Lou Deeter: As for durability, I've only had problems with the 700x30 and that was my fault. I rode over a railroad track and the front tire blew out the sidewall. It was a nasty track and I didn't see it until I was on it. I haven't experienced what I would consider excessive flats with any of the tires. I've used them on at least six different rims and haven't had any problems mounting them.
The sidewalls of the 700x30's seem especially vulnerable. I've destroyed two of them on scree encrusted roads, but Arizona is the Third World. As long as you're aware of road conditions then they are a wonderful tire. There are these large (2-3") heat expansion cracks on my way to work. I dread riding over the things except on the Gran Bois and the Pasela Urban Max, which is another tire that is reminiscent of touring tires of yesteryear and handles rough conditions with aplomb. My commuter this year has been a late 70's/early 80's Scottish built Wester Ross which loves those large round tires.
Craig Montgomery
Tucson