I've changed plenty of tires since I started road cycling years ago, but I've never gotten four flats back to back during the course of different rides. I've carefully removed the tire and inspected both the inner tubes and then the tire. I've taken a cotton ball and ran it across the rim and the tire to see if it snags on anything and I get nothing. My last ride I noticed the tire beginning to go flat. At the same time it started to rain really hard and by the time I pulled into my driveway both my bike and I were soaked. I noticed a hissing sound coming from the tire and small bubbles bubbling out of two small cuts in the tire. This was due to the tire being wet. Is my tire completely ruined and unusable or aren't these small cuts my dilemma? I only have about 200 miles on these tires. Schwalbe Ultremo R1's, (the replaced version of the original Ultremo's). I understand these tires tend to get cut up a little, but the minor cuts can't be seen when looking at the inside of the tire. Can anyone help me here so I can go for another ride without having to worry about another flat?

You have a hole in your tube which needs repair, submerse the tube in water to find.

I understand that the tube is shot, but the tire itself has a small hole in it where the water was bubbling from. Does that mean that the tire needs to be replaced or do I just need to fix the inner tube. It just seems odd that I've gotten that many flats in such a short time.

Just fix the tube. A small hole in the tire will not do harm.

You can patch the tube and put a small piece of duct tape on the inside of the tire where the cuts are.

I had the same problem you did. I just patched it on the inside and it has been fine for 2 months so far. If the cut gets any larger though, you should replace them.

as long as the hole is not on the sidewall near the bead, you can patch the hole on the tire from the inside.

Thanks for the help. I'll patch it up that way and see how it goes.