Specialized Turbo Sport Armadillo Clincher

Price Paid:  $35.00 at bicycle peddler, wic

Favorite Ride:
Kansas back roads

Bike Setup:
Canondale 700 Al. frame, carbon forks, Mavic Open Pro wheels, Shim. 105 shifter/brake

Summary:
Bullet proof tires. I'm a 240lbs guy who commutes daily and rides weekends. Over 2000 miles on rear and 3000 on front. Ride rough, but no flats in over one year. Some Kansas roads are like sandpaper with thorns, and these things are much better than the Conti tires I used previously.

Strengths:
No flats, good wear, look good on bike.

Weaknesses:
Rough ride, not the best in the wet...I really drop air pressure on damp days and these really slip around badly...I have to baby them on corners.

Similar Products Used:
Continentals when they weren't flat

Price Paid:  $35.00 at Recycled Cycles Seat

Favorite Ride:
Burke Gillman

Bike Setup:
Old Fuji converted to single speed, riding on Shimano WH550 700c rims.

Summary:
This tire is a good choice for tough urban riding or training if don't want to worrry about flats. I am happy with them, but there are some negatives.(See Below)

Strengths:
Very tough. Zero flats riding in urban condition with glass, rocks, etc. Ride is firm, but they roll quite well. I think they look quite nice as well.

Weaknesses:
-VERY difficult to get these tires on the rim. They are stiff. Take your time and make sure the tube is not pinched between the tire and the rim. Have extra levers available in case you break one.

-They are heavy, but then light weight is not really the point here, yes?

-These tires do not provide very good wet traction. The hard rubber will slide more easily than typical tires, in particular on railroad crossing surfaces. Not terrible, but extra caution is needed.

Price Paid:  $60.00 at Peak Sports, Corvall

Bike Setup:
Aluminum road frame, Aluminum seat post, Carbon fork, Mavic Aksium Race wheels with 20 radial spokes front and 24 straight-pull, cross-three spokes rear.

Summary:
700x23c. Cheap in the long-run, great flat protection, long life BUT are a bit heavy and can ride harsh depending on wheel setup. They've worked well for me, but I just changed out to Specialized Tri-Sport tires because they're lighter and I want to see if they'll give a better ride with my setup--we'll see how they hold up to flats, too.

Strengths:
Will stop flats as well as any bike tire could. In six months and 1500 miles, I only got 2 rear flats, both from huge nails. Will last a long time; the front tire looks new and the rear still shows the light tread pattern. They'll pay for themselves many times over in the money you'll save in replacing tires and tubes.

Weaknesses:
They are a bit heavy. They rode harsh for me, but I think that had a lot to do with the wheels I had (Forte Titan 16F x 20R spokes); I recently got some Mavic Aksium 20F x 24R spoke wheels that ride much smoother; when I was using 36-spoke wheels and a steel fork when I first got the tires, it was not harsh at all.

Similar Products Used:
Original Michelin Dynamic tires - averaged a flat every couple weeks or so and was getting tired of paying for tubes.

Price Paid:  $30.00 at open air bicycles

Bike Setup:
fuji track

Summary:
I have an armadillo on the back tire of my track bike, I ride brakeless, so skidding is the most effective way to stop. I purchased one about 4 months ago and still haven't worn through it! That is amazing since I was averaging a a tire a week before I trid this tire.

Strengths:
skid and skid and skid and skid........ very minimal wear.

If the army used bikes, they would use these tires

Weaknesses:
a bi-ch to get on

Price Paid:  $50.00 at Precision Bikes, Laf

Favorite Ride:
New Black top with a tailwind and shade

Bike Setup:
doesn't matter

Summary:
2 years of long mileage (10,000 miles) and 2 - 100 mile races through gravel roads. What a unstoppable set of tires. They ride rough as all hell, but you won't ever have to worry about flats.

Strengths:
BOMB proof - reliable.

Weaknesses:
Ride really rough, siidewalls fall apart after a year.

Similar Products Used:
None