lot. Neither the plus nor the supreme ever gave any trouble with flats, but the Supreme is a nice riding tire with great weight for its protection, whereas the plus is very protective, but chunky and I find it a bit harsh. The Plus was definitely the tire of choice for my cargo bike, but for a sportier ride i'd prefer the Supreme. This tire also has pretty good wet weather grip, in Edmonton I was using a 20" rear supreme with a 20" front marathon winter, and the supreme would hold grip well over wet roads and packed snow, only losing out to pure ice.

My Kenda Kwik Rollers have been great for me. I've run over glass and all other types of debris, and never a flat.

+1 on the Michelin City. I have used them with no problems for commuting and riding around town. Liked them enough to also put them on my daughters bike. Also can't beat the price, it's not hard to find them for about $14 a tire.

Ive been happy using the standard Marathon for everyday commuting and for touring on and off road.
Mean distance between flats is about 2000miles but I live in a place with lots of flint and that is sharper than a razor.
The Plus is more resistant, heavier, stodgier and harder to mount.
The new (green) marathon is inbetween the two.

UnixD0od,

mihlbach has very valid points and i do feel he is trying to help you. Nevertheless, you seem to be rather disgrunteld about people not agreeing with your petty bickering. Why bother posting if you are going to be argumentative?

Furthermore, my personal experience coincides with Mihlbach, and that is Gatorskins are fantastic tires. I have them on my bike right now. They were a only marginally harder to put on the first time, and the second time (my one and only flat in a year) i was able to slip them on without any tools.

You seem like a spoiled kid who just wants everything to be your way. Unfortunately for you, there is no such thing as the perfect tire. Like Mihlbach said, the tire itself is not your problem. YOU are the problem. What are you doing that the rest of us satisfied Conti Gatorskin users aren't? I suggest you start by getting proper tire levers. What are you using now? A flathead screwdriver?

I've used Panaracer RiBMo's as well. They are excellent tires. Good thick tread, though not very soft but i've never had a flat with those tires . . blows my mind. They were, howerver, a pain to put on. I bought the folding version. But i'll take hard-to-put-on over getting a flat in inconvenient places any day.

Mounting a Marathon Plus w/o levers???:eek:
I am *impressed*!:thumb:

Wow. I agree. No levers and no pinch flats. :twitchy: That's what comes of being a fulltime bicycle mechanic. I learned a ton just now. On my next set of SMPs I'm trying this procedure. :eek:

While the Bontrage Race Light Hardcase don't sounds appropriate for the OP (too slick in wet conditions?), I found a seller on ebay listing them at $10 per tire, and with my $10 ebay bucks, I ended up paying $24.49 for 2 tires.

Thanks to all for the advice in this thread.

seller: arcadianshop

(since I'm new here, pls let me know if I'm breaking any forum rules posting an ebay link)

~Mike

I second mihlbach.
Conti Gator's do me fine.

I'm using Continental Tour Ride's on my road bike. They've been good so far for not having flats, easy to go on and not pricey.

It sounds like you have road debris to deal with, so my recommendations aren't good for you, but for people who, like me, really don't have debris to deal with, I've been riding just the old standard Marathons. They're cheap and they last; mine now have about 5500 miles on them, the front still looks almost new and the rear looks perhaps 1/2 worn out. I think I paid $25 each for them.

I commute on 700x32mm Panaracer Pasela TGs.

If gatorskins are too hard to get on w/o a lever, try another tire.

Having never been to Vancouver, I never realized snow and ice was rare there being further north then I am in Fort Wayne IN and all I see is snow and ice in the winter!!.

I too have had bad luck with Conti's including the Gatorskin's and the older GP3000's and the newer GP4000's and will never buy them again. If you want a good puncture resistant tire the Schwalbe tires mentioned are very good; but so are the Specialized Armadillo All Condition tires. Either of those two tires will get you through a commute with barely a thought about flats...though they are heavy, but the Armadillo is the lightest of the two.