I have Continental Grad Prix 4000S tires on my bike and today I suffered two punctures within 5 miles on the rear tire (about 200 miles on it).
What is the feeling on the quality of these tires? Was I just unlucky? Is there a recommendation for a road tire that gives more protection without adding significant weight or drag? A friend mentioned a tire sold under the Specialized name that supposedly offers good protection (about $60 each).
It's been quite windy for the last few days and so there is a lot of debris on the roads and one can't avoid, let alone see all of it (thorns, twigs, leafs, etc.). I found nothing in the tire when I changed out the tube either time.

Its not the tires. Its never the tires.
Unlucky? Yes likely on the first puncture. Second puncture...well thats your fault.

You probably know, but I'll write it out as a general PSA:
Do a clean remount from scratch. Start with a new tube in that wheel, cover lightly in talcum powder, run a cotton ball inside the tire carcass many times to see if anything catches. Now run your finger around many times. Check the outside carefully for any cuts. If you have rim tape make sure its not rolled over anywhere and flat. Now run finger around rim bead to check for any burrs. Install tube and seat tire. Don't inflate up yet. With a very small amount of air in the tube just so it keeps shape inside the tire, go around each edge both sides and push in the bead to check if the tube is underneath the tire. Start and finish at valve stem. Again - do both sides. Now inflate slowly up to pressure.

I don't care if others disagree because I don't get flats. No I'm not angering the flat gods or need to knock on wood. I don't get flats and I'll be just fine. I can recall all my flats on one hand since 1986. Statistically per mile I'm more likely to get hit by stampeding cows than get a flat.
Yeah, ok, I'll knock on wood for the cow thing now.

If you get a flat again after this on the same tire, then I'm sorry because you must live in an awful area for road hazards of which I have no comprehension here in MA or back in central NY.

My guess is you didn't fix the problem the first time. I run these tires in all conditions and have pretty good luck. Maybe one or two flats over the course of it's lifetime. Only time it will happen soon after a flat is when I didn't find the offending item that caused the puncture in the first place.

Look harder would be my guess.

The flat gods are good to you. I've gotten two flats from nails and one from running over a bunch of glass on the way to work in the past two months alone.

But the cow gods now may not be so good to tete.

Well, it could very well be my fault. I did run my fingers in the tire to check for the cause of the flat but I did not check or take the care in replacing the tube to the degree that has been described.
Thanks for the input, I really didn't want to spring for tires. I sacrifice a tube to the "flat gods" tonight!

I pretty much follow the same procedure outlined by "teterider" - virtually to the letter. It is very good advice. I will only add that I don't run my pressure very high. I am using the Conti 4000 in 25mm and, run them at 85R/80F. They ride and perform superbly - and don't flat.

It only takes the most infinitesimal foreign matter to puncture the inner tube. Be sure to carefully feel the inside of the tire carcass following a flat. And again, follow the guidance provided by teterider.

i think the continental 4000 is a good tire. i was thinking of buying a pair myself soon.